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VOLUME 108
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JANUARY TO JUNE
1914
W
Mining and Scientific Press
420 MARKET STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
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INDEX
Page.
Abangarez Gold Fields Co., Costa Rica.. 199, 351, 671, 711, 911
ADleic, C Antony, and H. M. Lyons Application of
three-phase motors to winding engines and noists.. 689
Ditto. .Choice of drum tor steam or electrical drive.... 774
Abosso mine. West Africa, history 1008
Abrasive wneels 423
Acacia Gold Mining Co., Colorado, company report 430
Acadia Coal Co., Nova Scotia 5u4
Accident Commission, California, rulings of 337
Prevention, Anaconda Copper Mining Co. .Editorial. .. . 166
Prevention in mining Edward Ryan. . . . 498
Prevention, Nevada Consolidated. . .Lindsay Duncan.... 2SS
Accident Gold Mining Co., California 826
Accidental discoveries of mines G. L. Sheldon.... 454
California, 1913 Editorial 480
Accidents, danger from falls of rock 698
In mines 464
Industrial, under compensation, Nevada 332
Metal mine Editorial.... 2U7
Metal mines in United States 13
.street, in Great Britain in 1913 Editorial.... 558
U. S. coal mine fatalities 1075
Accounting, mine 782
Acetylene lamps for metal mines. .Frederick H. Morley.... 609
Acid tanks, mastic lining for 620
Acme gold mine, Porcupine, Ontario 905
Adams iron mine, Minnesota 125
Additon, A. Sydney, death of 750
Aeolian Consolidated Copper Mining Co. and Columbia Cop-
per Co., Idaho 909
Aerial tramway, Leschen, Alaska 265
Tramway to Chinese coal mines C. A. Tupper... 379
Africa, Cape Colony, wages, 1913 844
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Katanga, smelting of copper 171
Leaching copper In Editorial.... 318
Natal, wages In 1913 Ml
Orange Free States, wages in 1913 844
Afterthought mine. Ingot, California, Leaching of zinc ore
at the Frank L. Wilson.... 453
Agitation, Air, by continous method. .. Donald F. Irvin . . . . 571
At Nevada Hills L. B. Karnes.... 386
Ditto Alfred James.... 624
Pulp 423
Slime, Foaming during F. J. Glrard. . . . 817
Agriculturist v. miner Editorial .... 440
Aguascallentes smelter. America S. & R. Co 707
Ahmeek Copper Mining Co., Kearsarge, Michigan 88,
140. 160. 271, 349, 355, 514. 628, 676. 682, 747, 834, 1025. 1038
Company report 633
Air agitation by continuous method. . . .Donald F. Irvin. . . . 571
Blast. A small 293
Compressors, oil-driven 918
Compressors, turbo 502
Lift. Smuggler Union Walter L. Reid . . . . 452
Lifts, Deep mine pumping and A. E. Chodzko. . . . 136
Line connections and cup grease 423
Weight of cubic foot 703
Ajax Mining Co. v. Merrill Metallurgical Co
Editorial 480
Alabama. Birmingham district 785
Coal production 1037
Coke production 928
Gold and silver production 8
Alameda property, Nevada 4 27
Alaska and Siberia. Gravel mining In 185
Arrivals and departures, 1913 Editorial.... 479
Bering River coal Editorial.... 878
Bering River coalfield. Mining methods
W. It. Crane. ... 327
Bonnl field, lignitlc coal reserves 824
Cape Nome. Drift mining In the frozen gravel deposits
of Arthur Gibson.... 404
Chlsana goldfield 118. 269. 170. 630. 824, 865, 944
i 'hisann goldfield claim disputes 588
Chlsana goldfield. Developments In the..E. F. Wann.... 179
Chlsana goldfield district, geologv of 659
Chlsana goldfield litigation finished 746
Chlsana goldfield maps and trails 659, 822
Chlsana goldfield placers Editorial.... 797
Chlsana goldfield. season's clean-up 990
Circle quadrangle 746
Copper ore transport. Mother Lode mines 265
Copper production 88, 154, 261
. Hog-team race. All-Alaska Sweepstakes 708
Dredging 39, 193
Dredging at Tdltarod 735
Dredging costs Editorial 721
Dredgine placer tin 223
Fairbanks district IS*. '»3
Fairbanks district gold production 269, 1070
Fairbanks exnnsltlon In 1917 515
Oold nngaet. Kovukuk district 1070
fold plai'-rs on the Kuskokwlm river. .If. W. Reeth.. . . S9n
Oold production 8. 88, 154
Hvdro-electrlc power Editorial ... . 165
Idltarod-Tnnoko districts 154
Page.
Juneau district mines 783
Juneau in 1913 54a
Ketchikan district activity 630
Klondike gold discovery history 1008
Land laws and report o£ Franklin K. Lane
Editorial. ... 91
Long Lake power development E. P. Kennedy.... 180
Matanuska coal, U. S. Bureau of Mines 708
Matanuska coalfields Editorial.... 758
Mine inspector's report 944
Mineral production in 1913 SS
Nelchina district 307, 630, 1029
Noatak-Kobuk region 787
Nome and Grand Central region geology 816
Nome, Third Beach Line at Arthur Gibson.... 686
Nome, trade in 1913 154
Nome tramway 718
Opportunity arrives Editorial. . . . 319
Petroleum industry 154
Placer mining 154
Railroad bill 232
Ditto Editorial.... 319
Railway construction 373
Ruby district 428
Ruby district placer mining 154
Seward Peninsula 193
Seward Peninsula gold dredging 96, 154
Shushana see Alaska, Chlsana
Silver production 8, 88
.Speel River electro-chemical project W. P. Lass. . . . 218
Stripping frozen gravel Editorial.... 720
Thawing frozen ground for placer mining
Arthur Gibson 143
Third Beach Line, Nome Arthur Gibson.... 686
United States Geological Survey investigations 787
Yukon-T.-inana region, U. S. Geological Survey
Bulletin 193
Alaska Ebner Gold Mines Co. assets sold at auction 744
Alaska Gastineau Mining Co 708
Perseverance and Sheep Creek mines 783
Sh.'ep Creek adit 630, 940
Alaska Gold Mines Co 193, 344, 588, 628, 940
( Company report 783, 800
Preparatory work of 800
Stock booming 987
Alaska Gold Quartz Mining Co 507
Alaska Hydro-Electro Chemical Co. Speel River project. . . . 218
Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co 70S, 746, 783
Alaska Mexican Gold Mining Co 118, 232. 392,
428, 545, 5SS, 746, 7S3, 907, 1070
Company report 997
Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Co 118. 232, 392.
427. 515, 588, 746, 7S3, 907, 1070
Company report 997
Co.at. concentrate treatment, cyanide plant. 1913 1024
Foundry 1«24
Tube-mill 850
Alaska United Gold Mining Co 118. 232. 392,
428. 5 15, 588, 7 16. 783, 907, 1070
Company report 997
Alaska Venture Svndicate 787
Aldrldge, Walter H What is the matter with
prospecting? 9
Alexo mine. Ontario 705
Algoma Steel Corporation. Sault Ste. Marie. Ontario 864
Algomah Mining Co., Michigan, company report 99S
Alice G. & S. M. Co.. Mont., v. Anaconda C. M. Co 1071
Alice Mining Co., Idaho . 789
Alladln-Cobalt 231
Allen. A. W Filter-press operation .... 697
Ditto Milling operations at the Eldorado Banket
mine. Rhodesia 501
Ditto Pressure and vacuum at altitude. .. . 9, S
Ditto Simplification of gold ore treatment.... 898
I Ht to Solution control in cyanldatlon. . . .
.Wet crushing in ball-mills.... 419
1038
Ditto
Allen. Carl A Engineer's office
Allie Mining Cm.. Gllmore. Idaho
Allouez Mining Co.. Allouez, Michigan 110. 160. 27 1.
355. 511, 676. 682. 717. 834, '.HI'',.
< 'nmpany report 669
Alloys, copper and aluminum l*_
Alpena iron mine. Minnesota J-g
Alpha mine. Jarbidge, Nevada 748
Alts Tunnel <Si Transportation Co., Utah r -36
\ltittide Pressure and vacuum at A. W. Allen.... 9(8
Aluminum Editorial 5
And copper alleys 18*.
Density and rolling of 188
Imports &»o
Ma rket °7
M^kpt '" 1:":: .'.-,'; •■;•,■.,' 9|o
I'nces - ' "■ ' ai' "J"
l-nlted States consumption, 1913 »3X
United States production "3h
Aluminum Industry Co.. Germany i'
Amador mine. Iron Mountain. Montana ']''
Ama.lac Mines Co.. Jalisco, Mexico ■ • • ■ • • • ■'• '
Amalgamated Copper Co 666. ,10.
Company report
954
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Amalgamated Pioehe mine, Nevada, bonus system 349
Amalgamated Zinc (De Bavay s) Ltd., Broken Hill, New
South Wales 427
Company report 832
American-Ball four-cylinder triple-expansion engine 640
American Carrara Marble Co., Nevada 711
American Electrochemical Society, annual meeting. New
York 706
Ditto Editorial.... 602
Leaching and electrolytic precipitation of copper at
Chuquicamata E. A. Cappelen Smith.... 739
American Engine & Electric Co., American-Ball engine.. '. . 640
American Flag Mining Co., Park City, Utah. . . .310, 350, 431, 790
Mill and treatment 345
American Institute of Mining Engineers and mining law
revision Editorial. . . . 361
Iron and steel meeting. New York 424
Montana section 432
New York meeting 390
Ditto Editorial. .. .317, 318
Ditto Editorial correspondence.... 363
New York meeting program 326
New York section business meeting 906
Oil and gas meeting. New York 425
Salt Lake meeting 779
San Francisco section, Diamonds and diamond min-
ing Editorial.... 559
Work of Charles F. Rand 17
American investments in Mexico E. P. Crawford.... 980
Ditto Editorial 798
American Metal Co 1069
And Butte-Duluth 394
American Mining Congress, work of Carl Scholz. ... 19
American Nettie mine, Colorado 825
American Rutile Co., rutile production in 1913 537
American Smelting & Refining Co 268, 512, 544, 587
Aguascalientes smelter 707
And Stewart Mining Co 271
Colorado plants in 1913 383
Company report 587, 637
El Paso smelter 350
In Mexico 352, 744
Mexican smelter property valuation Editorial.... 798
Ruston, Washington, smelter strike 431
Silver Lake plant, Colorado 867
Tacoma, Washington, smelter 744
American Trona Corporation potash production and borax
prices Editorial. ... 838
American Trona Co., Searles Lake potash, California 308
American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co 742
Company report 715
Joplin mining and milling E. H. Leslie.... 840
Sanitation and disease 742
Ammonia, United States production 239
Amparo Mining Co., Jalisco, Mexico 114, 122, 388, 544, 707
Anaconda Copper Mining Co.. Butte, Montana 55, 120,
149, 160, 302, 304, 309, 349, 355, 472, 514, 666, 676, 710,
834, 986, 1038
Accident prevention Editorial.... 166
And International Smelting & Refining Co 744
And Minerals Separation 747
Boston & Montana plant C. W. Goodale.... 897
Company report 823, 874, 1071
Employees benefits 116
Farm sales 1067
Leaching Editorial 960
New leaching plant 547
Original mine and accident record 904
Revenue in 1913 781
'Safety First' 626
Smelter 1026
Staff changes 1027
v. Alice G. & S. M. Co 1071
Washoe plant dewatering problem 185
Yearly payroll 116
Anchor Tin Mining Co., Tasmania 148
Andes, Mill building in the Alfred A. Watson.... 683
Andrada Mines Ltd. Braganca mine, Manica, Portuguese
East Africa 573
Angelo mine. Rand, sand filling "of stopes 464
Anglo-Persian Oil Co 1065
Annual reviews and statisticians , Editorial .... 2
Antarctic regions, mineral deposits Editorial.... 601
Antelope Gold Mines, Ltd., Rhodesia 585, 821
Mill treatment 1024
Antimony: its ores, metallurgy, and uses L. C. Mott. . . . 292
Market 85, 87, 275, 433
Prices 353, 594, 792, 950
Apex law In the Drumlummon controversy
Charles W. Goodale.... 368
Aporoma Goldfields, Ltd., Sandia, Peru, company report. . . . 597
Application of the magneto-metric survey to the Sud-
bury nickel deposits Kirby Thomas. . . . 497
Of three-phase motors to winding engines and hoists...
C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons. . . . 689
Aramayo Francke mines, Bolivia 620, 1076
Archbold, T. R Filling ore sacks.... 659
Ardmore Oil Co., Ardmore, South Dakota 305, 467
Arents, Albert, death of 912
Argall, Philip. . . .What is the matter with prospecting?. ... 9
Argentine coal imports 1048
Argentine Republic mineral products exports 902
Argonaut Mining Co., Jackson, California 69, 265
Hoisting at the M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 697
Residue disposal 770
v. Kennedy Extension 118
Ditto Editorial 130
Arizona. Bisbee and Miami fires 746
Copper production 106, 261
Electric light and power-stations 221
Gila county, news 232
Globe mining district William L. Tovote . . . . 442, 487
Gold Creek district ■ 470
Gold production 8, 106
Lead production 106
Map 58
Page.
Mesa district gold discovery 1029
Mineral Hill gold discovery 708, 865
Mineral production in 1913 106
Mining properties assessments 788
Non-employment of miners not understanding
English 307
Pima county. Diamond-drilling at Ajo 217
Santa Cruz county mining situation 194
Silver production 8, 106
State mine report 193
Trespass on patented land 540
Zinc production 107
Arizona Commercial Copper Co., Copperhill, Arizona
307, 442, 586, 788
Company report 754
Arizona Copper Co., Ltd., Morcnci, Arizona 155, 160,
355, 392, 514, 676, 708, 766, 834, 1038, 1057
And Shannon Copper Co 465
Tailing damage suit 81
Arkansas, mineral production in 1913 830
Phosphate rock 1035
Yell county mineral outlook 1048
Armor-plate, United States and 191
Arnold, Ralph. . . .What is the matter with prospecting?. . . . 210
Arsenic, Great Britain production 914
United States production in 1913 110
Asbestos, Quebec production 663
Russia. Ural district production 829
United States production 1023
Asgard Mining Co., Ltd., Bohemia, company report 358
Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, Ltd., Gold Coast Colony,
West Africa 456, 457
Company report 552
Mills 659
Assay and cyanide solutions 625
Fire, Estimation of gold, silver, and platinum by
G. H. Clevenger and H. W. Young. ... 614
Office. United States, New York City 1035
Assaying concentrate and black sand for gold and plati-
num Andrew F. Crosse. . . . 814
Assembling and erecting wooden tanks.. J. M. Lilligren . . . . 411
Assets Realization Co 152
Associated Gold Mines, Ltd., Wrestern Australia 125,
313, 505, 665. 688, 863
Ontario interests 24, 505. 705
Associated mine, Nevada 121
Associated Northern Blocks, Ltd., Western Australia
125, 313. 505, 665. 688
Company report 552
Iron Duke and Victorious mills 664
Iron Duke lease 863
Victorious mine 504
Victorious mine, Ora Banda. costs 865
Atbasar copper mine, Siberia 26
Atlanta Mines Co.. Goldfleld. Nevada 628. 992
Atlant'c coast region, depression 341
Atlas Mining Co.. Pueblo mine. Klondike. Canada 711
Atlas Mining & Milling Co., Sneffles, Colorado 633. 825
Atmosphere, terrestrial 301
Auldjo. J. C Evolution of suction-gas power in
Western Australia 147
Aurora Consolidated Mines Co.. Aurora. Nevada 309
And Goldfleld Consolidated Mines Co 547, 1031
Austin. L S Irving leaching process. ... 77. 88
Austral Malay Tin, Ltd.. J. Malcolm Newman report on
Papua 705
Australasia, fatality rate Editorial. . . . 243
Gold and s'lver production in 1912 164
Silver. 1913 1069
Australia, eastern, map 704
Gold discovery history 1005
Gold production 628. 636, 1069
Gold received at mints, 1913 737
Government aid to prospecting Editorial .... 89
uabor troubles in 1913 765
Lead production 816
Legislation 1069
Mines on London market 24
Mining in Editorial.... 680
Mining troubles in eastern 943
Northern Territory, Pine Creek district 705
Timber waste 628
Transcontinental railroads Editorial .... 279
Wages Editorial. . . . 641
Australian Gas Light Co., New South Wales, tank excava-
tion 1019
Austria-Hungary gold and silver production in 1912 164
Lead production 816
A vies, C. W., v. Matthew Harter decision 508
B
Babcock & Willcox v. Stirling boilers
S. Severin Sorensen . . . .
Backus & Johnston Co., Peru
Bain, H. Foster. . . .International Engineering Congress. . . .
Ditto Rand banket. . . .299,
Ditto Some unwritten cyanide historv. . . .
Balaghat Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Kolar India 650,
Company report
Cyanidation cost
Balaklala Consolidated Copper Co., Coram, California....
152, 233, 304, 508, 633,
Ball, Sydney H. and Millard K. Shaler Mining in the
Belgian Congo in 1913
Ball tread tractor
Ball-mill, dry crushing
Krupp wet 423,
v. crushing rolls
Wet crushing in A. WT. Allen....
Balllet system, counterbalancing hoists
Ditto Operator. . . .
Baltic Mining Co.. Michigan SS. 140.
Baltimore mine, Boulder, Montana
340
482
14
1022
580
1076
873
907
320
956
387
583
301
419
336
340
271
234
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Page.
Bank clearings in United States in 1913 163
Barite, United States production 1913 846
Barlow, A. E., death of Editorial.... 1001
Barnes-King Development Co., Kendall, Montana. .391, 747, 992
Company report 436
Nortn Moccasin property 120
Barney Copper Co., Arizona 1070
Barramia Mining & Exploration, Ltd., Egypt, company
report 715
Barry dredge, Circle district, Alaska 269
Barstow mine, Ironton, Colorado 825
Barytes, Great Britain production 914
Bassett tin mine, Cornwall production 773
Bates Leasing Co., Black Hawk, Colorado 669
Batopilas Mining Co.. Mexico 199, 231. 236
Battery frame. New 419
Frame, Tightner mine Editorial.... 479
Bauxite deposits of France 734
Great Britain production 914
United States production in 1913 892
Bear Lodge Gold Mining Co., Wyoming 749
Beaver Consolidated Mines, Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario. .122, 199, 869
Beaver Mines Co.. Utah 310
Beaver Portland Cement Co., Oregon 350
Bechuanaland Copper Co.. Rhodesia 586
Beck Mining Co., Wyoming, Increasing the efficiency of a
grinding pan John Randall.... 417
Behring Dredging Co., Alaska 708
Belcher Mining Co., Washington 351
Belcher Silver Mining Co., Gold Hill, Nevada, company
report 591
Pumping 652
Belgian Congo coal 325
Diamond production 324
Gold production 323
Mining in 1913
Sydney H. Ball and Millard K. Shaler 320
Tin 324
Belgium lead production 816
Pig iron production 477
Bell Reef Development Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 585
Belt conveyors 128
Driving and loss of power 341
Steel 939
Ben Hur Leasing Co., Republic, Washington 122, 236.
273, 510, 749, 868, 947
Berden pan 663
Bergwerks-Wohlfahrt. Germany, Murex process 931
Beri-berl disease 782
Bering River coal Editorial. ... 878
Coalfield, Alaska, Mining methods in the
W. H. Crane. . . . 327
Bethlehem Steel Co. in China Editorial.... 557
Bezant mine, Colorado 991
Big Bend Mining Co.. Washington 395, 947
Big Blue mine, California 743
Big Four, Nevada 121
Blgney placer claim. Liberty, Washington 473, 86?
Bingham & Garfield railway. Utah, Wall suit 310
Bingham Mines Co., Utah 628, 632
Bishop, Spencer. . .Cerro de Pasco smelting plant, Peru.... 177
Blsichi tin mine, northern Nigeria 23
Bismuth, Peru production 87!
Queensland production in 1913 793
Tasmania production 714
Bisulphite zinc process, Metals Extraction Corporation,
Ltd 250
Black Eagle Gold Mining Co., Nevada 121
Black Hills. Mineral resources of the Harney Peak
pegmatites, I. II Victor Zlegler. . . .604, 654
Black Hills Tungsten Mining & Milling Co., Soutli
Dakota 654
Black Lake Asbestos Co.. company report 541
Black Oak mine, California, Fisher suit 789
Oliver filter 185
Black Range, Western Australia 665, 863
Black Tail mine. Washington 868
Black-Warrior mine. Arizona 442, 487
Blacksmiths problem. . .W. 8. Dooley and T. H. Proske . . . . 384
Blake crushers 222
Blast-furnaces, banking and blowing out iron 696
Jilasting and use of explosives, Nevada Consolidated Cop-
per Co 577
Electric, In shafts with delay action exploders
C. W. Morse 216
Ore by electricity 188
Rock. Kelly. Butte quarry, Washington 502
Bohannon Dredging Co., Idaho 747
Bohemia, Asgard Mining Co.. Ltd., company report 358
Boise King Placer Mining Co.. Idaho 1030
Bolln. Jakob, death of 870
Bolivia. Aramayo Francke mines 620, 1076
Compania Huanchaca 1066
Incaoro gold mine and mill, Pallaya
Francis Church Lincoln 561
Map 252
Tin fields, Transportation and government regulations
In O. W. Wepfer 294
Tin mining In G. W. Wepfer 251
Ditto Editorial 878
Bonanza King mine, Carvllle, California 866
Bonnie Claire mine, Nevada 309
Borax. California production 88, 588
F. M. Smith holdings Editorial 957
Peru production 872
Prices. Potash production and Editorial 838
Borax Consolidated, Ltd.. and Pacific Coast Borax Co
Editorial 838
Bore-hole "oefflclents 341
Bosqul, F. I Decline of the Rand.... 736
Boston & I.iaho Cold Dredging Co., Idaho 96, 455
Boston & Montana Development Co 587
Klkhorn mining property 786
Plant C. W. Goodale 897
Boston-Aurora mine, Missouri 82''.
Boston Stock Exchange 1067
Bouery. Pierre. . .California miners and the Exposition.... 384
Page
Boulder No. 1, Western Australia 665, 863
Bournonite , ,
Boyd-Smith. Jr., D Razing the Steptoe Valley stack. .. . 694
Braden Copper Co., La Junta, Chile.... 32, 55 15'> 158 160
263, .sol, 355, 5<J6, 514, a37, 62<\ 676, 834, 9S6, io32,'l03s' 1066
New nnancing .,""' '""
Braden mine, Goid Hill, Oregon '.'. J;„
Bradley, F. \v . . . .California miners and the Exposition " 298
r> ^,UO ;V Y,"-\\!'.at ls Ule "latter with prospecting?.]:! 9
Bradley, P. R....\Vhat is the matter with prospecting'' 1n
Brake, car , . s'" ' ,0J"
Brakpan Mines Co., Rand, company report . 7^4
Brass industry, growth Lzl
Brazeau Collieries, Ltd., Alberta, Canada . . . '. 115
Brazil, South America, diamond mining ... sofi
»t. John del Rey Mining Co., Ltd . .'.2»' JoV 1076
Brick. California production ' jjS' 5i;
Hudson River region production «;.
Sand lime in United States «s.
Bridge, rationale of design ' 22,,
Briquetting, Fuel. 1913 7U3
Britannia Mining & Smelting Co., production in ism 153
British-American Petroleum Co., oil and gas, Utah . " 121
British and Dutch Indies petroleum production in 1913 779
British Association of scientists, Australian meeting 573
British Broken Hill Proprietary Co., Ltd., Broken Hill
New South Wales ' 407
British Columbia, Camp McLeod '" mi
Cariboo district \, ,||
Coal production ] , ;0?,
Coke production . . . . 202
Copper King group 19>
Copper production , ) 202
Copper River coalfields ....!! 390
Gold production \ 202
Indian River district 153
Kamloops district ' ' ' ' 930
Lead production 20''
Map iq4
Mining in 1913 ...'..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 117
Nelson district g6»
Placer gold production in 1913 .'...'' 117
Portland Canal tunnel Llovd C. White.... 731
Radium legislation 431
Rossland mines 273' 749
Seymour River mining district .' 192
Sliver production 202
Zinc production .' ' 202
British Columbia Copper Co., Ltd.. Greenwood. British
Columbia 117, 160, 198, 268, 273, 351, 355. 514,
676. 834, 1038
And shareholders 424
Financing , . . 390
Reorganization 505
British South Africa Co., history 1007
Rhodesian government 761
Brock, R. W„ Deputy Minister of Mines, Canada
, Editorial 129
Ditto Prospecting and leasing. . . . 582
Broken Hill Junction North Silver Mining Co., N. L,
Broken Hill, New South Wales 943
Broken Hill Proprietary Co., Ltd., Broken Hill. New South
Wales 24, 427, 1034
Company report 552
Refinery. Port Pirie 629
Steel plant progress 1019
Broken Hill South Silver Mining Co.. N. L.. Broken Hill,
New South Wales 427
Company report 715
Costs and ore treatment 769
Ore broken and wages 738
Brooks. Huxley St. John Continuous process?.... 1060
Broughton-Newman lease, Nevada 196
Brown, R. Gilman
What ls the matter with prospecting'.'. . . . 132
Brown hematite ores. Mining and washing
W. R. Dodge 4 58
Patents decision 527
Patents v. Tonopali Mining Co., Some unwritten cyanide
history H. Foster Bain 580
Browning. Edward. . .New safety detonator at Cornwall. . . . 845
Brunswick Con. Gold Mining Co., Grass Valley, Califor-
nia SOS
Company report 399
Millwork 688
Mine drainage 540
Brunton, D. W...\Vhat Is the matter with prospecting?.... 10
Buck zinc prospect near Boracho, Texas J. A. Udden . . . . Hoi
Buckets, dredge 1064
Elevator dredge equipped with stern delivery stacker.
Levee building with C. G. Leeson. ... 644
Buckeye-Belmont Mines Co., Tonopah, Nevada 349
Balliet system, counter-balancing hoists 336
Costs 341
Buckeye Engine Co. locomobile 678
Buckhorn Mines Co., Beowawe, Nevada 91, 1072
Oliver filters 121
Orebodles described 547
Power plant E. H. Leslie .... 1 <>1 0
Buckland River. Victoria. Australia 675
Buckland Star. Victoria. Australia 675
Buckley Mining Co., Colorado 509
Bucyrus shovel, water supplv from locomotive tender 703
Bueha Tlerra Mining Co., "Ltd., Santa Kulalia district,
Mexico 465
Companv report 790
Buffalo Mines. Ltd.. Cobalt, Ontario .. 1 22, 199. 273. 592, 869, 94 1
Company report 993, 1025
Buildings, saw-tooth 4-'-'
Bullfinch Proprietary. Ltd., Western Australia. .. .125, 313.
505, 664, 665, 863
Bullion, molding J-JS
Bullwhacker Copper Co., Butte, Montana 116, 302, 633
Copper leaching jjjj
Flow-sheet • ■ • "b
Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining ,v- Concentrating Co.,
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Kellogg, Idaho 157, 198, 271, 430, 472, 473,
590, 710, 789, 946, 1030
And Malm mill 589
Company report 825, 833
Cost explosives, etc 860
Mine section 394
Safety First 394
Trolley wires 502
Bunker Hill Consolidated Mining Co., Amador City, Cali-
fornia 67, 545
Burbank's Main Lode, Ltd., Burbanks, Western
Australia 665
Burch, Albert. . . .What is the matter with prospecting?. ... 10
Bureau of Mines Building, Pittsburgh, Pa 612
Inventions, Denver section 987
Personnel 902
Scientific investigations 1067
Washington 532
Burma, India, gold dredging in 79
Burma Corporation, Burma, India, company report 985
Burma Gold Dredging Co., Burma, India 79
Burma Mines, Ltd., Burma, India 29, 799
Rehabilitation 985
Burro Mountain Copper Co., Tyrone, New Mexico, com-
pany report 618
Burt-Pool iron mine, Minnesota 125
Burton, C. S Review of the New York share market. ... 30
Busch-Sulzer Bros. Diesel Engine Co 796
At Panama-Pacific Exposition 918
Business and mining, a retrospection
F. Lynwood Garrison. ... 33
And Suez Canal Editorial. . . . 1041
In United States and Wall Street Editorial 24 3
Outlook Editorial 921
Butte, Montana, ore genesis and revision Editorial.... 317
Butte-Alex Scott yearly payroll 116
Butte & London Copper Development Co., shaft unwater-
ing, and Rainbow Lode Development Co 1027, 1030
Butte & Pensaeola Co 626
Butte & Superior Copper Co., Ltd., Butte, Montana 37,
349, 196, 302, 509, 349, 424, 670, 864, 909, 1030
And Elm Orlu dispute 748
Black Rock claim 789
Company report 915
Mill production 871
Mill work 1027
Tube-mill tests 316
v. Minerals Separation decision 759
Ditto Editorial.... 758
v. Minerals Separation, effect of decision 823
Yearly payroll 116
Butte-Ballaklava Copper Co., Butte, Montana 272, 509, 633
Butte Central Copper Co 586
Butte Dredging Co 4 29
Butte-Duluth Mining Co., Butte, Montana 62. 302,
349, 472, 509, 710
And American Metal Co 394
Copper leaching 56
Flow-sheet 57, 547
Leaching plant 547, 789
Yearly payroll 116
Butte Miners Union. Montana riots 1027. 1031
Butte Reduction Works, tailing treatment
Bancroft Gore. .. . 529
Butte. Wisdom & Pacific railway 587
Butters, Charles Relative efficiency of sodium and
potassium cyanide 520
Butters filter process, Moore Filter Co. v. Tonopah M. Co.
and Montana Tonopah Mining Co Editorial. . . . 878
Bwana M'Kubwa, Rhodesia 22
F. W. Bradley,
Caaba mine, Oroville, Washington 827
Cable, track, transport, Pueblo, Mexico 583
Caddy, J. P Precipitation and clean-up at the Lake
View mill 461
Calamine, Joplin district production 100,115, 633
Calaveras Copper Co., Copperopolis, California 194, 788
Caledonia mine, Idaho 1030
Calera, Sonora 869
Calgary Petroleum Products Co., Dingman well dis-
covery 943
California Accident Commission, rulings of 337
Accidents in 1913 Editorial.... 480
Amador County mills, Disposal of residue
M. W. von Berne witz. ... 770
Borax production 88, 588
Brick production 88, 588
Cement production 88, 588
Commission of Immigration and Housing. .Editorial. . . . 797
Copper production 88, 107, 261, 588
Crushed rock and granite production 588
Darwin district 589
Death Valley activity 347
Dredging 107
Dredging costs Editorial 721
Freight rates on ores 155
Gas, natural, production 88, 588
Gold discovery history 1005
Gold dredging 93
Gold production 8, 88, 107, 588
Granite and crushed rock production 88
Graphite production 429
Iron production 429
Iron smelting, electric smelting 63
Klamath river, Hydraullcking on the. .J. H. Theller. ... 523
Lead production 107, 589
Magalia district 229
Magnesite production 1023
Mariposa district news 508
Marvsville Buttes. Sutter county 782
Metallurgy of Mother Lode. . . .M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 65
Minerals In 1913 88, 788
Miners and the Exposition
Page.
Arthur Goodall, Louis Rosenfeld,
John F. Davis, S. A. Knapp.... 298
Ditto Herbert Lang .... 263
Ditto G. W. Metcalfe, S. W. Mudd, Pierre hiouery,
Harold T. Power, John B. Keating... 384
Ditto Charles E. van Barneveiu. . . . 213
Miners and workingmen's compensation. . .Editorial. .. . 130
Mother Lode region and the Plymouth mine 109
Mother Lode region map 65, 118
Mother Lode, Residue disposal .'. . .
M. W. von Bernewitz.... 770
Mount Lassen Eruption Editorial. ... 1041
.Nevada County map , . . iu29
isimshew district 229
Oil 301, 545
Oroville dredging district . .' 297
Panama-Pacirtc Exposition, state mining exhibit
Editorial.... 206
Petroleum production 88, 183, 588, 746, 914
Placer mining 107
Quicksilver production 81, 88, 354, 588
Safety First 531
Safety First conference Editorial.... 480
San Francisco mint 470
Sierra county mining \ 308
Silver production 8, 88, 107, 588
Southern, map 195
State Compensation Insurance Fund 907
State Mining Bureau, Bulletin, recent mining law
Editorial 206
Trinity county map 1070
Tuolumne county news 233
Water appropriation law 860
Workmen s Compensation Act and wage reductions.... 423
Zinc production 107
California Exploration Co 109
And Northern Ontario Exploration Co 189
.New Plymouth Consolidated mill 438
Plymouth mine, California 903
California Mines Co., California 545
Callahan, H. C Revision of the mining law.... 422
Calumet & Arizona Mining Co., Warren, Arizona 160
307, 355, 428, 514, 586, 588, 676, 824. 834, 1038
Ajo property Editorial 517
Company report 544
Concreting the Junction shaft 579
Diamond-drilling at Ajo 217
Calumet & Hecla Mining Co., Calumet, Michigan 88,
140, 157, 160, 271, 349, 355, 430, 514, 546, 628, 676, 834,
906, 992, 1038
Company report 669, 1025, 1078
Leaching plant 909
Shaft depths * 6il
White Pine property ..,...! 789
Cam & Motor Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 585, 821
New mill, results of first run 738
Company report 1077
Cameron-Johnson Gold Mining Co., Valdez, Alaska 269
Camp Bird, Ltd., Ouray, Colorado 24, 454, 471 633
, „ , 825, 940, 1030
And Messina copper mine, Transvaal 285
Mill ore treatment 4<jo
Canada, see also British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Yukon.
Alberta, Calgary district oil and gas discoverv 943, 993
Ditto Editorial. .. .919, 1002
Alberta, Calgary district oil and gas leases situation. . . . 542
Alberta, Calgary oilfield geology 988
Alberta, coal mining and production 629
Alberta, coal mining and railroads 115
Brock, R. W., Deputy Minister of Mines. . . .Editorial. . . . 129
Coke and tariff 704
Eight-hour day law and exemptions 345
Gold production 8, 164, 911
Industrial Disputes Act 344
Iron and steel tariff changes 704
Klondike gold production in 1913 199
Klondike, report of Whitehorse assayer 711
Lead production ". 816
Manitoba stock sale protection measure 943
Mica production in 1913 914
Mines on London market 23
Nova Scotia gold production 702
Oil regulations 345, 426
Radium legislation 431
Silver production 8, 164
Canadian Coal & Coke Co 344
Canadian Copper Co., Ltd 390, 497, 505
Copper Cliff and Frood water supply 351
Canadian Klondyke Mining Co., Yukon 23, 39,
122, 199, 236, 711. 869, 993, 1032
Company report 537
Dawson dredges 386
Dredging cost Editorial .... 720
Canadian Mining & Exploration Co., prospect and mine
examinations 743
Canadian Mining & Finance Co 671
Canadian Mining, Exploration & Development Co., British
Columbia 548
Canadian Mining Institute monthly bulletins. .Editorial. . . . 602
Montreal meeting 495
Ditto Editorial 317
Canadian Venezuelan Ore Co 345
Canal. Panama Editorial .... 958
Panama, and copper smelting 1025
Panama, cost 979
Canals, ship, Tonnages through, 1912 653
Cananea Consolidated Copper Co.. S. A.. Cananea.
Sonora 60, 158, 160, 198, 355. 514. 676. 790,
823. 869, 1038
Cancer, radium and diathermy 1064
Canistro iron mine, Minnesota 125
Capital Mining & Tunnel Co., Georgetown. Colorado,
lessees' work 825
Capitalist viewpoint, mining industry
Adolph Lewisohn.... 383
Car brake 1059
Car dump 979
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Page.
Carat 540
Carbide ash, friction coefficient 423
Caribou-Cobalt Mines Co.. Cobalt 199
Carlisle, Bendigo, Victoria 537
Carn Brea tin mine, Cornwall, production 773
Carnotite 265, 885
Colorado production 100, 103, 112
Utah 103, 236
Carroll foundry, Houghton, Michigan, Are 826
Casados Mining Co., Jalisco, Mexico 707
Casey Cobalt Mining Co., Ontario 389
Company report 506
Cathcart Gold Mines Co., Victoria, Australia 228
Cates, L. S What is the matter with prospecting?.... 132
Catlin, Donald C What is the matter with pros-
pecting? 662
Cement and diamond-drill holes 387
California production 88, 588, 788
Portland production 239, 674
Centennial Copper Mining Co., Calumet, Michigan 140,
160, 271, 355, 514, 676, 682, 747
Company report 669
Center Star mine, Rossland, British Columbia, Consolidated
M. & S. Co. of Canada. Ltd., Trail 273, 749, 947
Central America, see also Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Guatemala mineral exports 97
Technological studies ...Editorial.... 518
Central El Dorado Gold Mining Co., California 232
Central Eureka Mining Co.. Sutter Creek, California 118
Central Mining Co., Washington 869
Central Mining & Investment Corporation, Rand 808
Central Red. White & Blue, Bendigo. Victoria 537
Central States, metal production In 1913 779
Centrifugal pump, maximum efficiency 387
Pump runner speed 301
Pumps In elevating ore pulp 703
Cerro de Pasco Mining Co., Cerro de Pasco, Peru.... 160,
352, 355. 482. 514. 676, 834, 1038
Smelting plant. Peru Spencer Bishop.... 177
Cerro Gordo mine, Keeler 307
Certlgue Dredging Co., Colombia 184
Cerusslte. Colorado, Custer county deposits 945
Chaffers Gold Mining Co., Kalgoorlle, Western Australia..
505, 665, 688
Chambers-Ferland Mining Co., Cobalt, Ontario 231, 1073
Champion Copper Co., Painesdale. Michigan 88, 140, 271
Champion mines, Nevada City, North Star Mines Co., Grass
Valley, California 631
Champion Reef Gold Mining Co. of India, Ltd., circular
shaft 502
Company report 399, 656
Machine-drills 378
Ore treatment 650, 656. 1076
Chance, H. M Mining and Metallurgical Society,
work of 18
Channlng. J. Parke Ethics of mine promotion .... 182
Charcoal burning for prospectors W. H. Washburn. ... 613
Charters Towers, Queensland, ore deposits 502
Chase, Charles A What is the matter with prospect-
ing? 168
Chemical abstract Journals 939
Chewelah Copper King Mining Co., Chewelah. Washing-
Ion 351, 592
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. portable mine hoists 241
Chief Consolidated Mining Co., Eureka, Utah 236, 868
Company report 357
Chile and Peru, Hydro-eleotrlc power
Lewis R. Freeman. . . . 333
Assessing mines Editorial. . . . 957
Braden Copper Co., La Junta 32, 55, 152, 158, 160,
263, 351, 355. 390. 465. 506. 514. 537. 627, 676. 834, 986.
1032, 1038, 1066
Chile. Copper Co.. Chuquicamata 32. 54. 960, 986
Chile Copper Co. and Exploration Co.. Ltd . . Editorial .... 402
Chile Copper Co., Chuquicamata, Interview with Daniel
Guggenheim 574
Chuquicamata, Leaching and electrolytic precipitation
of copper at E. A. Cappelen Smith .... 739
Coal, cost of 416
Collahuasl mining district 683
Fuel consumption 416
Nitrate Industry, I, II, III Lester W. Strauss 972,
1014, 1049
Nitrate production 501
Chile Copper Co.. Chuquicamata, Chile 32, 54
And Exploration Co., Ltd 465
Interview with Daniel Guggenheim 574
Leaching plant 986
Ditto Editorial 960
Chile Exploration Co.. Chuquicamata, Chile 620
Leaching and electrolytic precipitation of copper
E. A. Cappelen Smith.... 739
Chilean mill, Elspass Engineering & Mining Machinery
Co 836
Chillagoe, Queensland, troubles 705
China and Standard Oil Co Editorial 797
Bank notes first Issued 665
ChSng Hslng coal basin Edward dl Villi 578
Coal mines, aerial tramway C. A. Tupper.... 379
Gold production in 1912 164
Han-Yeh-PIng Iron & Coal Co 1058
Iron ore development Editorial.... 557
Mining In Editorial 440
Mining regulations Editorial 877,1002
Monetary position 506
Silver sycee 265
Standard Oil Co. and Japanese newspapers
Editorial 558
Chinese Eng & M. Co 1076
Chtng Hslng coal basin Edward dl Villi 578
Chlno Copper Co., Santa Rita. New Mexlro 121, 160,
261, 350, 355, 477, 514, 676, 827, 834, 1038
Company report 706, 954
"Gopher* blasting 902
Chisholm iron mine. Minnesota 125
Chodzko, A. E Deep mine pumping and air lifts. .. . 136
Page.
Choice of drum for steam or electrical drive
~ „ ,. „, c- Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons!! !! 774
Chosen Gold Mines, Ltd., Korea Editorial 758
Chrome, New Caledonia production in 1913 .'.'.' 93s
Chromite, California production ' ' 788
Chromium, melting point 112
Chrysotile, Arizona 1023
574
Chuquicamata, Progress at, interview with Daniei Gu'ggen
helm
Cia. Minera Chontalpan y. Anexas, Mexico, company re-
port 373
Cinco Minas Co., Jalisco, Mexico 114, 15S 388 707
Cinderella Consolidated, Rand '.....' 468
City Deep, Rand !.'!"' 808
City of Cobalt Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt 199
And Cobalt Townsite and Cobalt Lake merger ' 786
Civilization, Miner as a pioneer of T. A. Rickard. . . . 1004
Clark, W. A., mine yearly payroll H6
Clarkdale Improvement Co., Arizona . 304
Classification at Miami ...''" 1057
Classifier, Screw, and fine ore feeder... S. A. Worcester!!!! 530
Classifiers 387
Valves or cock !!!!!! 738
Clay products, Philippine Islands production !! 911
Clearwater Gold & Copper Mining Co., Idaho 196
Clennell, J. E Solution control in cyanidation . . . . 500
Clermont-Jumbo mine, Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co.,
Nevada 552, 748
Clermont mine, Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co
Nevada 552
Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., Marquette, Michigan 989
Cleveland Rock Drill Co., Neverleak coupling 600
Clevenger, G. H. and H. W. Young Estimation of
gold, silver, and platinum by fire assay 614
Clinton Consolidated Quartz Mining Co., California 631
Cloverdale mine, Cloverdale, California, ore occurrence....
Leroy A. Palmer. . . . 812
Coal, Alabama production in 1913 1037
Alaska, Bering river Editorial. . . . 878
Alaska, Bonni field llgnitic reserves 824
Alaska, Matanuska fields Editorial .... 758
Alberta, Canada production 629
Anthracite mining cost 1064
Anthracite, Pennsylvania production Editorial.... 205
Anthracite, production of small sizes 104S
Argentine imports 1048
Belgian Congo 325
British Columbia production 202
California production 788
Chile, cost of 416
China, Ching Hslng basin Edward dl Villi 578
Georgia production 928
Government mine, North Dakota 565
Government mine, Wonthaggl, Victoria, Australia 565
Great Britain production 914
Japan production 125, 1035
Leasing bill, Ferris 988
Matanuska, Alaska, U. S. Bureau of Mines 708
Michigan production 909
Mines, Aerial tramway to Chinese C. A. Tupper.... 379
Mines, Gases found in 935
Mining, Alberta, Canada 115
Mining, undercutting machines 978
Montana production 149
New Mexico production 1031
New South Wales. Australia, production in 1913 705
Ohio mining in 1913 1037
Ohio production 515
Oregon production 591
Peru production 872:
Philippine Islands production 911
Powdered, In metallurgy Editorial. . . . 603
Queensland, Australia production in 1913 793
Queensland, Australia, resources 625, 628-
Russia production and consumption 551
Smoke and plant effllclency 984
Sumatra, Dutch East Indies production of Omblllen.... 703
Tasmania production 714
Union of South Africa production 626
United States accidents 1075
United States, and tar 301
United States production 8, 88, 963
United States production of anthracite 1037
Utah production 947
Wales production 773:
Washington production 914
Wyoming production 914
Coalfield, Bering river, Alaska, mining methods
W. R. Crane 327
Coats & Ortt Mining Co., Missouri 584
Cobalt, melting point 112
Ontario production 592'
Cobalt Central mine. Penn-Canadian Mines, Ltd., Cobalt,
Ontario 199'
Cobalt Lake Mining Co., Cobalt 122. 199, 505, 705
And Cobalt Townsite and City of Cobalt merger 786
Company report 510
Cobalt Silver Queen. Ltd., Cobalt 199
Cobalt Townsite Silver Mining Co.. Ltd.. Cobalt 25, 199, 389
And Cobalt Lake and City of Cobalt merger 786
Company report 506
Cobre Verde, Sonora 869
Cochise Copper Co.. Arizona 824
Coe Brass Manufacturing Co. growth 926
Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho, mining costs 185
Electric plant Glrard R. Rosenblatt 335
roghlll. Will H Standardization of terms 456
Coinage of mints in 1913 163
Coins. United States standards 341
Coke. British Columbia production 202
United States production In 1913 928
folbath, James Solution control In cyanidation.... 421
Colburn-Ajax mine. Cripple Creek, Colorado 156, 308, 991
Colby. William E Revision of the mining law, dis-
covery 246
Cold water paint "18
Collins. Edgar A Cost at the Commonwealth.... 859'
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Collins. George E What is the matter with pros- ^
pectins .' 184
Colomoia, Certigue Dredging Co g96
Ohoco district, Mining in ,„„
Colombian Mining & exploration Co J*3
Dredging '"[ !35
Mining industry • •.•„• • ;a.; ' *. ^' o4fi ru->
Orovilie Dredging Co.. Ltd ..... • • • .■•168, 183, 199, 39b, as-
Orovilie Dredging Co., Ltd., and its tutuie 1j»»
Pato Mines, Ltd • • •;,• v.'. Viu'm' 780
Pato Mines, Ltd., drilling ......... ;v,^' t,„ u" last
Colombian Mining & Exploration Co., Colombia >. .^„. ■ ■ ■ l»»
Colorado and radiam bill. •■•••:•■••: ,,I'SS£„ f„ ioig 120
Aspen district silver and lead production in 1913 ^u
Black Hawk ore shipments in 191a 589
IreckenrSdle Set mineral- production in' iiil \ \ \ \ ! ! ! 120
Brush Creek district jjjj,- 103 112
Carnotite production 348
Central City district ••••••■••■;••• ;--.-A;i 11U
Chaffee county mineral production In 1913 . . . . . ....
Clear Creek county, Idaho Springs district .... 119, l»j>. g69
Clear Creek county metal production in 1913 119
Coal miners strike . . . . . • • • KiWrnVlal 7 a 1
Coal miners strike and intervention Editoi lai. . . . i^
Copper production .... .. •:;•••.•• 'jiii 120
Creede district, mineral production in 1913 ^
Creede district mines ■ ■ • ■ • • ■ • • ■ ■•-■.; • „93 430
Cripple Creek district 120, 195, 271, 308. 3»4, «», i(m
Cripple Creek gold production in 1913 9°-
Custer county cerussite deposits ..... . •■■■ 119
Eagle county metal production in 191a 50g n0
Eagle district ■••••••■:•• Voi* 119
Gillin county mineral production in 1913 ^»
Gold dredging 8
Gold production ■ lBiilYnrlal 165
Idaho Springs, radium discovery Editorial. ... ^
Leadville district • •!;,■■••,*" iVlV " 119 155
Leadville district mineral production in 1913 iij> 1()29
Leadville district mines ......... . . • • 825
Leadville district zinc-carbonate ores •• 589
Leadville, new zinc smelter Editorial.... 479
Mine output and assessors cuiiunai ^
Mine production 633
Mineral production Editorial 920
Mineral production value Ediionai ^%
Mining convention at Denver 546
Montrose district ore discovery • „3 5(|9
Oak Creek district discovery . .... • • • • • 157
Ourav county mineral production in 1913 jig' 471 825
Ouray county mines ' ' 163
Petroleum production '• jo4
Pitchblende • '",'... 945
Pitchblende ores, geology 86T
Radium lands 'and withdrawal- bfV.'.'.'.'.'V.EditoViai: . . . 166
Rollinsville district '74V '789" 825,' 867, 916
Roosevelt tunnel '*'• • ..157
San Juan mineral production 8
Silver production '3'48' 1030
Silverton district Editorial' 920
Smelters . . 383
Smelting in 45
Stoping methods ' ' 325
Strike . • ■ ■ • • • • '.'.'.'.'.'.. 939
Timber cut in 1911 .. 1030
Unaweep copper district 703
Uranium ores ' ' ' 104
Vanadium • ; • :;•• 669
Colorado Metal Mining Association .'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'589, 747
Columbia*1 Copper Co.,' 'id'aho'new 'properties 909
Columbia University engineering enrollment 964
School of Mines, 1864-1914 12 g40
School of Mines, semi-centennial .„.„ ..^ • • • — -'^ 1Q42
Students summer earnings memorial ^^
go.vfn^Cla^ence ^"compensation Act and 'prospecting: . . '. sis
Combinatior "mine. Goldfleld Consolidated Mines Co., Ne- ^
S^lHt^JSa^ Ho^inW in California! \ \ \ ™
SomSodore ^W^iSSiiu.V.V .'. V665, |jj
gommonwetltn ffiff* Mliiin, ci.'. ' Pearce, " Ariiona.V91. 306
Company report . . •••••■••-•• .y/. •.Edgar A.' Collins: '. \ '. 859
Milling operations E. H. Leslie.... 72-
Compania Huanchaca des Bolivia 1UD0
Company reports: 430
Acacia Gol-i Mining Co.. Colorado **«
Ahmeek Mining Co.. Michigan • • • »"
Alaska Gold Mines Co ....... .. '83, 800
Alaska Mexican Gold Mining Co »»'
Alaska Treadwell Gold Mining Co »»'
Alaska United Gold Mining Co »• '
Aleomah Mining Co.. Michigan »»°
Allouez Mining Co., Michigan »"J
Amalgamated Copper Co.
Amalgamate! Zinc (De Bavay s). Ltd
Page.
591
832
637
Amaiganuj I, " ^.111^ ,.v^. ........ ... — — „7 fi„_
American Smelting & Refining Co >»', »-5'
American Zinc. Leod & Smelting Co iiixi'i 1071
Anaconda Copper Mining Co.. Montana S23, S , 4, 1071
Aporoma Goldflelds, Ltd.. Sandia, Peru »»'
Arizona Commercial Mining Co.. Arizona '»»
A = gard Mining Co.. Ltd.. Bohemia • • • • ■ ■ • • • •ii>5
Ashanti Goldflelds Corporation Ltd., Gold Coast Colony, ^
A=«ociated Nortnern Blocks fW. A.) Ltd 552
Balaebat Gold Mining Co.. Ltd.. India ...... •■ J' J
T-nrn^^-Kinf Development Co.. Kendall. Montana 436
Barramia Mining & Exploration. Ltd.. Egypt ' ' •'
Belcher Silver Mining Co., Ne\ ada
ciacK Lake Asbestos Co »"
Brakpan Mines Co., Hand '»*
tiroiten flu! proprietary Mining Co., Liu S>o^
Broken lull South Snver Mining Co., Australia jlo
Bi mis nick Coiisolidalea Gold jviining Co 399
Bueiia iicria Mining Co., i^tu., oanca Eulalia district, ^
Mexico ' -
Buiiaio Mines, Ltd., Ontario 993, 102o
ouiiKer mil A ouaivan Mining & Concentrating Co.,
iveilogg, loano 82o, 833
Burma coi poration 98o
Burro Mountain Copper Co., Tyrone, Mew Mexico bl»
Butte & superior Copper Co., Ltd 91o
caiuniit & Arizona Mining Co • - »4J
Calumet & Hecla Mining Co., Michigan 669, 102o, 18(8
Cam & Motor, Rnodesia 10< 7
Canadian Klondyke Mining Co 53'
Casev Cobalt Mining Co., Ontario $<>*>
Centennial Copper CO., Michigan ■ ■ . t><>9
Champion Reel Gold Mining Co., of Ind.a, Ltd 399, bob
Chief Consolidated Mining Co., Eureka, Ctah 35i
Chino Copper Co., New Mexico <06, 9o4
Cia. Mineia Chontalpan y Anexas, Mexico »i3
Cooalt Lake Mining Co 510
Cobalt Townsite Silver Mining Co. of Canada, Ltd all;
Commonwealth Mining & Milling Co., Pearce, Arizona.. 59i
coniagas Mines, Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario 293
Consolidated Coppermines Co., Nevada 1036
Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. of Canada, Ltd.... £1*
Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Co 616
Copper Range Consolidated Co., Michigan 8.4
Cordoba Copper Co., Ltd., Spain 71o
Crown Point Gold & Silver Mining Co., Nevada 591
Crown Reserve Mining Co., Ltd. Cobalt, Ontario 310, 998
Daly-Judge Mining Co., Park City, Utah 598
Daly West Mining Co., Utah 592
Detroit Copper Mining Co., Arizona .••••: t\i.
Dexter White Caps Mining Co., Manhattan, Nevada 82b
Dome Lake M. & M. Co ••••••, y«Y Ail
Dome Mines, Ltd., Porcupine, Ontario 864, 103b
Dominion Steel Corporation 354
Dragon Consolidated Mining Co., Tintic, Ltah 592
Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co., Utah 431
East Butte Coppei Mining Co., Montana 670
East Rand Proprietary Mines Co »20
Eastern Smelting Co., Ltd., Federated Malay States 873
El Favor Mining Co., Jalisco, Mexico 1ZJ
Esperanza Mining Co., Mexico «•}
Falcon Mines Ltd., Rhodesia 314
Florence Goldfleld Mining Co., Nevada 394
Franklin M. Co., Michigan 1077
Frontino & Bolivia (South American) Gold Mining Co.,
Colombia
832
Globe & Phoenix Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 873
Golden Horse-Shoe Estates Co., Ltd., Western
Australia 1"i\
Goldfleld Consolidated Mines Co »S2
Great Boulder Perseverance Gold Mining Co., Kalgoor-
lie, Western Australia 59 1, 832
Great Cobar, Ltd • ■ • • • • • f»8
C-reene Cananea Copper Co. and subsidiaries 9o4
Guggenheim Exploration Co 304. 313
Heuley Gold Mining Co., British Columbia 63i
Hollinger Gold Mines Co................. ••■ 31U
Homestake Mining Co., Lead, South Dakota 466, 553
Horn Silver Mining Co., Utah 91U
Hydraulic Power & Smelting Co., Norway 3di.
Indiana M. Co., Michigan 10' '
Inspiration Copper Co iu*
International Coal & Coke Co., Colemont, Alberta 592
International Nickel Co. ....... lo^a
International Smelting & Refining Co.. „. .. .... .. 9a3
Iron Blossom Consolidated Mining Co., Silver City, Ltah 23a
Isle Royale Copper Co., Michigan... .•••;••:. „-,v o-T
Ivanhoe Gold Corporation, Ltd., Western Australia. .816. 8.4
Jumbo Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 399
Keystone C. Co., Arizona I0b»
Lena Goldflelds, Ltd., Siberia............... •■•• «»
Lonelv Reef Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 832, 10. 1
Lower Mammoth Mining Co., Utah..... ££■>
MacNamara Mining Co., Tonopah, Nevada 5a2
Mary McKinney Mining Co ■■■ ^'a
Mason Valley Mines Co............ 628. s.b
May Dav Mining & Milling Co., Utah . ......... 61 1
Mcintvre Porcupine Mines, Ltd., Schumacher, Ontario.. 1032
McKiriley-Darragh-Savage Mining Co.................. 6^»
Mexican Gold & Silver Mining Co., Virginia City. Ne-
vada • \ \\
Miami Copper Co ... . • ' {"
Mines Company of America v.- • ; i?o
Moctezuma Copper Co., Nacozan, bonora, Mexico 618
Montana-Tonopah Mines Co.... • »»«
Mt. Bischoff Tin Mining Co., Tasmania. ... 63,
Ml Morgan Gold Mining Co Ltd Queensland 436
Mvsore Gold Mining Co Ltd., India ■■■ »»'
Natomas Consolidated of California 904. 916
Nevada Consolidated Chopper Co vi-"V. ib'' iot
Nevada Hills Mining Co lairview, Nevada 436
New Chuquitambo Gold Mines. Ltd., Peru...... S3-
New Idria Quicksilver Mining Co California '54
Ninissinc Mines Co.. Cobalt. Ontario . . . ••■• »•>-
North B?oken Hill Mining Co., New South Wales, Aus- ^
tralia • 071
North Butte Mining Co. .... ■ • v °iu
North Lake Mining Co.. Michigan.......... »»". i"**
North Star Mines Co.. Grass Valley, California 631
North Star Mining Co., Nevada ' ' '
Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co . »"i
Nundvdroog Co.. Ltd . Kolar. Mysore India bi^
Old Dominion Copper Mining & smelting Co »'»
Ontario Silver Mining Co.. Park City Utah 71*
Ooregum Gold Mining Co. of India, Ltd »*g
Osceola Consolidated Mining Co "^2
Pacific G. & E. Co.. California •••• ""'
Phelps, Dodge Mercantile Co »»'. »';
Pioneer Tin Mining Co., Tasmania
8
S32
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Page.
Porcupine-Crown Mines, Ltd 998
Portland Gold Mining Co 3oS
Premier Diamond Mining Co., Ltd., fretona, iransvaal. oa.
Quincy Mining Co., Michigan 86a
Railroad Valley Co., Nevada 314
Kay Consolidated Copper Co 3y9, 7 uo, iaa
Rhodesia Gold Mining & Investment Co., Ltd 107 i'
Kico-Vv eilington Mining Co., K.cu, coioiauu yij
Kio Tinto Copper Co., Ltd., Spain 71o
Rochester Hills Mining Co., Rochester, Nevada 430
Rochester Mines Co., Kochester, Nevada 4(2
Rochester Weaver Mining Co., Rochester, Nevada 591
St. John del Rey Mining Co., Ltd., Brazil 203
St. Joseph Lead Co ya3
San Toy Mining Co., Chihuahua, Mexico 357
Seneca-Superior Silver Mines, Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario 715
Seoul Mining Co., Korea 122, 199, 1078
Seven Troughs Mining Co., Nevada 591
Shannon Copper Co., Arizona 716
Shattuck-Arizona Copper Co 470
Silver King Consolidated Mining Co., Utah 473
Simmer A. Jack Proprietary Ltd., Transvaal 357
Sons of Gwalia Ltd., Western Australia 873
South African Gold Trust, Ltd 637
Stag Canon Fuel Co., Dawson, New Mexico 618
Standard Consolidated Mining Co., Bodie, California.... 507
Standard Silver-Lead Mining Co., British Columbia 915
Sudan Gold Field Co., Ltd., Sudan 715
Sulphide Corporation, Central mine, Broken Hill, New
South Wales 304
Superior Copper Co., Michigan 669
Tamarack Mining Co., Michigan 669
Tecopa Consolidated Mining Co., Tecopa, California 429
Tennessee Copper Co 424, 670
Tewksbury Amalgamated Gold Dredging Co.. Victoria,'
Australia 675
Tolima Mining Co., Ltd.. Colombia 675
Tom Reed Gold Mines Co., Arizona 990
Tongkah Harbour Tin Dredging Co., Siam 203
Tonopah Belmont Development Co., Nevada 706, 833
Tonopah Extension Mining Co 997
Tonopah Midway Mining Co 357
Tonopah Mining Co., Nevada 915
Trinity Consolidated Hydraulic Mining Co., California.. 908
Trinity Gold Mining & Reduction Co.. California 908
Tronoh Mines, Ltd., Federated Malay States 915
Tuolumne Copper Mining Co.. Butte, Montana 590
Union Mlnlere du Haut, Katanga, Belgian Congo 322
United Globe Mines Co 675
United Gold Mines Co 471 675
United Statts Smelting. Refining & Mining Co. .636, 666! 675
United States Steel Corporation 667, 784
Utah Consolidated Mining Co 671
Utah Copper Co 357, 744, 795
Van Ryn Gold Mines Estate. Ltd., Rand 598
Victoria Mining Co., Michigan 430
Vindicator Consolidated Gold Mining Co.. Cripple Creek,
Colorado 314
Waihl-Paeroa Gold Extraction Co., New Zealand 832
Wallaroo & Moonta Mining & Smelting Co.. Ltd., South
Australia 997
Wandiligong Gold Dredging Co., Victoria, Australia. . . . 675
Washington Water Power Co 310
Wasp No. 2 Mining Co., Flatlron, South Dakota 467
Whim Well Copper Mines, Ltd., Western Australia 873
Wllbert Mining Co., Idaho 908
Winona Copper Co.. Michigan 590
Wolfram Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., Portugal 716
Yellow Jacket Gold & Silver Mining Co., Nevada 591
Yuanml Gold Mines, Ltd 126
Yukon Gold Co 553
Y-Water Tin Co., New South Wales 873
Compensation Act and prospecting. .Clarence K. Colvln. . . . 938
And industrial accidents, Nevada 332
And medical examination Editorial .... 518
Insurance Fund, California State 907
Workmen's In California and wage reductions 423
Workmen's In Idaho Editorial.... 920
Workmen's in Ontario 743
Workmen's judicial rulings Editorial .... 402
Compound Interest problems, Graphic solutions of certain.
Horace F. Lunt.... 813
Compressed air and reduction plant 423
Air, and sinking through sand In Lake Superior
region 1048
Air, Progress In the application of.... Robert Peele.... 75
Ccmstoek Lode. Nevada, milling plants 146
Pumping at Gold Hill mines 652
Concentrator, revolving canvas, section of 66
Concrete and stamp dies 387
Concreting the Junction shaft of the Calumet & Arizona... 579
Condenser, surface, correct form 301
Confidence, Victoria, Australia 675
Congress, mlr.lng legislation 627. 706
Conlasras Mines, Ltd., Cobalt 122, 231
Company report 203
Conlagas Reduction Co.. Ltd.. Cobalt 199
Connecticut, electric light and power-stations 221
Conrey Placer Mining Co.. Ruby. Montana 96
Consolidated Arizona Smelting Co.. Arizona 296
Consolidated Copoermincs Co., Elv. Nevada
160. 355. 514, 632. 676, 834, 103R
Companv report 1036
Wall suit 868
Ditto Editorial 837
Consolidated Gold Flelds.of South Africa. Rand 52, 229
Costs 861
Consolidated Langlaaute mine. Rand 70
Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.. Hrltlsh Columbia
117. 473, 869, 1032
Comnan v renort 274
Consolidated Mining Co.. Mexico 114
Consolidated Oil Fields of South Africa. Ltd 821
Consolidated St. GotHard 'Delhi) Gold Mining Co 788
Consolidated Stone Co.. Wasatch. Utah 47T
^•on'inentnt Conner Co . South DnVotn 305
Continental Mines. Power * Reduction Co.. Black Hawk.
Colorado
Page.
710
Continental Zinc Co., Carterville, Missouri . . " g'6
Continuous agitation Donald F Irwin'"' 571
Operations Editorial .'.'.'. 1042
Process? . . . Huxley St. John biuoas.
Converter, Old Dominion smelter, Arizona ..
Conveyor belt
Cooke City mining district, Montana. ...E.' b. Gardner'
Cooper, James B., death of 471
Copeland, W. S„ death of J jn
Copeland Sampling Co., Colorado ' ' ' jj«7
Copper, Africa, Katanga smelting 171
Af'<:a' Leaching Editorial" ! ! 318
Alaska production gg j- ,
And aluminum allovs 1 as
1060
265
128
sso
And electric furnace
61
Arizona production , , , 1Ut;
Britisli Columbia production •>()•>
Butte, Montana, production, 1913 J j g
California production gg ' YoY, 58s
Colorado production 49 119 jiq
Colorado, San Juan production ' ' ' ' ' ' 157
Coft of production, Lake Superior district! ! ! 1411
Exports to Europe 544
Flotation treatment in America gy
German consumption ' ' ' '5Y2 <|<j5
German imports /. ' ->64
Great Britain production !.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 914
Idaho production '//,' Y.'l'oY 157
In 1913, Hydro and pyro-metallurgy of ..... '
. „ , „, Thomas T. Read! !!! 54
Ingots, Royal Mint, London jj-i
Japan production \\ iis.' 337', 1035
Ditto . Editorial 205
Lake Superior district in 1913 R. H. Maurer 140
Leaching and electrolytic precipitation at Chutiuicamata
. . , _ „ E. A. Cappelen Smith 739
Leaching, Development of practice Editorial 960
Leaching of tailing Rudolf Gahl. ... 766, 901
Market 83, S7. 275 433
Market future 231
Matte, converting, Old Dominion smelter... . 265
Matte, Granulating H. R. Hallett. . !'. 296
Matte production in the reverberatory furnace
„ Herbert Lang.... 802
Metallurgy, Transitions in Editorial 104'
Michigan production gg 747
Miners' strike. End of Editorial. ' 6S2
Montana production 135
Monthly production 160. 355. 514, 676, 834, 1038
.Nevada-Douglas, leaching experiments on ores
Editorial 205
Nevada production joS
New Mexico production ... .88 121
Ontario production 592
Oregon production .!!!!!!! 103
Ores. Leaching Wilbur A. Hendr'yx!!!! 264
Ores, Slater leaching process for H. W. Morse 1S1
Peru production 872
Porphyry ore ! 301
Porphyry ores, and precious metals 738
Prices 87. 124, 162, 201, 238. 275, 276 312 353 397
434. 475, 512, 550, 594, 595, 635, 673. 713, 751 752 792
829, 871, 913, 949. 951, 995, 1034, 1075
Producing states, leading 261
Production cost, Bullwhacker Copper Co 57
Production cost, Butte-Duluth Mining Co 56
Production, world 674
Queensland production, 1913 793
Smelting 60
Smelting and Panama canal 1025
South Australia production, 1913 1059
Statistics Editorial . ... 402
Statistics, American reception abroad 268
Tasmania production 714
Treatment 784
United States exports 863
United States production 8, 105
United States production in 1913 and strikes and Mexi-
can trouble 117
Utah production 108, 947
Washington production 176
Weldleln leaching process 575
Ditto Editorial. . . . 558
Wyoming production Ill
Copper Belt Mining Co., Arizona 668
Copper Giant mine, Arizona 944
Copper King Mining Co., Chewelah Copper King Milling
Co.. Washington 548, 592, 947, 993
Smelting 122
Copper Producers' Association dinner for Charles F.
Brooker 706
Report 124, 312, 475, 635, 829, 995
Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Co., Bisbee, Arizona. . . .
160, 269, 355, 511, 676, 834. 990, 103S
And medical examination Editorial. ... 518
Company report 616
Employees' Benefit Association 347
Modern dispensary 788
Safety First 507
Copper Queen mine. Washington 749
Copper Range Consolidated Mining Co., I'ainesdale, Michi-
gan 157, 160, 355, 514. 676, 789. 834, 1028, 103S
Companv report 874
Copper Rlvr coalfields, British Columbia 390
Copperoslty group, Arizona 588
Cordoba Copper Co.. Ltd., Spain, company report 715
Editorial 1041
Cornwall, England, cost of dredging 41
Labor troubles 267
Map 27
Mines 267
Mines on London, market 27
New safety detonator at Edward Browning.... 845
Tin ore treatment 265
Tin production 773
10
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Cornwall Ore Bank Co 846!
Corona Oil Co. in rampieo district, Mexico <<><
Coronation Alining Co., British Columbia . .. . 39U
Corporations and stockholders Editorial. . . . iia
Corsica mine, f.lba, Minnesota, Are .... lu^b
Costa Kica, Abangarez Gold Field Co 199, 351, 671, ill, ail
Alaska, Bering River coalfield, coal mining 329, 330
Alaska, Long Lake power development. . • • •
E. P. Kennedy ... .180, 220
Alaska, Speel river electro-chemical project........... 218
Alaska, water-power development .ISO, ^18, ^u
Alaska Treadwell concentrate treatment cyanide plant,
191 3 1 v £ 4
American Flag mine, Utah, treatment . ■ ■ • ■ 34o
Anaconda Copper Mining Co., sulphuric acid manufac-
ture .2?
Angelo mine, Rand, sand filling of slopes. ... 464
Ashanti Goldflelds Corporation Ltd., West Africa 552
Balaghat mine, Kolar, India, cyanidation ...•••• •
Barnes-King Development Co., Montana, mining and
milling ■ • •••;•:
Belgian Congo, Chinese labor importing into
Broken Hill South mine, and ore treatment
Buckeye-Belmont mine, Tonopah, Nevada
Bullwhacker Copper Co. copper production ....... ....
Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining & Concentrating Co. 833, 860
Butte, Montana, mining 30^
Butte & Superior Copper Co., Ltd. . »J»
Butte & Superior mill, mining and treatment 34a
Butte-Duluth Mining Co., copper production. . »»
Calumet & Arizona, concreting Junction shaft 6'»
Calumet & Hecla Mining Co... iu-;>
Cananea Consolidated Copper Co., smelting •••■••. bu
Champion Reef gold mine, India, compressed air ma-
chine-dfills
Chile coal
Coal, anthracite mining
Commonwealth Mining & Milling Co^ . „ . ..^j. . . . . . ^
Consolidated Langlaagte. Rand, cyaniding 71
Copper leaching, probable '?»
Cornwall, dredging :••••.••. ,Tn
Crown Reserve Mining Co., Ontario, mining
Dome Mines, Ltd
747
320
769
341
57
378
416
1064
1036
720
Dredging in different countries '-«
East Rand Proprietary Mines ■ • • ■ »*^
Erecting treatment plants.... M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 619
Franklin Mining Co., Michigan . . . ,. . . .. .. ■••••• _• ■ '•••,;•■ Iu"
Frontino and Bolivia (South American) Gold Mining Co
Ltd.
832
1077
. I. F. La inks.
Mexica.
Miami Copper Co., Arizona, mining
Milling plants. Underestimating
Mining brown hematite ores
Missouri, Flat River lead district, mining
Montana-Tonopah mine
Mother Lode region, California
Motor truck hauling
Mount Lvell Mining & Railway Co., Tasmania, stoping
Murex process in German works
66,
45
Page.
Sliamva mine, Rhodesia WJjj
bniimer & .lack mine, Rand »<•»
Snowstorm Mining Co., Idaho, stoping ... •••■••• • • ■■■■■
Stratton s Independence, Ltd., Crippie Creek, Colorado,
stoping
Dutop'"s. oz™e.v^ e!. •.•.•.'.•.■ •.'.■.•.•.■.'.•.•.•.'.•.Editoriki:::: r/o
Thawing frozen ground 97,144, 18o
Tennessee Copper Co . . • • »i»
Texas, eastern, iron ore production »«»
Tonopah Belmont Development Co »"
Tonopah Extension Mining Co »9<
Tonopah Mining Co., Nevada »i?
United States production per pound luio
Utah Copper Co., steam-shovel mining ............ 48
Victorious mine, Associated Northern Blocks, Ora
Banda, Western Australia . . ............ .... . . . . ... 565
Wallaroo & Moonta Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., South
Australia
.819, 997
72 Wasp No. 2 mine and mill, arid recovery . . . . . 765
Water-power development, Alaska ......180, 218, 220
Wrater-power development, Norway, Sweden, and
United States
218
Witwatersrand Deep mine, sand-tilling stopes 939
Yellow fever prevention 819
Yukon Gold Co ■ |j>»
Cotton, United States exports of raw 863
Counterbalancing hoists, Balliet system . 33b
Ditto Operator. . . . 340
Coupling, 'Neverleak jjjjj}
Cover for engineers' note-books ^bJ
Crabs and winches, safety ■•••"'IVl ,V
Craig, E. H. Cunningham, report on South African oil-
fields
821
Crane, W. R.'.'.'. Mining methods in the Bering River
'coalfields, Alaska
Crane, locomotive
1000
Crawf'ord7"E.""p.'.T. . '. ".American investments in Mexico.... 980
Crawford, John J., death of ... 123
Creighton nickel mine, Sudbury district, Ontario 744
Cresson Consolidated Gold Mining & Milling Co., Cripple
Creek, Colorado • • • • 156, 710
Cripple Creek Drainage & Tunnel Co., Colorado 747
Criterion mine, Rhodesia 586
Crookshank, H. T., death of •■■■ ••■■••■ 159
Crosse Andrew F Assaying concentrate and black
sand for gold and platinum .... 814
Crown Mines, Ltd., Rand 52. 808, 942, 1024
Costs
861
Golden Horse-Shoe Estates. Ltd., Western Australia.
Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co., Nevada _ ...... „„ ^
Grand Junction mill, Wathi, New Zealand treatment. . . a40
Great Boulder Perseverance Gold Mining Co., Ltd. . . .... 83-
Hollinger Gold Mines Ltd.. Ontario 71, 310, 592, 1073
Homestake Mining Co .... ■ • , £9°
Hvdraulicking Klamath river. California ■•■••• °-1
Hydro-electric power in Alaska and Scandinavia.......
Editorial .... 1 6^
Idaho, Couer d'Alene district, mining 185
India, Kolar gold mines = 15
Irving leaching process • i»
Johnson dredge, Seward peninsula, dredging, labor and ^
ruei • • ooo 0R1
Joplin district, mining "s- ^ J*
Kalgoorlie fuel •••■ i S 4
Kalgurli Gold Mines. Ltd.. in 1913 188
Katanga, Africa, smelting copper i'l
Korean mining concessions, operating '»-
Lake Superior district, copper production 140
Lonely Reef Gold Mining Co., Ltd »i£
Macnamara Mining Co "?-
Malayan Peninsula, dredging in •■■■■•■. •■• *J
Mclntvre Porcupine Mines. Ltd Ontario .ftVien ill
Mexican Gold & Silver Mining Co., Nevada 203, 260, 415
4 62
460
738
769
110
337
45
932
Hysore mine, Kolar, India, cyanidation ';
Nevada Consolidated Copper Co . . • -48, b8r>
Nevada Hills Mining Co <1. 386, 38^
Newsbov Mining Co., Alaska, mining 34,
Nipissing Mines Co ■ • »"• *%*
Nipissing Mines Co., Cobalt, Denny treatment, silver ores ,4
Nipissing mill treatment 90-
Nipissing low-grade mill, supplies in 1913 '»-
North Star Mines Co., California 631
Norwav. water-power plant construction 9U-
Ohio Copper Co. mill. Lark, Utah . . . . 12-
Ooregum Gold Mining Co. of India, Ltd
Oroville Dredging Co., Ltd., Colombia, dredging, Pato
property ■ ■■•■••■•■■•■•
Oroya Black Range mill. Western Australia, Leaching
ciioft ^inkinfif ,. 625
Crown Point Mining Co., Gold Hill, Nevada 1030
Company report 591
Pumping doa
Crown Reserve Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt 199, 231, 273,
426, 827
Company report 310, 998
Litigation ended °?J
Crucible, graphite, safety in use 1002
Non-skimming • •••• • • •; ■. • • J'J
Crucibles for melting materials of high melting points.... 301
Crushers, Gyratory v. jaw C. T. Hutchinson 222
Crushing gold ore and leaching o83
Plants, Rhodesia 14b
Rolls v. ball-mill ■■••"■«■ •:. "01
Theory and practice of H. W Hardinge. . . . 226
Wet, in ball-mills A. W. Allen
Cryolite, Greenland production
Cup grease and air line connections . . .
Cupellation bead3, Detection of the platinum metals in
Curie, definition ■ • •; ■ ■••»■•■•
Curious metal ■ Editorial....
Cutting and welding, Oxy-acetylene « j>b
Cvanamid ; • ■ • li#; • • ' Vl!.i -o
Cyanidation cost, Mysore mine, Kolar, India . . •••••••• i\
' Lead salts in ...••■•••• John B- ^^f^0",- ■ ' ' ill
Reinohl process of rapid . .Editorial ,98
Solution control in -y A, W. Allen .... 338
{< \\\° I... James S. Colbath 421
Cyanide bullion', "Lake View mill. Kalgoorlie, valuing
method c ,«
Clean-up, matte from . ^J"
Plant, power transmission^ ; — ,• —;,-„• —™ 'nr,ir,: \ \ \ \ \ 703
. 1024
860
423
146
879
Practice, centrifugal pumps in elevating ore pulp
Practice, gold appearance • • •■•••:•• •
Practice, Pressure and vacuum at altitude
978
167
663
39
979
sanci ,•••-■•,
Orsk Goldflelds, Ltd., Siberia, dredging
Panama canal •■•••;■: ,' V ' ' V ' ' ' *
Perseverance mine, Kalgoorlie, mining and treatment.. tsi
Porcupine Crown. Ontario 90»
Portland Canal tunnel, British Columbia i»l
P:m<i. labor on the -jjx
,,„,,,, p-lnes ..-■■ ;•••• Sbu
i;.ui,i M'nes. Ltd., amalgamation-cyanidation plants
reduction : • • bJ.
p^v nopoolidated Copper Co.. Arizona, mining '}
i>..not1o- nredging Co., Siam. dredging *»*
P„"v.„rm repair C. K. Hitchcock. Jr.--;- 933
Roord Arr,„ntain Mining Co., Nevada, mining with
i,nrT<r"--niind crusher fi]4
Sand shafts
A. W. Allen.
Practice. Simplication of gold ore treatment. ■ ^-^ • ■ ■ 89g
Practice. Soluble losses .......... .Harai R. Layng. ... 891
Practice Zinc in precipitation boxes 03
Kve' e7fflciencyPof sodium and ^tasp.urn , . .. . . . . 89g
Sodium and potassium, Relative efficiency of. .^.^ . . . 66o
6° 5
Solution and assay 6<>5
Solllt'ion. fold pnreci'pi'tat'ion' on zinc wafers.' | ] ] 383
Solution pipes .......... •',■,••■"■',,',' i-'aio-riorlie 6°5
Solutions, testing at Lake view ^§^^6^1] \ \ %
Cva^id^s "sodium "and'poi-.iim ! . ! !■ • • • Editorial. . . . 519
C> 'SJJffiaWpoUlS-. Restive efficienc^of „. . „ .... ^
Cvaniding cost. Consolidated Langlaagte^ R*"^-^- ■ ■ • ■ z\
Cylindrical wooden ore-passes. .. .Andrew laimeatner. . . |n
Cvlinv > 'v .. . •• "".-. -- -■
Cymru copper mine, Alaska
232
D
Dakin Jr., Fred H Replacement orebodies at the ^
Dakota C^ntfn^^lCoWe'r Co..' iilll 'citV.'souiii' Dakota \ \ '. 467
Dale iron mine, Minnesota
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
11
Daly-Judge Mining Co., Park City,
9r,r,
736
49
773
136
Page.
Utah 350, 632,
749, 769, 790, 1073
Company report 598
Mine metal output 477
Top-slicing 730
Daly West Mining Co., Park City, Utah 350, 1073
Company report 592
Fire 122
Darling, John, death of 912
David Taylor & Co., Salt Lake City, Utah 910
Davis, Frank P Revision of the mining law.... 982
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting?.... 375
Davis, John F California miners and the Exposition. . . . 298
Davis-Daly Copper Co., Montana 666, 789, 987
Yearly payroll 116
Davison's formula, rate of revolution of tube-mills 663
Day-Bristol Consolidated Mining Co., Pioche, Nevada 196
Receivers' report 992
Deadwood Business Club, South Dakota, Heidelberg prop-
erty 467, 584, 941, 1025
Deadwood mill. New Mexico 670
Deadwood Standard mine. South Dakota 941
De Beers diamond mines. South Africa 851
History 1007
Decision in flotation litigation 759
Ditto Editorial 758
Decisions relating to mining 127, 359, 432, 555, 598,
638, 716, 755, 795, 836, 875,
Decline of the Rand F. L. Bosqut
Ditto H. S. Denny
Decoto, L. A Valuing of dredging ground. . . .
Deep mine pumping and air lifts A. E. Chodzko....
Deister Concentrator Co. v. Delster Machine Co 91
v. Mine & Smelter Supply Co 825
Del Mar. Algernon What Is the matter with
prospecting? 662
Del Monte mine, Creede. Colorado 120
De Luse Mining & Dredging Co., Oregon 868
Denmark, shipbuilding In 1913 735
Dennis, Clifford G Quicksilver production and
prices 81
Denny, H. S Decline of the Rand. ... 49
Denver Engineering Works, new ore feeder 876
Depreciation of orebodles Editorial .... 557
Desengano mine, Guanacevl district, Mexico 592
Desulphurizing ores without roasting, Nipisslng Mines
Co Editorial 402
Detection of the platinum metals in cupellation beads 146
Determination of flue-dust losses
T. Neilson and L, Larson.... 929
Of sulphur in pyrite 579
Detonator, New safety, at Cornwall
Edward Browning.... 845
Detroit Copper Mining Co.. Morencl, Arizona 160, 355,
514, 676, 834, 1038
Company report 617
Deutschen Platlnwerke meeting. Germany ... .Editorial ... . 1001
Development of leaching practice Editorial.... 960
Development Company of America, history 985
v. Southern Pacific Co 985, 1066
Developments in the Shushana goldflelds. . . E. F. Wann.... 179
De Wolf. Frank W Work of the state geological
surveys 35
Dexter White Caps Mining Co., Manhattan, Nevada, com-
pany report 826
Diamond. Amsterdam, Antwerp exports to United States,
1913 896
And diamond mining Editorial.... 559
As Index to trade conditions Editorial.... 2
Belgian Congo production 324
Fields, Rush to the Hoco-Poco 856
Impenetrability of rounded 851
Mining in Brazil 806
Ontario 786
Production limitation Editorial.... 919
South African production , 626
Ditto Editorial 919
United States Imports in 1912 806
Van Zvle. Transvaal 816
Diamond King Mining Co., Brazil 806
Diamond-drill holes, cementing 387
Diamond-drilling at Ajo, Pima county. Arizona 217
Carbon costs. Goldfleld Consolidated 625
Diathermy and cancer 1064
Diesel engine 796
Engine. Busch-Sulzer Co. at Panama-Pacific Exposi-
tion
Engines, steamship 'Slam'
Ditto Editorial. . . .
Discoveries of mines. Accidental < I. I.. Sheldon ....
Discovery of zinc In America Charles R. Keyes...,
Versus a permit system Editorial....
Versus a permit system. Revision of the mining law,
Discovery William E. Colby....
Disease and sanitation. Joplln district 742
Disposal of residue from Amador County mills, Califor-
nia M. W. von Bernewltz. . . .
di Villi. Edward Chtng Using coal basin
I)i\nn Crucible Co., Joseph, non-skimming crucible 478
Dobbs. W. S Geological sketch of property of
Havden Gold Mines. Ltd
Doctor-Jack Pot Mining Co., Colorado
Dodg-. W. R Mining and washing brown hematite
ore«t
Doe Run Lead Co. and St. Joseph Lead Co.. Missouri, con-
solidation 785
Litigation 309
Dolcoath tin mine. Cornwall 465, 773
Dome Extension Mining Co.. Ontario 1028
Dome Lake M. & M. Co.. Ontario 189. 231, 510. 869. 906. 993
Companv report 351
Sha'« Issif 986. 102S
Dome Mines Co. Ltd. P>-oiin'n° nntn'l" 189. 19i,
231. 311. 351. 396. r, IS. 7)3. 786, 1023. IOTP.
Corbon cost 902
Company report -It. 1030
918
228
129
454
653
244
246
770
578
534
867
458
♦ 901 '868 douDBjd i. "
j_-o.,in.wn Steel Corporation, Canada, company report 354
H0OltyVW/ S"",',' Blacksmiths problem"" 384
Dos i-strelias gold mines, Michoacan, Mexico. .114 7,w
Tube-mill li4' '"'
Double Header Mines Co., Nespele'm," Washington xfix
Douglas. Archibald. . National Radium Institute: '. ' ' 16
Doveton, Godfrey D., death of i iuic to
Dovre Mining Co., Washington i%i,
90
592
510
538
Dow, Stephen R., sentence {•
Dragon Consolidated Mining Co., Tlntic' Utah
Company report
Drainage, mine, Brunswick property,' Grass' Valley,' Call
fornia
Draper, David '.'.'.'.'.'.Rand banket" .' '. .
Dredge and heavy spares j g8
Bucket elevator, equipped with stern delivery stacker'
Levee building with C. G. Leeson. . . .' 644
Buckets 10fi
Buckets and round tumbler ..'.
Gold, Largest electrically operated
W. H. Gardner and W. M. Shepard!
Lumber
Dredging, Alaska ,?■
Alaska, Iditarod ..'.'. 735
Alaska, placer tin .'.'.'.'. 223
Alaska, thawing costs ........' 97
At Oroville M. W. von Berne witi: '.'.'. 297
California joj
Cost in Cornwall '.'.'.'.'.''' 41
Cost in Malayan Peninsula
Costs in different countries Editorial
Costs of Orsk Goldflelds, Ltd., Siberia
Costs, Renong Dredging Co., Slam
Gold, abroad in 1913 Charles Janin.
Gold and tin in 1913 Charles Janin.
Gold, in Burma, India
Gold, in the United States Charles Janiii:
Gold, stripping frozen gravel Editorial.
Gold. Surinam Dutch Guiana J. B. Percival
Ground, Valuing of L. A. Decoto.
Ditto H. M. Herrick.
In Idaho, Winter John H. Miles.
New South Wales, gold recovery, 1913
Panama canal 47
Philippine Islands 184. 265, 503, 911
Russia in 1912, translated by William H. Shockley 894
Santo Domingo goldflelds, Haiti Editorial.... 89
Sleeves. B. F. Goodrich & Co 918
Victoria. Australia 450
Victoria, Australia, damage report 628
Drift mining In the frozen gravel deposits of Cape
Nome Arthur Gibson 404
Drill holes, diamond, cementing 387
Machine, Champion Reef gold mine. India 378
Temple-Ingersoll gasoline-air rock 400
Drilling by rotary process 265
Diamond, at Ajo. Pima countv. Arizona 217
Pato Mines, Ltd.. Colombia A. C. Ludlum.... 780
Rock, in Lake Superior iron mines.. P. B. McDonald.... 494
Drills, rock. Younger generation of 241
Driving of winding engines. Electrical
C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons.... 774
Drucker. A. E Gold mining concessions in Korea. . . . 762
Drum, Choice for steam or electrical drive
C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons.... 774
Drumlummon controversv, Apex law in the
Charles W. Goodale 368
Duncan. Lindsay Accident prevention at the Nevada
Consolidated 288
Dunkln mine. Rreekenrldge district, Colorado, lessees 747
95
1053
464
41
720
39
703
183
39
79
93
720
733
773
1061
455
38
Dupen. Francis, death of 94S
Durston Mining Co., Kansas 742
Dutch East Indies, petroleum production 714
Dutch Guiana, gold production. 1913 352
Dynamite, tamping 464
£
Eagle & Blue Hell Mining Co.. Bingham. Utah 473, 510,
628, 790
Company report 431
Eames. L. B Agitation at Nevada Hills... USB
East Butte Copper Mining Co., Butte, Montana .... 1 60, 349,
355, 514. 676, 834. 103,8. 1065
Company report 670
Yearly payroll 116
East Indies, gold and silver production in 1912 164
East Pool tin mine, Cornwall 267
Production 773
East Hand Proprietary Mines Co.. Rand r>-'
Annual meeting 942
Company report 820
Costs sci
East Side mine. Nevada 121
Eastern Lead & Zinc Co.. Lawton, Kansas 1027
Eastern Smelting Co.. Ltd.. Federated Malay States, com-
pany report 873
Easton. Stanly A. What is the matter with pros-
pecting? 168
Ebner mine. Alaska 783
Kcho mine. Murphys, California 470
Economical sliming by grinding pans
M. G. F. Sohnleln. ... SI7
Eden Mining Co., Nicaragua 35L'
Ednn May mine, Western Australia 665, 862, 863
Efficiency and specialism Specialist.... 110
Eldorado & P'acer Counties Cold Mining & Power Co.,
California 307, 508
Eldorado Banket Cold Mining Co., Ltd.. Rhodesia r.sn
Mine. Mlll'ng operations at the A. W. Allen ... . T.01
Electric blasting in shafts with delay action exploders....
C. W. Morse. ... 216
Current, hlgh-frenuency, and cancer lafit
Current shock 106*
12
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Furnace for steel production 1/1
Furnace in smelting of ores and metals a^
Furnace, power absorbed "■•■••••.••
Furnace, Zinc ore in the Editorial. .
Insulation and moisture and acid
Light and power stations
Locomotive, Tandem Ti
Motors, back-geared • •• •••■ ,V„YA qsk
Plant, National Copper Mining Co., Coeur d Alene, Idaho iio
Smelting of ores and metals
819
480
663
221
600
Fatality rates
Fay, Albert H Production of explosives in 1912.
Fayal iron mine, Minnesota
Federal Dredging Co., Nevada
Federal Lead Co., Missouri
And American Smelting & Refining Co.
Federal Mining
60
935
774
Switches in gaseous mines
Systems, cities of United States and Europe. . .
Electrical driving of winding engines, Choice of drum
C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons. . . .
Electricity and power transmission cyanide plant 4"
Blasting ore by ; • ■ V W, w"i>' Yiii 218
Electro-chemical project, Speel River W. P. Lass zis
Electrolysis, refining by ,•■••-•. ; • '" ' ' ',' '0V Phii'
Electrolytic precipitation and leaching of copper at UU
quicamata. E. A. Cappelen Smith. . . . 739
Electrometallurgy in 1913 «. A. Roush. . . . g61
ElTavof Mining ^oV Jalisco/ Mexico! \ \ iiii,' Y9V,'256; 389, 707
Company report • lgg
Difficulties in ore treatment „6„
El Gallo mine, Sonora, Mexico „6„
El Globo mine, Sonora, Mexico „g7
Elko Mining Co., Nevada g26
lik?o?rcnoCnesomirte?eM?ndiang-& Milling- Co' Crippie^Creek,
Colorado -,v ". ' 904
Elm Orlu Mining Co., Butte, Montana ="|
And Butte & Superior dispute 79
Elmore vacuum process ■ 3g9
Elmores v. Minerals Separation Editorial'. '.'.'.439', 642
^Sulphide ' Corporation,' Minerals ' Separation Process ^
El O^DredglngCo'.,' Oro'vi'lie',' California, Montana option .' . 472
I Oro Mining I Milling Co., Cripple Creek Colorado . .... 747
El Oro Mining & Railway Co., El Oro, Mexico.388, 465 510, lit
El Paso Consolidated Gold Mining Co., Victor, Co^rado^. . ^
Ti-1 Paso smelter American Smelting & Refining Co., Texas. 350
llspass Engineering & Mining Machinery Co., Chilean mill. 836
El Temblor mine, Sonora, Mexico g6„
El Tigre Mining Co., Sonora, Mexico 5n
Continuous agitation -■- Mcb'0naid: '. .' '. 935
Sel^f ^relana^isaster.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. . . . . . . MJtortal. . . . 1001
E"ferSmgen?sfaUoSn, SSKSSSffW ^S^^in- ^
Keport..' importance ' of ' simplicity in . •^^rial . . . . 679
InlSnir 'ElecTrtcai,' gtjta^i' wi^V- - y • ^^; ; ; ; „4
Gas and oil, as economic sources of power . .Editorial. . . . 130
England, gold movements in 1913 34g
Enterprise mine, Helena, California 454
Enterprise mine, Rico, Colorado . 510
Esperanza Mining Co., El Oro, Mexico »£»
Company report " ' 571
«^S«S:: 6i4
182
187
655
301
711
Estrella mine, Sonora Mexico Parke Ch
Ethprofefssr.onalPr0mOU.0n '■ '• '• '• \ ' '■ "• ' '■ ± ^M.^ilngrer. .
Page.
.Editorial 243
658
125
1068
663
587
Smelting Co., Wallace, Idaho... 198, 231,
473, 1071
And American Smelting & Refining Co 544, 633
Dredge at Unionville, Nevada 547
Federated Malay States, duty on exports from 260
Mines on London market 28
Tronoh Mines, Ltd 28> 915
Feeder, fine ore, Screw classifier and. . .S. A. Worcester 530
Feldspar, United States production 938
Fellowships in metallurgy, University of Utah 886
Fenian mine, Western Australia 665, 863
Ferreira Deep, Ltd., Transvaal 942
Ferris leasing bill 784- 988
Water-power bill 78*
Fifty Consolidated Gold Mines Co.. Black Hawk. Colorado. . 710
Filing, Engineer's office Carl A. Allen 887
Filter-press operation A. W. Allen
niuauuii plant, at. i>ouis
i-iants, sand lor • • ■ •
Fincii, jonn Wellington vv nat is the matter
wun prospecung'.' J**
Flnlav J. h v\ nai is tne matter wun prospecting;
J ' ... A .... „•= . .-„ 1 ,. .. . I « A*- .l».i* Ill.ll .lllllll III'
Fairweather. Andrew. . .Cylindrical wooden ore-passes...
Falcon Mines, Ltd.. Rhodesia
Company report • /,;••;
Falcon-Worcester Oil Co.. Falcon, Colorado . . ■•■••• • • • ■ ■ •
Farmers v. smelters. Utah . . • • ■ -Editor al. . .
Farrell T H Prospecting— present and future. . .
Fasken D What is the matter with prospecting?. . .
j8J
iiJ
-i"
js'ire assay, Estimation of gold, siner and piai.num uy
G. H. cievenger ana n. v> . xoun6
... 614
. . . 341
OJl
. . . 423
152, 3«4
... 819
Etta mine, South Dakota
lrrSMfll°^nlTcao VuVeka; Utah. tainWg 'dump
|vofukt1om,Sf%Cuc{?orgBasS po^r^w'S ^stra|ia. . . ^
Excelsior Consolidated Gold Mining Co., Meadow Lake, ^
California 7gg
Lawsuit settled g75
Excelsior mine, Victoria, Australia 270
Exchequer dam 4g5
Exploration Co., Ltd w-iiYnVlaJ " 402
ffiln^X&wi^X'&K'XE^ with
Daniel Guggenheim 2i,
Explosives: Black blasting powder . .... . . . . •••••■• Al ??7
Blasting and use of. Nevada Consolidated Copper Co b( (
Canada, legislation MiYnrtii 165
Excessive use of underground Editorial ion
Highest efficiency 341
'Permissible' • • • • ■ • • • • • • •_; •.- .■ • \" ; ' ' * " 1fir
Powder, excessive use of underground Editorial ion
Powder kegs 3g7
Powder transportation »'ii.V_V ii ' T?nv " 658
Production in 1912 Albert H. Fay.... 658
South Africa production 341
Stopes on Rand ' ' ' 4g4
. Un^eT gtaWuVeau' of Mines i-estigations^ • . . ! ! \ \ 1068
Use of powder underground • • • •«: INODien
Exposition (see Panama-Pacific International). s0
Extralateral rights decisions ■ ,01
Rights under agricultural ground •'li'iAAinm'a.nh
Eye, C. M Relative efficiency of sodium ana gg()
potassium cyanide
Clay, Queensland production, lalis
Ciay testing
jr-revention in mines
Fires, iorest, and railways
.nine, studying by experiment
First national Copper Co., Coram, Caluornia . .
Flint peuoies, France ■
Fioreiice-Goidneld Mining Co., Goldneld, Aevaaa -34, ac-
company report • ■ ■ 394
Florence Mining & Milling Co., Utah • • ■ '»»
Florida, pnospnate 1913 8au> ,vi0
l-'lotation anu zinc production, Broken Hill, iNew aoutu
Wales *»°
Cobar, iNew South Wales 6l\
Copper ore treatment in America »«
Elmores v. Minerals Separation 389
Litigation, Decision in, Minerals Separation V. James
ivi. Hyde ??;
j3itto Editorial. ... 108
Litigation, Progress of n.uitonal. ... 642
Lloyd copper mine, Mew South Wales o»J
Machine, Minerals Separation 265
Minerals Separation process, Sulphide Corporation v.
Elmores, decision 543
Minerals Separation process, tonnage treated 1913 331
Minerals Separation v. James M. Hyde. . |a9
Uitto Editorial. .. .361, ion
Oil, Butte & Superior Copper Co ,•■•;•;, 3H?.
Process during 1913 Edward Walker <»
Tests at Mt. Morgan William Motherwell 1044
Flue-dust losses, Determination of
T. Neilson and L. Larson.... 929
Fluorite in smelting Herbert Lang 492
Foaming during slime agitation * . J. Girard. ... 81 1
Fogg properties, Porcupine, Ontario '43
Foote A D Battery frame.... 419
Ditto .....What is the matter with prospecting?.... 210
Foreign trade, Fostering Editorial 280
Forest fires and railways *«
Law, South Dakota *'*
Foster Cobalt Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt
Foster fuel bill
987
Fostering foreign trade ..»■•, Editorial.... 280
Foundation Co., New York, sand shafts bi*
Sinking through sand ^s
France, bauxite deposits '»*
Flint pebbles *£°
Gold and silver imports ...... *5»
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Iron and steel production l«i
Lead production ȣ?
Shipbuilding. 1913 •;;,••■ — •■—;;v-w;-;;'' HI
816
735
623
257
585
314
987
479
1061
11
Franklin Junior mine, Michigan, copper banket in
Franklin Mining Co., Demmon, Michigan..... ._ .. . . . . .^
Company report • • V V" ".! ,l!
Frasers mine, Southern Cross Western Australia. .... .... 346
Free E E .Gaylussite and its possible utilization 255
Free' Coinage Gold Mining Co., Altman. Colorado 991
Freeman, Albert R., granted new trial. .... . ■■•••• :--vh.:- 5S7
Freeman] Lewis R Hydro-electric power in Chile ^
Freepoi" Sufphur'c'o'.,' Bryan Heights', Texas 473, 74?
Freight rates on ores, California '»•>
Pfltpo reduction on ores, Nevada • ■ ■ ■*"•*
Fremont' Consolidated Mining Co.. Dryton, California. . 54 5, 990
French Harold Gold recovery from mint residue. ... »3»
French Concession, Korea :':"-A' E' Drucker.... ,64
Frisco Gold Mines Co., Kingman, Arizona . ... . . . . ... . ... . 3U7
Frontino and Bolivia (South American) Gold Mining Co..
Ltd.. Colombia Company report 832
Fuel briquetting in 1913 9»*
Fume.^meUer andfruit 'tree's. '.'.V. '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. '.'Editorial: \ \ 479
Furnace, electric, for steel production J'J
Electric, power absorbed iii.Y«.Viki Jsn
Electrie! Zinc ore in the Editorial. ... 480
Reverheratorv,' Copper' matte production in the
Herbert Lang Kui
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
13
Page.
Gahl, Rudolf Leaching of copper tailing 766, 901
Galicia, petroleum production, 1913 779
Gardner, B.V. New World mining district '.'.'.'. 880
Gardner, \\ . H. and W. M. Shepard. .. .Largest electrically
operated gold dredge 1053
Garrard, J. Jervis. . .Specilic gravity of specimen goid.!!! 817
Garrison, t. Lyn wood. .. .Business and mining, a retro-
spection 33
Ditto What Is the matter with prospecting?!!!! 168
Gas and oil engines as economic sources of power...
Editorial 130
Natural, California production ....88 588
Natural, gasoline extraction ,' 73s
United States production 239
Gases and smelter fumes, Studies of !. 496
Found in coal mines 935
Gasoline from natural gas 738
Mine locomotive 360
Gate, Emergency P. B. McDonald 935
Gay & Sturgis Stock Exchange failure 786
Gaylord-Dante mine. Cripple Creek, Colorado 156, 308, 991
Gaylusslte and its possible utilization. .. .E. E. Free.... 255
Geevor Tin Mines, Ltd., Cornwall 115
Geiger, A. W How close can you estimate heights?.... 539
Geldenhuis Deep, Ltd., Rand 52
Gemini Mining Co., Eureka, Utah 431, 671
Gemmell, R. C.What is the matter with prospecting?.... 210
Gems, Queensland production 1913 793
General rules for safety, Nevada Consolidated Copper Co.. 460
Geneva mine, Arizona 487
Genoa mine, Minnesota 667
Genoa-Sparta iron mine, Minnesota 125
Geological investigations at the Ivanhoe mine, at Kal-
goorlle 816
Notes on Port Arthur and vicinity 461
Sketch of the property of the Hayden Gold Mines, Ltd. .
W. S. Dobbs 534
Surveys, Work of the state Frank W. De Wolf.... 35
Geology of Chisana district. Alaska 659
Of the Kalgoorlie goldfield C. O. G. Larcombe.... 699
Reflecting microscope In mining and metallurgy
James C. Ray 922
Georgia, coal production 928
Gold and silver production 8
German Potash Syndicate, Germany 191
Germany, copper consumption 512, 995
Copper imports 264
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Gold leaf Imitation 819
Iron ore production 221
Lead production 816
Machinery trade 551
Mining history 961
Murex process at Bergwerks-Wohlfahrt 931
Platinum 135. 206
Potash exports 502, 984
Shipbuilding 1913 735
Tin from scrap tin-plant 735
Westphalia platinum deposits 930
Ditto Editorial 206. 1001
Gertie mining Co. Idaho 825
Giant Mines of Rhodesia, Ltd.. Rhodesia 586
Gibson, Arthur. .. .Drift mining in the frozen gravel de-
posits of Cape Nome 404
Ditto. .. .Thawing frozen ground for placer mining.... 143
Ditto Third Beach Line. Nome. Alaska. . . . 686
Gibson Copper Co., Globe, Arizona 428, 442, 1070
Lessees' production 788
Gillette. Cassius E Ore in sight. ... 186
Gilmore Mining Co., Gllmore, Idaho 472, 633
Glrard, J. F Foaming during slime agltatloti . . . . 817
Glroux Consolidated Copper Co.. Nevada 108, 235. 826
Glacier Mining Co.. Colorado 393
Gladstone mine. California 392
Glass, coloring with gold 625
Glencalrn Main Reef Gold Mining Co.. Ltd.. Rand, costs. ... 861
Globe mining district. Arizona. .. .William L. Tovote. . 442, 487
Globe & Phoenix Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 22, 586
Company report 873
Globe Consolidated Mining Co.. Dedrlck. California 589
Ditto Editorial 401
Mine and mill Wallace Macgregor. . . . 290
Gold. Alaska production 88, 154
And platinum, Assaying concentrate and black sand for
Andrew F. Crosse.... 814
And silver movements 224
Ditto Editorial 206
And silver ore treatment in 1913. Progress In
Alfred James. ... 70
Ditto E. A. Julian 500
And tin dredging In 1913 Charles Janln.... 39
Arizona production 106
Australasia production, 1913 1069
Australia, mint receipts, 1913 737
Australia production 628, 636
Belgian Congo production 323
Bendlgo production. 1913 537
British Columbia placer production. 1913 117
British Columbia production 202
California production 88, 107, 588
Canada. Klondike production In 1913 199
Canada production 8 911
Carat 540
Coin, laws In United States ! ! 860
Coin, specific gravity 34 1
Colorado, Cripple Creek production in 1913 156
Colorado production 42, 119
Colorado. San Juan production in 1913 157
Colombla exports 18."
Crushing ore and leaching 583
Dredge, Largest electrically operated
_ W. H. Gardner and W. M. Shepard.... 1053
Dredging abroad In 1913 Charles Janln 183
Dredging at Surtnan, Dutch Guiana... J. B. Perclval . . . . 733
Dredging in Burma, India PaS™
Dredging in the United States '.'.Charles Jani'n q?
Dredging, stripping frozen gravel . ... .Editorial' ' ' ' 720
Dutch Guiana production, 1912 -manorial. ... 720
Estimation by tire assay " 6ai
^,.f,„„.i . G. H. Clevenger and IL W.' Young " ' 614
France imports '. *?!*? * . ^ reS'°n' Calif ornia ■■■■■■ 66
Glass coloring !!!!!! ?55
Great Britain production ! ! Sf ?
Idaho production .vy "£i
In cyanide solution '• i.,i
India, Kolar mines, 1913 St?
Indian mines production KVn" in«
Japan production ?0^' T„™
Korean mines Editorial" lit
Leaf, imitation, Germany Editorial. ... ,58
Madagascar production ?i?
Metal standard and financial confidence' !!!.'.' Q64
Mining concessions in Korea A E Druc'ker ?«?
Montana production -a. a. urucKer ,62
Movements in England in 1913 '. ' ;„;
Nevada production '"" rJJs
New Mexico production o?
New South Wales recovery by dredging'igis ! ! ! ! 73s
New York exports ,0,?
New Zealand production '. .'.'.'. 6V8' io76
Nova Scotia, Canada, production '70?' K7*>
Ontario production ' vi- lli
Ore treatment. Simplification of AW Alien" 898
Oregon production VaV cS,
Panama canal zone ' j?J
Peru production jUi
Philippine Islands discovery liq
Philippine Islands mining \ 9]J
Philippine Islands production ....503 911
Placers of the Maranon, Peru Editorial 244
Placers on the Kuskokwim river, Alaska ."'
__ H. W. Reetli.'!!! 890
Precipitate after acid treatment go>
Precipitation from cyanide solutions on zinc wafers'" 383
Production in 1913 Editorial. .' 6
Queensland, Charters Towers production 735
Queensland production 1913 793
Rand production 52/ '398 543
Recovery from mint residue Harold French.. 535
Rhodesia mining 555
San Francisco mint, received In 1913 " 176
Silver added in assay 819
South Australia production 1913 1059
South Dakota production 88, 910
Specific gravity of specimen J. Jervis Garrard.... 817
Standard for 663
Tasmania production 714
Texas production 110
Transactions, Samuel Montagu & Co 996
Transvaal mines Industry 964
Transvaal production 469, 942
Union of South Africa production 626
United States exports to Europe 1059
United States production 8
Utah production 108, 947
Washington production 176
Washington, Seattle, United States assay office receipts 198
Western Australia production 125, 313. 505, 665
World production in 1912 164
Ditto Editorial 130
Wyoming production Ill
Gold Blossom mine. Ophlr. California 270. 866
Gold Dirt mine. Rollinsvllle district. Colorado 342
Gold Hunter Mining & Smelting Co.. Mullan. Idaho.. 789. 1030
Gold King Mining Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado 156, 393
Gold Road Mines Co.. Goldroad, Arizona 668, 824, 1029
Gold Standard mine, Oregon 868
Golden Butterfly. Western Australia 863
Golden Center of Grass Valley M. Co., Grass Valley, Cali-
fornia 709
Golden Crest mine. South Dakota 305
Golden Cycle Mining Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado
120, 156, 308, 789. 825, 867, 991
Golden Eagle claim, Gojden. Alaska 193
Golden Flint mine, Rollinsvllle district. Colorado 342
Golden Horse-Shoe Estates, Ltd., Western Australia
313. 346. 505. 665. 688. 863
And Ivanhoe companies' auxiliary electric circuit.... 819
Company report 1077
Golden Pvke mine. Bendlgo, Victoria 5:17
Golden Reward Consolidated Gold Mining & Milling Co.,
Terry. South Dakota 941
Golden Ridge mine. Western Australia 664. 665. 863
Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co.. Nevada 71. 120. 234,
272. 394. 430. 466, 590. 632, 710. 748. 789. 946. 1072
Ditto Editorial.... 90
And Aurora Consolidated Mines Co 547. 1031. 1073
And Moore Filter Co 1072
Company report 552
Diamond-drilling 625
Goldflelds. Developments In the Shushana..E. V. Wann.... 179
Santo Domingo. Haiti, dredging Editorial.... 89
Good Enough mine. Sonora. Me\lco 869
Good Springs Anchor Co., Nevada 234
Goodale, Charles W Apex law In the Drumlummon
controversy 368
Ditto Boston & Montana plant.... 897
Ditto What Is the matter with prospecting?.... 210
Goodall, Arthur . California miners and the Exposition.... 29S
Goodrich Co.. B. F, belt conveyors 128
Dredging sleeves 918
Gore. Bancroft Lead smelting at East
Helena. Montana 1 1 1>
Ditto Treatment of tailing at Rutte
Reduction Works 529
Gorgas. Colonel W. G.. cost of yellow fever prevention.... 819
Government aid. Prospecting and Royal P. Jarvls.... 936
Ditto O. E. Kirkpatrick 859
14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Ditto F. L. Ransome 736
Ditto F. Sommer Schmidt 581
And the individual Henry S. Hazlitt 110
Coal mine, North Dakota 565
Gow, G. Aubrey Ore 186
Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting & Power Co., Ltd.,
British Columbia 117, 160, 198, 268, 355, 394,
473, 505, 514, 548, 671, 676, 749, 834, 906, 1038, 1073
Grand Forks smelter 198, 827
Midas mine, Alaska 307
New smelter 827
Granby Mining & Smelting Co., Missouri 862
B. & H. mill experiment 1027
Grand Central mine, Sonora, Mexico 311
Grand Central Mining Co., Mammoth, Utah 711, 868
Grand Junction mine, Waihi, New Zealand, mill treatment. 540
Granite and crushed rock, California production 88
Granite Gold Mining Co., Alaska 708, 1029
Granite Gold Mining Co., Victor, Colorado 90S
Granite Mountain mine, Montana 454
Grant, Robert D., death of 994
Granulating copper matte R. L. Hallett. . . . 296
Granville Mining & Power Co., Ltd., Dawson, Yukon.... 23, 39
Granville Mining Co., Ltd., dredging cost. .. .Editorial. .. . 721
Graphic solutions of certain compound interest problems.
Horace F. Lunt 813
Graphite, California production 429, 788
Crucible, safety in use 1052
Madagascar production 135
Pennsylvania 301
Grasselli Chemical Co. at Clarksburg, West Virginia 855
Gravel mining in Alaska and Siberia 185
Stripping frozen Ex-Da wsonite. .. . 857
Gray Copper Mining Co., Washington 911
Gray Eagle Gold Mining Co., Downieville, California, Re-
placement orebodies Fred H. Dakin, Jr 970
Great Boulder Perseverance Gold Mining Co., Kalgoorlie,
Western Australia 125, 313, 505, 665, 688, 819, 863
Ditto Editorial.... 517
Company report 597, 832
Mining and treatment costs 782
Great Boulder Proprietary Gold Mines. Ltd., Western Aus-
tralia 125, 147, 313, 505, 665, 688, 862, 863
Alaska Venture Syndicate 787
Magdala-Moonlight group, Victoria 665
Great Britain, fatality rate Editorial 243
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Lead production 816
Mineral production history 961
Mineral production, 1913 914
Mining fatalities, 1913 914
Oil supply and Anglo-Persian Oil Co 1065
Street accidents in 1913 Editorial.... 558
Technical engineering societies growth 964
Great Cobar Copper Co., Ltd., New South Wales, Australia.
25, 152, 427, 676, 834, 1038
Company report 358
Magnetite in ore 761
Troubles 943
Working time 423
Great Falls smelter, Montana, Lightning arresters 228
Reduction works 302
Great Fingall Consolidated Ltd., Western Australia
125, 313, 346, 505, 665, 863
Great Fitzroy Mines, Ltd., Queensland, Laloki mine, New
Guinea 453, 943
Troubles 705
Great Lakes, ore carriers 984
Great Northern mine, Bendigo, Victoria 537
Great Western Cutting & Welding Co., portable welding
outfit 756
Greece, lead production 816
Magnesite production 1023
Silver production in 1912 164
Green Hill-Cleveland mine, Idaho 1030
Greene, C. P...What is the matter with prospecting?.... 701
Greene Cananea Copper Co 114, 344, 785, 823, 864, 1066
And subsidiaries Company report. . . . 954
Greene Consolidated Copper Co., Sonora, Mexico.. 823, 864, 869
Greenland, cryolite production 860
Gregory, J. W Rand banket 1020
Grinding pans 73
Pan, Increasing the efficiency of a.... John Randall.... 417
Pans, Economical sliming by M. G. F. Sohnlein.... 847
Short zinc shaving J. B. Tregloan. . . . 287
Grizzly Bear Mining & Milling Co., Wyoming 749
Grondal-Kjellin Co., London, smelting tin ores 64
Guanajuato Reduction & Mines Co , 1066
Guerrero mill, Pachuca, Mexico, tube-mill 849
Guggenheim, Daniel, Interview with. .Progress at Chuqui-
camata 574
Guggenheim Exploration Co 268, 424
And Braden Copper Co 466
Company report 304, 313
Guggenheim interests in Shasta county, California 709
Guiana Gold Dredging Co., British Guiana 39, 184, 733
Gumaus Placer Co., Philippine Islands 911
Dredge 184
Dredging in 1913 40
Guyot, N. E....What is the matter with prospecting?.... 662
Gwalia Consolidated, Ltd., Western Australia 25
Gypsum, Great Britain production 914
Gyratory v. jaw crushers C. T. Hutchinson.... 222
H
Haiti, Santo Domingo goldfields, dredging. . .Editorial. .. . 89
Hall, J. M., v. Paine. Webber & Co 786
Hall, R. G Zinc ores and metallurgy in 1913 37
Hallett, R. I Granulating copper matte.... 296
Hammer-drill 241
Hampden Cloncurry Copper Mines, Ltd., Cloncurry, Queens-
land 676, 834, 1038
Hancock Consolidated Mining Co.. Hancock, Michigan.... 747
Hannan's Star mill, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, tube-
mill 850
Page.
Hanover syndicate, Rhodesia 821
Han-Yeh-Ping Iron & Coal Co., China 1058
Happy New Year mine, section of Third Beach 622
Hardinge, H. W Theory and practice of crushing.... 226
Harney Peak pegmatites, Mineral resources of the — I, II..
Victor Ziegler. .. .604, 654
Harqua Hala mine, Arizona 186
Harrietville Star mine, Victoria, Australia 675
Harter, Matthew, v. C. W. Ayres, decision 508
Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology co-operation Editorial. . . . 318
Hatch, F. H Rand banket. ... 299
Haulage, Motor truck F. L. Stzer. . . . 573
Hauling bv motor truck, Cost of 337
Hauver, J. C, death of 870
Hawkins iron mine, Minnesota 125
Hayden, Charles. What is the matter with prospecting?.... 11
Hayden Gold Mines, Ltd., Porcupine, Ontario, geological
sketch of property W. S. Dobbs.... 534
Hayden, Stone & Co., copper statistics 1075
Hazel Dell mine, California 195
Hazlitt, Henry S Government and the individual.... 110
Head-frame, Small 928
Hecla mine, Montana 1027
Hecla Mining Co., Burke, Idaho 198, 234, 394, 473, 789,
946, 1030
Hedley Gold Mining Co., British Columbia
117, 198, 505, 510, 592
Company report 637
Heidelberg property, Deadwood Business Club, South Da-
kota 467, 584, 941, 1025
Heights, How close can you estimate?. .. .A. W. Geiger.... 539
Heinze suit 344
Helen iron mine, Ontario 345
Helmet type, pneumatophors criticized 600
Hendryx, Wilbur A Leaching copper ores. . . . 264
Hercules mine, Tasmania 303
Hercules Mining Co., Burke, Idaho 198, 473, 826, 1030
Hermitage Mining Co., Arizona 232
Heroult, Paul Louis Toussaint, death of 870
Herrick, H. N Valuing dredging ground. . . . 1061
Hillcrest colliery, Alberta' ffi 1073
Hill iron mine, Minnesota 125
Hitchcock, Jr., C. K Rock-drill repair costs. . . . 933
Hite, H. L What is the matter with prospecting?.... 374
H. L. & S. mine. Kansas, sold 1027
Hoco-Poco diamond fields. Rush to the 856
Hoist, Chicago portable mine 241
Motorcycle 216
Hoisting at the Argonaut mine, Jackson, California
M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 697
Automobile whip Editorial.... 641
Balliet system of counterbalancing 336
Ditto Operator.... 3 40
Mississippi Valley small lead-zinc mines 387
Hoists and winding engines, Application of three-phase
motors to C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons. . . . 689
Holland, Sir Thomas, and Royal School of Mines 665
Holland, shipbuilding 1913 735
Windmill in draining 702
Hollinger Gold Mines, Ltd., Porcupine, Ontario. ... 158, 199,
231, 426, 510, 592, 671, 749, 906, 947, 1028, 1073
Company report 310
Costs 71
Fire 705
Mill 898
Holmes, Robert, v. St. Joseph Lead Co 394
Homestake Mining Co., Lead City, South Dakota
121, 228, 231, 910
Company report 466, 553
Employees' benefits 223, 235
New plants 305
Taxes "paid 350
Tube-mill 850
Veterans' Association 467
Hook, J. S Rand banket. . .623, 736
Hoover, Mr. and Mrs. H, C, presentation of Mining and
Metallurgical medal Editorial.... 481
Hope Mining Co., Republic, Washington 236
And San Poll Mining Co 548
Horizontal duplex power pumps for high efficiency 204
Horn Silver Mining Co., Utah Company report .... 910
Horse-power and steel shafting 502
How close can you estimate heights? A. W. Geiger. . . . 539
Howie Mining Co., North Carolina 310
Huanchaea des Bolivia, Compania 1066
Huasteca Petroleum Co. in Tampieo district, Mexico 707
Hudson Bay Mines Co., Cobalt, Ontario 189, 431
Mill 273
Hugo mine, South Dakota 655
Hull-Rust iron mine, Minnesota, United States Steel Cor-
poration 125, 190
Humboldt mine. Telluride district, Colorado 908
Hunter mine. Idaho 946
Huntington centrifugal roller quartz mill, Improved 43S
Hunton. Home & Stevenson claims, Kirkland Lake, Ontario 273
Hurontan Belt Mining Co., Ontario 632
Hutching Consolidated Gold Mining Co., Wyoming 749
Hutchinson, C. T Gyratory v. jaw crushers. ... 222
Hutti (Nizam's) Gold Mines. Ltd., India 650
Hyde. James M Murex process in a German works.-... 931
v. Minerals Separation, Ltd., decision 759
v. Minerals Separation, Ltd., suit .. Editorial. .. .361, 643, 758
Hydraulic mine filling 902
Hydraulic Power & Smelting Co., Ltd., Norway 63
Company report 357
Hydraulic-king on the Klamath river. .. .J. H. Theller.... 523
Hydro and pvro-metallurgy of copper in 1913
Thomas T. Read 54
Hydro-electric power, Chile and Peru
Lewis R. Freeman.... 333
Power, cost in Alaska and Scandinavia. .. .Editorial ... . 165
Power. Montana 150
Ditto Editorial.... 130
Hygiene. Industrial, as practised at Palmerton. Pennsyl-
vania John W. Luther. . . . S0£»
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
15
Page.
Ida H. Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Western Australia 665,
Idaho, Boise assay office
Clearwater national forest timber sale
Coeur d'Alene district mines 309, 472, 669,
Coeur d'Alene district, mining costs
Coeur d'Alene district, National Copper Mining Co. elec-
tric plant Glrard B. Rosenblatt....
Copper production 107, 157,
Dredging in winter ; John H. Miles....
Gilmore district
Gold dredging
Gold production 8, 107,
Lead production • 107,
Map
Mineral production by counties
Mines in 1913
North Fork district
Phosphate area map
Phosphate rock
Silver production 8, 107,
Wallace water supply and forest fire
Workman's compensation Editorial. .
Zinc production 107,
Idora Hill Mining Co., Wallace. Idaho, shut down
lien Smelting Works. Trondhjem, Norway
Illinois, coke production
Metal production 1913
Mineral production, 1913
Mining conditions
Petroleum production 163,
Sliver production
University of, engineering experiment station
Editorial
Imperator-Quilp Mining Co., Republic, Washington
Imperial College of Science and Technology and Univer-
sity of London
Imperial Steel Works, Wakamatsu, Japan
Incaoro Mines Co., Pailaya, Bolivia, mine and mill
Francis Church Lincoln....
Income tax and mining companies Editorial. . . .
Tax regulation
Increasing the efficiency of a grinding pan
John Randall. . . .
Independence Mining Co., Ltd., Hailey, Idaho
Index, Engineer's office Carl A. Allen
India and silver
Balaghat Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Kolar 72, 650, 873,
Burma Corporation
Burma Gold Dredging Co
Burma mines on London market
Burma Mines. Ltd., Burma 29, 785,
Champion Reef Gold Mining Co., Ltd 378, 399,
502, 650, 656,
Gold and silver production in 1912
Gold dredging In Burma
Gold, Kolar production
Gold production of mines
Hyderabad mint, production
Hyderabad, reservoirs
Kolar gold mines, 1913
Mica production. 1913
Mines on London Market
Mysore Gold Mining Co.. Ltd., Kolar 26, 72, 583,
597, 650,
Nundydroog
Ooregum Gold Mining Co., Ltd 738, 832,
Tunnel-drlvlng in
Water-power resources
Indian Springs drift-gravel mine, California
Indiana, coke production
Petroleum production
Indiana Mining Co., Michigan, company report
Indo-Chlna, gold production In 1912
Inducing capital Into mining enterprises
Carl J. Trauerman
Industrial accidents under compensation. Nevada
Hygiene as practised at Palmerton. Pennsylvania
John W. Luther
Infusorial earth. California production
Ingersoll-Rand Co., hammer-drill
Oil-driven air-compressors
Temple-Ingersoll gasoline-air rock-drill
Ingllston Consols mine. Western Australia 665,
Ingllston Extended Gold Mines, Ltd.. Western Australia. 665,
Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co.. Miami. Arizona
155, 191, 194. 307. 347, 442. 487, 630, 708, 788, 824, 907,
Company report
Development and improvements
Institute and mining law revision Editorial....
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. London, annual
meeting
New building Editorial
Institution of Petroleum Technologists, inaugural meet-
ing. London
Insulation, electric, moisture and acid
Interest prohlems, compound. Graphic solutions of certain
Horace F. Lunt. . . .
International Agricultural Chemical Co
International Coal & Coke Co., Colemnnt. Alberta 198,
Company report
International Engineering Congress. .. II. Foster Bain....
International Exploration Co
International Motor Co., Blakeslee suit
International Nickel Co., Globe, Arizona
Company report
Employees' profit shares
International Smelting & Refining Co. and Anaconda Cop-
per Mining Co
And Cottrell process
Company report
Financing
Globe, Arizona, smelter
New smelting plant
Intersection Mining Co., Animas Forks, Colorado
863
669
991
1030
185
335
261
455
271
96
157
157
590
590
546
908
351
1035
157
991
920
157
710
61
928
779
830
872
349
480
236
665
236
561
90
262
417
393
888
551
1076
985
79
29
799
1076
164
79
1076
650
260
171
914
914
26
1076
1076
1076
1019
897
229
928
163
1077
164
980
332
809
788
241
918
400
863
863
944
706
668
361
665
401
543
663
813
390
473
592
14
273
956
541
1025
191
744
630
953
390
118
232
710
Page.
Interstate-Callahan mine, Idaho 309, 710, 1030
Invincible colliery strike, New South Wales 1069
Iodine, Japan 265
Iron and steel manufacture, Recent changes in...!!!!!!!
Bradley Stoughton 41
And steel production in France 101
And steel smelting, electric furnace 63
And steel, United States exports of manufactures S63
California production 429 788
China ore development Editorial....' 557
German production 221
Great Britain production 914
Japan production 125 1035
Melting point ' 112
Mines, car dump .'. 979
Mines, Lake Superior, rock-drilling. P. B. McDonaid!!!! 494
Mines, Sinking through sand in Lake Superior region..
P. B. McDonald 1047
Minnesota production 125 190
Ontario bounty on ore .' 506
Ontario production ! . . . ! 592
Ore analysis, permanganate solutions ! 703
Ore, metallizing, John T. Jones invention 989
Ore on Lake Erie docks 674
Philippine Islands production 911
l'ig, Belgium production 477
Pig, United States production 8, 354, 713, 872, 1035
Pyrite, United States production, 1913 714
Russia production 551
Spain production , 378
Texas ores, eastern ' 905
United States in 1913 ! . ! ! ! 313
United States production 458
Iron Blossom Consolidated Mining Co., Silver City, Utah.!
121, 198, 431, 671
Company report 235
Iron Cap Copper Co., Copper Hill, Arizona 155, 232
307, 412, 470, 788, 944
Bird group of claims 865
Iron Duke mill. Associated Northern Blocks, Western Aus-
tralia 664
Iron Knob. Broken Hill, New South Wales 629
Iron Mask group, British Columbia 230
Iron Mountain mines. California 669
Ironbark mine, Bendlgo. Victoria 537
Ironstone and limestone fluxes. South Australia production,
1913 1059
Queensland production, 1913 793
Irvin. Donald F...Alr agitation by continuous method.... 571
Irving leaching process L. S. Austin. ... 77, 88
Isabella Mines Co., Victor. Colorado 156, 308, 348, 546, 991
Lessees 825
Isle Royale Copper Co., Houghton. Michigan
140, 161, 355, 6S2, 906, 946, 1025
Company report 669
Italy, gold and silver production in 1912 161
Industrial establishments, 1911 551
Lead production si 6
Shipbuilding in 1913 735
Ivanhoe Gold Corporation, Ltd., Kalgoorlie, Western Aus-
tralia 125. 313, 505. 665, 688. 862, S63
And Horse-Shoe auxiliary electric circuit 819
Company report SI 6, 874
Geological investigations at 816
Grlndlng-pans 819
Jaekllng, D. C.What Is the matter with prospecting? 11
James, Alfred Agitation at Nevada Hills.... 624
Ditto. .Progress in gold and sliver ore treatment in 1913 70
Jameson Mining Co.. J. B., Joplin district 1027
Jamestown Exploration Co., California 393
Janin. Charles Gold and tin dredging in 1913... 39
Ditto Gold dredging abroad in 1913.... 183
Ditto Gold dredging in the United States. ... 93
Janin. Louis, death of Editorial.... 440
Japan, copper production in 1913 337
Ditto Editorial.... 205
Fatality rate Editorial .... 243
Gold and sliver production in 1912 164
Imperial Steel Works, Wakamatsu 236
Iodine 265
Lead production S16
Mineral production, 1913 :..125, 1035
Ditto Editorial 205
Newspapers, China and Standard Oil Co .. Editorial ... . 558
Nippon Oil Co. gusher Editorial.... 1042
Jarvis, Royal P Prospecting and government aid.... 936
Java. General Colonial Exposition Editorial.... 402
Jennie Sample Consolidated Mining Co., Colorado 430
Jennings, Henncn. .Mining as a profession, including first
stages of metallurgy 961
Ditto What Is tile matter witli prospecting? 11
Jlbutal (Anantapur) India 650
Jig, A new classifying 278
Jim Butler Tonopah Mining Co., Tonopah, Nevada
197. 349, 591, 711, S6S, 1031
v. West End litigation 632, 670
Ditto Editorial.... 601
John Hite mine. HIte Cove. California 709
Johns-Manville Co., H. W., cold-water paint 918
Johnson. A. If. W., death of 750
Johnson dredge, Seward Peninsula, Alaska 96
Johnson's Reef mine, Bendlgo, Victoria 537
Jones, Fayette A What is the matter witli
prospecting? 371
Jones, John T 'Step-furnace' Invention.... 989
Joplin district 115, 271, 309. 466
I'alamlne production 100, 633
Discoveries 862
Labor conditions 228
Lead production 100, 115, 633
Lone Elm mining region 306
16
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Metal production approximations, 1913. .. .Editorial. .. . 89
' Mineral production, 1913 831
. Mining methods 44
New concentrating plants 861
Ore market 434, 713, 826, 1027
Ore production 472
Ore production for 1913 Otto Ruhl 100
Sanitation and disease 742
Zinc and lead prices 305
Zinc ores in 1913 37
Zincblende production 100, 633
Joplin. Missouri, mining costs at 264
Josie mine, Rossland, British Columbia 749, 947
Journals, chemical abstract 939
Juga (Nigeria) Tin & Power Co 903
Julian, E A. .. .Progress in gold and silver ore treatment
in 1913 500
Jumbo Extension Mining Co., Goldfleld, Nevada
309, 632, 789, 909, 992, 1031
Treatment 1073
Jumbo Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rhodesia, company report.. 399
Jumbo No. 2 mine, Nevada, lessees 748
Jupiter mine. Porcupine, McKinley-Darragh-Savage Mines,
Ltd.. Cobalt, Ontario 743, 911
Jupiter mine, Rand 469
Kalgoorlie goldfleld nomenclature Editorial.... 680
Water used by mines 663
Kalgoorlie & Boulder Firewood Co., Western Australia,
Lancefleld mine 346,504, 862
Kalgoorlie & Boulder Mines Water Trust, Western Austra-
lia 688
Kalgurli Gold Mines, Ltd., Western Australia
125, 505, 665, 688, 863
Costs in 1913 188, 313
Kamloops Copper Co., British Columbia 230
Kansas, calamine production 1913 115
Lead production, 1913 115
Mineral production, 1913 831
Petroleum production 163
Zincblende production, 1913 115
Kansas-Missouri-Oklahoma district — See Joplin district.
Kapsan mining concession, Korea Editorial.... 758
Katanga and Northern Rhodesia, geology 586
Union Minera du Haut, South Africa. .Editorial 641
Kavanagh-Jo Dandy mine, Cripple Creek, Colorado
156, 308, 991
Kearsarge mine, Michigan 747
Keating, John B. .California miners and the Exposition .... 384
Keith, W. S What is the matter with prospecting?.... 661
Kelly Butte quarry, Washington, blasting rock 502
Kemp, J. F Rand banket.... 936
Kendall, J. D., death of 750
Kennan, Charles T Radium and its sources.... 885
Kennecott Mines Co., Kennecott, Alaska 191
Kennedy, E. P Long Lake power development.... 180
Kennedy Extension Gold Mining Co., Jackson, California. 155
v. Argonaut 118
Ditto Editorial 130
Kennedy Mining & Milling Co., Jackson, California
66, 155, 470
Residue disposal 709, 771
Kennedy mine. Hazel Green, Wisconsin, Mineral Point
Zinc Co 150
Kentucky petroleum production 163, 1037
Phosphate rock 1035
Kerr Lake drainage. Ontario 993
Kerr Lake Mining Co., Cobalt 199
Ketahoen mine, Sumatra island, Dutch East Indies 540
Keyes, Charles R Discovery of zinc in America.... 653
Keys mine, California 743
Keystone claims, Colorado 1071
Keystone Copper. Mining Co., Johnson, Arizona 487
Company report 1065
Keystone mines, Amador City, California 270
Keystone drills, moving method 112
Kia Ora mine, Victoria, Australia 675
Kieselguhr 1070
Kimberley diamond mine. South Africa, history 1007
Kinney iron mine, Minnesota 125
Kirkland Lake district, Ontario, flotation of mines on Lon-
don exchange 541
Kirkland Lake Exploration Co 389
Kirkland Lake Proprietary, Ltd 389
And Tough-Oakes 541
Burnside claims 632
Prospectus for 1914 189
Kirkpatric, O. E Prospecting and government aid.... 859
Kirtley Creek Gold Dredging Co., Idaho 747
Klamath river. Hydraulicking on the.... J. H. Theller.... 523
Klondike, operating time in the 537
Knapp. S. A California miners and the Exposition.... 298
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting?.... 376
Knight's Deep, Ltd., Rand, costs 861
Mill 625
Knob Hill Mining Co.. Republic, Washington. 198, 236, 350, 868
And San Poll Mining Co 548
Komata Reefs mine, New Zealand 460
Kongsberg mines. Norway 713
Korea, Chosen Gold Mines, Ltd Editorial 758
French Concession A. E. Drueker. . . . 764
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Gold mines Editorial 758
Gold mining concessions A. E. Drueker.... 762
Kapsan mining concession Editorial. . . . 758
Oriental Consolidated Mining Co 92. 122, 199,
236. 311, 510, 671, 911, 993
Ditto A. E. Drueker.... 762
Ditto Editorial .... 758
Seoul Mining Co 122. 199. 311. 510. 671. 948, 1078
Suan Concession A. E. Drueker .... 764
Ditto Editorial. . . . 758
Krupp ball-mill 583
Page.
Ball-mill troubles 423
Ball-mill. Wet crushing in A. W. Allen.... 419
Kvarra, Western Australia 665, 863
Kyshtim Corporation, Ltd., Siberia 26, 179, 302, 834, 1038
Labor camp sanitation, California Editorial. . . . 797
Costs on the Rand 20
Native V. white 502
Panama 1060
Queensland, Australia 1024
Unions, Butte, Montana 116, 1027, 1031, 1072
La Cobriza mine, Mexico 199
La Dicha Mining & Milling Co., Tepic, Mexico 707
La Grande mill, Chile 683
Lake Copper Co., Michigan 140
Laidlaw, Walter, death of 593
Lake Superior copper district in 1913... R. H. Maurer.... 140
District, mine signal code 325
District, mines activities 1028
District, mining methods, iron mines 45
District, Michigan, rock-drilling. . .P. B. McDonald.... 494
District, sand shafts 614
Sinking through sand in P. B. McDonald.... 1047
Strike 196, 586
Ditto Editorial 206, 682
Strike, cost of 628
Strike, James MacNaughtoh testimony 546
Strike, Moyer deported Editorial. ... 90
Lake View & Star, Ltd., Western Australia
125, 313, 505, 665, 688, 863
Mill precipitation, and clean-up J. P. Caddy.... 461
Mill, testing cyanide solutions 625
Mill, valuing method for cyanide bullion 732
Lake View Consols, Western Australia 665, 863
Lake View mine, British Columbia 198
Lally Gold Mines. Ltd., Ontario 425
Laloki mine, New Guinea island 453, 943
Lampazos mine, Mexico 311
Lamps, Acetylene, for metal mines
Frederick H. Morlev. . . . 609
Lancefleld mine, Kalgoorlie & Boulder Firewood Co., West-
ern Australia 346, 504, 862
Land, lowest and highest points in United States 902
Withdrawals, Federal, court rulings Editorial.... 957
Landfleld. Jerome B Ore. . . . 264
Lands, public, report on, Franklin K. Lane. .. Editorial. .. . 90
Public, United States, acreage 890
United States restored to entry 398
Lane, Franklin K, report on public lands. ... Editorial. .. . 90
Lang, Herbert. . .California miners and the Exposition.... 263
Ditto Copper matte production in the re-
verberatory furnace 802
Ditto Fluorite in smelting. . . . 492
Langlaate Deep mine, Rand 808
Lansell Proprietary Mines, Bendigo, Victoria 537
Larcombe, C. O. G. — Geology of the Kalgoorlie goldfleld. . . 699
Largest electrically operated gold dredge
W. H. Gardner and W. M. Shepard 1053
La Rose Consolidated Mines Co., Cobalt, Ontario
158, 199, 506, 592
Larson, C. L....Rush to the Hoco-Poco diamond fields.... 856
Larson, L., and T. Neilson Determination of flue-
dust losses 929
La Salle Copper Co., Calumet, Michigan 682, 747
Lass, W. P Speel River electro-chemical project.... 218
Last Chance mine, Wardner, Idaho 1030
Lathrop, Charles G., death of 912
Laucks, I. F Underestimating the cost of
milling plants 462
La Ventania mine, Sonora, Mexico 869
Law, mining, California State Mining Bureau bulletin....
Editorial.... 206
Mining, revision 6'7
Ditto Editorial 90, 481, 603
Mining, revision and the Institute Editorial.... 361
Mining, Revision of the H. C. Callahan.... 422
Ditto Frank P. Davis.... 982
Ditto Grafton Mason .... 98
Mining, Revision of the, discovery
William E. Colby...! 246
Mining, Revision of, discovery v. a permit system
Editorial 244
Mining, Texas Editorial.... 206
Lawrence. Benjamin B What is the matter with
prospecting? 12
Laws, mining, codification, Smoot bill 745, 822
Lawson. Andrew C, Butte ore genesis Editorial.... 317
Lawson. Andrew C What is the matter with
prospecting? 169
Layng. Harai R Soluble losses.... 891
Leaching and crushing gold ore 583
And electrolytic precipitation of copper at Chuqui-
camata E. A. Cappelen Smith.... 739
Copper in Africa Editorial.... 318
Copper ores Wilbur A. Hendrvx. . . . 264
Copper ores, experiments. Nevada-Douglas '
Editorial.!!! 205
Trying process L. S. Austin.... 77
Of copper tailing Rudolf Gahl....766. 901
Of zinc ore at the Afterthought mine
Frank L. Wilson.... 453
Practice. Development of Editorial.... 960
Process for copper ores. Slater H. W. Morse.... 1S1
Process. Irving L. S. Austin.... 88
Weidlein copper process 575
Ditto Editorial.... 558
Lead and zinc in 1913 Editorial. . . . 681
Arizona production 106
British Columbia production 202
California production 107. 5S9
Colorado production 42, 119, 120
Colorado. San Juan production 157
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
17
Page.
Great Britain production 914
Idaho production 107, 157
Joplin district production in 1913 100. 115, 633
Kansas production, 1913 115
Market 85, 87, 275, 433
Missouri production, 1913 115
Montana production 135
Nevada production 108
New Mexico production 88
Oklahoma production, 1913 115
Oregon production 103
Peru production 872
Prices 87, 124, 162. 201, 238, 276, 312, 353, 397. 434,
475, 512, 550, 594, 595. 635, 673. 713, 751, 752, 792, 829,
871. 913, 950, 951, 995, 1034,
Production and future prices Editorial....
Queensland production, 1913
Salts in cyanidation John B. Livingston....
Smelters and refineries in the United States
C. E. Siebenthal
Smelting at East Helena, Montana . . . .Bancroft Gore. . . .
South Dakota production
Texas production
United States production 8,
Utah production 108,
Washington production
White
World production C. E. Siebenthal....
Zinc field. Wisconsin 150, 343,
Leasing bill, Ferris 784,
Bill. Walsh
Law for mineral lands
Prospecting and R. W. Brock. . . .
Le Blanc property, Kenlwisek. Ontario
Ledoux. J. W Salted placers of Santo Domingo....
Le Due Mining Co., California
Leeson, C. G Levee building with bucket elevator
dredge equipped with stern delivery stacker
Legislation at Washington, Mining. . .Thomas J. Walsh. . . .
Lempriere. J. T., death of
Lena Goldflelds, Ltd.. Siberia 26, 185,
Bore-hole coefficients
Company report
Dredging cost Editorial ....
Lenskoie mine
Leonard iron mine, Minnesota
Leonldas iron mine, Minnesota
Leonora mine. Western Australia
Le Roi Mines. Consolidated. Rossland. British Columbia.
Mining & Smelting Co. of Canada. Ltd.. Trail
273. 749.
Le Roi No. 2, Ltd.. Rossland. British Columbia 117,
♦ 198. 273. 510,
Le Roy, E Water-actuated sampler. . . .
Leschen aerial tramway. Alaska
Leslie. E. H Buckhorn Mines Co.. power plant. . . .
Ditto Milling operations at the Commonwealth
property
Ditto Mining and milling at the American
Zinc property, Joplin
Ditto Mining methods and practice....
Letcher. Owen Messina copper mine. Northern
Transvaal
Lett. Stephen J Rand banket....
Levant mine, Cornwall, and 'lords'
Levee building with bucket elevator dredge equipped with
stern delivery stacker C. G. Leeson. . . .
Lewisohn. Adolph Capitalists' viewpoint, mining
industry
Llbertv Bell Gold Mining Co.. Colorado
Liberty Mining & Milling Co.. Chewelah. Wash
Liberty Mining Co., Boise, Idaho
Lightning arresters. Great Falls smelter stark.
Montana
Lllligren. J. M Assembling and erecting wooden
tanks
Ditto Professional ethics. . . .
Lime. Philippine Islands production
Limestone. Great Britain production
Queensland production, 1913
Lincoln. Francis Church .... Incaoro gold mine and mill.
Pallaya. Bolivia
Llndgren. Waldemar Hand banket....
Ditto What Is the matter with prospecting?....
'Llndlev on Mines', publication of third edition
Editorial. . . .
Litigation. Mining, review and forecast
Robert M. Searls
Little Banner mine, California
Little Johnny mine. Colorado
Little Marv mine. Missouri
Little Pet claim, Ontario 671,
Livingston. John B Lead salts In cyanidation....
Lloyd copper mine. New South Wales, flotation
Locomobile, American
Locomotive cranes
Gasoline mine
Tandem electric
London market T A. Rlckard....
Royal Mint, copper ingots
Underground electric railways
London Arizona Con»olldated Cooper Co.. Arizona 128,
London. Australian & General Exploration Co.. Ltd.. Ply-
mouth mine. California Mother Lode
Lone F'm Development Co.. Missouri
Lone Pine mine. Republic Mines Corporation, Washing-
ton 236.
Lonelv Reef Gold M'ning Co.. Ltd., Rhodesia 585,
Carbide consumption
Company report 832,
Mill treatment
Long Lake power development E. P. Kennedy. . . .
Longlife conveyor belt
Longyear. E. J What Is the matter with....
prospecting?
1075
799
793
111
732
416
910
110
105
947
176
819
816
664
988
784
627
582
273
280
155
644
365
912
432
341
126
721
1076
125
125
664
947
993
378
265
1010
722
840
43
283
420
114
644
383
270
947
196
411
187
911
914
793
561
818
169
403
80
392
710
584
743
111
583
678
1000
360
600
20
112
1035
545
109
862
868
586
1064
1077
1024
180
128
12
Page
Longyear Exploration Co.. Minnesota 190
Loring W. J California Mother Lode and'tlie
Plymouth mine ,«„
Los Angeles mine, Sonora, Mexico .' acq
Louisiana petroleum production 153
Lower Mammoth Mining Co., Utah, company report" ">35
Lucky Bart mine. Oregon Sro
Lucky Boy Gold Mining Co., Custer, Idaho' !!!!!.' iqc
Lucky Tiger-Combination Gold Mining Co., El TlKre
Mexico 93c' sag
Ludlum, A. C.... Drilling at Pato Mines, Ltd., Colombia.".. ' 780
Lumber for dredges 464
Luning Gold Mines Syndicate. Nevada .'../. 4>«
Luning-Idaho Mining Co.. Nevada \ 495
Lunt, Horace F Graphic solutions of certain corn-
phase motors to winding engines and hoists . .
T Ditto Radium bill and Colorado. .
Luther, John W Industrial hygiene as practised
at Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Lyons, H. M. and C. Antony Ablett. . . .Application of three-
phase motors to winding engines and hoists 6
Ditto Choice of drum for steam or electrical
689
780
809
drive
774
M
Macgregor, A\ allace Globe mine and mill. . . 290
Machine drills. Champion Reef gold mine. India 378
In mining 43
Machinery, Germany trade !!!!!!!*'* 551
Switzerland manufacture. 1913 950
Mackenzie. John H What is the matter with
prospecting? j9
Maclaren, Malcolm Persistence of ore in depth!!.'! 566
MacNamara Mining Co., Tonopah, Nevada 197 790
Company report ' 559
Mad Ox Mining Co., California !!!!!!! 866
Madagascar, gold production ' 135
Graphite production '.'.'.'.', 135
Madrid mine, Virginia, Minnesota .'. 6$7
Magma Copper Co.. Superior, Arizona 708
Aerial tram 428
Magnesite 301
Greece 1023
Production and United States imports !!!!!!! 1023
Magnetometrlc survey to the Sudbury nickel deposits
Application of the Kirbv Thomas. . . . 497
Magpie iron mine. Ontario 345
Mahoning iron mine, Minnesota 125
Malls, fraudulent use of Editorial.... 480
Maine, electric light and power-stations 221
Malaguit Dredging Co., Philippine Islands 1032
Malay Peninsula dredging 40
Rubber production ' 819
Malayan Tin Dredging Co., Ltd., Slam ..!.!!!! 28
Malcolmson, James W What Is the matter with
prospecting? 211
Malm mill, Georgetown, Colorado ! ! 589
Mammoth Copper Mining Co., Kennett, California !!
,, , o „ - 161> £33. "8"
Holt & Gregg farm 866
Mammoth Mountain Mining Co., Isabella. California 742
Manganese. Great Britain production 914
Melting point 112
Queensland production, 1913 793
Russia, Caucasus district production 1076
Manhattan Consolidated. Nevada 121, 272
Manhattan White Caps Co., Nevada ... . . 309
Manica. Portuguese East Africa. Mining in 573
Maori Queen, Victoria. Australia 675
Maps, new topographic. United States Geological Sur-
vey 582
Maranon placers again Editorial. . . . 602
Mararoa mine. Western Australia 665, 863
Marble. California production 788
Marguerite Mining Co. and Columbia Copper Co., Idaho.... 909
Mariposa Mines Development Co.. California 709
Mariposa Mining Co.. Nevada 235
Market. New York share. Review of the
C. S. Burton. . . . 30
Review, New York metal 87. 275, 133. 594. 751, 949
Markets, metal Editorial.... 920
Marmont mine. Western Australia 665
Marriott. Hugh F Ore treatment at the Prestea
Block 522
Marsh Mining Co.. Burke. Idaho 867, 1030
Marvel Loch mine. Western Australia 665
Mary McKlnney Mining Co., Cripple Creek. Colorado
156. 233, 271. 30S. 789
Company report 275
Marysvllle Buttes. Sutter county. California 782
Mascot Copper Co.. Arizona 588
Mason. Grafton Revision of the mining law.... 98
Mason Valley Mines Co.. Yerington. Nevada 161, 268,
356. 514, 517. 677. 834, 868, 992. 1038. 1072
Anderson mine 427
Company report 628, 826
Smeltei 197. 349
Smelter fumes 1073
Weidlein copper leaching process 575
Ditto Editorial ... 558
Muss Consolidated Mining Co.. Michigan 140. 506, 682, 749
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Uni-
versity co-operation Editorial.... 31.8
Mast ie lining for acid tanks 620
Mathison Smelting Co 292
Maurer. R. H Lake Superior copper district in
1913 II"
Maxlmelo Gold Dredging. Philippine Islands 911
May Day Mining & Milling Co.. Eureka. I'tah 868
Company report 671
Mayflower Mining Co.. Calumet. Michigan 341
Drilling 987
18
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Mazapil Copper Co., Mexico 114
McAlpine, Mother Lode, California 508
McCall, M. A., death of 123
McDonald, P. B Emergency gate.... 935
Ditto Mine oil-houses.... 815
Ditto Rock drilling in Lake Superior iron
mines 494
Ditto Sinking through sand in the Lake Superior
region 1047
Ditto Underground timber truck. . . . 892
Mclntyre Porcupine Mines, Ltd., Porcupine, Ontario
122, 426, 905, 1073
Company report 1032
Mill 1032
Pearl Lake cross-cut 705
McKinley-Darragh-Savage Mining Co., Cobalt. Ontario....
199, 236, 911
Company report 629
Jupiter mine. Porcupine, Ontario 743
McMartin, Duncan, death of 870
Mediation in Mexico Editorial.... 719
Medical examination and compensation Editorial.... 518
Mein, W. W What is the matter with prospecting?.... 211
Mellor, E. T Rand banket.... 781
Melting points of various metals 112
Menzies Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd., Western
Australia 665, 863
Meridiograph Louis Ross. . . . 640
Editorial 480
Merton & Co., Henry R., antimony statistics 353
Copper statistics 397. 752
Tin statistics 353, 913
Mesabi iron range. Minnesota, ore marketing 469
Messina Development Co., Ltd., Northern Transvaal. Soutli
Africa 738, 818, 940
Copper mine, Transvaal, ash from boilers fired by
wood 341
Copper mine Owen Letcher. . . . 283
Reverberatorv furnace 806
Metal market review, New York 87, 275, 433, 594, 751, 949
Markets Editorial .... 920
Mine accidents Editorial 207
Mines in United States, accidents in 13
Prices and markets in 1913 83
Metallurgical and chemical engineering, nature faking....
Editorial 402
Metallurgy Editorial. . . . 558
Fellowships in. University of Utah 886
Mining as a profession including first stages of
Hennen Jennings.... 961
Of the California Mother Lode
M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 65
Of copper in 1913, Hydro and pyro
Thomas T. Read. . . .
Reflecting microscope in mining geology and
James C. Ray. . . .
Metals Extraction Corporation, Ltd., bisulphite zinc pro-
cess
Metals Recovery Co., Nevada
Metals Research Co., Mason Valley Mines Co., Weidlein
copper leaching process
Metals, secondary, in United States in 1913 886,
Metcalfe. G. W California miners and the
Exposition
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting?. . . .
Mexican Eagle Oil Co
Mexican Gold & Silver Mining Co., Virginia City,
Nevada 121, 395, 670,
Company report
Mill costs 260,
v. A. F. Coffin libel suit
Mexico. American investments in E. P. Crawford....
Ditto Editorial. . . .
American Smelting & Refining Co. in
And American warships Editorial ....
And 'The States', Prospector in John Watson....
Cananea mines
Coining silver
Conditions in 191,
Conditions in, and crisis Editorial. . . .
Conditions in, mining in 1913
Condtions in, money situation
Ditto Editorial ....
Conditions in, silver coinage and Sociedad Afinadora de
Metales 707
Conditions in, taxes and mine operators ... Editorial. .. . 517
Gold and silver production in 1912 161
Guanajuato district, mining 671
Lead production 816
Map 113
Mediation in Editorial 719
Mineral exports Editorial 206
Mineral production Editorial. . . .602, 1001
Mines on London market 23
Mining in 1913 Editorial 4
Mining ruling 311
Petroleum industry 113
Petroleum production, 1913 779
Seizure of Vera Cruz by Americans Editorial.... 680
Silver free coinage Editorial .... 279
Sonora mineral exports 158, 352
Tampico oil development 707
Mexico mine. Sonora 869
Mexico Mines of El Oro, Mexico 592, 790
Meyer & Charlton mine. Rand 52
Miami Copper Co., Miami. Arizona 154, 161, 347, 356,
442, 477, 487, 507, 514, 666, 677, 824, 835, 1039
Company report 794
Mining cost 45
Mica. Canada production 914
India production 914
United States 301, 914, 971
Michigan, coal production 909
Copper mines. Lake Superior district in 1913 140
Copper production 88, 261, 747
54
250
868
575
950
384
133
34
910
203
415
509
980
798
352
129
858
993
388
869
4
113
113
557
Page.
Iron ore district conditions 989
Lake Superior mines activities . . . ! ] 1028
Lake Superior rock drilling P. B. MeDonaid. ! '. ! 494
Metal production, 1913 779
Silver production '.'.'.'.'.'.' ' V 747
Michigan-Utah Mining Co., Alta, Utah .........' 272
919
922
991
738
4 5 5
683
91
Microscope, reiiecting Editorial!
Reflecting, in mining geology and metallurgy
James C. Ray. . . .
Midas Gold Mining Co., Knob, California, fire.... 746 788
Midwest Oil Co., Casper, Wyoming, analysis of crude
oil
Miles, John H Winter dredging In Idaho"
Mill building in the Andes Alfred A. Watson. . . :
Construction and operation Editorial
Huntington centrifugal roller quartz, Improved....!! 438
Miller Lake-O'Brien mine, Gowganda, Ontario 236 911
Milling operations at the Commonwealth property... '
E. H. Leslie! ! ! ! 722
Operations at the Eldorado Banket mine, Rhodesia
D. . r. 4 , , w xt , A. W. Allen!!.': 501
Plants, Comstock lode, Nevada 14$
Plants, Underestimating the cost of.... I. F. Laucks 46''
Millwork at Brunswick Consolidated mine 688
Mine accidents, Metal Editorial 207
Accounting ' ' 7g>
Administration and mine bosses .'.Perplexed
superintendent '.'. . ' 591
Bell signals 984
Filling, hydraulic 902
Fire prevention '.'..'. 531
Fires, studying by experimenting ">61
Locomotive, Gasoline 350
Oil-houses p. B. MeDonaid! '.! ! 815
Output and assessors, Colorado Editorial 479
Promotion, Ethics of J. Parke Channing 18''
Pumping and air-lifts, Deep A. E. Chodzko. ' 136
Rescue telephones j-7g
Signal codes 3^5
Mine & Smelter Supply Co.. v. Deister Concentrator Co "." 8'5
Miner as a pioneer of civilization T. A Rickard 1004
v. agriculturist Editorial! !! ! 440
Minera Chontalpan y Anexas, Cia., Mexico, company re-
port
Mineral paint, United States production, 1913::.!:::
Production statistics for 1913 ' 88
Production United States, 1913 '.'.'.' .".'.'.'. '
Resources of the Harney Peak pegmatites, I. ii!!.". !!
Victor Ziegler. . . .604,
Water, Philippine Islands production 911
Mineral Hill Ore Reduction & Leasing Co., Crippie Creek
Colorado 345
•Mineral Industry', G. A. Roush chosen editor.""!!""!]
, „ . . • Editorial. . . . 165
Mineral Point Zinc Co., Kennedy mine, Hazel Green, Wis-
consin 150
Mineral Range railway, Michigan ..!"]]]]] 992
Minerals Separation flotation machine ....]]]]]] 265.
In United States ' 940
873
886
105
S
654
Process
9>
Process, Sulphide Corporation v. Elmores 389
Process. Sulphide Corporation v. Elmores, decision...! 543-
Ditto Editorial 439-
Tonnage treated, 1913 331
v. Butte & Superior Editorial. .. .361, 643, 758
v. Butte & Superior decision 7591
v. Butte & Superior, effect of decision 8''3
v. Elmores Editorial 642-
Mineral Slide mine, California, washing gravel 735.
Miners, Vocational training and Editorial. . 403'
Ditto G. McM. Ross 500
Mines. Accidental discoveries G. L. Sheldon.... 454
Acetylene lamps for metal Frederick H. Morley. . . . 609'
Mines Company of America, company report 790
In Mexic
311
Mines Operating Co., Utah S68'
498'
33
958'
961
840'
480
642'
458
961
Mining, Accident prevention in Edward Ryan
And business, a retrospection ."
F. Lynwood Garrison..
And civilization Editorial. .
Ditto Hennen Jennings . .
And milling at the American Zinc property, Joplin..
E. H. Leslie. .
And oil company stocks, fraudulent Editorial..
And right to condemn Editorial . .
And washing brown hematite ores W. R. Dodge. .
As a profession, including first stages of metallurgy. .
Hennen Jennings..
Bills, in House 863
Chile, revenue Editorial. . . . 957
China, new regulations Editorial. . . . 1002
Code commission Editorial .... 559
Colombia 185
Costs, Coeur d'Alene district 185
Costs, Joplin 264
Dangers 464
Drift, in the frozen gravel deposits of Cape Nome.
Arthur Gibson.
Enterprises, Inducing capital into
Carl J. Trauerman.
Experiment stations, bill in House Editorial.
In Australia Editorial.
In Belgian Congo in 1913
Svdney H. Ball and Millard K. Shaler 320
In Bolivia. Tin G. W. Wepfer. . . . 251
In China Editorial.... 440
In the Choco district. Colombia 696
In Manica, Portuguese East Africa "73
In Peru- in 1913 Lester W. Strauss. . . . 482
Industry from the capitalists' viewpoint
Adolph Lewisohn. . . . 383
Law, California State Mining Bureau bulletin
Editorial 206
Law revision 627
Ditto H. C. Callahan 422'
404
980-
877
6S0
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
19
Ditto Frank P. Davis ... .
Ditto Editorial. . . . 90. 481,
Ditto Grafton Mason. . . .
Lav revision and the Institute Editorial....
Law. Revision of the, discovery. .. .William E. Colby....
Law, Revision, Discovery v. a permit system
Editorial
Law, Texas Editorial. . .
Page.
982
603
98
361
246
244
206
Laws, Codification bill in House 987
Laws, codification, Smoot bill 745, 822
Legislation at Washington Thomas J. Walsh.... 365
Legislation in Congress 627, 706
Litigation, review and forecast. .. .Robert M. Searls.... 80
Machines 43
Methods and practice E. H. Leslie. ... 43
Methods in the Bering River coalfield, Alaska
W. R. Crane 327
Mexico in 1913 Editorial 4
Regulations. China Editorial 877
Southern states 785
Stations, experimental In metalliferous states, bill 784
Terms, Standardization of Will H. Coghill 456
Under water beds 464
With steam-shovel 47
Mining Corporation of Canada, Ltd 786
Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, annual meet-
ing Editorial.... 166
Presentation of Hoover medal Editorial ... .317, 481
Work of H. M. Chance 18
Mining Corporation of Canada, Ltd 786
Mining Science Publishing Co., bankruptcy. . . . Editorial. . . . 279
Minnehaha Dredging Co.. British Guiana 184
Minnesota. Cuyuna range mines 667
Iron production 125, 190
Iron ranges map 1026
Mesabi iron range 190
Mesabi iron range, conditions 1026
Ore beneficfation 469
School of Mines, Experiment Station 469
State leases 190
Minnesota Mines Co., Maitland, South Dakota 305
Mint, function of a 521
Hyderabad. India production 260
San Francisco 354, 470, 672. 793, 1075
San Francisco, gold received in 1913 176
San Francisco, Gold recovery from residue
Harold French.... 535
Mints. Australia, gold receipts in 1913 737
Coinage In 1913 163
United States, coins made at 112
Missoula Copper Co. and Snowstorm Mining Co 472
Missouri, calamine production In 1913 115
Cedar Creek district 306
Flat River lead district mill capacity .• 663
Flat River lead district, mining costs 738
Joplin district draining land 306, 466
Lead production 1913 115
Metal production 1913 779
St. Louis, filtration plant 583
Silver production 8, 831
Zlncblende production 1913 115
Missouri-Kansas-Oklahoma district see Joplin district
Moctezuma Copper Co., Nacozari, Sonora. Mexico 114,
161. 356. 515. 618. 677. 788, 790, 835. 869, 1039
Model mine. Panama-Pacific Exposition 893
Modderfonteln B. Rand 808
Mogul Mining Co., South Dakota, mill practice
Jesse Simmons ... . 1059
Terry mill 467
Mohawk copper mine, California 194
Mohawk mine. Goldfleld Consolidated Mines Co., Nevada. . . . 234
Mohawk Mining Co.. Mohawk. Michigan 88, 140. 161,
271. 344. 356. 515. 677. 747. 835. 946, 1030. 1039
Molder. John C What Is the matter with
prospecting? 374
Molds, pouring bullion 738
Mi.lolnii mine, Hoslotlpariuillo district, Mexico 707
Molybdenite 540
Queensland "93. 860
Mond Nickel Co J97
Process and reorganization 106*
Money in circulation. United States 1035
Monitor Mining Co. and Montana-Idaho Copper Co 867
Montagu & Co.. Samuel 951
Functions of a mint 521
Gold and silver movements 224, 996
Silver statistics 312, 397. 512, 597. 752. 871. 1034
Montana, Butte district and labor unions 116
Butte district and labor unions 116
Butte district, copper production 1913 116
Butte miners Independent union 1072
Butte district miners' union riots 1027, 1031
Butte district mines 272
Butte district mines yearly payroll 116
Camp Creek, niter deposit 423
Central map 56
"V.al production 149
Copper production 135, 261
East Helena, lead smelting at Bancroft Gore.... 416
Gold dredging 96
Gold In • ■ H9
Gold production 8, 135
Helena mining districts 747
Helena. United States Assay Office 909
Hydro-electric power 150
nitto Editorial 130
Lead production 135
Metal production 135
Mineriil Industry. 1913 149
New World mining district E. D. Gardner 880
Phosphate roi k 1035
silver production 8. 135, 149
"Western map 1-19
Zinc ores 'n 1913 37
Zinc production 135. 119
Page.
Montana-Idaho Copper Co. organized 867
Montana Mining Co., Ltd., V. St. Louis Mining & Milling
Co., Drumlummon controversy 368
Montana- Tonopah Mining Co., Tonopah, Nevada. . . .197, 349, 548
Company report 597
Costs 769
Moore Filter Co. suit Editorial.... 878
Monte Cristo mine, Sonora, Mexico 869
Montezuma mine, California 392
Monthly copper production 160, 355, 514, 676. S34, 1038
Moore, R. W Making ductile tungsten.... 979
Moore Filter Co. and Goldneld Consolidated Mining Co 1072
V. Tonopah Mining Co. and Montana Tonopah Mining
Co Editorial.... 878
Moose Mountain iron mine, Ontario 345
Morley. Frederick H Acetylene lamps for metal
mines 609
Morning Glory claim. Nevada, patent 509
Morning Glory mine, Washington 749
Morning mine. Mullan. Idaho 1030
Morse. C. W Electric blasting in shafts with delay
action exploders 216
Morse, H. W Slater leaching process for copper
ores 181
Mosquitoes, danger of killing with hands .' 5)0
Mother Lode, California, and Kennedy Extension-Argonaut
case Editorial.... 130
And the Plymouth mine, California 109
Region, California, map 65, 118
Metallurgy of M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 65
Working costs no
Mother Lode copper mine, Alaska 58S, 708, 1029
Motherwell. William Flotation tests at Mt. Morgan
mine 1044
Motor truck, costs of hauling by 337
Truck haulage F. L. Sizei . . . . 573
Motorcycle hoist 2 1 6
Motors, back-geared electric 228
Mott, L. C Antimony: Its ores, metallurgy, and uses. . . . 292
Mt. Alta gravel mine. California 633
Mount Blschoff Tin Mining Co., Tasmania 14S
Company report 637
Mount Boppy mine, New South Wales 92, 1076
Mount Elliott. Ltd.. Cloncurry. Queensland 677, 835. 1039
Mount Lyell Mining & Hallway Co., Ltd.. Tasmania
45, 515. 677, 835, 1039, 1069
Mt. Morgan Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Queensland, Australia. . .
25, 502, 625, 677, 6S8, 835, 1039
Company report 43 6
Copper ore 540
Gold mine, Queensland, Flotation tests at
William Motherwell.... 1044
Orebody 536
Slag and traction 4 23
Trolley wires 502
Mt. Rainier. Washington 456
Mount Royal tunnel. Montreal, Quebec 685
Mountain Park Coal Co., Alberta. Canada 115
Mountain Queen mine, Western Australia 125. 313,
505, 665, 863
Mountain Top Mining Co., Colorado 195, 393
Mudd, S. W California miners and the Exposition.... 384
Mule traction, Tonopah Belmont 583
Murchie mine, California 907
Murex flotation process 80
Ditto Editorial 919
Process In a German works Janus M. Hvile. . . . 931
Mutual Mining & Milling Co.. Mexico City 671
Mysore Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Kolar, India 26. 650. 1076
Company report 597
Mine. Kolar, India, cyanidation cost 72
Mine. India, foundry 583
N
Namqua mine. South Africa Editorial....
Naraguta Extended (Nigeria) Tin Mines, Ltd., Northern
Nigeria
Naraguta (Nigeria) Tin Mines. Ltd., Northern Nigeria....
Narrow Gauge Railroad Co., California
National Conduit & Cable Co. copper market future
National Copper Mining Co., Mullan. Idaho 271, 867,
Electric plant Glrard B. Rosenblatt....
Flotation
Tandem electric locomotive
National Mines Co., National. Nevada
National Radium Institute Archibald Douglas....
National Zinc Co
Natomas Consolidated of California 23, 40. 93. 2::::, 270,
And estimate of yield Charles M. Rolker....
Company report 904,
Ditto Editorial
Dredging cost Editorial. . . .
Natural Resources Survey of New Mexico
Nau Aug mine. Idahc
Nechi Mines (Colombia). Ltd.. Orovllle Dredging Co
Needles Mining & Smelting Co.. Chloride, Arizona
Nellson, T. and L. Larson Determination of flue-dust
losses
Nell Gwynne mine, Bendigo. Victoria
Nenzel Crown Point. Nevada, leases
Nerchinsk concession, Siberia, Russo-Asiatlc Corpora-
tion
Nevada, accidents
Comstock lode milling plants
Corns toe k lode pumping at Gold Hill mines
* 'om stock lode silver production
"'upper product I <m 108,
F.lko district oil locations
Falrplay district
I'nlght rates reduction on ores •
< ;..ld production °,
10 II
23
23
866
231
1030
335
940
600
1072
16
150
429
227
9 1 6
877
721
693
991
659
821
92!)
5 2 7
74 5
303
1072
1 h;
I 118
261
748
394
309
108
20
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Haystack goldfleld 992
Industrial Insurance Commission 1072
Jarbidge district 234
Lead production 108
Limerick canyon placers 867
Luning district 426
Manhattan district gold and silver production, 1913.... 121
Map 427
Pioche mines 710
Potash investigations, United States Geological Sur-
vey 909
Quicksilver production 81
Safetv Commission Editorial .... 601
Safetv First 196, 266, 309
Ditto" Editorial 129
Silver production 8, 108
Sulphur district discovery 590
Sutro adit, Comstock lode 909
Tonopah mines 108, 157, 197. 272, 349, 394, 472, 548,
591, 711, 826, 868, 992, 1031, 1073
Tonopah mines map 833
Tonopah situation of mines 197
Workmen's compensation Editorial. . . . 131
Workmen's compensation and industrial accidents 332
Workmen's compensation payments 1072
Yellow Pine district 349
Zinc production 108
Nevada Central Copper Co. small head-frame 928
Nevada Chief Mining Co., Nevada 395
Nevada Cinnabar Co., Nevada 235
Nevada Consolidated Copper Co.. Ely, Nevada 108,
112, 161, 235, 305, 356, 477, 515, 677, 826, 835, 1031, 1039, 1072
Accident prevention Lindsay Duncan.... 288
And compensation law 332
Blasting and use of explosives 577
Company report 357, 794
Copper Flat deposit 48
General rules for safety 460
Gold and silver recovery, 1913 738
Ore and dump train service 698
Overburden stripped 685
Safety First 509, 670
Ditto Editorial 439
Steam-shovel work 738
Whistle signals 536
Nevada Douglas Copper Co., Mason, Nevada 161, 349,
356, 515, 547, 586, 677, 835, 992, 1039
Casting Copper property 1073
Leaching experiments on copper ores Editorial. . . . 205
Nevada Hills Mining Co., Fairview, Nevada 121, 234,
272, 430, 547. 748, 909, 1072
Agitation at L. B. Eames 386
Ditto Alfred James. . . . 624
Company report • • 436
Costs ' *» ■*'
Nevada Packard Mines Co 946
Nevada State Mine Owners' Association 267
Nevada Wonder Mining Co., Nevada 992
Neverleak coupling jjjJO
New Arcadian Copper Co., Houghton, Michigan 90b
New Caledonia, nickel concessions 112
Ore production, 1913 938
New Chum Goldflelds. Bendigo, Victoria 537
New Chuquitambo Gold Mines, Ltd., Peru, company re-
port 832
New Era mine. Freeland, Colorado 119
New Golden Fleece, Bendigo. Victoria 537
New Guinea gold-dredging prospects report 705
Gold production, 1913 1069
Laloki mine 453
New Idria Quicksilver Mining Co., California, company
report 7^4
New Jersey Zinc Co 150. 1069
Industrial hygiene 809
New Mexico, coal production ■ • 1031
Copper production 88, 121, 261
Electric light and power-stations 221
Gold production 8, 88
Lead production 88
Lordsburg district 395
Mine fatalities, 1913 1031
Mineral production in 1913 88
Natural Resources, Survey of 693
Silver production 8, 88
Socorro county gold and silver production, 1913 121
Socorro county news • • 472
Zinc production 88, 1L1
New Nil mine, Bendigo, Victoria 537
New safetv detonator at Cornwall. . .Edward Browning. . . . 84o
New South Wales, Australia, arbitration in industrial
troubles Editorial .... 89
Broken Hill exports 97, 913
Broken Hill field ■•• 629
Broken Hill, mineral production, 1913 620, /38
Broken Hill mining claims, map 25
Broken Hill, slime treatment 657
Broken Hill, zinc production by flotation 650
Coal production 1913 705
Cobar, flotation 341
Firefly copper field ^03
Gold and silver production 1913 1069
Gold discovery history ■ • • ■ 100o
Gold production 628, 636
Gold recovery by dredging, 1913 738
Invincible colliery strike 1069
Mineral production, 1913 705
Opal, 1913 • • • • • H°
New World mining district E. D. Gardner 880
New York and business outlook 231
f» ftlf] f'\DOI"tS •• lvoD
Metal market review 87, 275, 433, 594. 751. 949
Petroleum production 163, 1037
Share market, Review of the C. S. Burton 30
Silver exports 1
Stock Exchange copper
666
Page.
Stock Exchange, share transactions 996
United States assay office 1035
Workingmen's compensation Editorial.... 131
New York & Honduras Rosario Mining Co 191
New Zealand, Auckland exposition Editorial.... 205
Auckland, Grafton bridge 860
Dredging cost Editorial.... 721
Gold production 628, 636, 1069, 1076
Mines on London market 25
Silver production 1913 1069
Strike Editorial. .. .206, 317
Newlands act, strikes Editorial. . . . 1002
Newsboy Mining Co., Fairbanks, Alaska 347, 392
Mill 269
Newton mine, Chicago mountain, Colorado 348
Nicaragua, Central America, Eden Mining Co 352
Pis Pis mining district 332
Tonopah Mining Co. in 352
Nickel, melting point 112
New Caledonia concessions 112
New Caledonia production, 1913 938
Ontario production 592
Sudbury deposits. Application of the magneto-metric
survey to the Kirby Thomas.... 497
World control 1066
Nickel Plate mine. Camp Hedley, British Columbia 122
Nigeria, see West Africa
Nimshew Ridge Mining & Development Co., California.... 824
Nipissing Mines Co., Cobalt, Ontario 158, 199, 231,
431, 506, 541, 629, 671, 869, 1032
Company report 832
Costs 884, 902
Costs, Denny treatment of silver ores 74
Desulphurizing ores without roasting. .. .Editorial. .. . 402
Low-grade mill supply consumption, 1913 782
Ore and residue assay, 1913 782
Nippon Oil Co., Japan, gusher Editorial.... 1042
Nishihara, George Puzzle in sulphide enrichment.... 660
Ditto Sulphide enrichment.... 386
Niter deposit. Camp Creek, Montana 423
Nitrate, Chile production 501
Industry, Chilean, I, II, III Lester W. Strauss 972,
1014, 1049
Of soda purchases from Chile by United States 872
Noble electric smelter, Heroult, California 308
Noblett, R Use of powder underground. . . . 186
Nome tramway, Alaska 718
Nomenclature, Kalgoorlie goldfleld Editorial.... 680
Ditto C. O. G. Larcombe 699
North Anantapur mine, India 650
North Arm copper mine, Alaska 232
North Bendigo, Bendigo, Victoria 537
North Broken Hill Mining Co., New South Wales,
Australia 427
Company report 953
North Butte Mining Co., Butte, Montana 196, 302,
789, 909, 992. 1027
Company report 873
Yearly payroll 116
North California Mining Co., California 588
North Carolina, gold and silver production 8
Gold mining 785
Mica production 971
North Dakota Pumping Project, coal mine 565
North Kearsarge mine, Michigan 271
North Lake Mining Co., Michigan, company report .... 953, 1036
North Moccasin property, Barnes-King Development Co.,
Montana 120
North Star Mines Co., Grass Valley, California .... 119, 429.
709, 944
Company report 631
North Star Mining & Milling Co., Jarbidge. Nevada
197, 632, 868
Company report 711
North Thompson mine, Ontario, Canada, and Associated
Gold Mines of Western Australia 705
North Webb City, Missouri 584
North West Corporation, Yukon 23, 39
Northern California-Southern Oregon Mining Congress.... 1031
Northern Ontario Exploration Co. and California Explora-
tion Co 189
Northern Ontario Light & Power Co., Fountain Falls
plant 993
Northern Territory, Australia, gold production, 1913 1069
Northwest Corporation, Ltd.. dredging cost. .. Editorial. .. . 720
Northwestern Metals Co., Helena, Montana 626
Norway, Christlania, mining exhibition 939
Cost water-power development 218
Hydraulic Power & Smelting Co., Ltd 63
Company report 357
Hydro-electric power Editorial.... 165
Hen Smelting Works 61
Iron smelting, electric furnace 63
Kongsberg mines 713
Mining In 1911 529
Silver production in 1912 164
Sulltielma mine 179, 512, 656, 928
Water-power plant construction, Cost 902
Note-hooks. Cover for engineers" 262
Nova Scotia, coal mining in bad repute 504
Gold production 872
Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co., company report 504
Output 313
Nundydroog Co.. Ltd., Kolar. Mysore. India 1076
Company report 637, 6.S0
Cyanide plant. India, chemical consumption. 1913 583
Nutter, E. H What is the matter with prospecting?. . . . 134
Oak Orchard Mining Co.. Joplin, Missouri 466
Oaks Co., New Mexico 197, 310. 548, 827
O'Brien mine, Cobalt 199
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
21
Page.
Octopus claims, Nevada 196
Offin River Gold Estates, West Africa, dredging 40
Ohio, coal mining, 1913 1037
Coal production 513
Petroleum production 163, 1037
Ohio Copper Co., Bingham, Utah 122, 161, 356, 431,
515, 632, 677, 835, 906, 1039
Ohio Locomotive Crane Co 1000
Oil, see petroleum.
Driven air-compressors 918
Houses, Mine P. B. McDonald 815
Okanogan Free Gold mine, Washington 869
Oklahoma, calamine production, 1913 115
Lead production, 1913 115
Metal production, 1913 779
Miami mines 115
Minerals, production, 1913 831
Petroleum production 163
Quapaw district 466
Zincblende production, 1913 115
Oklahoma-Kansas-Missouri district, see Joplin district.
Old Colony Copper Co., Houghton, Michigan 344
Drilling 987
Old Dominion Copper Mining & Smelting Co., Globe,
Arizona 155, 161, 265, 356, 428, 442, 488, 515,
677, 708, 835, 951,
Blgelow suit
Company report
Oliver niter, cloths, Black Oak mine, California
Buckhorn mill
Oliver Iron Mining Co., Minnesota
Carson lake drainage
Gilbert mine
Shaft sinking
Ontario, claim measurement
Cobalt district geological section
Cobalt district mills in 1913
Cobalt district mines 231, 273,
Cobalt district mines consolidation
Cobalt district mines in 1913
Cobalt district power
Cobalt production
Copper production
Diamonds
Gold production
Iron ore bounty
Iron production
Kerr lake drainage
Mining districts map
Nickel production
Pearl Lake mines amalgamation
Porcupine district
Porcupine district fire
Porcupine district map
Radium bill
Silver ores
Silver production
Sudbury district map
Sudbury nickel deposits, Application of the magneto-
metric survey to the Kirby Thomas ....
Workmen's Compensation Act
Ontario Mines Co
Ontario Mining Co., Kellogg, Idaho
Ontario Silver Mining Co., Park City, Utah, company re-
port
Ooregum Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Kolar, India 650,
Company report
Recovery
Opal, New South Wales, 1913
Queensland production. 1913
Ophir Gold Dredging Co., Orovllle, Cal., and heavy
spares
Ophir Silver Mining Co., Virginia City, Nevada 670, 910,
1072,
Opp Mining Co., Jacksonville, Oregon
Ora Bella mine, Arizona
Ore G. Aubrey Gow....
Ditto Jerome B. Landfleld
Ditto Forbes Rlckard ....
Ditto T. A. Rlckard
Ditto Venturesome. . . .
Beneficlatlon, Minnesota
Feeder, New
Genesis, new theories and amateurs Editorial....
In depth, persistence of Editorial....
Ditto Malcolm Maclaren ....
In sight Cassius E. Gillette....
Occurrence at the Cloverdale mine
Lerov A. Palmer....
Production of Joplin district for 1913 ... .Otto Ruhl
Sacks, Filling T. R. Archbold
Transport in Rand mines
Treatment and a transparent liquid
Treatment at the Prestea Block... Hugh F. Marriott....
Orebodles below water beds
Oregon Bureau of Mines, field work
Coal production
Copper production
Gold production 8, 103,
Illinois valley mines
John Day district
Lead production
Metal production
Mineral production value
Mineral resources
Mining In
Newport gold discovery
Platinum production
Silver production 8, 103,
Ore-passes. Cylindrical wooden .. .Andrew Fairweather. . . .
Oriental Consolidated Mining Co.. Korea 92, 122, 199,
236. 311. 510. 671. 758, 911,
Ditto A. E. Drucker
Ditto Editorial
Original Mining Co., Merc. <l. California
1039
1067
675
185
121
667
464
1026
464
336
396
749
396
743
199
979
592
592
786
592
506
592
993
189
592
273
905
310
534
629
902
592
351
497
743
789
1030
715
1076
832
738
738
793
1073
670
630
186
264
385
463
582
469
876
401
557
566
186
812
100
659
808
738
522
464
670
591
103
591
197
827
103
103
946
591
548
74X
591
591
257
903
762
T.'.s
709
Page.
Oro Bonita mine, Arizona §30
Oro Hondo mine. Soutli Dakota . ! . .' . 584,' 941 1025
Oronogo Circle Mining Co., Oronogo. Missouri . 940
Oroville Dredging Co., Ltd., and its future Editorial. '.'.' 166
Ca ifornia 95, 970, T8s. 990, 1029
Colombia 23, 158, 183, 199, 396. 429, 545, 592
Nechi Mines, Ltd.. Colombia 659
Pato Mines, Ltd., Colombia ' ' ' Ys'o' 930
Oro Water Light & Power Co. dredges in 1913 ' ' 545
Levee building with dredge Hunter' 644
O'Rourke, Michael, death of ' 91-»
Oroya-Black Range mill, Western Australia, "leaching
sand 663
Oroya Links, Ltd., Western Australia. .. .313, 505, 665. 6s¥ 863
Orsk Goldfields, Ltd., Siberia .. '6 ''56
Dredging ' ' ' "39
Oscar Daniels Co., Arizona 907
Osceola Consolidated Mining Co., Osceola Michigan 88
140, 157, 161, 271, 349, 356, 506, 515, 677, 682, 747, 835'
906, 1025, 1039
Rope haulage 540
Osceola Lead & Zinc Co .' ^61
Osgood mine, California . 347
Osmirldum. Tasmania, nuggets S60
Production 754
Our contributors Editorial! '.'. '. 3
Outlook Editorial 921
Overlook Mining & Development Co., Idaho 308
Owens Valley, Victoria. Australia \ . 675
Oxy-acetylene welding and cutting 756
Pachuca, leaching of gold and silver ores 74
Pacific coast and Panama canal free tolls. .. .Editorial. . . . 558
Pacific Coast Borax Co. and Borax Consolidated, Ltd ....
Editorial 838
Pacific Gas & Electric Co., California, company report... 1077
Pacific Mines Co., Mogollon, New Mexico 946
Paine, Webber & Co., v. J. M. Hall 7S6
Paint, cold water 918
Mineral, United States production, 1913 886
Palmer, Leroy A Ore occurrence at the Cloverdale
mine 812
Panama canal Editorial 958
Canal and copper smelting 1025
Canal, cost 979
Canal, Cucaracha slide. Culebra cut 477
Canal, excavation 872
Canal, free tolls and Pacific coast Editorial.... 558
Canal, Gatun lake, poisoning water hyacinths 984
Canal, probable tonnage 808
Canal, working force 112
Canal Zone, gold in 171
Canal Zone, labor 1060
Panama Pacific International Exposition, California min-
ers and the F. W. Bradley, Arthur Goodall,
Louis Rosenfeld, John F. Davis, S. A. Knapp. . . . 298
Ditto Herbert Lang 263
Ditto G. W. Metcalfe, S. W. Mudd, Pierre Bouery,
Harold T. Power. John B. Keating.... 384
Ditto Charles E. van Barneveld . . . . 213
California mining exhibit Editorial.... 206
Model mine 893
Paper, fitted to uses 703
Papua, see New Guinea.
Paracale Bucket Dredging. Ltd.. Philippine Islands 911
Patagonia Mining & Development Co., Arizona 545
Patents decision. Brown 527
Recent 315. 437. 478, 556. 638, 1078
Pato Mines, Ltd., Colombia 1032
Drilling A. C. Ludlum 780
Pearl Lake Gold Mines, Ltd., Ontario 189
Pearl mine. Republic Mines Corporation, Washington 236
Peele, Robert Progress in the application of com-
pressed air 75
Pegmatites. Mineral resources of the Harney Peak. I. II. . . .
Victor Ziegler. .. .604, 654
Pembroke, H What Is the matter with prospecting?. . . . 376
Penn-Canadlan Minis. Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario 199
Pennsylvania, anthracite coal production. .. .Editorial. .. . 205
Bureau of Mines building, Pittsburgh 612
Coke production 928
Graphite 301
Industrial hygiene as practised at Palmerton
John W. Luther 809
Petroleum production 163, 1037
Seranton, mine cave-Ins 1064
Penrose, Jr., R. A. F What is the matter witii
prospecting? 169
Percival. J. B Gold dredging at Surinam. Dutch
Guiana 733
Perlgo mines, Gilpin, Colorado 342
Perkins, H. C What Is the matter with prospecting?- • • • ] -
Permanganate solutions. Iron ore analysis 703
Permit versus discovery system Editorial.... 244
I'errln. William R.. death of 994
Persia, oil deposits 1065
Persistence of ore In depth Editorial .... 557
Ditto Malcolm Maclar.n .... 566
Peru and Chile, Hydro-electric power in
Lewis R. Freeman. . . . 333
Backus & Johnston Co 482
Central map 482
Cerro de Pasco Mining Co 160, 352, 3."r>. 182, 514,
D76, 834, 103S
Cerro de Pasco smelting plant Ppencer Bishop .... 177
Gold placers of the Maranmi Editorial.... 244
Mineral production, 1913 872
Mining in 1913 Lester W. Strauss. . . . 182
Peruvian Exploration Co 4S5, H1 1
Zorritos petroleum plant !•'■!'
22
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Peru Gold Placers, Ine .Editorial 244
Maranon placers Editorial .... 602
Peruvian Exploration Co., Peru 485, 911
Peterson Lake Silver Cobalt Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt,
Ontario 425, 947
Petroleum:
Alaska 154
Appalachian oil production, 1913 1037
California production 88, 301, 588, 746, 914
California statistics 545
Canada, Alberta, Calgary oil and gas discovery
943, 988, 993
Ditto Editorial 919, 1002
Canada, oil regulations 426
China resources and Standard Oil Co Editorial.... 440
Crude oil analysis. Midwest Oil Co 738
Crude oil, distilling and iron retorts 188
Dutch East Indies production 714
Great Britain oil supply and Anglo-Persian Oil Co 1065
Illinois production 349
Institution of Petroleum Technologists, inaugural meet-
ing, London 543
Japan kerosene oil production 1035
Japan, Nippon Oil Co. gusher Editorial.... 1042
Japan production 125
Mexico 113
Oil and gas engines as economic sources of power
Editorial.... 130
Oil fuel, cost, Mother Lode region, California 66
Oil industry outlook 987
Oil placer locations. Smith v. Union Oil Co 80
Oil shale. Great Britain production 914
Oil situation in 1913 164
Oil wells, reviving 846
Peru production 872
Russia, oil production 502
Scotch mineral oil companies, production, 1913 769
South Africa prospects 821
Southern Pacific and Burke oil land suit
Editorial. . . . 1041
Tampico. Mexico 707
United States production 163, 963
Venezuela oilfield 187
World production, 1913, principal countries 779
Phelps, Dodge & Co., Inc 161, 356, 515, 677, 835, 1039
Company report 587
Properties, Work in 1913 616
Phelps. Dodge Mercantile Co., company report 618
Philippine Islands, Bureau of Science 911
Dredging 40, 184, 265, 503, 911
Dredging cost Editorial.... 721
Gold discovery 449
Gold mining 911
Gold production 8, 503
Malaguit Dredging Co 1032
Manila stock exchange 503
Mineral production 1913 911
Northern, map 503
Silver production 8
Philippine Dredges, Ltd 265
Philippine Dredging Syndicate. Philippine Islands 911
Phoenix Gold & Copper Mining & Milling Co., Wash-
ington 711
Phoenix mine. Arizona 746
Phoenix Syndicate, Victoria, Australia 675
Phoenix Mines (Cornwall), Ltd 267
Phosphate areas. Idaho. Utah, and Wyoming, map 351
Rock reserves, United States 1035
United States production. 1913 890
Richer Lead Co., Miami. Oklahoma 742
Pickands-Mather Co 469
Pickstone mine, Rhodesia 586
Pierce-Arrow motor truck F. L. Sizer. . . . 573
Pilot-Butte Mining Co.. Butte, Montana 116, 394, 826
Yearly payroll 116
Pinchot, Gifford, conservation report 988
Pine Tree mine. California 709
Pioneer iron mine. Minnesota 125
Pioneer Consolidated Mines Co., Nevada 710
Pioneer Tin Mining Co., Tasmania, company report 832
Pipe-line, loss of head as result of friction 703
Pis Pis mining district, Nicaragua 332
Pitchblende 885
Colorado 104
Colorado ores, geology 945
Pitt Iron Mining Co., Minnesota 190
Pittsburg mine, Colorado 1071
Pittsburg Silver Peak Gold Mining Co., Blair, Nevada 1072
Pixley & Abell gold statistics 202
Silver statistics 201. 238, 276. 353, 673, 713. 913
Placer claims. Cariboo district, British Columbia, disputed. 192
Ground, valuing Editorial.... 757
Mining. Alaska 154
Mining. California 107
Mining, Liberty, Washington 473
Mining, Thawing frozen ground for.. Arthur Gibson.... 143
Patents. Duffleld-Chemical Co. cases 80
Placers, Salted, of Santo Domingo ]. w. Ledoux. . . . 280
Plants. Cost of erecting treatment. M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 619
Underestimating the cost of milling. ... I. F. Laucks. . . . 462
Platinum and gold. Assaying concentrate and black sand
for Andrew F. Crosse. ... 814
Coefficient of expansion 984
Estimation by fire assay
G. H. Clevenger and II. W. Young. ... 614
Germany 1 35
Germany, Westphalia deposits , . , . 930
Ditto Editorial. .. .206, 1001
Metals, Detection in cupellation beads 116
Oregon production 591
Urals industry, revival lnOQ
Plumbago prices in Ceylon 415
Plymouth Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd.. California
470. 515. 7SS
Page.
Mine, Mother Lode, California, London, Australian &
General Exploration Co., Ltd 109
California Exploration Co., California 903
Pneumatophors, helmet type criticized 600
Pogue, Joseph E Technology of turquois.... 285
Polaris mill, Arizona tube-mill 850
Poor Farm Dredging Co., Ruby, Montana 96
Porcupine Crown Mines, Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario
189, 310, 426, 510
Company report 998
Condition of property 905
Porcupine Gold Mines, Ltd., Ontario, sale to Porcupine
Vipond Mines. Ltd 906
Porcupine Vipond Mines, Ltd., Ontario, and Porcupine Gold
Mines, Ltd 906
Porepunkah mine, Victoria, Australia 675
Porphyry Hill mine, Porcupine, Ontario 310, 743
Port Arthur and vicinity, Geological notes on
Warren D. Smith.... 461
Port Davey Tin Mines, Tasmania leases 303
Portable mine hoists, Chicago 241
Portland Canal Tunnels, Ltd., British Calumbia. . 198, 389, 869
Tunnel Lloyd C. White 731
Portland cement production 239, 674
Portland Gold Mining Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado
156, 308, 348, 789, 991
Company report 358
Porto Rico, gold and silver production 8
Portugal, gold and silver production in 1912 164
Portuguese East Africa, Mining in Manica 573
Potash, German Syndicate 191
Germany exports 502, 984
Production and borax prices Editorial. . . . 838
Prospecting, Railroad Valley Co Editorial.... 797
United States imports 1037
Potassium and sodium cyanides Editorial. . . . 519
And sodium cyanide, Relative efficiency of
Charles Butters 520
Ditto CM. Eye 660
Powder, see explosives.
Powdered coal in metallurgy Editorial.... 603
Power, Harold T California miners and
the Exposition 384
Power & Mining Machinery Co. tube-mill 316
Power City Oil & Natural Gas Co., Montana 789
Power plant, Buckhorn Mines Co E. H. Leslie.... 1010
Transmission, cyanide plant 423
Precipitation and clean-up at the Lake View mill
J. P. Caddy 461
Premier Diamond Mining Co., Ltd., Pretoria, Transvaal,
company report 597
Mine, and Union of South Africa Editorial. . . . 1041
Preparatory work of the Alaska Gold Mines Co 800
Prescott Steam Pump Co., Fred M., horizontal duplex pump 204
Presentation of the Mining and Metallurgical medal
Editorial 481
Pressure and vacuum at altitude A. W. Allen. . . . 978
Prestea Block A., Gold Coast Colony, West Africa 22
Ore treatment at Hugh Marriott. . . . 522
Prince Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co., Pioche, Nevada
710, 992, 1072
Princess Dagmar mine, Bendigo, Victoria 537
Production statistics:
Alabama, coal, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 1037
Alabama, coke. U. S. Geol. Surv 928
Alaska, copper, U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Alaska, minerals, U. S. Geol. Surv 8, 88, 154, 261
Appalachian oil. 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 1037
Arizona minerals, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 106, 261
Arkansas minerals, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 830
Australasia gold, 1913 1069
Australasia silver, 1913 1069
Australia gold 628, 636
Belgian Congo, diamonds 324
Belgian Congo gold 323
Belgium pig iron 477
British and Dutch Indies petroleum. 1913 779
British Columbia minerals 202
California graphite 429
California iron 429
California lead ore, U. S. Geol. Surv 589
California minerals, 1913 588, 788
California minerals, U. S. Geol. Surv 88. 107, 261
California petroleum 914
Canada. Alberta, coal 629
Canada, gold 911
Canada, mica 914
Canada minerals 8
Central states, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv S30
Chile, nitrate 501
Colorado. Aspen district, minerals, 1913 120
Colorado, Breckenrldge district, minerals, 1913, U. S.
Geol. Surv 120
Colorado, Chaffee county minerals, 1913 119
Colorado. Clear Creek county metals, 1913 119
Colorado, copper, U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Colorado, Creede district, minerals, 1913 120
Colorado, Cripple Creek gold production, 1913 156
Colorado. Eagle county metals 119
Colorado, Leadville district minerals, 1913 119, 155
Ditto, I'. S. Geol. Surv 119
Colorado, mineral value Editorial .... 920
Colorado minerals 100, 261
Ditto. U. S. Geol. Surv g:):!
Colorado mines, U. S. Geol. Surv 42
Colorado. Ouray county minerals. 1913 157
Colorado. San Juan minerals, 1913 157
Cornwall, tin 773
Dutch East Indies, petroleum 714
Dutch Guiana, gold, 1913 '. 352
Oalicia. petroleum. 1913 779
Georgia, coal. U. S. Geol. Surv 92S
Great Britain minerals. 1913 914
Greece, magnesite 1023
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
23
Page.
Hudson River region, brick, U. S. Geol. Surv 978
Idaho, copper, U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Idaho, metals, 1913 157
Idaho, minerals by counties 590
Idaho, minerals, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 107
Illinois, coke, U. S. Geol. Surv 928
Illinois, metals, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 779
Illinois, minerals. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 830
Illinois, petroleum 349
India, gold mines 650
India, Kolar goldfleld 1076
India, mica 914
Indiana, coke. U. S. Gedl. Surv 928
Japan, copper, 1913 33 i
Japan, minerals Editorial .... 205
Japan, minerals, 1913 125, 1035
Joplin district, minerals 100, 115, 633
Kansas, minerals, 1913 115
Ditto V. S. Geol. Surv 831
Mexico, minerals Editorial .... 602
Mexico, petroleum, 1913 779
Michigan, coal, U. S. Geol. Surv 909
Michigan, copper, U. S. Geol. Surv 88, 261, 747
Michigan, metals, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 779
Michigan, silver, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 747
Minnesota, iron 12o
Misouri, metals, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 779
Missouri, minerals, 1913 115
Ditto U. S. Geol. Surv 831
Montana, Butte, copper, 1913 116
Montana, copper, U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Montana, metals, U. S. Geol. Surv .;..... 135
Montana, minerals 13o, 149, 261
Nevada, copper. U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Nevada. Manhattan district, gold and silver, 1913 121
Nevada, minerals. 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 108
New Caledonia, ore. 1913 938
New Mexico, coal, U. S. Geol. Surv 1031
New Mexico, copper, 1913 121
Ditto U. S. Geol. Surv 261
New Mexico, minerals. IT. S. Geol. Surv 88, 261
New Mexico, Socorro county, gold and silver 121
New Mexico, zinc ore, 1913 . . . . • • • • 121
New South Wales. Broken Hill, minerals. 1913 620, 738
New South Wales, gold by dredging. 1913 738
New South Wales, minerals. 1913 70.->
New Zealand, gold • • • • 618
Nova Scotia, gold 702. "2
Oklahoma, metals. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 779
Oklahoma, minerals. 1913 11 J
Ditto I' S. Geol. Surv 831
Ontario, minerals. 1913 • ■ ■ 592
Oregon, minerals. U. S. Geol. Surv 103,
Pensylvanla, anthracite coal Editorial....
Pennsylvania, coke, U. S. Geol. Surv
591
205
928
Peru, minerals, 1913 872
Philippine Islands, gold 503
Philippine Islands, minerals. 1913 »ii
Quebec, asbestos 66.!
Queensland, minerals, 1913 ■•■■ <»3
Rand, gold 398. 513
Rumania, petroleum. 1913 '<»
Russia, Caucasus district, manganese 10|b
Russia, coal 2:' j
Russia, iron • • ■ ■ 22 '
Russia, petroleum ">«-• ' '»
Scotch mineral oil companies. 1913 i69
Sicilian Sulphur Combine sulphur •!»»
Sicily, sulphur 9-b
South Africa, diamonds ••••■•.••, StS
nutn Editorial. .. . 919
Ditto .
South Australia, minerals i i -
South Dakota, minerals. U. S. Geol. Surv
Sumatra. Dutch East Indies. Omhllien coal
Tasmania, minerals. 1912 and 1913
Tennessee copper. U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Texas, minerals. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 110
Transvaal, gold • "'•'■ "t
Union of South Africa, minerals 626
United States, aluminum. I. S. Geol. Surv...
United States, arsenic. U. S. Geol. Surv...
United States, asbestos
United States, barlte, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv
United States, bauxite ■•••••• • ■ ■ • •
United States, briquetted fuel, 1913 79J
United States, coal ■• • •■ ■■• • ■ ■ - ■ • ■ • »«•
Ditto '■ s '"•°1- Surv.... 88
United State's, coal, anthracite, small sizes 1048
United States, coal, anthracite. U. S. Genl. Surv
United States, coke. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv
United States, copper. U. S. Geol. Surv
United States, feldspar • ■•■ ■ •• ■■
United States, gas. tar. and ammonia. 1 b. Geol. surv.
United States. Iron ■■ ■ ■ • •■ ; • • • ; • • J»8
Ditto U S. Geol. Surv.... 313
United States, iron, pig -354, 713, 872, 1035
United Slates. Iron pyrite. 1913. U. S. Genl. surv
United States, lead. U. S. Geol. Surv
United States, mica, 1913 ■ • ■ ■
Ditto.. U. S. Geol. Surv....
United States, mineral paint. 1913 •• •■• ■ ....
United States, minerals ». 88, 1U8,
United States, minerals. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv ....
United States, petroleum 779,
United States, petroleum. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv
1'nited States, phosphate. 1913
United States, Portland cement. U. S. Geol. Surv... 239,
1059
910
703
714
110
1023
846
892
1037
928
105
938
239
714
105
914
971
886
313
ion
963
163
890
67 I
United States! pyrite 1059
United States, quicksilver 81
Ditto U. S. Geol. Surv.... 351
United States, radium. V. S. Geol. Surv 502
l*nited States, rutile in 1913 537
United States, secondarv metals. 1913. U. S. Genl. Surv. 950
i nited States, slate, U. S. Geol. Surv in.'iT
Page.
United States, sulphur, U. S. Geol. Surv 926
United States, sulphuric acid, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv... 714
United States, tin. metallic, 1913 582
United States, tungsten, U. S. Geol. Surv 520
United States, zinc, U. S. Geol. Surv 106. 476, 513
Ditto Editorial.... 440
Utah, coal, U. S. Geol'. Surv 947
Utah, copper, U. S. Geol. Surv 261
Utah, minerals by counties. 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 947
Utah, minerals, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 108
Wales, coal 773
Washington, coal 914
Washington, metals, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 176
West Virginia, U. S. Geol. Surv 928
Western Australia, gold 125, 313, 505, 665
Wisconsin, metals. 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv 779
Wisconsin, minerals, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv 831
World, copper 674
World, gold, 1913 Editorial.
World, gold and silver, 1912 164
816
819
674
,C. E. Siebenthal.
World, lead
World, rubber
World, zinc
World, zinc and lead, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv
Editorial
Wyoming, coal, 1913. U. S. Geol. Surv
Wyoming minerals, 1913, U. S. Geol. Surv Ill
Professional ethics J. M. Lilligren . . . . 187
Progress at Chuquicamata, Interview with Daniel Guggen
helm
In the application of compressed air.. Robert Peele...
In gold and silver ore treatment in 1913
Alfred James. . .
Ditto E. A. Julian...
Of flotation litigation Editorial...
Promotion. Ethics of mine J. Parke Channing. .
681
914
574
70
500
642
182
Properties of the Russian Mining Corporation 651
Proske, T. H Blacksmith's problem.... 384
Prospecting and Compensation Act. Clarence K. Colvin . . . . 938
And government aid Royal P. Jarvis. . . . 936
Ditto O. E. Klrkpatrick. . . . S59
Ditto P. L. Ransome.... 736
Ditto F. Sommer Schmidt.... 581
And leasing R. W. Brock.... 582
Australia, government aid Editorial... 89
Present and future J. H. Farrell.... 1061
What is the matter with? Discussion .... 661
Ditto Editorial.... 207
Ditto C. P. Greene 701
Ditto G. L. Sheldon 780
Ditto. Symposium. I, II. Ill, IV 9, 132. 168, 210
Ditto Carl J. Trauerman. . . . 980
Ditto Traveler.... 463
Prospector In Mexico and 'The States' .. .John Watson.... 858
Prospectors. Charcoal burning for....W. H. Washburn.... 613
Claim measurement, Ontario 336
Puebla. track cable transport 583
Pulp agitation 423
Klevatlng 814
Pumice. California production 788
Pump, centrifugal, in elevating ore pulp 703
Centrifugal, maximum efficiency 387
Pumping at the Gold Hill mines on the Comstock 652
Deep mine and air-lifts A. E. Chodzko. . . . 136
Pumps. Horizontal duplex power, for high efficiency 204
Puzzle in sulphide enrichment George Nishihara. . . . 660
Pyrite. California production 788
Determination of sulphur in 579
United States production 1059
Pvrltlc ore deposits of Kyshtim, Russia. A. W. Stickney.... 896
Quartz Hill mine. Scott Bar. California 945
Quebec, asbestos production 663
Montreal. Mount Roval tunnel 685
Queen of the Hills mine. Western Australia 505, 665. 863
Broken crank-shaft 819
Queensland. Australia. Charters Towers ore deposits 502
Coal resources 625, 628
Gold production 628, 636. 1069
Gold production. Charters Towers 734
Labor and death rate 1024
Mineral production, 1913 793
Mining troubles 705
Molybdenite 860
Silver production. 1913 106!)
Quicksilver. California production 88. 588
< >r< occurrence, Cloverdale mine, California
Leroy A. Palmer .... 812
Peru production 872
Prices... 87. 124. 162. 201, 238. 276. 312. 353. 397. 434, 475.
512, 550. 595, B35. 673. 713, 752. 792. 829. 871, 913. 951.
995. 1034. 1075
Production and prices Clifford G. Dennis.... 81
United States production s. 354
Qullp Gold Mining Co. v. Republic Mines Corporation.
Washington 198
Mine. Imperator-Oullp Mining Co 236
Quinev Mining Co.. Hancock. Michigan ... 88, 140. 157. 161.
271, 356. 515, C77. 682, 835. 1039, 1071
Company report 669
R
Radium, see also carnotite, pitchblende, uranium, and vanadium.
Editorial s79
And cancer 1064
And its sources Charles T. Kennan .... 885
24
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
And Strassburg hospital 737
Bill Editorial 603
Bill and Colorado Horace F. Lunt. ... 780
Bill in Congress 706, 745, 784
British Columbia legislation 431
Bromide in United States 398
Colorado 867
Colorado, Idaho Springs discovery.. Editorial.... 165
Lands and withdrawal of Editorial.... 166
Ontario bill 629
Ores, prices in 1913 398
Reduction of ores George D. Van Arsdale.... 1013
San Salvador, Central America, discovery 952
United States production, 19M 502
Utah occurrence 395
Radium Company of America 749
Radium Hill Co., Sydney, New South Wales 658
Radium Institute. National Archibald Douglas.... 16
Railroad Bill, Alaska Editorial 319
Railroad Valley Co., Nevada 265,591, 789
Company report 314
Gaylussite 255
Gaylussite beds, map 314
Potash prospecting Editorial. . . . 797
Railroads, Australia transcontinental Editorial.... 279
United States, business 979
Railways, Alaska 373
And forest fires 423
And mines 964
Rainbow Lode Development Co., Butte, Montana, and Butte
& London Copper Development Co., shaft unwatering 1027
Shaft E. C. Reeder 968
Rainbow Mines Co., Alleghany, California 747
Ramshorn mine, Idaho 1071
Rand, Charles F. .American Institute of Mining Engineers,
work of 17
Rand and native labor 151
Banket H. Foster Bain .229,1022
Ditto David Draper. . . . 538
Ditto J. W. Gregory 1020
Ditto F. H. Hatch 299
Ditto J. S. Hook. 621, 736
Ditto J. F. Kemp 936
Ditto Stephen J. Lett 420
Ditto Waldemar Lindgren.... 818
Ditto E. T. Mellor 781
Ditto T. A. Rickard 621
Ditto Kirby Thomas. . . . 226
Decline of the F. L. Bosqui 736
Ditto H. S. Denny. ... 49
Explosives and stoping 341
Gold decrease in ores with depth 229
Gold production 151, 398, 543
Goldfleld, life estimated 542
Labor costs on the 20
Middle East, map 21
Mills on the 92
Mines, consolidation discussed 942
Mines, ore reserves 935
Mines, production 753
Mines, temperature increases 464
Ore transport In mines 808
Strike 151
What is the matter with? Editorial 560
Working costs and condition of gold-mining industry.. 860
Rand Mines. Ltd., amalgamation — cyanide plants 899
Randall, John Increasing the efficiency of a grinding
pan 417
Randfontein Central Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rand 52, 942
Costs 861
Ransome, F. L Prospecting and government aid. . . . 736
Rathfon Reduction Works, Washington 868
And Republic mine 548
Rattlesnake Jack mine. South Dakota, treatment 1025
Ray, James C. .. .Reflecting microscope in mining geology
and metallurgy 922
Ray Consolidated Copper Co., Ray, Arizona 58, 118,
161, 307, 356, 477, 515, 677, 865, 1039
Company report 399, 706, 794, 835
Mining method 46
Operating officials, 1913 793
Safety First 269
Rayfteld (Nigeria) Tin Fields, Ltd., Northern Nigeria 23
Razing the Steptoe Valley stack D. Boyd-Smith, Jr. . . . 694
Read, Thomas T.... Hydro and pyro-metallurgy of copper
In 1913 54
Ready Bullion mine. Prince of Wales Island, Alaska 990
Real del Monte mine, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, U. S. S.
R. & M. Co 785
Guerrero mill 114, 388
Reata Mining & Milling Co.. Washington 272
Recent advances in the study of sulphide enrichment
C. F. Tolman, ,Tr 172
Changes in iron and steel manufacture
Bradley Stoughton. ... 41
Red Top-Laguna mine, Goldfleld Consolidated Mines Co.,
Nevada '. 552
Reduction of radium ores George D. Van Arsdale.... 1013
Plant and compressed air 423
Reeder, E. C Rainbow lode shaft. ... 968
Reeth, H. W Gold placers on the Kuskokwim river,
Alaska 890
Refineries and smelters, lead, in the United States
C. E. Siebenthal 732
Reflecting microscope Editorial. ... 919
Microscope in mining geology and metallurgy
James C. Rav. ... 922
Reid, Walter L Smuggler-Union air-lift.... 452
Reilly Fraction open-cut mine, Nevada, auto-trucks 826
Reinohl process of rapid cyanidation Editorial.... 798
Relative efficiencv of sodium and potassium cyanide
Charles Butters. .. . 520
Ditto C. M. Eve.... 660
Ditto G. W. Shepherd.... 898
Page.
Reliance Gold Dredging Co., and Tonopah Mining Co 233
Reliance mine, Victoria, Australia 675
Renong Dredging Co., Siam 28
Costs 703
Replacement orebodies at the Gray Eagle mine
Fred H. Dakin, Jr 970
Reports, importance of simplicity in Editorial.... 679
Republic Coal Co., and Myers coal bill 988
Republic mine, Chihuahua, Mexico 454
Republic Mines Corp., Washington 236, 350, 510, 749
And Rathfon Reduction Co 548
Bankrupt 122
Bids for assets 548
v. Quilp Gold Mining Co 198
Requa, M. L What is the matter with prospecting?. ... 13
Residue, Disposal from Amador county mills, California. .
M. W. von Bernewitz. . . . 770
Nipissing Mining Co., assay, 1913 782
Reuter Mining Co., Wyoming 749
Reuther, E. W. . .What is the matter with prospecting?.... 374
Reverberatory furnace, Copper matte production in the...
Herbert Lang. .. . 802
Review of the New York share market.... C. S. Burton.... 30
Revision of mining law 627
Ditto H. C. Callahan 422
Ditto Frank P. Davis.... 982
Ditto Editorial. . . .90, 481, 603
Ditto Grafton Mason .... 98
Ditto, discovery William E. Colby.... 246
Ditto, Discovery v. a permit system Editorial.... 244
Rex Mining & Milling Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado 156, 308
Rezende Mines, Ltd., Rhodesia 586
Reymert mine, Superior, Arizona 708
Rhoads-Hall mine, Fairbanks, Alaska 269
Rhode Island, electric light and power stations 221
Rhodesia, area and government 761
Crushing plants 146
Health conditions 820
Milling operations at the Eldorado Banket mine
A. W. Allen 501
Mines on London market 21
Mining industry 585
Southern, coal resources 821
Wages at mines 859
Rhodesia Chrome Mines, Ltd., Rhodesia 586
Rhodesia Gold Mining & Investment Co., Ltd., Rhodesia,
company report 1077
Rickard, Forbes Ore .... 385
Rickard, T. A London market. ... 20
Ditto Miner as a pioneer of civilization. . . . 1004
Ditto Ore 463
Ditto Rand banket 621
Ditto Water in veins. . . . 298
Rico-Wellington Mining Co., Rico, Colorado 270
Company report 715
Ridder concessions, Siberia. Russo-Asiatic Corporation .302. 651
Right of Way Mines, Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario 199, 629
Rio Tinto Copper Co., Ltd., Spain, company report 715
Robertson, William Fleet.. What Is the matter with pros-
pecting? 170
Robey, Lloyd . .Suggested method of standard screen tests. 533
Robinson Deep Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Rand 52
Rochester Hills Mining Co., Rochester, Nevada, company
report 430
Vertical sections through vein 430
Rochester Mines Co., East Rochester, Nevada 1068
Big 4 lessees 745
Company report 472
New officers 867
Share litigation ended 867
Suit decision 547
Richester Weaver Mining Co., Nevada 1068
Company report 591
Leases, moisture In ores 540
Rock, crushed, and granite, California production 588
Rock-drill operation by gasoline engine. New 400
Repair costs C. K. Hitchcock, Jr. . . . 933
Rock-drilling in Lake Superior iron mines
P. B. McDonald 494
Rock-drills, Younger generation of 241
Rogue River Public Service Corp., Oregon 748
Rolker, Charles M Natomas Consolidated. . . . 227
Roosevelt tunnel, Colorado 747, 789, 825. 867, 946
Root's blowers, horse-power required 1024
Rosenblatt, Girard B Coeur d'Alene electric plant.... 335
Rosenfeld, Louis. .California miners and the Exposition. . . . 298
Ross, G. McM Vocational training and miners.... 500
Ross, Louis The meridiograph . . . . 640
Round Mountain Mining Co., Nevada 197, 1072
Cost of mining with underground crusher 43
v. Round Mountain Sprlnx Co 1073
Roush, G. A., chosen editor of 'Mineral Industry'
Editorial 165
Ditto Electro-metallurgy in 1913.... 61
Rowe mine, Minnesota 1026
Royal Consolidated mine, California 825, 990
Royal School of Mines and University of London 665
Rubber, artificial 1024
South America, Amazon district exports 291
World production. 1913 819
Rulil, Otto... Ore production of Joplin district for 1913.... 100
Rulings of California Accident Commission 337
Rumania, petroleum production, 1913 779
Rush to the Hoeo-Poco diamond fields 856
Russia as a mining field 302
Caucasus district, manganese production 1076
Caucasus oilfields, rotary drilling 537
Coal production and consumption 551
Dredging 39
Dredging in 1912 . .Translated by Wm. H. Shockley . . . . 894
Empire, map 302
Gold ami silver production in 1912 164
Iron production 551
Kyshtim Corporation 179
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Page.
Lead production 816
Mines on London market 26
Petroleum production 502, 779
Pyritic ore deposits of Kvshtim. . . . A. \V. Sticknev. . . . 896
Shipbuilding, 1913 735
Ural district, asbestos 829
Russian Iron & Steel Syndicate 551
Russian Mining Corporation 666
Properties of 651
Russo-Asiatic Corporation 302, 666
Riddersk concession 651
Rutile production in 1913 537
Ryan, Edward Accident preventing in mining.... 498
s
Safety, American Museum of Editorial .... 2
Detonator at Cornwall, New Edward Browning.... 815
Rules, General, Nevada Consolidated Copper Co 460
Stations, mine, in House Editorial. . . . 877
Winches and crabs 360
Safety First, Accident preventing in mining 498
Anaconda Copper Mining Co 626
Blasting and use of explosives, Nevada Consolidated
Copper Co 577
California 631
Conference, San Francisco Editorial... 4i'9
Crucible practice 1052
Danger from falls of rock 698
Metal mine accidents ....Editorial.... 207
Mine fire prevention 531
Nevada 266. 309
Ditto Editorial.... 129
Nevada Consolidated Copper Co Editorial.... 439
Safeguarding health of employee 809
Ditto Editorial 798
U. S. Bureau of Mines inventions 987. 1067
Use of powder underground R. Noblett .... 186
St. Albans copper-gold claims. Oregon 868, 945
St. Anthony Mining Co., Nevada 349
St. Ives Consolidated Mines. Ltd., Cornwall, production... 773
St. John del Rey Mining Co.. Ltd.. Brazil. S. A 29. 1076
Company report 203
St. Johns Consolidated Quicksilver Mining Co.. Vallejo.
California 945
St. Joseph-Doe Run Lead Co.. Missouri 663
St. Joseph Lead Co., Bonne Terre, Missouri 742
And Doe Run Lead Co.. litigation 309
Annual meeting 785
Company report 953
v. Robert Holmes 394
St. Louis Mining & Milling Co. v. Montana Mining Co..
Ltd., Drumlummon controversy 368
St. Louis Smelting & Refining Co., Missouri 663
St. Marv's Mineral Land Co., Michigan holdings 506
Sakhalin Oil Fields, Ltd., Siberia 352
Sales, Reno H...What Is the matter with prospecting?.... 211
Salt. Peru production 872
Philippine Islands production 911
South Australia production. 1913 1059
Salted placers of Santo Domingo J. \V. !<edoux. . . . 280
Sampler, Water-actuate* E. Le Roy. . . . 378
San Francisco Mint, gold recovery from residue
Harold French... 535
Operations 176. 354. 470, 672, 793, 1075
San Francisco mine, Sonora. Mexico 869
San Poll Consolidated Co.. Republic. Washington 749
And Hope and Knob Hill companies 548
San Toy Mining Co., Chihuahua, Mexico, company report. 356
San Ygnaclo mine, Sonora, Mexico 869
Sand and gravel, Philippine Islands production 911
Filling of stopes, Angelo mine. Hand 461
For filtration plants 112
Shafts, High cost of 614
Sinking through. In Lake Superior region
P. B. McDonald. . . . 1047
Sand Queen mine. Western Australia 665, 863
Sandstorm-Kendall Consolidated Mining Co., Ooldfield. Ne-
vada 992
Sanitation and disease. Joplln district 742
Labor camp. California Editorial ... . 797
San Salvador. Central America, radium discovery 952
Santa Gertrudis Co.. Ltd.. Pachuca. Mexico.. .92, 158, 204, 311
Santa Rosa mine. Zacatecas. Mexico 465, 869
Santaquln King mine, Utah 236, 473
Santa Domingo goldflelds, dredging Editorial.... 89
Salted placers of I W. I.edoux .... 280
Saw-tooth buildings 423
Scheellte, Queensland production. 1913 793
Schmidt. F. Summer. . .Prospt-ctlng and government aid.... 581
Scholz, Carl American Mining Congress, work of.... 19
School of Mines semi-centennial Editorial.... 837
Schools. Vocational training and miner!* Editorial.... 403
•Schumacher mine, Ontario 425
Scotch mineral oil companies production. 1913 769
Screen tests. Suggested method of standard
Lloyd Robey 533
Screw classifier and fine-ore feeder... S. A. Worcester.... 530
SearlB, Robert M Mining litigation, review and fore-
cast 80
Second Relief Mining Co.. Ltd.. Erie. British Columbia 273
Secondary metals. 1'. S. production. 1913 950
Secretary and the West Editorial. ... 90
Seger cones 860
Seneca-Superior Silver Mines. Ltd.. Cobalt. Ontario. 199, 236. 017
Company report 715
Seoul Mining Co.. Korea 199. 311, B10. 671
Company report 122, 199. 1078
Operating officials 918
S larntor. Shields & Thielman 278
S»rvia. gold and silver production. 1912 164
Sesnon Co., John J Nome tramway. Alaska.... 718
Page.
Settlers, valves or cocks 73$
Seven-Thirty mine, Colorado, lessees' work....!! 825
Seven Troughs Coalition Mining Co., Seven Troughs Ne-
„ vada 235', 472, 591
Company report 50,
Shaft-sinking, electric blasting with delay ac'tion'expioders
.. .. TI. .. „ C. W. Morse.... 216
Shafts, Hight cost of sand 614
Shale, Tasmania production 714
Shaler, Millard K.. and Sydney H. Ball Mining" in" the
Belgian Congo in 1913 390
Shamva Mines, Ltd.. Rhodesia 22, 585' 890 1052
Shannon Copper Co., Metcalf, Arizona. .. 161, 347, 356! 515'
cm „ 677, 835, 865, 1039
Shannon Copper Co., and Arizona Copper Co 465
Company report 71 g
Sharpless, F. F. .What is the matter with prospecting' 212
Shasta Copper Exploration Co., California 866
Shattuck Arizona Copper Co., Blsbee. Arizona. .. 161 356
423, 515, 545, 677, 835, 907! 1039
Company report 470
Shaw, S. F Survey publications!!!! 980
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting?... 662
Sheep Rock Leasing, Mining & Milling Co., Utah 711
Sheldon, G. L Accidental discoveries of mines.... 454
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting''.. 780
Shenango Furnace Co., Chlsholm. Minnesota 195
Shepard. W. M., and W. H. Gardner. . .Largest electricaliv
operated gold dredge ' 1053
Shepherd. G. W... Relative efficiency of sodium and potas-
sium cyanide 393
Sheridan-Adams Royalty Syndicate property, Thorns Sta-
tion. Missouri 584
Shields & Thielman, classifying jig ,\ 278
Ship building, principal countries of world in 1913 !! 735
Canals. Tonnages through. 1912 653
Shipper Copper Mining Co.. Nevada '" 496
Shockley. William H... Dredging In Russia in 1912. trans-
lation g94
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting?...! 170
Shovel. Bucyrus, water supply from locomotive tender.... 703
Shushanna, see Alaska, Chisana.
Siam. gold production in 1912 164
Malayan Tin Dredging Co., Ltd ! . ! 28
Mines on London market 28
Renong Dredging Co 28, 703
Siamese Tin Syndicate. Ltd .' 28
Tin dredging cost Editorial.... 721
Tongkah Harbour Tin Dredging Co 203
'Slam', steamship equipped with Diesel engines 228
Ditto Editorial.
Siamese Tin Syndicate, Ltd., Slam.
129
28
Siberia and Alaska, Gravel mining in ! 185
26
39
Atbasar copper mine
Dredging
Kyslitim Corporation, Ltd 26, 27, 302 103
Lena Goldflelds, Ltd 26, 126. 1S5, 341. 432 721 1076
Orsk Goldflelds. Ltd 26! 256
Russo-Aslatic Corporation. Ridder. Sokolnl, and Ner-
chinsk concessions 30'
Sakhalin Oil Fields, Ltd 352
Spassky Copper Mines, Ltd 26
Tanalyk Corporation. Ltd 26, 302
Western, map $51
Sicilian Sulphur Combine 398
Sicily, sulphur production 927
Slebenthal. C. E Lead smelters and refineries In the
United States 732
Ditto World's production of lead.... 816
Sierra Nevada Consolidated Mining Co., Idaho 789. 1030
And Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining & Concentrating
Co 833
Sierra Nevada Mining Co., Virginia City, Nevada 910, 1073
Signal codes, mine 325
Signals, mine hell 984
Whistle, Nevada Consolidated Copper Co 536
Silver added to gold in assay 819
Alaska production 88
And gold movements in 1913 224
And gold ore treatment in 1913, Progress in
A It'red James .... 70
Ditto E. A. .Julian 500
And gold, world movements Editorial.... 206
And India 550
Arizona production 106
Australasia production. 1913 1069
202
588
8
120
119
British Columbia productio
California production 88, 107
Canada production
Colorado, Aspen district, production
Colorado, Chaffee county productio
Colorado, Clear Creek county production 119
Colorado. Creede district, production 120
Colorado, Eagle county production 119
Colorado. Leadvllle district, production 119
Colorado production 42, 157
Costs, Denney treatment. Niplsslng Mines Co., Cobalt-. 71
Estimation by fire assay...*;. II. Clevenger and II. W.
Young 614
France imports 855
Idaho production 107, 157
Japan production 125, 103 5
Lead ore. South Australia production, 1913 1059
Lead ore, Tasmania production 711
Market, eighty years of the 409
Michigan production, 1913 717
Montana production 135. 1!!*
Nevada production 1°^
New Mexico production 88
New York exports 1035
•Ontario ores 902
Ontario production 592
Oregon production 103. 591
Peru production 872
26
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Philippine Islands production 911
Prices.. 87. 124, 162, 201, 238, 276, 312, 353, 397, 434, 475,
512, 550, 595, 635, 673, 713, 752, 792, 829, 871, 913, 951,
995, 1034, 1075
Queensland production, 1913 793
South Dakota production 88, 910
Standard, history 939
Standards for 663
Sycee 265
Texas production 110
Transactions, Samuel Montagu & Co 996
Union of South Africa production 626
United States production 8
Utah production lOS, 947
Washington production 176
World production, 1912 164
Ditto Editorial.... 130
Wyoming production Ill
Silver Hill Mining Co., Nevada 395
Silver Hoard mine, British Columbia 158
Silver King Coalition Mines Co., Park City, Utah. 350, 790, 1073
Silver Hill underground station 756
v. Silver King Consolidated Mining Co 81
Silver King Consolidated Mining Co., Utah... 272, 310, 350, 1073
Company report 473
Litigation 1073
Silver yueen mine, Canada 231
Silver Queen Mining Co., Kettle Kails, Washington 351
Silver Top Mining Co., Wyoming 749
Silverton Mines, Ltd., Silverton, British Columbia 502
Silverton Tramway Co., W'estern Australia 427
Simmer & Jack Proprietary Mines, Ltd., Rand 52, 229
Company report 357
Costs 526, 861
Tube-mill 850
Simmer Deep, Ltd., Rand 229
Costs 861
Simmons, Jesse Mogul mill, South Dakota.... 1059
Simplification of gold-ore treatment A. W. Allen.... 898
Sinking through sand in the Lake Superior region
P. B. McDonald 1047
Sintering copper ore 60
Sizer, F. L Motor-truck haulage. . . . 573
Sizing tests, Argonaut mine, California 265
Slate, United States production 1037
Slater leaching process for copper ores..H. W. Morse.... 181
Sleeping sickness 939
Slime treatment at Broken Hill 657
Sliming by grinding pans, Economical
M. G. F. Sohnlein 847
Sluice-boxes, steel plates in 112
Small head-frame 928
Smelter fume and fruit trees Editorial.... 479
Fumes and gases, Studies of 496
Smelters and refineries, lead, in the United States
C. E. Siebenthal 732
Colorado Editorial 920
v. Farmers' Association, Utah Editorial. ... 479
Zinc and copper, sulphuric acid, 1913 860
Smelting, Cerro de Pasco plant, Peru. .Spencer Bishop.... 177
Colorado 383
Copper 60
Cost, Cananea Consolidated Copper Co 60
Electric, in iron and steel manufacture 41
Fluorite in Herbert Lang... 492
Katanga, Africa, copper 171
Lead, at East Helena, Montana Bancroft Gore.... 416
Lead, nickel, and tin, 1913, review Editorial.... 2
Ores and metals 532
West Virginia zinc 855
Zinc, capacity of the United States 499
Zinc in 1913 37
Smith, E. A Cappelen ... .Leaching and electrolytic pre-
cipitation of copper at Chuquicamata 739
Smith, F. M., borax holdings Editorial.... 957
Smith, Warren D Geological notes on Port Arthur
and vicinity 461
Smoke and plant efficiency 984
Smoot bill, mining law codification 707, 745, 822
Ditto Editorial 559
Smuggler Mining & Leasing Co., Aspen, Colorado 945
Air lift Walter L. Reid 452
Snake Creek tunnel, Utah 431, 632, 827, 1073
Snow at high altitudes 819
Snowstorm Mining Co., Larson, Idaho. ..198, 669, 747, 789, 1030
And Missoula Copper Co 472
Stoping methods 45
Soapstone and talc. United States production in 1913 892
Sociedad Afinadora de Metales, Mexico City 388
And Mexican silver coinage 707
Socorro Mining & Milling Co., New Mexico.. 197, 548, 632, 827
Pacific mine, New Mexico 946
Sodium and potassium cyanides Editorial.... 519
And potassium cyanide, relative efficiency of
Charles Butters.... 520
Ditto C. M. Eye. ... 660
Sohnlein, M. G. F. .. .Economical sliming by grinding pans 847
Ditto Tin mining in Tasmania.... 148
Sokolni concessions, Siberia, Russo-Asiatic Corporation... 303
Soluble losses Harai R. Layng. . . . 891
Solution control in cyanidation A. W. Allen.... 338
Ditto J. E. Clennell.... 500
Ditto James S. Colbath.... 421
Some unwritten cvanide history H. Foster Bain.... 580
Sons of Gwalia, Ltd., Western Australia. .. .313, 505, 665, 863
Company report 873
Sopa Diamond Mines, Ltd., Brazil 806
Sorensen. S. Severin Stirling v. Babcock & Willcox
boilers 340
South Africa diamond and gold discovery history 1006
Diamond production 626
Ditto Editorial.... 919
Explosives 1024
Mineral production 626
Petroleum prospects
South African Gold Trust, Ltd., company report
South America, see also Argentina. Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Amazon district, rubber exports
British Guiana dredging
Dredging in 1913
Dutch Guiana, gold dredging at Surinam
J. B. Percival. . . .
Gold and silver production in 1912
Mill building in the Andes Alfred A. Watson....
Mines on London market 23,
Northern portion, map
South American Copper Syndicate, Venezuela
South Australia gold production 628,
Mineral production 112,
Silver production. 1913
South Blocks mine, New South Wales, Australia
South Carolina, gold and silver production
Phosphate rock
South Crofty, Ltd., Cornwall production
South Dakota, Black Hills minerals
Deadwood Business Club, Heidelberg property
467, 584, 941,
Forest law
Gold production
Lead miners' union building
Silver production
South Eureka Mining Co., Sutter Creek, California
232, 392,
South Kalgurli Consolidated, Ltd., Western Australia....
125, 505, 665, 688,
South Kearsarge mine, Michigan
South New Moon mine, Bendigo, Victoria
South Prince of Wales, Bendigo, Victoria
South Uno iron mine, Minnesota
South Utah Mines & Smelters, Newhouse, Utah
161, 356, 515, 677, 835,
Southern Arizona Mining & Smelting Co., Virginia incor-
porated
Southern Montana railway
Southern Pacific Co. and Burke oil land suit
Editorial
v. Development Company of America
Southwestern Copper Co., San Simon, Arizona
Southwestern Miami Development Co., Miami, Arizona....
Spain, dredging
Fatality rate Editorial ....
Iron production
Lead production
Silver production in 1912
Rio Tinto, wage minimum
Spassky Copper Mines, Ltd., Siberia
Specialism and efficiency Specialist. . . .
Specific gravity, gold coin
Gravity of specimen gold J. Jervis Garrard....
Speel River electro-chemical project Wr. P. Lass..
Spelter, see zinc.
Spilsbury, E. Gybbon....A correction, Hoover medal pre-
sentation
Ditto What is the matter with prospecting?. . . .
Springfield Tunnel & Development Co., Sonora, California
155,
Spruce iron mine, Minnesota
Stag Canon Fuel Co., Dawson, New Mexico
Company report
Disaster
Stamp dies, concreting
Stamp-mills, Queensland
Stamps, gibs used in tappets
Rand
Standard Consolidated Mining Co., Bodie, California, com-
pany report
Lessees in 1913
Slime value
Standard Oil Co., China and Japanese newspapers
Editorial. . . .
In China Editorial. .. .440,
Standard Silver-Lead Mining Co.. Ltd.. New Denver, Briti-
ish Columbia 117, 198, 473, 592, 632, 749,
Company report
Standardization Editorial ....
Of terms Will H. Coghill
Starlight copper and lead mine, Arizona
Statistics, copper Editorial. . . .
Steam power plant, Buckhorn Mines Co...E. H. Leslie....
Steam-shovel at the copper mines Editorial....
In mining
Mining, cost, Nevada Consolidated Copper Co., Copper
Flat deposit
Mining cost, Utah Copper Co
95-ton Panama, for sale
Pi ts and water
Raising boom on a revolving
Utah Copper Co
Work, Nevada Consolidated Copper Co
Steamers, ore-carrying, Great Lakes
Steel and blacksmiths. .W. S. Dooley and T. H. Proske
And iron manufacture. Recent changes in
Bradley Stoughton. . . .
And iron production in France
And iron smelting, electric furnace
Belts
Electric furnaces for production
Plates in sluice-boxes
Shafting and horse-power
Sharpening drill by machines
United States armor-plate and
Steptoe Valley Mining & Smelting Co., McGill, Nevada, and
compensation law
Razing the stack D. Boyd-Smith, Jr....
Reverberatory furnaces
Smelter determination of flue-dust losses
Stevenson Iron Mining Co., Hibbing. Minnesota
Page.
821
637
291
184
39
733
164
683
29
29
£9
1069
1059
1069
1035
773
827
1025
373
88
910
88
545
863
271
537
537
125
1039
1066
786
1041
985
824
428
40
243
378
816
164
112
26
110
341
817
218
624
134
825
125
587
618
1031
387
902
902
902
507
693
779
558
797
869
915
518
456
588
402
1010
680
47
48
48
730
1024
663
387
738
984
384
41
101
64
939
171
112
502
984
191
332
694
738
929
125
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
27
Page.
Stewart Mining Co., Stewart, Idaho 196, 198. 234, 309,
472. 473. 628. 789, 1030, 1071
And American Smelting & Refining Co 271
Troubles 667, 747
v. Jonathan Bourne, Jr 271
Stickney, A. W....Pyritic ore deposits of Kyshtlm, Russia 896
Stirling v. Babcoek & Willcox boilers
S. Severin Sorensen.... 340
Stone. Philippine Islands production 911
Stoping cost, Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co., Tasmania 45
Cost, Snowstorm Mining Co., Idaho 45
Cost. Stratton's Independence, Ltd., Cripple Creek, Colo-
rado 45
Methods 45
Storms, W. H Premature announcement.... 227
Stoughton, Bradley Recent changes in iron and steel
manufacture 41
Stratton Cripple Creek Mining & Development., lessees' re-
sults 1913 546
Stratton's Independence, Ltd., Cripple Creek. Colorado...
156, 308, 509, 991
Stoping 45
Strauss, Lester W.. Chilean nitrate industry — I. II, III....
972, 1014, 1049
Ditto Mining in Peru in 1913 482
Stream line 341
Strike, Colorado coal miners 710, 825
Colorado coal and Intervention Editorial.... 757
Lake Superior district 196, 586
Ditto Editorial 206
Ditto, Jamea MacNaughton testimony 546
Ditto, Moyer deported Editorial. .. . 90
New Zealand Editorial 206
Rand 151, 468
Strikes, and arbitration, New South Wales. .. Editorial. .. . 89
New Zealand attitude Editorial 317
United States board of mediation Editorial.... 1002
Stripping frozen gravel Editorial.... 720
Ditto Ex-Dawsonlte. . . . 857
Strong Gold Mining Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado 156
Stubbs, J. E.. death of 912
Students, Columbia University summer earnings
Editorial 243
Studies of Smelter fumes and gases 496
Stutz, J. C What is the matter with prospecting?.... 661
Suan Concession, Korea A. E. Drucker. . . .
Ditto Editorial ....
Success Mining Co., Ltd., Wallace, Idaho 157, 198,
Separating plant
Suction-gas power in Western Australia, Evolution of...
J. C. Auldjo
Sudan Gold Field Co., Ltd., Sudan, company report
Sudbury nickel deposits. Application of the magnetometric
survey to the Klrby Thomas. .
Page.
64
58
1030
147
715
497
Suez canal 494
Canal as business index Editorial.... 1041
Suggested method of standard screen tests
Lloyd Robey . . . . 533
Sulitjelma mine, Norway 179, 512, 656. S2x
Sulphide Corporation, Ltd., Western Australia 427
Central mine. Broken Hill, New South Wales, company
report 304
Flotation 389
v. Elmores-Minerals Separation process decision 543
Sulphide-enrichment George Nishlhara .... 386
Puzzle in George Nishlhara .... 660
Recent advance In the study of. . . .C. F. Tolman, Jr 172
Sulphur In pyrite, determination of 579
Japan production 125, 1035
Sicilian sulphur combine production 398
Sicily production 926
Smelter fumes 1067
United States production 926
Sulphuric acid manufacture, cost, Anaconda Copper Min-
ing Co 55
Tennessee Copper Co 239
United States production 1913 714
Wallaroo & Moonta Mining Co., South Australia pro-
duction, 1913 782
Zinc and copper smelters, 1913 860
Sumatra island. Dutch East Indies, coal production of
Omblllen 703
Ketahoen mine 540
Sunset Mining & Development Co., Rhyollte, Nevada, new
treatment plant 748
Tramp mine 748
Superior & Boston Copper Co., Copperhill, Arizona. .. .232,
307, 442, 788, 944
Superior Copper Co., Calumet. Michigan 140, 157,
161, 271, 356, 682. 747
Company report 689
Surf Inlet mine. Princess Royal island. British Colum-
bia 993
Surface condenser, correct form 301
Surprise mine. Republic Mines Corporation, Washing-
ton 236
Survey. Natural Resources, of New Mexico 693
Publications S. F. Shaw 980
Susanna Mines, Ltd., Rhodesia 586
Susquehanna iron mine. Minnesota 125
Swansea Consolidated Gold ft Copper Co., Arizona 269
Sweden, cost water-power development 218
Gold and silver production In 1912 161
Hydro-electric power Editorial.... 165
Iron smelting, electric furnace 63
Lead production 816
Trollhattan. zinc smelting, electric furnace 63
Switzerland, iron smelting electric furnace 63
Machinery manufacture, 1913 950
Sycee 265
Tacoma smelter, Washington
Tailing damage decision, Arizona Copper Co. . . .
Tailing treatment at Butte Reduction Works '.
Bancroft Gore. . . .
Talc and soapstone. United States production, 1913
Talisman Consolidated, Ltd.. New Zealand
Tamarack & Custer Consolidated Mining Co., Wallace
Idaho 309, 349]
Tamarack Mining Co., Calumet, Michigan 140 161
356, 515, 677, 682, 826, S3o]
Company report
Leaching plant
Tanalyk Corporation, Ltd., Siberia . .26
Tanana Mines Excavation & Manufacturing Co., Alaska..
Tandem electric locomotive
Tanganyika Concessions, Katanga, Central Africa. .... .22
Tank excavation, large, New South Wales
Tanks, acid, mastic lining for \\
Assembling and erecting wooden J. M. Lllligren . . .'.
Leaks in steel and wood
Taquah mine. West Africa, history
Tar, United States production "
Tarr Mining Co.. California, retired
Tasmania. Anchor Tin Mining Co
Gold mine, Beaconsneld ....'.
Gold mine, Beaconsneld, closing down . .
Gold mine, Beaconsneld, water pumped .'
Gold production 628
Hercules mine
Mineral production , 70V
Mining legislation
Osmiridlum nuggets , ' '
Silver production, 1913
Tin minirg in M. G. F. Sohnlein!!!!
Zinc-lead sulphide ores on west coast
Tasmania Smelting Co., Ltd
Tasmanian Copper Co., Rosbery property . .
Tata Hydro-electric Power Supply Co., Ltd., India....
Taylor, bill, codification of mining laws
Taylor Foundry & Engineering Co., battery frame
Tchernycheff, Theodosle, death of
Technical terms, Standardization of.... Will H. Coghill....
Technology of turquois Joseph E. Pogue. . . .
Teck-Hughes mine. Ontario 389
Tecopa Consolidated Mining Co., Tecopa, California, com-
pany report
Telegraph, wireless stations
Telephones, mine-rescue
Temiskamlng & Hudson Bay Mining Co., Cobalt,
Ontario
Temiskamlng Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario 199. 426.
And management
Temperature increase Rand mines '. . . . .
Temple-Ingersoll gasoline air rock-drill
Tennessee, copper production
Ducktown copper deposits
Gold and sliver production
Phosphate S90,
Tennessee Coal. Iron & Railway Co.. Alabama mines
Turbo air-compressor
Tennessee Copper Co., Copperhill, Tennessee 161, 239,
344, 356, 513, 677. 835,
Company report 424,
Costs .'
Smelting and coke consumption
Terms. Standardization of Will H. Coghill...
Terrestrial atmosphere
Terrlble-Dunderberg properties, Colorado
Tewksbury Amalgamated Gold Dredging Co., Victoria,
Australia, company report
Texas. Buck zinc prospect near Boracho. . . .J. A. Udden. . . .
Freeport sulphur mines
Gold production 8.
Iron ores of eastern .'
Lead production
Mining law Editorial. . . .
Petroleum production
Quicksilver production
Silver production 8,
Texas Iron Association
Tezlutlan Copper Co., Mexico 114,
Thacher. Arthur What is the matter with
prospecting?
Thawing frozen ground. Alaska, drift mining in gravel
deposits of Cape Nome Arthur Gibson ....
Frozen ground for placer mining. .. .Arthur Gibson....
Thayer. Benjamin B What is the matter witli
prospecting?
Theller. J. H Hydrnulicking on the Klamath river....
Theory and practice of crushing H. W. Hardinge. . . .
Third Beach Line at Nome. Alaska Arthur Gibson ....
Thomas. Klrhy Application of the magneto-metric
survev to the Sudbury nickel deposits
Ditto Rand banket ....
Thompson. Towle & Co., copper statistics
Tliree-phasf motors. Application to winding engines and
hoists C. Anton v Ablett and H. M. Lyons....
Tightner Mines Co.. Alleghany. California 119. 155,
Mine, battery frame Editorial....
Tlgre Mining Co., Mexico
Timber sale. Idaho. Clearwater national forest
Waste. Australia
Timber Butte Milling Co.. Montana, zinc concentrating
plant
Timbering. Broken Hill mines. Australia
Tin and gold dredging In 1913 Charles Janln ....
Belgian Congo
Bolivian fields, Transportation and government regula-
tions in G. W. Wepfer. . . .
Cornwall, or<- treatment
Cornwall production
122
SI
529
892
92
1030
1039
669
784
302
307
600
526
1019
620
411
703
100S
239
95
148
1069
704
819
1069
303
714
1069
860
1069
148
943
943
943
897
822
419
200
456
285
510
429
819
128
199
629
424
464
400
261
711
8
1035
785
502
1039
670
819
819
456
301
945
675
4 93
591
110
905
110
206
163
81
110
905
510
13
4 04
143
13
523
226
686
497
226
1075
689
1029
479
790
991
628
992
2 2 8
39
324
294
2(15
28
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
From scrap tin-plate. Germany 735
Great Britain production 914
Metallic, United States production in 1913 582
Mineral colusite, Butte. Montana 1024
Mining, Bolivia G. W. Wepfer. . . . 251
Ditto. G. W. Wepfer Editorial 878
Mining, Northern Nigeria 23
Mining, Tasmania M. G. F. Sohnlein . . . . 148
Pig, market prices 86, 87, 124, 353, 397, 433,
475, 593, 595
Placer, dredging, Alaska 223
Prices 87, 201, 238, 276, 277, 312, 434, 512, 550, 635,
673, 713, 751, 752, 792, 829, 871, 913, 950, 951, 995, 1034, 1075
Queensland production, 1913 793
Smelting, electric furnace 64
Tasmania production 714
Tin Cup Gold Dredging Co., Gunnison, Colorado 96
Titanium, melting point : 112
Todd, W. S. G What is the matter with
prospecting? 375
Tolima Mining Co., Ltd., Colombia, company report 675
Tolman, Jr., C. F Recent advances in the study of U
sulphide enrichment 172 U
Tom Reed Gold Mines Co., Oatman, Arizona 194, 668, 824
Company report 990 U
Tomboy Gold Mines, Ltd., Telluride, Colorado 24, 454, U
471, 669, 908, 1030 U
Tombstone Consolidated Mining Co., Arizona 907 U
Ton weight, equivalents in different materials, cubic U
feet 287
Tongkah Harbour Tin Dredging Co., Siam, company re-
port 203 U
Tonnages through ship canals, 1912 653
Tonopah, Nevada, stocks on Boston stock exchange 343
Tonopah Belmont Development Co., Nevada 108, 157,
197, 349, 431, 548, 591, 632, 711, 868, 951, 1031, 1072 U
Company report 706, 833
Mule traction 583 U
Power for vacuum pumps 939
Shaft hoist 819 U
Stamp-mill 902
Surf Inlet mine, British Columbia 993
Tonapah Extension Mining Co., Nevada.. 197, 309, 349, 466, U
548, 711, 826, 868, 951, 922 U
Company report 997
Tube-mill 850 U
Tonopah Merger Mines Co., Nevada 197, 826
Tonopah Midway Mining Co., Tonopah, Nevada 197
Company report 357
Tonopah Mining Co.. Nevada 108, 196, 197, 272, u
309, 349, 352. 548, 591, 711, 772, 868, 992, 1031 U
And Brown patents decision 527
And Brown patents, Some unwritten cyanide history. . . .
H. Foster Bain 580
And Reliance Gold Dredging Co 233
Company report 915
Moore Filter Co. suit Editorial. ... 878
v. Joseph A. Vincent decision Editorial.... 480
Tonopah Placers Co., Tonopah Mining Co 272
Topographic maps, new. United States Geological Sur-
vey 582
Tough-Oakes Ltd., Kirkland Lake, Ontario 122, 199,
389, 541, 671, 705, 869, 993
And Kirkland Lake Proprietary 541
Tovote, William L. Globe mining district,
Arizona 442, 487
Tractor, Ball tread 956
Trade, Fostering foreign Editorial .... 280
Train service, ore and dump, Nevada Consolidated Copper
Co 69S
Training and miners. Vocational G. McM. Ross.... 500
Tramway, aerial, to Chinese coal mines. . .C. A. Tupper. . . . 379
Nome, Alaska 718
Leschen aerial, Alaska 265
Transitions in copper metallurgy Editorial.... 1042
Transmission lines 387
Transport of ore in Rand mines 808
Transportation and government regulations in Bolivian
tin fields G. W. Wepfer 294
Transvaal. South Africa, see also Rand.
Fatalitv rate Editorial 243
Gold industry 964
Gold production 151, 469, 912
Gold returns 346
Mines, on London market
Northern Messina copper mine Owen Letcher. . . .
Strike 346
Wages. 1913 844
Trauerman, Carl J Inducing capital into mining
enterprises
Treatment of tailing at Butte Reduction Works
Bancroft Gore. . . .
Plants. Cost of erecting M. W. von Bernewitz. . . .
Tregloan, J. B Grinding short zinc shaving. . . .
Trethewey Cobalt Silver Mines Co., Cobalt, Ontario. ... 199,
396,
Trimountain Mining Co., Michigan 140,
Trinity Consolidated Hydraulic Mining Co., California,
company report 908
Trinity Gold Mining & Reduction Co., California, com-
pany report 908
Tronoh Mines, Ltd.. Federated Malay States 28
Company report 915
Trov-Arizona Copper, Troy, Arizona 269
Truck. Underground timber P. B. McDonald.... 892
Tube-mill test at Butte 316
Theory and practice of crushing. . . .H. W. Hardinge. . . . 226
Tube-mills, rate of revolution 663
Tulsa Spelter Co.. Oklahoma 868
Tungsten, California production 788
Making ductile 979
Peru production 872
United States production 520
Tunnel driving in India 1019
Page.
Portland canal Lloyd C. White 731
Work, Danger from falls of rock 698
Tuolumne Copper Mining Co., Butte, Montana 394, 710
Company report 590
Yearly payroll 116
Tupper, C. A Aerial tramway to Chinese coal mines. . . . 379
Turkey in Asia, gold and silver production in 1912 164
Lead production 816
Ores 332
Turner, Henry W What is the matter with
prospecting? 170
Turquois, Technology of Joseph E. Pogue.... 285
Twin Peaks Mining & Milling Co., York, Arizona 118
u
20
283
468
844
Ui
Ui
980
L l
Ui
529
619
287
Ui
U:
864
271
90S
Ui
U
dden, J. A Buck zinc prospect near Boracho,
Texas 493
mniati mine, Rhodesia 586
nderestimating the cost of milling plants
I. F. Laucks 462
nderground timber truck P. B. McDonald.... 892
ngava Miners & Traders, Ltd., Montreal, Quebec 425
nion Consolidated Mining Co., Virginia City, Nevada 395
nion Mines, Kossland, B. C 749
nion M.mere du Haut. Katanga, Belgian Congo, Africa... 823
Company report 322
Ditto Editorial 641
nion of South Africa and Premier diamond mine
Editorial 1041
Mineral production 626
Wages, 1913 844
nited Copper Mining Co., Chewelah, Washington 198,
272, 395, 592, 671, 827, 993
nited Globe Mines Co., Globe, Arizona 951
Company report 675
nited Gold Mines Co., Cripple Creek, Colorado 825
Company report 471
Lessees 991
nited Hustlers & Redan, Bendigo, Victoria 537
nited Iron Works, Oakland, California, Improved, Hunt-
ington centrifugal roller quartz mill 438
nited Kingdom, bank clearings 579
Shipbuilding. 1913 735
nited Mine Workers of America 398
•Journal' 1058
nited Mines Co.. Washington, organized 910
nited States and Mexico Editorial .... 719
And Mexico, seizure of Vera Cruz Editorial.... 680
Atlantic coast region, depression 341
Bureau of Mines, see Bureau of Mines.
Coal mine fatalities 1075
Coal production 88
Gold and silver production in 1912 164
Gold dredging in the Charles Janin.... 93
Lead production 816
Mineral production 8
Mineral production, world position 961
Mines on London market 23
Money in circulation 1035
Petroleum production, 1913 779
Population estimated 808
Public lands acreage 890
Shipbuilding. 1913 735
Technical societies growth 964
nited States Geological Survey, new topographic maps. . . . 582
Production statistics, see Production statistics.
Publication S. F. Shaw 980
nited States Phosphate Co.. Border, Wyoming 351
nited States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co 161, 356.
515, 677, 835, 1039
Bond issue 1025
Company report 636, 666, 675
Real del Monte Co., Pachuca. Mexico 388
Real del Monte and Aguascalientes plants 785
nited Steel Corporation, company report 667, 784
Compensation for injuries 398
Panama-Pacific Exposition exhibit 876
Report and finances Editorial. . . . 518
Unfilled orders 713
nited Verde Copper Co., Jerome, Arizona 161. 304,
356, 515, 630, 677, 835, 1039
And Copper Giant mine. Arizona 944
nited Verde Extension Mining Co., Jerome, Arizona 1067
nited Verde Public Utilities Co 304
nited Zinc Co. v. Sydney Harwood and others 268
niversity of London and Imperial College of Science and
Technology 665
pper Verde Far & Orchard Co., Arizona 304
ranium and vanadium 103
Gnat Britain production 914
In United States 502
Ore. Utah 910
Ores, free from pitchblende 703
Prices in Utah 749
se of powder underground R. Noblett.... 186
tali, accident fatalities, coal mines, 1913 947
Beaver county mines 310
Bingham mines 108
Carnotite in 104. 236
Coal production 947
Copper production 108, 261
Gold production 8, 10S
Lead production - • 108
Mineral production bv counties. 1913 947
Park City district 108, 345, 350, 592, 10T3
Phosphate area map 351
Phosphate rock 1035
Radium in 395
Silver production 8. 10S
Smelter v. Farmers Association Editorial. . . . 479
Vol. 108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
29
• Page.
Snake Creek tunnel, Park City 827, 1073
Tintic district 10S, 310, 350
United States surveyor general's office, mineral division
Editorial.... 958
University of. School of Mines metallurgical research
department 886
Uranium ore 703, 910
Uranium prices 749
Zinc production 108
Utah-Apex Mining Co., Bingham. Utah 431, 868
Utah Consolidated Mines Co., Bingham. Utah 161, 356,
515, 666, 677, 835, 864, 1039
Company report 671
Ore reserves and output 116
Utah Copper Co.. Bingham. Utah 108, 161, 198, 236, 304,
310. 356, 423, 477, 515, 548, 677, 711, 827, 835. 1039
Company report 357, 744, 795
Directors elected 785
Leaching plant 784. 790, 823, 940
Ditto Editorial 960
Mining method 48
Operating officials, 1913 793
Steam shovels 387
Ditto Editorial 680
Utah Metal & Tunnel Co 1066
Utah Metal Mining Co., Tooele, Utah 198
Reorganization 906, 1066
Page.
Wall Street and business conditions in United States
Editorial. . . . 243
Wallaroo & Moonta Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., South
Australia 1034
Vacquero, Sonora
Valdez Creek Placer Mines Co., Smith-Monahan proper-
ties
Valuing dredging ground L. A. Decoto. . . .
Ditto H. N. Herrick
Vanadium and uranium
Colorado
Melting point
Peru production
Vanadnite claims, Arizona
Van Arsdale, George D Reduction of radium ores....
van Barneveld, Charles E California miners and
the Exposition
Van-Rol Mining Co., Ltd.. Silverton. B. C 310,
Van Ryn Gold Mines Estate, Ltd., Rand, company re-
port
Veins, Water in T. A. Rickard. . . .
Venezuela, South America, mining in
Oilfield
South American Copper Syndicate
Ventilating system, mine cost
Vera Cruz. Mexico, seizure by Americans. ... Editorial. .. .
Verde Tunnel & smelter Co., Arizona
Railroad
Vermont, electric light and power-stations
Victor mine, Tonopah
Victor Power & Mining Co., California. Midas mine
Victoria, Australia, Bright district dredging cost
Editorial
Dredging damage report
Dredging industry
Gold discovery history
Gold, Bendigo production, 1913
Gold production 628, 636,
Government coal mine, Wonthaggi
Stawell district and Great Boulder Proprietary
Victoria Copper Mining Co., Victoria, Michigan 140,
Company report
Victorious mine, Ora Banda, Western Australia, Associated
Northern Blocks (W. A.) Ltd 92, 125, 552, 664,
Village Deep, Ltd.. Rand
Village Main Reef Gold Mining Co., Rand
Vincent, Joseph A., v. Tonopah Mining Co. decision
Editorial
Vindicator Consolidated Gold Mining Co.. Cripple Creek,
Colorado 156. 271, 308, 789,
Company report
Virginia mine, Bendigo, Victoria
Gold and silver production
Virginia Consolidated mine, Idaho
Vocational training and miners Editorial....
Ditto G. MeM. Ross
Vogelstein & Co., L. copper statistics 238, 434,
Tin statistics 162. 312. 512, 635, 829,
von Bernewltz, M. W Cost of erecting treatment
plants
Ditto Disposal of residue from Amador county
mills, California
Ditto Dredging at Oroville
Ditto Hoisting at the Argonaut mine. . . .
Ditto Metallurgy of the California Mother Lode. . . .
Vulcan Detlnning Co., New Jersey and Illinois
w
Wage, minimum, Rio Tlnto, Spain
Wages, Australia Editorial
Rhodesia
Union of South Africa, 1913
Wagner Azurite Copper Co., Luning. Nevada 427,
Leaching plant
Walhi Gold Mining Co., New Zealand 92,
Waihl-Paeroa Gold Extraction Co., New Zealand
Company report
Wales, coal production ' ' '
Walker, Edward Flotation processes during 1913..!!
wall, Enos A. and Mary F„ v. Mlngham & Garfield railway.
Utah
Wall. Col. Enos A., v Consolidated Copper Mines Co.. !!!!!!
Ditto Editorial
869
154
773
1061
103
104
112
872
630
1013
213
993
598
298
592
187
29
1024
680
304
630
221
826
991
721
628
450
1005
537
1069
565
704
271
430
665
808
52
480
991
314
537
8
747
403
500
673
995
619
770
297
697
65
792
112
641
859
844
868
632
914
92
832
773
310
868
S3 7
Company report
997
Cost of producing copper 819
Sulphuric acid production, 1913 782
Walsh leasing bill in Congress 707, 784
Walsh, Thomas J.. Mining legislation at Washington.... 365
Wanakah Mining Co., Ouray, Colorado 589, 633, 825
AVandiligong Gold Dredging Co., Victoria, Australia, com-
pany report 675
Wankie Colliery Co., Ltd., Rhodesia 586
Wann, E. F Developments in the Shushana gold-
fields 179
War Eagle mine, Nevada 121
Warren Peak Mines Co., Wyoming 749
Bear Lodge district property, South Dakota 467
Warrior Copper Co., Globe, Arizona 944
Wasatch-Utah Mining Co., Utah 1031
Washburn, W. H Charcoal burning for prospectors. . . . 613
Washing and mining brown hematite ores
W. R. Dodge. ... 458
Gravel at the Mineral Slide mine. California 735
Washington, Blewett, name change proposed 711
Chewelah district 992
Coal production 914
Copper production 176
Gold production 8, 176
Lead production 176
Liberty, discovery at Bigney claim 473
Metal production in 1913 176
Mt. Rainier 456
Republic mines 236, 510, 749
Seattle, United States assay office gold receipts 198
Silver production 8, 176
Spokane Stock Exchange 310, 632, 827
Strike, Ruston smelter, American Smelting & Refining
Co 4 32
Washington Water Power Co., company report 310
Wasp No. 2 Mining Co., Lead, South Dakota 305, 942
Company report 467
Costs and recovery at mine and mill 765
Water appropriation law. California 860
Consumption at Kalgoorlie mines 6
Cost, Mother Lode region, California
In veins T. A. Rickard .
Kalgoorlie mines consumption
Water-actuated sampler E. Le Roy.
Water-power bill, Ferris
Bill in House
66
298
663
378
784
863
Development, cost, Norway, Sweden, and United
States 218
Plant construction cost, Norway 902
Resources, India 897
Watson, Alfred A Mill building in the Andes. ... 683
Watson, John. . . .Prospector in Mexico and "the States'. . . . 858
Wedge mine, Colorado 825
Weidleln copper leaching process 575
Ditto Editorial.... 558
Weisbrodt, Henry, non-skimming crucible 478
Welding and cutting, oxy-acetylene 756
Wellington Mining Co.. Colorado 747
Wepfer. G. W Tin mining in Bolivia 251
Ditto Editorial.... 878
Ditto Transportation and government regulations
in Bolivian tin fields 294
West. The Secretary and the Editorial.... 90
West Africa, dredging in 1913 40
Gold discovery history 1007
Gold output annual 22
Map 22
Mines on London market 22
Nigeria, tin mining in Northern 23
Silver coins 449
West End Consolidated Mining Co., Tonopah, Nevada
108, 197, 272, 349, 548, 591, 711. 951, 1073
v. Jim Butler litigation 632, 670
Ditto Editorial.... 601
West Virginia, coke production 928
Petroleum production 163, 1037
Zinc smelting 855
Western Australia. Evolution of suction-gas power in....
J. C. Auldjo. ... 147
Gold discovery history 1006
Gold production 125. 313. 505, 628, 636, 665. 1069
Kalgoorlie goldfleld, Geologv of the
C. O. G. Larcombe 699
Kalgoorlie mines, water consumption 688
Norseman wages agreement 504
Silver production 1913 1069
Titles to mining claims Editorial .... 517
Wage demands 664
Western Electric Co., mine-rescue telephones 128
Western Gold Mines Co.. California, organized 991
Western Precipitation Co.. Slater process 631
Westervelt. W. Y What is the matter with
prospecting? 212
Westlnghouse, George, death of 511
Westlnghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co., report
Editorial.... 921
Weston gafctv winches and crabs 360
Wet crushing in ball-mills A. W. Allen. ... 419
Wettlaufer T.orrain Sliver Mines. Ltd., Silver Center.
Ontario 199, 231
Wettlaufer Mines Co., Ontario
Whaleback claim. Washington
What is the matter with prospecting?, discussion
Ditto ; ; Editorial
I I'ttO
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
.Symposium 1. M
J. H. Farrell. . . .
. . . .C. P. C'-e tie. . . .
A reioir" ■!•....
G. L. Sheldon. . . .
Ill, IV 9, 132. 168,
273
510
869
661
207
1061
701
3 74
7 80
210
30
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Vol. 108
Page.
Ditto Carl J. Trauerman .... 980
Ditto Traveler 4 63
What is the matter with the Rand? Editorial. ... 560
Wheal Kitty and Penhalls United, Ltd., Cornwall, pro-
duction 773
Whim Well Copper Mines, Ltd., Western Australia, com-
pany report 873
Whip, automobile, in hoisting Editorial.... 641
Whistle signals, Nevada Consolidated Copper Co 536
Whitcomb Co., Geo. D. Gasoline mine locomotive 360
White, Lloyd C Portland canal tunnel. ... 731
White Corporation, J. G., Huai river floods, China 440
White lead 819
Whitehall Mining, Milling & Development Co., Montana,
organized 1071
Why Not Syndicate, British Columbia 390
Wilbert Mines Co., Arco, Idaho, company report 908
Wild Horse mine, Cripple Creek, Colorado 156, 308, 471, 991
Williams' United mine, Bendigo, Victoria 537
Wilson. Frank L Leaching of zinc ore at the After-
thought mine 453
Winchell, Horace V What is the matter with
prospecting? 171
Winchell. Xewton H„ Death of 828
Winches and crabs, safety 360
Winding engine, electrical driving, choice of drum
C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons. . . . 778
Engines and hoists, Application of three-phase motors
to C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons 689
Engines, Electrical driving of
C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons. . . . 774
Windmill Hill mine. Bendigo, Victoria 537
Windmill, Holland in draining 702
Winnemucca Milling & Ore Purchasing Co., Nevada 394
Winona Copper Co., Winona, Michigan 140, 271, 682, 1030
Company report 590
Winter dredging In Idaho John H. Miles.... 455
Winzes or passes, covering when not in use 3 01
Wireless telegraph stations, 1913 819
Wisconsin, metal production, 1913 779
Mineral production, 1913 831
Ore production by districts 504, 864
Platteville ore market 503, 863, 1068
University of, Engineering Experiment Station
Editorial.... 480
Zinc-lead field 150, 343, 664
Zinc ores in 1913 37
Wisconsin Zinc Co., Platteville, Wisconsin 1069
Witwatersrand Deep, Ltd., Transvaal, sand-filling stopes,
cost 939
Wolfram, Great Britain production 914
Queensland production, 1913 79H
Tasmania production 714
Wolfram Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd., Portugal, company
report 716
Wolverine Copper Mining Co., Kearsarge, Michigan. ... 140,
161, 271, 344, 356, 515, 677, 747, 835, 1039
Woodland Mining Co., California 507
Woolworth building, New York, and Woolworth 10-cent
stores in United States 340
Work at the Phelps, Dodge & Co. properties in 1913 616
Of the national societies 17
Of the state geological surveys. . .Frank W. De Wolf. ... 35
Workingmen's compensation, California Editorial.... 130
Compensation Act, California, and wage reductions.... 423
Compensation, Idaho Editorial. . . . 920
Compensation, judicial rulings Editorial.... 402
Compensation, Nevada Editorial.... 131
Compensation, New York Editorial. . . . 131
Compensation Act, Ontario 743
World's Fair mine, Patagonia, Arizona 307
Worcester. S. A Screw classifier and fine ore feeder. . . . 530
Wright. Louis A What is the matter with
prospecting? 212
Wyoming, Atlantic City, gold mining district 993
Bear Lodge gold mining district 749
Coal production 914
Copper production Ill
Gold production 8, 111
Petroleum production 163
Phosphate area map 3.".1
Phosphate rock 1035
Silver production 8, 111
Snowy Range district discovery 351
Sundance gold discovery reported Editorial. . . . 679
Page.
Yankee Boy Mining Co., Wallace, Idaho 1030
Yankee Consolidated Mining Co., Eureka, Utah 671
Yard decision overruled 80
Yellow fever prevention, cost 819
Yellow Jacket Gold & Silver Mining Co., Gold Hill,
Nevada 910
Company report 591
Pumping 652
Yellow Pine Mining Co., Good Springs, Nevada 1072
Yosemite Dredging & Mining Co., Snelling, California.... 907
Young, H. W. and G. H. Clevenger, Estimation of gold,
silver, and platinum by fire assay 614
Yuanmi Gold Mines, Ltd., Western Australia 313,
505, 665, 863
Company report 126
Yuba Consolidated Goldfields, California 40, 93
Yuba No. 14, W. H. Gardner and W. M. Shepard 1053
Yuba Construction Co., California, ball tread tractors 956
Yuba Construction Co., Philippine Islands 40, 184
Yukon, dredging 39, 183
Goldfield history 1008
Yukon Gold Co., Dawson, Yukon 39, 183, 191, 199,
466, 711, 1032
Company report 553
Dredging at Iditarod 735
Dredging cost Editorial. . . . 720
Y-Water Tin Co., New South Wales, company report 873
Zeile Mining Co., Jackson, Cal 69
Zeranovsk concession, Russian Mining Corporation ' 651
Ziegler, Victor, mineral resources of Harney Peak peg-
matites, I, II 604, 654
Zinc and lead in 1913 Editorial.... 681
Arizona production 107
Bisulphite process, Metals Extraction Corporation,
Ltd 250
British Columbia production 202
Buck prospect near Boracho, Texas J. A. Udden. . . . 493
California production 107
Colorado production 42, 157
Colorado, Clear Creek district, production 119
Colorado, Creede district, production 120
Colorado, Eagle county production 119
Colorado. Leadville district production 119
Discovery In America Charles R. Keyes.... 653
Great Britain production 914
Idaho production 107, 157
In precipitation boxes 703
Japan production 125
Market 85, 87, 27E, 432
Montana production 135, 149
Nevada production 108
New Mexico production 88, 121
Ore at the Afterthought mine, Leaching of
Frank L. Wilson.... 453
Ore in electric furnace Editorial. . . . 480
Ores and metallurgy in 1913 R. G. Hall.... 37
Prices 87, 124, 162, 201, 238, 276, 312, 353, 397, 434, 475,
512, 513, 550, 594, 595, 635, 673, 713, 752, 792, 829, 863,
871, 913, 950, 951, 995, 1034, 1075
Production and prices in 1913 513
Production, world 674
Shaving. Grinding short J. B. Tregloan. . . . 287
Smelters in United States 499
Smelting capacity of the United States 499
Smelting, electric furnace 62
Smelting in West Virginia 855
United States production 8, 106, 476
United States production Editorial.... 440
Utah production 108, 947
Wafers, gold precipitation from cyanide solutions on . . . . 383
Zinc Corporation, Ltd., Broken Hill, New South
Wales 427, 930
Livid mill 693
Slime treatment at 657
South Blocks mine. New South Wales, Australia 25
Zincblende. Joplin district production 100, 115, 633
Kansas production, 1913 115
Missouri production, 1913 115
Oklahoma production. 1913 115
Zinc-lead field. Wisconsin 150, 664
Zminogorsk Concession, Russian Mining Corporation 651
Zorritos petroleum plant. Peru 939
'Science has no enemy save the ignorant."
Whole Ho. 2789 vN°„l™ERT
San Francisco, January 3, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL: Page.
Greeting 1
Notes 2
Annual Reviews and Statisticians 2
Our Contributors 3
The Mexican Crisis 4
Aluminum 5
Production of Gold in 1913 6
MINERAL PRODUCTION IN 1913:
Gold and Silver Production of the United States;
Mint-Geological Survey Estimates 8
United States Mineral Output in 1913; estimates by
the U. S. Geological Survey 8
Canadian Gold-Silver Production 8
What is the Matter with Prospecting? A Symposium
Walter H. Aldridge. Philip Argall. F. W. Bradley. P. It.
Bradley. D. W. Brunton. Albert Burch, George E. Col-
lins. D. Fasken. Charles Hayden, D. C. .tackling. Hen-
nen Jennings. Ben). B. Lawrence. E. J. Longyear. John
H. Mackenzie. H. ('. Perkins, M. L. Requa. Arthur
Thacher, Benjamin B. Thayer 9
International Engineering Congress H. Foster Bain 14
The National Radium Institute Archibald Douglas 16
Work of the National Societies:
American Institute of Mining Engineers
Charles F. Hand 17
The Mining and Metallurgical Society. ...//. M. Chance 18
The American Mining Congress Carl Scholz 19
The London Market T. A. Kickard 20
Review of the New York Share Market ('. S. Burton 30
Business and Mining — A Retrospection
F. Lynicood Garrison 33
Work of the State Geological Surveys. . . .Frank It'. DeWolf 35
Zinc Ores and Metallurgy in 1913 It. G. Hall 37
Gold and Tin Dredging in 1913 Charles Janin 39
Recent Changes in Iron and Steel Manufacture
Bradley Stoughton 41
Mining Methods and Practice E. H. Leslie 43
The Decline of the Rand //. 8. Denny 49
Hydro and Pyro-Metallurgy of Copper in 1913
Thomas T. Head 54
Electrometallurgy in 1913 G. A. Roush 61
Metallurgy of the California Mother Lode
if. W. von Bernewitz 65
Progress in Gold and Silver Ore Treatment in 1913
Alfred James 70
Progress in the Application of Compressed Air. Robert Peele 75
The Irving Leaching Process L. S. Austin 77
Gold-Dredging in Burma 79
Flotation Processes During 1913 Edward Walker 79
Mining Litigation — Review and Forecast .. Robert M. Searls 80
Quicksilver Production and Prices Clifford G. Dennis 81
Books of the Year 82
Metal Prices and Markets in 1913
Special Correspondence from New York 83
The Metal Markets 86
The Stock Markets 88
Mineral Statistics for 1913— South Dakota, Michigan, New
Mexico. Alaska, California, United States Coal 88
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SPECIAL CONTR1 HI "TORS :
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EDITORIAL
Greeting
It is the Editor's privilege once ;i year to write
directly to his readers, contributors, and advertisers
a word of thanks for their support, and it is a pleasant
privilege and a valued one. There is a bond between
reader and Editor that grows with the years, and in
the ease of the Minim/ noil Sriciili/ir I'rrss it is pleasant
to know that the tie is close. Despite the admittedly
had year and the disturbed conditions in Mexico which
have foreetl economies in the budgets of many mining
men. 'stops' have been less than had been anticipated,
and the total number of paid subscribers to the I'rrxx
lias been steadily increasing since April.
If less immediately profitable than some of its
predecessors. 1013 has been an unusually interesting
one to members of the editorial staff. Early in the
year it was found possible to carry out long-cherished
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
plans for opening an editorial office in New York, and
Mr. Read, hastily packing his dictionary and thesaurus,
left for the city on the Hudson. The move has proved
a wise one in that it has made possible a marked im-
provement in the paper. To take Mr. Read's place
in San Francisco, Mr. E. H. Leslie came up from
Mexico, where he had been doing excellent work on
the staff of our interesting southern contemporary, the
Mexican Mining Journal. About the same time Mr.
Gelasio Caetani joined our staff of Special Contribu-
tors and began to furnish those delightful essays in
which sound technical knowledge is so mingled with
homely common sense, that there have been many calls
for more. Late in the year Mr. Frederick H. Morley
came down from the mountains of Colorado to give
to the readers of the Press from his store of experience
and observations.
Attentive readers will have noted the large space
devoted this year to notation and copper metallurgy.
Both subjects have been big with interest, and both
promise much for the future. It will be the effort of
the Editors to continue to print the most accurate in-
formation on these subjects and to give to the Press
the same peculiar standing on these lines that it al-
ready enjoys in matters of cyanidation and dredging.
to mention only two of what may be called Press
'specialties.' In this and all our work we shall strive,
to continue to win and to hold the confidence of read-
ers, contributors, and advertisers. Service is the key-
note of success in journalism as in other industries,
and service has ever been the purpose of the Mining
and Scientific Press.
Gentlemen, on behalf of my associates as well as
myself, we thank you for your support and wish you
all a happy and prosperous new year.
II. Foster Bain.
January 1, 1914.
LEAD, nickel, and tin smelting have shown few
changes in the year, and little of technical im-
portance has transpired. In the Sudbury district the
Mond Nickel Company began smelting at its excellent
new plant, and is experimenting with Dwight-Lloyd
sintering machines. The Canadian Copper Company
is achieving excellent success in using powdered coal
for fuel and in other lines. At the Tooele plant of
the International Smelting & Refining Company, in
Utah, a curious accident resulted in an explosion
which destroyed the dust-chamber. It seems that when
wet ore high in sulphur is put through the sintering
machines, there is a reaction not unlike that which
is counted on to make the Hall process of fume treat-
ment a success — that is. a part of the sulphur comes
down uneombined in the solid state. This being car-
ried over into the dust-chamber, led to an explosion,
and has also caused serious loss by fire in the bag-
house. At Murray there have been murmurs of dis-
content and a renewal of agitation over fume trouble,
and a determined effort was being made during the
year to reorganize the farmers for further action
against the smelters.
DIAMONDS form one sort of an index of trade
conditions, and it is interesting to read in recent
correspondence from South Africa that slackness is
chiefly felt in the market for small stones, indicating
the effect of fluctuating demands of fashion rather
than a lack of buying power the world over. The
same correspondent discloses the fact that diamond
dealers have a jargon all their own, as the following
illuminating remarks will show: "Kimberley was
freely sold this week by the Syndicate, New York
buying all the closed goods. Wesselton is announced
to be shown on Monday ; applications for sights are
numerous."
MANY of our readers may not know of the exist-
ence of the American Museum of Safety in the
Engineers' building, which houses the American Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers, since its publications are
not numerous and do not reach a wide field. The in-
fluence of the Museum is widespread, however, and we
recently referred to the First International Congress
of Safety and Sanitation, held under its auspices.
Scarcely less important is the First International Ex-
position of Safety and Sanitation now in progress in
the Grand Central Palace, New York. Not only the
makers of safety appliances have displayed their
wares, but the large industrial corporations have
made impressive exhibits of what they are doing to
conserve the safety, health, and mental well-being of
their employees.
Annual Reviews and Statisticians
In presenting this number of the Mining and Scien-
tific Press, a word or two of explanation may be per-
mitted. The change in the size of the page has been
made, in part to conform to what is rapidly becom-
ing the standard size for technical journals, and in
part to permit a better use of space in connection
with illustrations. Incidentally, improvements have
been made in dress and style, and others are in con-
templation. It will be noted that in this review much
less space has been devoted to statistics than has been
customary, and that there are no summaries of devel-
opments by states and districts. It is felt that this
is in line with the general purpose of the Mining and
Scientific Press, which is. to print the best technical
journal of mining. The news of the mines is printed
week by week. To rehash this for an annual summary
is a thankless job of doubtful utility. For those far
countries where periodical reviews are more appropri-
ate as also more feasible than a steady stream of news
letters, we shall continue, as in the past, to print gen-
eral resumes as opportunity serves. In our Special
Correspondence last week we published such letters
concerning mining in 1913 in New Zealand anc
Rhodesia, and we expect to print, when the data are
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
available, another of those excellent general reviews
of the progress of mining in the Belgian Congo, of
whiqfa Mr. S. H. Ball has already furnished three. To
be truly valuable, such summaries must be written by
the right man. and when the right material has been
assembled. To attempt a complete review of the world
of mining at the end of an artificial period, leads but
to a dreary sea of words. News of development is
only news^ when fresh, and from eight to nine pages
is set aside in each weekly issue of the Press for print-
ing of significant news while it is news.
Technological developments take place regardless of
calendar years. At times the progress is rapid, again
it is slow. In the year that has just closed, there
has been intense interest in copper smelting, and many
improvements have been made or proposed ; lead smelt-
ing has seen few changes. In the following pages.
therefore, will be found an elaborate review of copper
smelting, and only a paragraph on lead smelting. Next
year, possibly, the conditions will be reversed. This
illustrates the controlling motive in the selection of
the material in this, as we believe, our best Review
Number. Why take ten pages to say that nothing
happened?
As for statistics, we print those which are available
and authoritative, and will print more as they become
availakle. A little statistical knowledge, however, is
a dangerous thing. Since the fall of Adam there have
been statisticians in the world, and yet even now
there is no agreement as to when that interesting event
transpired. A baby when born weighs perhaps eight
pounds and at the end of the year possibly three times
as much. At the same ratio he should weigh a trifle
less than a ton at the age of five — but he doesn't.
Our Contributors
It is always a pleasure to be in good company, ami
the members of the editorial staff feel especially hon-
ored by those who have given of time and effort to
make this number of the Mining ami Scientific Press
interesting and valuable It is a rare pleasure to
come into contact with significant men. and it is even
more of a privilege to have their help. To the sym-
posium upon the condition and needs of prospecting,
of which we print a part this week, men of the widest
ex|>erience and of well proved ability have contrib-
uted. Messrs. W. H. Aldridgc. Philip Argall, F. W.
Bradley. P. R. Bradley, D. W. Brunton. Albert Burch.
George E. Collins. David Fasken, Charles Hayden, D.
('. Jaekling, Hennen Jennings. B. B Lawrence. E. J.
Longyear. J. II. Mackenzie. II. < '. Perkins, M. L.
Rcqua. Arthur Thaeher, B. B. Thayer —and these form
but a part of the list — are men who know; and what
such men say may not be disregarded.
They, and those who have written the special articles
in this issue, are too well known to require intro-
duction to mining engineers, but for the benefit of
thf young men. and those to whom the Press comes
for the first time, we may say that Mr. Archibald
Douglas is a busy attorney in New York who still
finds time for public service of the sort with which
his name is so closely associated through the activi-
ties of Dr. James Douglas. Of the presidents of the
three great mining engineering societies who write for
us, Mr. Rand is also president of the Spanish Amer-
ican Iron Company and has been active in the develop-
ment of the resources of that island, as he has been
in Institute affairs through the whole of his notably
successful year as president; Mr. Chance, a Philadel-
phia mining engineer widely experienced in the prob-
lems of coal and iron, was, as much as anyone, the
founder of the Society of which he writes: Mr. Scholz
is engineer for, and president of. the various Rock
Island coal companies, and a man who has given much
time and thought to the organization of the bitumin-
ous coal operators. Mr. Rickard. who reviews the
whole world of mining from the London viewpoint,
finds time for the Press despite his duties as editor of
The Mining Magazine. Mr. Burton is mining editor
of The Annalist in New York, and former New York
correspondent for the Mining and Scientific Press. Mr.
Garrison is a Philadelphia engineer well known to
our regular readers as one of our special contributors.
Mr. De Wolf is director of the State Geological Sur-
vey of Illinois and secretary of the Association of
State Geologists, of whose work he writes. .Mr. Hall
is a 'Tech' man who looks after the interests of the
I'nited Zinc & Chemical Company and knows the zinc
business from many angles. Mr. Janin is the worthy
successor to the great name among mining engineers
built up by his father, brother, and uncles. Mr.
Stoughton is the versatile secretary of the American
Institute of Mining Engineers, who always does three
men's work and then finds time to help anyone who
needs help. Mr. Leslie is assistant editor of the Press.
Mr. Denny is one of the two famous brothers who
saw so far and so truly into the future of the Rand
that they became unpopular there, and more recently
in Mexico. London, and elsewhere have enjoyed see-
ing others coming to their own conclusions. Mr. Read
is New York editor of the Press. Mr. Roush is asso-
ciate editor of that very excellent journal. Metallurgical
anil Chemical Engineering, and has done us the rare
favor of contributing generously to a contemporary.
Mr. von Bernewitz is assistant editor of the Press and
has brought to the study of American problems in
milling several years' active experience at Waihi and
Kalgoorlie. Mr. James is the London metallurgist
whose worldwide interests keep him especially well
informed, and whose keen comment always stimulates
discussion. Mr. Peele is professor of mining at
Columbia University. Mr. Austin, formerly professor
of metallurgy at Michigan College of Mines, is now
in general practice at Salt Lake City. Mr. Walker
is our London correspondent. Mr. Searls is assistant
city attorney of San Francisco and obtained his knowl-
edge of mining law through service in Judge Lindley's
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
office. Mr. Dennis is a California mining engineer
who has developed and managed quicksilver proper-
ties in Texas and Nevada. The writer of our New
York Metal Review is a professional correspondent
who devotes his whole time to watching the metal
market but who prefers to remain anonymous. Even
this does not entirely complete the list, since in ar-
ranging for the papers printed, and in revising and
criticizing them after submitted, the members of the
regular staff have had invaluable assistance from many
other members of the profession.
The Mexican Crisis
The past year in Mexico has been one marked by
political turmoil and general depression and one in
which the mining industry has suffered keenly. As it
closed, the situation showed no signs of improvement,
and the immediate future holds little of promise. The
Huerta administration, which when inaugurated gave
promise of a solution of Mexico's difficulties, has de-
generated into a military despotism. It has been ac-
cepted by but a small part of the population and its
orders carry but little weight outside of the Federal
District.
The period which Mexico is passing through today,
and the problems and difficulties which confront the
Mexican people, are those inherent in reconstruction,
and as it is a long step from Porfirian despotism to
democracy, those who have interests within the con-
fines of Mexico can but abide the time when a renais-
sance of political and social standards will result in
that longed for peace and stability of government
without which no country can prosper. With Mexico,
reconstruction, because of the character and status of
the population, without outside assistance must be
necessarily slow. Of the 15,000,000 inhabitants 80 per
cent are Indians or belong to the peon class ; a popula-
tion which in the past has been herded, driven, and
exploited by the upper class with which it has no bond
of sympathy. The peon has had no opportunity to
acquire property, to better his condition, or to improve
his surroundings. It is to the peon, who is awakening
to a realization that he is a part of the nation, that
the present upheaval is clue. It has been estimated
that in this vast country comprising 767,000 square
miles, an area equal to 17 Pennsylvanias, all of the
arable land is held by 7000 families. One single land-
lord holds 16,000,000 acres, an area one-third the size of
Great Britain, and this has been assessed for taxes at
$200,000. While a good part of those who are at pres-
ent bearing arms on the revolutionary side of the
struggle should be classed as bandits rather than
patriots, their present position in the ranks of the
revolutionists is largely due to an unhealthy political
atmosphere and its direct results upon their manner of
existence.
The past year has seen the overthrow of Francisco
Madero, a man of undoubtedly high political ideals,
but one who lacked those attributes of leadership and
organization which are prerequisite at this time. In
the usurpation of power by Victoriano Huerta, it was
hoped that the substitution of a rigorous policy backed
by the support of the army would restore peace and
put a quietus upon the disturbing element. This also
has failed, and the results of another attempt at
despotism has been revolution, federal bankruptcy,
brigandage, general depression, and little semblance of
authority. There are some who hold that with adequate
funds, Huerta 's policy would succeed, but in the light
of his conduct of office during the past few months,
this may be doubted. In fact, the estrangement' be-
tween federal and revolutionary factions has increased
and the resultant loss of confidence in Huerta by his
previous supporters and foreign nations, augurs poorly
for any solution at his hands. Mexico will not again
submit to a dictatorship like that of ex-President Diaz
or the present incumbent Huerta, and he who suc-
ceeds must learn as Porfirio Diaz, realizing his own
shortcomings, recently stated, "that to govern Mexico,
there is only one course to take and that is to act for
the people and through the people." While the be-
stowal of an effective political franchise upon those
who are not fitted to receive it is not essential, those
rudiments of justice and republican government which
have found so little place in Mexico to date, must re-
ceive consideration in the solution of the present situa-
tion. It is to be noted that the two important revolu-
tionary movements, headed by Madero and Carranza
have had their origin in the north : in that part of
Mexico adjacent to the United States where the Mexi-
can people have had opportunity to see the results of
true democracy. It may be objected that the restless-
ness and ignorance of a large percentage of the people
make the situation hopeless and that the form of gov-
ernment is of a very secondary importance : but even
granting this, there is only hope for peace in a govern-
ment which has been legally constituted and is identi-
fied with the majority. Only such a government can
find favor with and command the respect and support
of the nations.
The mining industry in Mexico has had a bad year.
due largely to the interruption of railway communi-
cations and disturbed conditions which have made-im-
possible the operation of a large number of the proper-
ties. Railway communication between the interior and
the American border was interrupted early in the year
and attempts to reestablish it have been futile. With
the fuel oil supply from the Tampieo fields intercepted,
there is little hope of an early resumption of railway
traffic. The coal supply has also been curtailed by the
dynamiting of a number of mines by the 'revolution-
ists' in the state of Coahuila and interruption of rail-
way communication.
Most of the larger silver districts, however, have
kept up and in some cases increased their production.
Among these may be mentioned El Oro. Pachuca.
Guanajuato, ind Hostotipaquillo. The returns reported
for the last fiscal year ended in July show the exporta-
tion of gold to have decreased P10.313.687 ; and ex-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
elusive of coined silver there was a decrease in silver
exports of over 1*7,000,000. Copper has not fared so
badly. The Cananea mines have been in practically
continuous operation, as have those at Boleo and Aire
Libre: the Moctezuma company reports the best year
in its history. The copper exports for the fiscal year
totaled 1*36.522,115. which is an increase of 1*3.020.242
over the preceding year. Lead showed a decrease of
1*1.111.811 and the zinc exports have dwindled to
1*536.094. The importance of the petroleum industry is
increasing as is the output. The production for the
year was estimated at 3.955.228 tons, an increase of
1.435,218 tons over that of the preceding year. The
total investment in the oilfields is now estimated at
1*700.000.000. Taking oil into account, the value of the
mineral exports for the year showed an increase of
1*3.441,807. This figure includes the silver coin ex-
ported, which was valued at 1*9.806,402.
The figures presented, while showing a material de-
cline, are evidence that mining is still being profitably
conducted regardless of revolutionists and increased
taxes. It is universally regretted that this wonderful
country, which Cecil Rhodes has called "the treasure
house of the world." should be so burdened with in-
ternal strife, and it can only be hoped that with tin-
coming elections on July 5. a new administration may
come in which will give birth to a new era of political
quiet and industrial prosperity.
Aluminum
Not many years have passed since, following the dis-
covery of a process by which aluminum can be pro-
duced from its lire comparatively cheaply, the columns
of the pseudo-technical journals were tilled with arti-
cles describing aluminum as the metal of the future
and predicting that, because of its strength as com-
pared with its weight, it was destined to displace many
of the metals now in general industrial use. The
claims made by irresponsible people writ- so extrava-
gant and absurd that the general public soon came to
realize that they could never be attained, and conse-
quently discounted every statement made concerning
aluminum. As a result tin- metal, from enjoying high
regard, fell almost into disrepute and public interest
in it declined. Hut as a matter nf fact, the general
features of the statements first made ale essentially
correct, minor factors having intervened to prevent
them from being realized as quickh as expected.
Though the cost of the metal was greatly decreased.
it was not reduced to a point where the sum total of
advantages plus cost was sufficient to cause manufac-
turers to change their practice, which, in many cases
would have necessitated 'scrapping' valuable machin-
ery and abandoning the manufacture of products for
which a reputation had been built up through many
years of work.
Other factors than mere cost must a!*vays be con
sidered. Thus as a conductor for electricity, alumi-
num at 20 cents pei- pound is on a par. from the
sandpoint of cost, with copper at 12 to 13 cents. Dur-
ing 1912 aluminum ranged between 18 and 2b' cents
per pound while copper ranged between 14 and 17^j;
in other words, sometimes copper was the cheaper
and sometimes aluminum, but the latter showed a
range of 8 cents against 3% for the former. The
manufacturer and consumer of electrical conductors,
therefore, had comparatively little incentive to com-
mit themselves to the use of aluminum, the more so as
the supply of the metal was comparatively limited and
a few large purchases might send it skyrocketing. This
is not all the story, however, for aluminum is com-
paratively weak in its tensile strength, while the larger
cross-section of the equivalent conductor made the
wind load and ice and snow load on wires much greater
than is the case with copper. To support the wires
would require more poles or towers, and what was
saved at one pocket was lost out of the other. This
difficulty has now been overcome by the use of a com-
posite cable of several aluminum wires about a steel
wire, and the transmission line of the Los Angeles
power project uses such a cable for its 275 miles of
length. There is another difficulty: aluminum, in spite
of the early claims made for it. is much more subject,
to corrosion than is copper, and the same is true of
steel. We understand that a means has at last been
found of overcoming this drawback, and that hence-
forth the item of relative cost will practically be the
determining one. Assuming that 14 to 15 cents is the
norma] price for copper, it seems probable that alumi-
num will henceforth be a keen competitor with it
when selling for 20 cents per pound.
It must not be assumed from this that increase in
the output of aluminum will be followed by a col re-
sponding decrease in the consumption of copper, for
there is almost an infinite variety of uses for aluminuia
which can absorb much greater stocks of the metal.
Its use in the manufacture of cooking utensils, eoni-
peting with enameled ironware, is known to everyone.
and the consumption in this way will certainly increase
greatly when the selling price of the finished article
is brought closer to the cost of the metal, and the
latter is also reduced. In this case its use for the
larger-scale cooking utensils employed by the makers
of preserved food, liquors, and the various products of-
chemical engineering is also likely to increase. An-
other large field is in the manufacture of automobiles.
aeroplanes, and other machinery where lightness com-
bined with strength is advantageous. A large increase
in the supply, together with a steady moderate sell-
ing price is likely to greatly increase consumption in
this field. Another field, yet unexploited. is the use
of the metal for interiors, supplanting woodwork. In
the modern business office almost the only articles slill
made of wood are the desks anil chairs, anil it is quite
possible that these will soon be supplanted by metal.
yielding to the demand for fireproof construction.
1'ainted sheet steel is now tin- favorite material for
all metal construction, but unpainleil aluminum would
be much more satisfactory from the standpoint of illu-
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3. 1914
mi nation, since it quickly acquires a gray 'mat' surface
which diffuses light without creating a glare. The
cost of aluminum is now too high to compete with
steel in this way, but what the future position of the
two will be must be left for the future to show.
Much aluminum is used in ways which are not im-
pressive but which consume a large amount of the
metal. Aluminum 'novelties' have become so common
that they have lost their novelty, but have proved so
convenient that their use is likely to increase rather
than decrease. Aluminum foil is now being used, dis-
placing, to some degree, the tinfoil so familiar to our
fathers as the containers for 'fine-cut chewin' ' and
to our sons as the wrapper for expensive cigars. The
powdered metal, known as aluminum bronze powder,
is used in painting, lithographing, printing, and as a
constituent of explosives and a patented source of
heat. The early difficulties in working the metal have
now been largely overcome, and the manufacture of
aluminum tubing, for example, is rapidly increasing.
It is not remarkable, therefore, that the consumption
in this country increased from 46.000.000 pounds in
1911 to 65,000.000 in 1912, coincidentally with a steady
increase in the price from 18 cents in January 1912
to 26 cents in December. It is important to note, how-
ever, that even this amount was only 7VL>% of the cop-
per consumption during the same period.
No review of the outlook for aluminum would be
complete without some reference to the sources of the
supply of the metal. The Aluminum Industry Akteen
Gesellschaft is the largest producer, its plants in Switz-
erland, Germany, and Austria having a capacity of
32,000.000 pounds per year. This is closely followed
by the Aluminum Company of America, with plants
at Niagara Falls and Massena, New York. The British
Aluminium Company, with two plants in Scotland, is
a good third, and there are numerous other plants in
France, Germany, Switzerland , Norway, and Italy,
which contribute to the total output. The Northern
Aluminium Company at Shawenegan Falls. Canada, is
the only other plant now producing the metal on the
North American continent. However, the Southern
Aluminium Company has under construction near
Whitney, North Carolina, a plant which will nearly
double the present American output when it is in oper-
ation. The power supply is to be obtained from Yad-
kin river, and the technical work is under the direc-
tion of French metallurgists. The Aluminum Com-
pany of America is also building a new plant at
Marysville, Tennessee, and is said to have contracted
for 20,000 electrical horsepower from January 1. How-
ever, the power company found it necessary to rebuild
the dam and these two plants in the south are both
likely to begin operations toward the end of the year.
Perhaps the most important effect of this will be to
give to manufacturers more than one domestic source
of supply, and manufacturers who have heretofore
been deterred by this fact from committing themselves
to the use of a product in which there is now no open
market will be encouraged to begin or increase their
use of aluminum The tremendous increase thus made
in the domestic output of aluminum is certain to have
a marked effect on the uses and applications of the
metal, and it will be interesting to observe whether
the increased consumption will take care of the in-
creased yield, or whether a recession in the price wiM
be the result.
Production of Gold in 1913
Since the days of Jason, the quest of the 'Golden
Fleece' has absorbed the attention of a large part of
the people of all countries. On account of its use
and value, gold is the metal of paramount importance
in the world, being now the standard of the monetary
systems of most of the important nations. From the
time of the oldest known civilization, it has been rec-
ognized as the most valuable of metals because of
its color, lustre, and malleability, as well as its rarity.
The Egyptians and Assyrians held gold in high esteem,
as is evidenced by the ornaments and jewelry which
have been found among the relics in the most ancient
tombs, and it seems quite probable that the early
Egyptians used gold as a medium of exchange. With
regard to its production, there appears to be no sta-
tistics earlier than the time of Solomon, although the
Egyptian hieroglyphics give the amounts of the trib-
ute paid to the Pharaohs. We are told that the weight
of gold which came annually to Solomon was 666 tal-
ents, an. amount which would be worth today any-
where from thirteen to twenty-six million dollars, ac-
cording to different authorities. Evidently the gold
industry was flourishing as far back as 1000 B.C. and
the statisticians were already busy.
Accurate statistics of the world's production of gold
are never available, but the annual estimates ar>- close
enough for all practical purposes. Exact figures arc
of no particular use in any event, for the principal
value of statistics lies in the indication of general
tendencies. Last year we noted that the rate of in-
crease in gold production was steadily declining, and
this year we find that the rate of increase has not
only been brought to a halt, but that the total output
has actually diminished very materially. The table
showing the world's production of gold for several
years past is of interest, for it shows the great vari-
ations in production and the obvious tendency toward
a gradual diminution. Our estimate for the year 1913
is based upon official data and accurate figures as far as
these are obtainable. The figures for Africa and Aus-
tralia arc official for the first ten or eleven months.
December being estimated, and our data for the
Cnited States, Canada, and India are based upon esti-
mates furnished by government officers. The Mexican
government publishes the figures for the exports of
gold for the fiscal year ending June 30. so the esti-
mate of the gold production is based upon incomplete
data, although this is fairly accurate.
Official statistics for Russia are seldom published
until two or three years have elapsed, but the e*ti-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
mates furnished by our London representative are
probably as close as can be secured. It will, therefore,
be observed that fully 90 per cent of the world's pro-
duction of gold can be estimated with a high degree
of accuracy, although we deem it foolish to attempt
to give anything more than approximate figures. The
remaining 10 per cent is contributed by countries from
which accurate statistics are rarely, if ever, available.
During the year, detailed figures will be published
by the governments of Japan, Korea, and the East
Indies, but the production of gold from the Central
and South American countries is only obtainable by
computing the amounts of the importations into other
countries during the year. From countries such as
China no reliable data can be procured. The produc-
tion from 'other countries' includes that from Austria,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Servia, China,
the East Indies, and many minor producers. The esti-
mates given must be regarded as mere approximations.
WORLD'S GOLD PRODUCTION BY YEARS
1893 $157,494,000 1908 $442,477,000
1903 327,702,009 1909 454,059,000
1904 347,377,000 1910 455,260,000
1905 380,288,000 191 1 461,542,000
1906 ' 402,503,010 1912 475,000,000*
1907 412,966,000 1913 457,928.000t
•Partly estimated. t Estimated.
The notable increase in gold production during tin-
year 1912 was due principally to the Transvaal. In
1913 the production of the Transvaal declined about
$6,000,000, while that of Rhodesia and West Africa
showed slight increases, so that the total output of
Africa for the year will be less than that of the pre-
ceding year by more than $4,000,000 worth of gold.
This decrease is due in part to strikes and riots ir*
the Transvaal last summer and the great scarcity of
labor, and also to the fact- that the average value of
the Rand ores is diminishing, as is pointed out by
Mr. T. A. Rickard and Mr. II. S. Denny elsewhere in
this issue. In the United States there has been a steady
decline in gold production for some time, and this will
probably become increasingly noticeable unless some
new goldfield is discovered within the next few years.
It is a fact that the richest placers and lodes in the
country have already been found and exhausted, with
the result that our gold production in the future must
come from the large bodies of low-grade ore. The
rapidly diminishing production of one mine alone, the
Goldfield Consolidated, accounts in a largre measure
for this decreased gold production of the country, but
there have also been important declines in other fields.
Alaska, for instance, shows a decrease of about $1,700.-
000. which is largely due to the exhaustion of the
bonanza gravels of the Fairbanks districts, and to an
unusually dry season.
Mexico's condition of unrest and revolution has
caused the suspension of mininsr in many districts in
that country, with a corresponding decrease in the
gold output, although in the larger camps work has
been continued with only slight interruption. The ap-
proaching exhaustion of some of the principal ore-
bodies is already having its effect, while the cessation
of prospecting on account of the disturbed condition
of the country augurs ill for the future gold supply.
India is one of the few countries which shows a steady
and consistent increase in gold production.
GOLD PRODUCTION OF THE WORLD.
1911. 1912. 1913.
Africa $187,738,000 $208,795,000 $204,343,000
United States 96,890,000 93,451,000 88,391^000
Australasia 59,107,000 53,557,000 SoWoOO
Russia 32,151,000 27,702,000 2a!oOo!oOO
Mexico 24,880,000 24,750,000 19W0OO
Ind'a 10,449,000 12,088,000 12,164!oOO
South America 12,340,000 11,500,000 12,000^000
Canada 9,762,000 12,500,000 15,350^000
Japan and Korea 6,890,000 7,000,000 7,000,000
East Indies 4,726,000 4,980,000 5,000,000
Central America 3,360,000 3,600,000 3,500^000
Other countries 13,249,000 15,077,000 15,00o]oo0
Totals $461,542,000 $475,000,000 $457,92S,000
During 1914 and the years to come, the production
of gold will probably decrease gradually, unless new
goldfields of importance are discovered. Improve-
ments in metallurgy will undoubtedly continue to be
made, permitting of the working of lower-grade ores,
but this science has already advanced so far that future
betterments will probably make progress slowly. Much
may be expected, however, from the successful mining
and milling of the huge bodies of low-grade ore which
are known to exist. The operation of the Alaska-
Treadwell and the experiments conducted by the
Alaska Gastineau and Alaska Juneau companies have
proved that ore containing $1.50 to $2 per ton in gold
can yield a profit where extensive deposits are mined
on a huge scale. By the end of this year the last
two companies mentioned should be recovering about
$5,000,000 worth of gold annually, and this produc-
tion will in time be doubled. Increased transportation
facilities will greatly aid mining of the lower-grade
gold gravels and the vein deposits in the difficultly
accessible regions of Alaska. The same is true of
Siberia, where vast areas of alluvial deposits lie un-
developed on account of lack of transportation. The
consensus of opinion is that the more accessible parts
of the world have been so thoroughly prospected that
there is now slight probability of discovering ^old-
fields of richness or importance in the regions which
are now known. In the future the prospector will
be forced to confine his efforts largely to parts of
Canada and Alaska. South America. China, and else-
where, for it is evidently a fact that almost all of
the easily mined placer deposits and the outcropping
bodies of rich ore have been found, mined, and largely
exhausted. The discovery of new fields will depend
upon the exploration of distant inaccessible territory,
and upon scientific prospecting by means of our vastly
increased knowledge of the geology of ore deposits.
The mining and treatment of large bodies of low-grade
ore will also add greatly to the future production.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
Gold and Silver Production of the United States
Estimates for the calendar
Survey, with final figures for
Gold
State or territory.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Michigan
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina . . .
Oregon
•Philippines
♦Porto Rico
South Carolina . . .
South Dakota ....
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wyoming
Totals
♦Estimates, 1912.
year of 1913,
by the Bu re
1912 : printed through th e
1912.
1913.
.$ 16,724
$ 8,062
. 17,145,951
14,782,512
. 3,762,210
3,098,046
. 19,713,478
20,105,447
. 18,588,562
18,420,031
14,360
9,881
1,381,214
1,366,605
. 3,625,235
3,078,202
. 13,456,180
12,279,131
784,446
844,086
166,014
111,442
770,041
1,379,087
400,248
787,039
1,116
16,915
1,985
. 7,891,370
7.197.49S
8,265
7,711
63
120
. 4,265,851
3,400,103
218
3,514
680,964
692,021
22,235
30,491
$93,451,500
$88,301,023
an of the Mint and the United States
courtesy of George E. Roberts, Director
Silver (Fine Ounces)
State or territory. 1912.
Alabama 168
Alaska 515,186
Arizona 3,490,387
California 1,300,136
Colorado 8,212,070
Georgia -. . . 77
Idaho 8,294,745
Illinois 4,731
Michigan 528,453
Missouri 35,438
Montana 12,731,638
Nevada 14,369,063
New Mexico 1,536,701
North Carolina 4,854
Oregon 57,081
♦Philippines 5,650
*Porto Rico 100
South Carolina 47
South Dakota 206,460
Tennessee 89,893
Texas 406,067
Utah 13,835,903
Virginia 982
Washington 413,538
Wyoming 265
Totals 63,766,800
Geological
of the Mint.
1913.
84
379,575
3,380,703
1,527,026
9,159,367
84
9,573,328
3,659
429,014
33,763
13,035,841
15,092,190
1,525,133
2,268
158,594
9,974
9
13
168,231
124,009
428,490
12,269,088
23,706
263,090
3,729
67,601,011
United States Mineral Output in
1913
Below are given figures of production for 1912. as
collected by the United States Geological Survey, and
estimates for 1913, for coal and the leading metals, fur-
nished by the courtesy of George Otis Smith, Director,
except as noted.
Coal : 1912.
Bituminous, short tons. 450,104,982
Anthracite. Long tons.. 75,322,855
Pig iron, long tons 30,180,969
Copper, pounds 1,243,268,720 1,223,700,000"
Gold, fine ounces 4,520,717 4,276,300;
Silver, fine ounces 63,766,800
Lead, short tons 415,395
Spelter, short tons 323,907
Quicksilver, flasks 25,064
*U. S. Geological Survey estimates.
til. S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Mint estimates.
%I run Age figures for 11 months; December estimated.
• Estimated by C. G. Dennis.
Copper production in the United States in 1913 is
estimated by the United States Geological Survey as
totaling 1,223,700.000 lb., worth $187,200,000. These
figures may be compared with 1 .243.2ti8.720 lb. in 1912.
worth $205,139,338.
1913.
476,000,000*
79,800,000"
30,500,000;:
67,601,111:
466,843-
345,575-
23,000"
Lead production is estimated by the United States
Geological Survey as follows:
Total refined lead from domestic and foreign ores,
466.843 tons, value $41,082,184; the corresponding pro-
duction for 1912 was 467,342 tons.
Antiinonial lead. 1913. 16,338 tons: 1912. 13.552.
Imports (ore. bullion, and refined lead). 1913. 56.717;
1912. 83.560 tons.
Lead content of the ores mined in 1913. 460.512 tons;
1!H2. 457,355.
Spelter production is estimated by the United States
Geological Survey as having amounted to 345.575 tons
of primary spelter from foreign ami domestic ores in
1913. worth $39,395,550. The corresponding figures for
1912 were 323.907 tons. $44,699,166. The recoverable
zinc content of ores mined in the United States in
1913 is placed at 414.151 tons.
Canadian Gold and Silver Production
"Canadian gold production in 1913 is estimated by
the .Mines Branch of the Department of Mines of Can-
ada at $15,350,000. as compared with $12,559,443 in
1912. Silver production is similarly estimated at
33.500.000 o/... which may be compared with 31.931.710
in 1912.
'Printed through the courtesy of R. VV. Brock and John Mc-
Leish.
January 3, 1514
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
What is the Matter With Prospecting?
A SYMPOSIUM
Having in mind the statement often made that mines
are not being found as rapidly as is necessary in
order to keep up the growing rate of mineral produc-
tion— in short, that a few years will bring us face to
face with a metal famine — and the other wide com-
plaint that prospectors can no longer obtain grub-
stakes for finding and developing new deposits, nor
can they sell claims undeveloped, we recently asked a
number of prominent engineers and mine owners to
aid us in getting at the facts by answering briefly the
following questions :
1. Is it true that money is no longer available in adequate
amounts for finding and developing prospectsf
2. How can additional money be made availablef
3. Do you believe in government aid to prospecting and pros-
pectors, and, if so, in what way should this aid be given!
4. Can prospecting methods or conditions be so improved as
to make the available funds adequate t
o. How can a better market for undeveloped mineral lands
be created f
The response has been most generous, and from the
large number of interesting letters received we have
selected a few from which brief abstracts are pre-
sented below. We regret that the necessity for con-
densation makes necessary the omitting of introduc-
tory statements and reparagraphing, but we feel sure
that our friends and readers will pardon this in view
of the significance of the subject-matter. Our own
summary ami comment will be withheld until more of
the letters shall have been presented. — Kiui'oit.
Walter H. Aldridge: -There is plenty of money
available for investigating new properties which give
promise of large tonnages of low-grade commercial ore.
There are not many large concerns willing to grub-
stake prospectors or. in -fact, to risk much money in
attempting to develop prospects. The developing of
the prospect is more the province of the prospector
and his associates or small local syndicates. The rea-
son that a large amount of money is not available for
prospects is probably due to the fact that the many
companies which have had large and varied experi-
ences in exploration work have found the chances of
developing good mines from the ordinary prospect are
not sufficiently good to. .justify the many losses in-
curred in working prospects which do not develop into
mines. I do not believe in government aid to pros-
pecting or prospectors, as I doubt whether it would
do any good, and there would nniptestionably be an
immense amount of money wasted if such a plan
should be adopted. I do not know how present pros-
pecting methods can be materially improved. The
Western prospector will still continue to hunt up good
surface showings. If he is successful he will usually
interest sen if his associates in his claim or claims.
or else get a small local syndicate to back him to a
limited extent. If this work is encouraging, the
small syndicate usually interests a larger syndicate
of greater means. Ample funds can. therefore, be se-
cured so long as the prospect in the first instance is
a reasonably good one, and the work subsequently
performed gives justification for the first good impres-
sions formed by the prospector. I can not make any
suggestions how a better market for undeveloped min-
eral lands can be created, as the marketability of min-
eral lands is entirely dependent upon the surface show-
ings, geological conditions, etc., and where these are
favorable there is always keen competition to secure
them.
Philip Argall:— In reply to your letter of December
5: I find it extremely difficult to interest capitalists
in prospects. It is very difficult to find a means. The
Denver Chamber of Commerce organized a prospect-
ing company last year, and with all the influence of
that commercial body, backed by competent mining
engineers and a first-class directorate of leading busi-
ness men. capital was not available, the company had
to be liquidated, and money returned in full to sub-
scribers. Clean business methods were the ideals of
the company, and after the great innings of the wild-
catters. I now believe the change was too great.
Though I regret to say it, visions of high profits are
necessary to sell prospecting stock, hence those that
•"see visions" have their place in mining. 1 have
never known successful issues along the line of gov-
ernment aid. Prospecting combines at once the great-
est risks with the greatest profits usually obtained in
mining. I am frank to say that it is only the Gov-
ernment clerks in the Forest Service that can at once
determine if the budding prospect will develop into
a great mine or an expensive hole in the coppice.
Those who have spent many year's in developing mines
are not dissatisfied with one good mine from ten se-
lected prospects. It is a matter of judgment and
judgments aided by experience. By forming prospect-
ing syndicates to deal systematically with selected
prospects, and by prospectors being more liberal in
their terms, giving an interest in the property against
development and not demanding payment for the priv-
ilege of developing more or less meritorious uncertain-
ties, the market may be broadened.
F. W. Bradley: .Money is just as available in ade-
quate amounts for finding and developing prospects
as it ever has been. The prospects may not make as
many bonanza mines as formerly, but the develop-
ment of less wasteful methods and inventive genius
will probably keep pace with the world's growing
metal requirements. Additional money could he made
10
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
available by having the postoffice and other authori-
ties go after the big people in the mining stock swin-
dling game as hard as they go after the small people
who sell mining stocks on false representations. No,
I do not believe in government aid as a subsidy to
the. prospectors; but I do believe in the present exist-
ing government aid to prospecting, which present aid
will probably continue to grow in the same ratio as
present government aid to agriculture grows. Avail-
able funds are just as adequate for all legitimate min-
ing work as they are adequate for any other kind
of legitimate work. A better market for undevel-
oped mineral lands could be created by stopping the
swindling games conducted in the name of mining.
P. R. Bradley: — I think money seeking legitimate
mining ventures exceeds the opportunities to risk it
where there is a reasonable mining chance for success.
Additional funds can be made available by protecting
^the timid operator against fraud. More publicity
should be given to the possibilities in favorable areas.
For example, a large English operator recently had
trouble in securing data on the output of the Mother
Lode area in this state. His idea was that with this
data in hand he would have less difficulty in interest-
ing his friends in that territory. I believe in govern-
ment aid to prospectors only indirectly ; that is, by
stimulating and assisting the mining industry through
the Bureau of Mines so that there will be a broader
field of work for the prospector. Improvement in pros-
pecting conditions might be brought about by the as-
sistance of the Bureau of Mines, say by the establish-
ment of district offices, eaeh in the charge of a com-
petent officer whose duty is to study his district with
a view to encouraging not only the development of
new properties, but also the rehabilitation of old mines
where modern practice and new methods may result
in their success. A better market can be made by
protecting the investor against fraud, and by giving
ample publicity to new methods and the demand for
minerals not now commonly mined, but which from
time to time are sought by new industries.
D. W. Brunton: — It is only too true that prospec-
tors do not now receive the same backing and support
from business men that they did ten years ago. In
Colorado, this is due principally to the fact that no
new mining districts of any importance have been
discovered during the past twenty years. Nearly
every winter, when the snow is deep and the moun-
tains inaccessible, fairy stories of important discov-
eries appear in the newspapers, but the next spring.
as soon as the districts are accessible, the values van-
ish. Funds and support can only be obtained by
making mining more profitable and by preventing the
organization of wild-cat promotions and other fraudu-
lent methods of imposing on the public, through which
legitimate enterprises are made to suffer. If, by gov-
ernment aid, you mean the subsidizing of prospecting
and mining operations, I would say no. as we have
altogether too much paternalism now. The lT. S. Geo-
logical Survey and the Bureau of Mines are now doing
much more for the industry than any direct grant of
funds, and if the appropriations for these two branches
could be increased, there is no doubt the industry
would be immensely benefited thereby. Improvements
in prospecting methods can only be brought about by
greater knowledge and skill on the part of the pros-
pectors. Where prospecting has to be carried on in
the forest reserves, more common sense and less 'red
tape' on the part of the forestry officials would be
extremely desirable and decidedly beneficial, not only
to the prospectors, but to the forest service as well.
An undeveloped prospect is a good deal like a lot-
tery ticket, and. like the latter, will not be a very
desirable acquisition unless the prizes are not only
large but sufficiently numerous to justify the risk. To
this end the complete revision of our present mining
laws is extremely desirable, so that, should a man be
lucky enough to open a valuable orebody, he would
have a reasonable chance of retaining its ownership.
Albert Burch: — I do not believe in government aid
to prospectors, but I do believe that the United States
should take steps to scientifically prospect and clas-
sify its own mineral lands; and, in doing so. should
employ the services of both technically trained geolo-
gists and mineralogists and practically trained pros-
pectors, on such a basis of compensation as would
attract the best men of both classes to the service. I
know of a prospecting venture about to be started, in
which two men. one of them a good mineralogist and
the other a veteran prospector, are to start out as
partners, under a grubstake agreement with a capi-
talist. If young school of mines graduates, with a
little mining experience and a fair amount of train-
ing in field geology, would seek alliances such as
this, instead of positions as assayers. surveyors, and
assistants around operating mines, the standard of
prospecting efficiency would undoubtedly be raised,
and the demand for competent prospectors increased.
A young man of this class, with few family responsi-
bilities, could well afford to devote a few years to this
kind of work; because, even though not financially
successful, the experience would be very valuable to
him in his subsequent mining work. Not the least
valuable of the lessons which such a life would teach
him, would be self-reliance.
George E. Collins: — I have no recent personal ex-
perience of raising money for prospects, but from
what I hear. I am satisfied that it has become very
difficult, excepting from individuals who have excep-
tional personal confidence in the man who endeavors
to raise it. I do not know of any way in which this
condition can be changed, excepting as a result of
increased public confidence in the business of mining :
and this, in my opinion, can only be secured by in-
creased dependence in professional mining engineers.
based on a higher standard of principle and honor
among them, and enforced by legislation requiring
their employment. I do not believe that direct gov-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
11
ernment aid te prospectors is practicable or desir-
able, excepting as to the dissemination of information.
But I believe there might wisely be a system of pub-
lic money rewards to prospectors who discover min-
eral deposits of substantial value, but which under
existing conditions cannot be profitably worked. I
venture to suggest that the federal government, act-
ing through the Bureau of Mines, might purchase
such discoveries from prospectors. Prospecting meth-
ods will always depend on the individual prospector.
Until something is found, and some prima facie evi-
dence is secured of the presence of valuable min-
erals, I fear that organization and technical skill are
helpless, and that we must depend for the original
discovery of mining prospects on rather haphazard
methods. The only way I can see in which to help
the prospector is through the technical and semi-
technical journals, which can disseminate accurate
knowledge about minerals, and the conditions under
which they are likely to be found, so as eventually
to reach the class from which prospectors are drawn.
Speaking generally, the root of the trouble, in my
opinion, is a decadence of the adventurous pioneer
spirit. Prospectors are fewer than they were, in
many other lines besides mining. I do not hear of
experienced prospectors of good character being un-
able to secure grubstakes.
D. Fasken: — I can only speak from experience of
the province of Ontario, and reliable prospectors have
no difficulty in finding parties ready to grubstake
them, but the capitalists are more careful than they
were a few years ago as to whom they shall employ.
There is a scarcity of men who should go out as
prospectors. They have not the technical knowledge.
Farmers' sons and all sorts of laborers have gone out
without any idea when they are examining rock as
to whether they could expect mineral to be found
or not. With regard to raising money for develop-
ing purposes, I would say that money in Ontario at
the present time is scarce, but where a property has
merit there are plenty of people prepared to under-
take the development. I do not believe in a gov-
ernment aiding prospecting or prospectors. I would
not think such a scheme feasible. 1 think what a
government ought to do. and what they are trying
to do in Ontario, is to protect a prospector once he
has made a discovery, and let him operate as cheaply
as possible.
Charles Hayden:- Money is just as available now
as it has been in the past, if not more so. It is not
the place of a banking house, however, to go into
the business of prospecting — that is the business of
individuals. I see no necessity for additional money
being made available. I do not believe in govern-
ment aid to prospecting and prospectors, other than
the rights and protection which they now have. I
do not see in what way prospeding methods can be
improved. I do not believe there should be any bet-
ter market for undeveloped mineral lands created. I
think by good hard work and labor people should
develop those privately before asking outsiders to be-
come interested in them.
D. C. Jackling:— In my opinion the apparent lack
of interest in prospecting is due more to the lack of
fertile fields for such exploratory work than to indif-
ference on the part of anybody to the discovery of
new mineral deposits. In other words, the mineral-
bearing areas of the United States have been pretty
well covered by investigations and developments to
varying extent. There is scarcely an area anywhere
in the country that has not been investigated by en-
gineers either for the government or through the ac-
tivities of private individuals or corporations ; and,
furthermore, the business of mining has taken on in
the last few years much more of a scientific character
than applied to it in earlier days. In fact, it is
becoming a business conducted in a general way. at
least, along lines of fairly definite principles, whereas
in the days of active prospecting in unexplored areas
the general idea of mining investigations and oper-
ations partook in some degree at least of the spirit
of adventure. I believe there is just as much money
available as there ever was for the investigation ami
development of mineral resources; but, on the other
hand. I believe the days of the old time prospector
are gone, and with them the time when money can
be secured as it used to be for the support of pros-
pecting expeditions. The modern way is to send an
engineer to places that are reported through vari-
ous channels to indicate promise of mineral deposits.
Instead of the prospector spending months traveling
by wagon or afoot, the engineer goes to a point near-
his destination by train, and in all probability travels
the balance of the distance by automobile, and it'
the indications justify it, he reports in a definite way,
and the result is development on a practical scale;
the whole thing requiring weeks or months where it
used to require months or years. On the whole. I
think, however noble the prospector's vocation, the
time is past when it can be either a popular or profit-
able one; and still I believe that, taking into con-
sideration the possibility of rinding new mineralized
areas, or new deposits in known mineralized areas,
the development and commercialization of the country's
resources is going ahead at a more rapid rate today
than it ever has at any previous time. There arc vari-
ations in this activity, of course, depending on in-
dustrial conditions, the price of metals, etc.: but con-
sidering periods of time long enough to cover such
variations from maximum to minimum. I believe what
I have said is true, and I think the statistics and his-
tory of the mining industry in the I'nited States for
the last five to ten years will substantially bear out
this view.
Hennen Jennings: -As I have been so little con-
nected with actual mining in this country of late years.
I do not care to go on record in attempt to. in de-
tail, answer your questions. I do not think it ad-
12
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 19J4
vi sable to invoke any government aid unless it might
be in connection with pushing and upholding the re-
port of the committee on general revision of the min-
ing laws of the American Mining Congress. It would
seem that our stupid apex law, which was supposed
to-be so beneficial to the prospector and the poor man.
has really been a boomerang and struck back at them.
for now people with money are fearful in the initial
stage of a mining venture that they may be buying
lawsuits rather than ore deposits, and they would pre-
fer paying more money at a later date when the ven-
ture had its legal and prospect values better estab-
lished. The busy and greedy promoter has also over-
done things and has had a tendency to frighten hon-
est investors away. At the present time only laws
upholding the poor man and discouraging the rich
seem in favor with our legislators, and in the end
most of them will be found to serve the poor man
about as well as the apex and be a detriment rather
than a betterment to him.
Benj. B. Lawrence: — The opportunities offered to
the prospector in the early days of the development
of this country no longer exist. Given new territory,
you will have plenty of prospectors. The decrease in
the production of the minerals in the state of Colo-
rado, for instance. I believe to be due to the very
rapid exhaustion of the mineral deposits heretofore
discovered in that state, and the failure to replace the
worked-out mines by new ones is simply due to the
fact that such mines are no longer easy to find. The
citizens of Colorado made an effort through one of
the newspapers in Denver to stimulate prospecting
and by various measures through the Chamber of Com-
merce there, but as far as I know, the inducements
which were offered to prospectors to 'get busy' have
been productive of no results. I believe that there
is money available for finding and developing pros-
pects, and that there are men to find them, the diffi-
culty being that the prospects art hard to find. I
do not believe in government aid to prospecting or
prospectors. I do not think it would accomplish any-
thing, and it would help to develop a very substantial
breed of loafers. The prospector was a product of
his environment and cannot be reproduced, as exist-
ing conditions will not develop the type of man who
has been responsible for the discovery of the mineral
wealth of this country. That scientific methods of
prospecting by expert geologists will ultimately be
productive of some good. I do not doubt. In this re-
spect, economic geology has taken great strides, and
I am hopeful that as a result of the study of geol-
ogists some new mineral deposits will be discovered.
Capital will be eager to develop mineral deposits if
they really have promise. The trouble is that the un-
developed mineral lands of which we have knowledge
are rejections from which have been chosen the prop-
erties which are operating and have been operated in
the past, and what remains, under existing conditions
are not sufficiently attractive to allure capital.
E. J. Longyear: — It is a fact that moneyed men
are not as ready to back the prospector as they were
in the past. Additional money may be made avail-
able by reestablishing public confidence and a reason-
able attitude of the government toward mineral de-
velopment. The government, through its Geological
Survey, can be of great assistance to the prospector.
I do not favor direct financial aid by the government.
There is undoubtedly room for improvement in pros-
pecting methods, but I would not expect such improve-
ment to have much influence in making money more
available until other conditions have changed. There
is a strong feeling among the people today that no
individual or group of individuals should expect to
derive from a business venture any more profit than
a moderate percentage on his investment. This senti-
ment is being more or less reflected in recent govern-
ment actions, and investors hesitate to risk spending
money where there is an uncertainty as to whether
they are going to be permitted to retain the results
of their investments. The inducement that leads the
prospector to endure the hardship of the desert, and
the capitalist to back him, is the possibility of 'strik-
ing it rich.' If they can be assured that their prop-
erty will not be confiscated, even though the profits
may be large, we shall see plenty of money available
for developing mineral lands.
John H. Mackenzie:— My judgment is that there is
plenty of money still available for developing good
prospects, but <:ood prospects are very difficult to find,
as there is little territory that has not been 'combed'
over in the last ten years. Whenever a new find is
made that is really good, there will be plenty of addi-
tional money spent in searching for new mines. You
remember the boom in prospecting when Tonopah and
(toldfield were struck. You also probably know that
not over \0c/c of the money that was poured into Nev-
ada for prospecting and developing purposes went
into the ground and that !10% was spent in gambling
and riotous living. I do not believe in government
aid to the prospector, as I do not think it would im-
possible to bring the prospector under proper control.
As a rule, they are an irresponsible lot. It might be
that after a 'prospector found an outcropping that
promised well, government aid could be furnished to
develop the prospect ; but. on the other hand, if a
prospector found a really good looking outcrop, there
is plenty of private capital available to help him de-
velop it. I think there is a good market now for-un-
developed mineral lands that promise well — the trouble
is to find the promising mineral land.
H. C. Perkins: — It is not true that money is no
longer available in adequate amounts for finding and
developing prospects. 1 do not believe in government
aid except by making titles secure and preventing min-
ing swindles. There are ample funds for clean, hon-
est business. In some localities where dishonest or
foolish mining promoters have cost the public heavily,
confidence must be reestablished.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
13
M. L. Requa: — It is not true that money is no longer
available for developing prospects. Probably at no
time in the history of mining has there been a keener
competition for meritorious prospects to develop. The
great trouble is the lack of satisfactory prospects. I
think it is highly probable that there is greater diffi-
culty being experienced now than ever in finding grub-
stakes, for the reason that experience has proved that
it is very difficult in these days for the ordinary pros-
pector to find something sticking out of the ground.
I think it has become more and more evident that
the mines of the future must largely be developed in
territory that shows certain geological conditions, but
where ore-shoots are not outcropping upon the sur-
face. The percentage of successes will probably be
relatively small. I do not believe in government aid
to prospecting or prospectors. If the government is
going into the business, it had better do the whole
thing — the prospecting and the developing — and reap
the rewards. Prospecting methods and conditions do
not need improvement. It resolves itself into two great
divisions: prospecting in the effort to find something
that is sticking out of the ground, and prospecting
in the effort to find an orebody that in indicated by
certain surface conditions. No great improvement is
demanded in prospecting for deposits that show upon
the surface: possibly there may be improvements for
prospecting for hidden deposits. There is an ample
and voracious market awaiting the development of
mineral lands that show any value. Boiled down to
a few words, the facts are that so far as the United
States is concerned, the surface showings have been
pretty well found, at least I believe they have. In
the future, development work must be done with the
hope of finding orebodies that do not crop on the
surface. This is expensive and probably will not be
a popular form of mining and will be done only by
a few concerns. In the meantime, the prospector must
seek other fields. I believe that there are still many
areas in the world that afford the possibility of find-
ing orebodies showing upon the surface, but I doubt
that they exist in any great quantity in the [Tnited
States.
Arthur Thacher:— There is on.' point to which I
would strongly object, and that is any government aid
in prospecting or to prospectors. There are a great
many reasons why I think this would be very undesir-
able. The whole matter, in fact, had best be left to
private enterprise. The government can do as it has
done in the past ; that is, give information and maps,
and possibly this branch might be improved or added
to, but as for direct aid or undertaking any direct
help for prospecting, I think this would be a decided
mistake. I know some others might have a different
view, but I think the danger in all our government
work is that they do not draw the line carefully
enough between what is properly government work
and what should be left for individual effort. A great
deal can be done by the government in general direc-
tions, but when it encroaches on the private enter-
prises I think it is a decided mistake and will lead to
disaster and throw discredit on all the government
work.
Benjamin B. Thayer:—! do not agree with what you
state seems to be a prevailing opinion, namely, "that
mines are not being found as rapidly as is necessary
in order to keep up the growing rate of mineral pro-
duction"; or. "that a few years will bring us face to
face with a metal famine." It is my opinion that
the old type of prospector is becoming somewhat ex-
tinct; I mean by this the individual who went into
the mountains alone with his pack-animals, his ex-
penses being generally borne by one or two individu-
als. In addition to this, the possible prospecting area
has become more and more limited, as many sections
of the United States have been pretty well run over.
The best evidence that prospecting is still going on
is in the discoveries in Alaska, where, in my opinion,
up to the present time, on account of the inaccessi-
bility of the country and the difficulty of transporting
supplies for extensive mining, nearly all of the atten-
tion of the prospector has been given to placer min-
ing and not to quartz mining at all points beyond the
tidewater districts. I think that as this country is
opened up — by this I mean transportation made more
feasible — more attention will be paid to the quartz
deposits of Alaska, and that doubtless many impor-
tant mines will be opened up. Again. I think the
prospector of today is too prone to place his holdings
in the hands of the 'get-rich-quick' promoter instead
of relying upon the miner to take the metals out of
the ground — a slower but surer process. I do not think
it a practicable scheme for the government to ;it-
tempt to aid the prospectors financially, but I do
think the spirit of conservation can be overdone, and
the government, by the withdrawal of lands, can seri-
ously hamper the work of the prospector and retard
the growth of a district. There is plenty of market
at the present time for promising prospects, if. as I
have stated before, the prospector will endeavor to
reach the capital he needs through the proper chan-
nels. It must be borne in mind that the greatest in-
crease in the copper-metal output in this country of
late years has been due to the application of new re-
duction methods to properties whose existence in some
instances had been known for over a quarter of a cen-
tury, and also to the refinement of methods previ-
ously in use. To sum the matter up. I would state
that in my judgment there is no dearth of market
for the wares of the prospector, and many mining men
of authority still believe that "it is cheaper and safer
to buy your eggs and hatch them, than it is to buy
full-grown hens."
Accidents in metal mines of the United Stiites. ac-
cording to the Bureau of Mines, in 1012 resulted in
the death of b'til men. In addition 4502 were seriously
and 2(i.2.'52 slightly injured out of Id". 19!) employed.
14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January- 3, 1914
The International Engineering Congress
Bv H. Foster Bain
Among the important events now being planned for
next year, the Engineering Congress which is to as-
semble in San Francisco. September 20, 1915, easily
takes front rank. Held under the patronage of the five
national societies, the American Society of Civil En-
gineers. American Institute of Mining Engineers.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American
Institute of Electrical Engineers, and the Society of
Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and with a
total guarantee fund of $37,500, the Congress is al-
ready assured of success. Membership is open to any-
one upon payment of a small fee. and it is hoped that
the total enrollment will at least approximate 10.000.
More than 70 engineering societies in America and
abroad have signified their acceptance of the invita-
tion to take part. While anyone may belong and may
obtain such volumes of the proceedings as he may
care to pay for. participation in the program will be
by invitation only.
The Congress is under the management of a board
consisting of 28 representatives of the five societies
named, The president and secretary of each society
is e.r officio among the number, and the ten so selected
constitute the 'Committee on Participation' which has
its headquarters in New York. It is through this
committee that all invitations to take part in the Con-
gress are issued, and it is to this committee that Col-
onel George W. Goethals has signified his acceptance
of the presidency. Active direction of affairs is in
the hands of a Board of Management composed of
18 representatives of the five societies, resident in
San Francisco, and of which W. F. Durand, of Stan-
ford University, a delegate from the Society of Me-
chanical Engineers, is chairman, and W. A. Cattell.
of the Society of Civil Engineers, is secretary. The
representatives of the Institute of Mining Engineers
are Edward H. Benjamin, Newton Cleaveland. W. S.
Noyes, and H. Foster Bain. The board holds monthly
meetings and acts through an executive committee and
sub-committees on finance, papers, publicity, and local
affairs. The latter will have charge of quarters, trans-
portation, entertainments, and excursions. Mr. lienja-
min, its chairman, is at the same time a member of
the executive committee.
The papers committee has been busy outlining a
program and tentatively making up lists of names as
a basis for invitations to prepare the papers and dis-
cussions of the Congress. It is planned to publish the
latter in 10 full volumes and one half-volume, the
latter to include the proceedings of the opening ses-
sion and those papers that deal especially with the
Panama canal. Space in the other volumes is to be
allotted so as to permit covering the widest possible
range in engineering. It is proposed that they shall
collectively constitute a virtual encyclopedia of pres-
ent-day practice, so far as main outlines are concerned.
It is desired that the papers shall be of the 'Recent
Progress and Present Status' type, and that instead
of dealing in a restrictive way with particular prob-
lems or describing particular constructions, they shall
summarize important lines of progress in each branch
during the last decade and note the present practice
and probable future trend.
Metallurgical Papers
To mining and metallurgy a total of 750 pages has
been allotted, though many closely related subjects
will be discussed in the volumes devoted to civil, elec-
trical, and mechanical engineering. With the active
cooperation especially of T. T. Read, Bradley Stough-
ton, and C. W. Merrill, the following general outline
for the metallurgical volume has been prepared. It
is proposed that the volume shall constitute what
may be termed a cross-section through the metallur-
gical industry in 1915. The larger topics will each be
under the general supervision of a special editor who
will have charge of collating and arranging the papers
by individual authors. It is not intended to exclude
the citation of special instances to illustrate the gen-
eral treatment of a subject, but such citations should
preferably consist of references to the bibliography of
the subject which will serve to supply the reader with
measurably full indication of the sources where im-
portant original papers may be found. In particular,
it may be noted that within the extent of space avail-
able, it is not expected that the treatment can be to
any marked degree detailed in character. It is de-
sired rather that it shall be broad, comprehensive, and
suggestive. The general subject will be considered
under 11 heads with sub-topics indicated:
1. Iron and steel — Metallurgy of cast steel, includ-
ing founding: manufacture of steel and wrought iron:
properties, uses, and manufacture of alloy steels; met-
allography of iron and steel; corrosion of iron and
steel.
2. Copper — Copper smelting practice: hydrometal-
lurgy of copper: copper refining: copper alloj-s: phys-
ical properties and metallography of copper.
3. Cyanide practice — Preliminary crushing; re-
grinding; solution of gold: filtration; precipitation.
4. Metallurgy of zinc and cadmium.
"). Lead smelting and refining.
ti. Metallurgy of aluminum.
7. Minor metals — Nickel and cobalt, mercury, tin.
arsenic, antimony, and others.
8. Metallography and technology of non-ferrous al-
loys.
9. Electrometallurgy — Iron and steel: aluminum;
zinc : copper.
10. Utilization of fuels — Pulverized coal : liquid :
gaseous.
11. Ore dressing — Crushing and sorting; wet-con-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
1."
eentration; magnetic work: flotation.
The volume on mining engineering has been planned
with the special assistance of H. C. Hoover, F. W.
Bradley. M. L. Requa, D. C. Jackling. and incidental
help from other members of the Institute. In it a
slightly different point of view has been adopted. It
has been thought that the most serviceable volume
that could be produced would be one in which should
be summarized the best engineering practice as relates
to distinctively mining problems. With this in view,
it has been proposed to leave to the other sections of
the Congress the handling of subjects that are only
incidentally mining and to bring together a group of
papers that would afford a concrete picture of min-
ing methods in 1915. It is thought that best results
will be obtained by collections of somewhat detailed
descriptions and analyses of the different mining meth-
ods as exemplified by type examples and supplement-
ing these by very brief bibliographies and carefully
planned discussion rather than by a general resume
of the literature of each topic. The purpose is. as
far as may be, to have each subject handled by a prac-
ticing engineer who has himself employed the method
described. The following list of papers is proposed :
Papers on Mining Methods
1. Placer mining, including: (a) the testing and
valuing of placer ground; (b) hydraulicking (briefly) ;
(c) dredging, the latter to be discussed in detail and
to form the main part of the paper. In this and sub-
sequent papers named, the object should be to de-
scribe the methods, efficiency, and limitations of the
process. The recent use of dredges for stripping iron
ores may well be taken up in the discussion of the
main paper.
2. Steam-shovel mining: (a) the methods on flat
lands with heavy cover, as in the Lake Superior iron
district: (6) modified methods on steep slopes, as in
the Western copper mines, with consideration of the
methods of preparing and blasting the ground; (r)
substitution of drag-line scrapers, as in the Cuban
iron-ore mines; (tl) mill-hole work.
3. Caving systems in mining: (n) methods as em-
ployed in the Lake Superior iron mines: (/<) modified
methods used in Western copper mines.
4. Method used at the De Beers diamond mine.
This was developed from a coal-mining method in
wide use and shows relations both to caving and nar-
row stoping.
5. Stoping as used in the Lake Superior copper
mines with great depths and low angles of dip.
6. Mining methods on the Rand, as an example of
stoping at great depth in persistent orebodiea and
where large-scale operations are possible.
7. The cross-stoping method in use at Broken Hill.
New South Wales.
8. The rill and fill system at Kalgoorlie.
9. Methods of filling. These methods have been
worked out especially in European coal mines and are
beginning to be employed at Seranton. Cripple Creek.
and other points in the United States. They must
ultimately be used even more widely, and the topic is
therefore especially important.
10. Underground transportation. These methods
have been developed most largely in coal mines, and
the metal miners have much to learn in this particu-
lar. Grades, curves, track, motive power, cars, signals,
and dispatching are some of the subdivisions *o be
considered.
11. Hoisting from depths, with Butte as the type
example. Butte is chosen because of the fact that the
engineers there have passed through the stage of di-
rect steam, and in the district may be seen both elec-
tric hoisting and a peculiar method of using com-
pressed air ; a comparison and a study of limitations
of these systems would be especially important.
12. Preparatory work and experimental mining and
milling. Now that mines are worked upon such a scale
that millions must be invested in preliminary work
and in plant equipment, it becomes important to know
what are the most economical methods and what the
wise limits of expenditure. Test-pitting, drilling, un-
derground exploration, sampling, estimating, testing,
the building and operation of pilot-plants, should all
receive attention. The ratio of preliminary expendi-
ture to total investment is one to be carefully studied.
13. Underground costs and efficiencies. This
should be a general paper treating the subject in a
broad way. not a mere compilation of unrelated costs.
So far as possible figures should be reduced to a basis
of tons per man per shift, and the relative economy of
different types of labor and of labor as against ma-
chines, studied in detail.
14. Oil production, with especial emphasis on oil-
well drilling. This involves engineering of a high de-
gree of skill where many conditions must always re-
main unknown. Oil is now an important part of the
mineral output, significant from many points of view.
Supplementary Meetings
In addition to the Engineering Congress proper, sev-
eral similar meetings will be held about the same time.
The Electrical Engineers plan a separate world's con-
gress for the week preceding the Engineering Con-
gress, and about the same time the American Associ-
ation for the Advancement of Science, and its affiliated
societies, will be meeting. In the week following the
meeting of the engineers, an International Petroleum
Congress is to be held, and at some convenient date
the American Institute of Mining Engineers and the
Mining and Metallurgical Society are also to meet. Fol-
lowing the meeting of the Sixth International Con-
gress of Mining. Metallurgy, Applied Mechanics, and
Practical Geology, which is to assemble in London in
June under the auspices of the Institution of Min-
ing and Metallurgy, an excursion through Canada is
planned under the patronage of the Canadian Mining
Institute with a visit to San Francisco and a return
through the United States to be arranged by the en-
gineers of the latter country.
16
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
The National Radium Institute
By Archibald Douglas
Through the investigations of the U. S. Bureau of
Mines, it became evident in the latter months of 1912
that valuable radium ores were being shipped abroad
to be manufactured into radium which was being sold
back to this country at prices entirely incommensurate
with those paid for the ores themselves. But worse
than this, it was discovered that at least twice as much
uranium oxide and its accompanying radium was being
wasted in the low-grade ores that were thrown on the
dump and the fine carnotite dust was being swept away
by the winds and rain. Knowing the excellent work
being accomplished by the Austrian Radium Institute
and the Radium Institute of London, Charles L. Par-
sons, chief of the division of mineral technology, of
the Bureau of Mines, proposed to Dr. Howard A. Kelly
of Baltimore and Dr. James Douglas of New York —
both of whom he knew to be deeply interested in se-
curing radium for use in two hospitals with which they
were closely connected — that they form a Radium Insti-
tute and endeavor to work up some of our American
ores and keep the radium in this country for use among
such of our own people as could be reached by such
quantities as were secured.
It was agreed, if the ores could be procured, that
the Radium Institute would be founded and necessary
funds furnished to work up the raw material. Mr. Par-
sons went with Dr. Kelly to the Paradox valley in
Colorado and inspected the mines there. On their re-
turn a conference was held with the officers of the
Crucible Steel Mining & Milling Co. who owned 27
claims in Montrose county, Colorado, which it had been
holding pending such time as it would pay to extract
the vanadium and uranium therefrom. The officers of
the Crucible Steel Mining & Milling Co., appreciating
the immense good that the radium in these ores might
accomplish, consented to have these claims worked on
a royalty basis under an agreement covering the re-
turn of the uranium and vanadium content of the ore
to them. Further conferences were then held with
Doctors Kelly and Douglas, and the National Radium
Institute was incorporated as announced in the paper
given by Mr. Parsons before the American Mining Con-
gress, at Philadelphia, October 24.
For some months the Denver office of the Bureau of
Mines had been carrying on laboratory experiments and
investigations in the field with reference to the uranium
ores, and a bulletin covering these investigations has
just been published by the Bureau. Knowing of the
work of the Bureau of Mines, the National Radium In-
stitute proposed a cooperative agreement with the
Bureau of Mines whereby the Bureau was offered an
opportunity for scientific and technologic study of the
mining and concentration of the carnotite ores in the
claims secured by the National Radium Institute ; and
for studying in the plant of the Institute the most effi-
cient methods of obtaining radium, vanadium, and
uranium therefrom, with a view to increased efficiency
of production and the prevention of waste. The legality
of the agreement was carefully looked into and full
approval given by the government officials, it being
found that there were many precedents in similar co-
operative work, especially between the Department of
Agriculture and the farmers of the country.
In the agreement with the Bureau of Mines, the
technologic management of the mines and mills was
to be guided by the scientific staff of the Bureau, and
Mr. Parsons has been designated by the Director to
have charge of the investigation. He will be assisted
by R. B. Moore, physical chemist in charge of the
Denver laboratory who will have direct management
of the plant, and by Karl L. Kithil, mineral technologist
of the Bureau who will be in charge of the mining and
concentration. Plans have been completed and con-
tracts let for the experimental plant to be erected at
Denver; land for the plant has been leased; over 100
tons of carnotite has already been obtained; and the
larger part of the apparatus has been ordered.
In connection with the production of radium, the
separation of uranium and vanadium will also be
studied, and all processes, details of apparatus and
plant, and general information <rained will be published
for the benefit of the people. As a result of these ex-
periments it is hoped that other plants will be erected
and that our carnotite ores will be worked up at home
and the radium kept in this country. The Institute
was formed for the special purpose of procuring enough
radium to .conduct extensive experiments in radium
therapy, with special reference to the curing of cancer.
It is also expected to investigate the physical charac-
teristics and chemical effects of radium rays.
The radium produced will not be for distribution, as
the work of Dr. Kelly has distinctly shown that to get
real results in the treatment of cancer and other
malignant diseases a high concentration of gamma rays
is essential, and this at the present time can only be
obtained from a comparatively large amount of mater-
ial. Accordingly, to distribute the radium among many
hospitals or physicians would render it practically in-
effective for this purpose. Some hospitals at both New
York and Baltimore are already partly supplied, and
while it will be some time before a sufficient quantity
of radium is produced from these ores to add greatly
to the present usefulness of these hospitals, it is sin-
cerely hoped that the work of the Institute will be of
real benefit to many by assisting or possibly in con-
trolling cancer, the most malignant of diseases.
Besides being of benefit to the general public, the
activities of the Institute are sure to assist the pros-
pector and miner by providing a greater demand for
his already rare ore and by assisting to conserve the
large waste which is now takinir place : also to the plant
operator by developing methods and by creating a
larger market for his products. The radium produced
is intended for the Institute's own use and is not for
sale or distribution.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
17
Work of the National Societies
American Institute of Mining Engineers
By Charles P. Rand
The American Institute of Mining Engineers, the
second of the four largest national engineering societies,
was founded on May 16, 1871. Its membership has
grown during its 42 years of life until, at the present
time (November 1, 1913), there are 4509 members on the
rolls. This is the largest in its history. The growth is
shown in the following figures :
1871 284
1881 1035
1891 2082
1901 2799
1911 4210
1913 4509
Of the 4509 members, 3228 reside in the United States,
181 in Canada, 254 in Mexico, and 846 in other
countries, including almost every corner of the globe.
Founded in a time when the profession of mining
engineering practically included that of metallurgy, the
name American Institute of Mining Engineers was
sufficiently comprehensive to describe its scope, even
though its activities have been concerned more with
metallurgy than they have with mining and geology. A
recent attempt to change the name to American Insti-
tute of Mining and Metallurgy, was dropped because
of sentiment as well as the pressure of other matters
which were at the time deemed to be of greater im-
portance.
It is the will of the members that Institute member-
ship shall be democratic in character, and any person
who is actively engaged in mining, metallurgy, geology,
or chemistry is eligible to full membership, regardless
of technical education or length of experience Asso-
ciate members are those persons who are interested in
the activities of the Institute: junior members are
students in good standing in undergraduate courses of
engineering schools. While following the will of the
members in admitting all eligible persons upon a demo-
cratic basis, the present Committee on Membership
gives the strictest scrutiny to all applications, and de-
mands convincing evidence of applicants' standing and
eligibility before recommending them for election.
Publications
The chief activities of the Institute are devoted to the
distribution of information on mining, metallurgy, and
geology by the presentation and discussion of technical
papers at general meetings of the Institute and at meet-
ings of the local sections, and by the publication of the
best of these papers in the monthly Bulletin and annual
volume of Transactions. The volume of publication has
grown so large that, notwithstanding the rejection of
a large percentage of papers received in 1913, the first
ten monthly Bulletins of that year contained 2604 pages,,
and, for the first time in the history of the Institute, it
will be necessary to issue three volumes of 'Transactions
to contain all of the valuable papers and discussions
that have been accepted and presented at meetings. The
money paid for printing and distributing the publica-
tions of 1913, not including editorial expense, was equal
to the total amount received from members in dues. The
several thousand dollars required for editorial and
office expense, contributions for local sections, technical
committees, etc., had to be secured from other sources
of income. It is thus evident that in the Bulletin and
Transactions alone the members receive more than the
full value of their annual dues. In 1913 the Institute
also published the Emmons volume on 'Ore Deposits,'
which is a continuation of the previous Posepny volume.
The first local section of the Institute was established,
after two preliminary meetings for the reading of
papers, in May, 1911, with headquarters at New York
City. Since that time, nine local sections have been
established, in several cities, and steps are being taken
for the organization of others in this, and in one
foreign, country. The purpose of these local sections
is to extend the benefit of the Institute by more frequent
meetings of the members in each locality, for reading
and discussion of papers, and for social intercourse and
acquaintance.
Technical Committees
Because of the wide diversity of subjects included in
the Institute's field of activity, and the necessity of
specializing in order adequately to take care of these
several interests, the Board of Directors has established
a number of technical committees, which shall have
charge of the interests of the Institute in their re-
spective fields. Although the desirability of such action
was suggested by William B. Potter in his Presi-
dential address to the Institute in 1889, in the fol-
lowing words: "It is hardly to be expected, perhaps,
in an organization grown to such proportions as the
Institute has assumed in the number of members and
variety of interests represented, that a very efficient
discharge of all its duties eould be accomplished with-
out the assistance of the systematic methods which a
more definite organization would supply. In the
scientific associations of wide and general range, the
several interests are usually classified into groups and
sections more or less fully organized and equipped for
independent work ; and it has already been suggested
that it might be well for the Institute to adopt a simi-
lar course. As a suggestion for such a grouping at the
start, the following might serve: I. Iron and Steel;
II. The Precious and Base Metals; III. Geology and
Mining: IV. Chemistry;" the first such committee —
the Iron and Steel Committee — was not established
until April, 1912. This committee was successful in
securing for the Institute a large number of important
18
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
papers and discussions on the subject of iron and steel,
and its activities have been so important that in
October, 1913, it conducted a general meeting of the
Institute under its own auspices, for the presentation
and discussion of papers. The second committee to be
formed was that on Precious and Base Metals. This
committee secured for the Institute a series of papers
of very great value, which were presented and discussed
at the Montana meeting of the Institute and will be pub-
lished in Volume XLVI of the Transactions, to be
known as the Montana Volume. There are now eight
Technical Committees in all : The Iron and Steel Com-
mittee, chairman, Albert Sauveur; Precious and Base
Metals, chairman, Charles W. Goodale ; Mining Geology,
chairman, James F. Kemp ; Mining Methods, chairman,
David W. Brunton ; Use of Electricity in Mines, chair-
man, William Kelly ; Mining Law, chairman, Horace V.
"Winchell; Petroleum and Gas, chairman, Anthony F.
Lucas ; Non-Metallic Minerals, chairman, Heinrich Ries.
The Institute can best carry on its work when all
desirable, eligible men are on its membership rolls, and
one of the functions of these technical committees is to
secure the membership of desirable men within their
fields of activity. More than one hundred members
were added during its first year by the Iron and Steel
Committee.
The formation of the technical committee has been
one means of bringing to the attention of the Institute
management the large number of men who should be
interested in the Institute's activities, but who are not
members. For the purpose of securing the cooperation
of all such desirable, eligible persons, a Committee on
Increase of Membership was formed and through their
efforts a number of new members have been secured.
Library and Office Activities
Upon moving into the United Engineering Society's
Building in the year 1906, the Institute's library was
merged with those of the American Society of Mechani-
cal Engineers and the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers, and placed under joint management. This
combined library contains now over 55,000 volumes and
regularly receives about 700 technical periodicals. The
members have been slow to learn of the services which
the library can perform to those who are not able to
visit it ; namely, by furnishing lists of references, ab-
stracts, translations, copies, by lending books through
the mail, etc. ; but, notwithstanding this, the library is
rapidly increasing its activities for members residing
at a distance.
Mainly through the efforts of Dr. James Douglas, the
land debt of the Institute, which was originally $180,-
000, will be entirely paid off at the time of the annual
meeting on February 17. 1914. This wiping out of the
debt will not only relieve the Institute funds of the pay-
ment of interest, but will give the Institute an unen-
cumbered ownership of one-third of the United
Engineering Societies Building, and the land on which
it stands, worth altogether about $1,750,000.
The Institute has recently established an Employment
Department with the object of bringing employer and
employee together. Although the work of this depart-
ment has naturally been handicapped at first by lack of
knowledge on the part of the members of the services
which it can perform, it has been able to fill a number
of positions during the past three months and its
activities are rapidly increasing. The Employment
Department not only publishes a list in the bulletin of
'Positions Vacant' and the 'Engineers Available,' but
is in frequent communication by mail and wire with
those whom it can serve. As soon as the members of
the Institute who are employers of engineers realize
that the Employment Department is in a position to se-
cure for them very promptly efficient men well suited
to their requirements, this department can expect a
great increase in its activities. The Institute maintains
in New York a Members' Writing Room.
The policy which the directors have favored this year
has been that of encouraging participation in Institute
affairs, through the committees, of as large a number of
influential men as convenient. The result should be that
the management will become impersonal and the Insti-
tute's welfare at no time be dependent on any one man.
The Mining and Metallurgical Society
By H. M. Chance
The Mining and Metallurgical Society of America
is just completing the sixth year of its existence, a
year in which its activities have broadened and its
functions have expanded. I believe that the consensus
of opinion among its members is that the year has
brought about a better understanding of the aims and
objects of the Society, fuller appreciation of its value
to its members and to the profession at large, and a
truer understanding of its position as an association
which requires and maintains a certain standard of
attainments — in experience, professional standing,
achievements, or knowledge — as a qualification for
membership, but which is in practice an essentially
democratic body.
Its members have understood from the outset that the
Society was organized to perform functions heretofore
neglected or but partly performed, and to provide a
representative body by or through which the profession
might speak on matters of professional or public inter-
est, but whether it should also undertake work in
other directions was not fully determined, and for this
reason it has been moving slowly and deliberately,
learning by experience, but at the same time it has
been working steadily and successfully to carry out
the objects of its organization. Its success in this di-
rection has largely been through the efficient and pains-
taking work of its committees. The steadfast loyalty
and unity of purpose shown by its members during the
past year have strengthened and rapidly matured the
Society, conferring upon it. while still young, individu-
ality and character in keeping with its tenents.
In addition to the publication of matters relating to
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
19
its current business affairs, the Bulletin of the Society
has included matters brought before the Society for
action, a number of technical papers, contributions,
and communications upon geological and mining sub-
jects, the discussion of some sociological problems and
reports from its committees on Mining Law, Standard-
ization, and on Rules for the Award of the Gold Medal
of the Society. During the year the Society has passed
resolutions memorializing the Congress of the United
States to pass legislation providing for: (1) a new
building for the United States Bureau of Mines; (2)
a new building for the United States Geological Sur-
vey; and (3) the creation of a Patent Commission to
recommend to the congress of the United States any
legislation that may be deemed necessary or expedient.
As already announced in the Bulletin for November, the
gold medal of the Society has been awarded to Herbert
C. Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover for distinguished
contributions to the literature of mining. The medal
will be presented on January 13, 1914, at an evening
session of the Annual Meeting of the Society which is
to be held in New York City on that date. The Society
will close the year in prosperous condition. It has an
income larger than its expenditures, no debts, and a
satisfactory surplus in its treasury.
As the Society is too young to have a past by which
its future activities may be forecast, the interest of its
members is centred upon its present and future, upon
what it is doing and can do for its members, and upon
what it is doing and may do for the profession at large.
I shall not attempt to discuss the many useful functions
of the Society, but will mention only those that, in my
opinion, are of dominating importance.
Many of our members believe that the greatest serv-
ice the Society can perform for its members is the
promotion of engineering fellowship and friendship by
drawing together in close association those who are
interested in like work and who are actuated by like
motives, and I think this belief is well founded because
such association enables them to cooperate (within the
Society) in advancing the interests of the profession.
For precisely similar reasons it seems to me that the
greatest service the Society can render the profession
at large is to assist in bringing about a more thorough
realization of the community of professional interests —
in promoting professional solidarity — a matter of pro-
found importance to the profession. Within the So-
siety, professional solidarity has made rapid progress.
It is the force that now directs the activities of the
Society and is one that must always be an important
factor in controlling its destiny. How the influence of
a like force can be extended to the profession at large
may well occupy the future attention of the Society and
of other kindred engineering organizations. These are
some of the larger issues with which the Society will
be expected to deal. They open fields of work in which
the activities of the Society may expand indefinitely.
Perhaps this resume would not be complete without
some reference to the work of the local sections. Those
members of the Society who are able to attend the
local section meetings, find pleasure and profit in the
discussions of technical matters, especially in the free
expression of personal views and recital of personal
experiences which the informal character of these
meetings permits. To enable a larger number of its
members to enjoy these privileges, one of the future
objects of the Society will be to establish local sections
at a number of places convenient to the location of
its members.
The American Mining Congress
By Carl Scholz
The aim of the American Mining Congress has been,
and will continue to be, the furtherance of any move-
ment which will be of benefit to the mining industry,
with special reference to the wishes of the greater
number. The correct solution of the problems which
will be of help to the majority with the least injury
to the remainder is a task requiring due consideration
and support from all quarters.
Perhaps the most important work rendered by the
Mining Congress has been its work in assisting in ob-
taining, first, the establishment and, later, the neces-
sary appropriations for the maintenance of the United
States Bureau of Mines. There can be no division of
opinion that the first duty of mine owners is to safe-
guard the lives of the employees. That the Bureau of
Mines has more than justified its existence does not
require any further affirmation, but we believe its
power and influence should be extended, and there is
additional work for the American Mining Congress in
this cause.
Aside from matters of safety and economy in op-
erating, general economic conditions are becoming
more important to mines in this era of expansion when
the growth of the industry increases by leaps and
bounds; and decided changes in business methods be-
come not only advisable but imperative. Within a
half century the early mine operator who aided in the
mining of his product was his own superintendent,
engineer, and salesman, has developed into the head of
operations whose daily output is many times greater
than his former annual tonnage. Like changes have
taken place in the methods of buyers, and laws have
come to life regulating or endeavoring to regulate the
industry. The old state of interests of the community
is giving away to community of interests, and with
the great number of vexing problems, no single indi-
vidual or even a state organization can satisfactorily
maintain its position.
The purpose of the American Mining Congress is to
bring together the mine owners scattered throughout
this vast country, and by concerted action endeavor to
improve the conditions of the industry in a dignified
and broad minded manner ; to this end the cooperation
of all mining men is invited, and it is believed that
their moral and financial aid will be amply justified
by results which can only be accomplished by united
action.
20
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
The London Market
By T. A. Rickard
Introductory. — The' year 1913 has been so full of faction. The organization of modern business was
trouble to the mining market in London that those who never exemplified to better advantage than in the
are superstitious may be forgiven for referring to the ability of the financial interests to withstand a strain
second half of its name. It began under a cloud of so long, so severe, and so aggravating. The fact that
anxiety created by the first Balkan war, and before the strain has been withstood warrants the expectation
the early summer had seen that settled, the complica- that it will be overcome finally. But so long as war
tions over Scutari threatened an embroilment of the between the United States and Mexico looms in the
Great Powers. Then just when the spectre of a vast foreground, it is not likely that any market recovery
conflict was vanishing in the Near East, the bourses will be recorded.
of Europe were agitated by the internecine strife be- Among the shocks to public confidence, such as are
tween the Balkan allies, the conclusion of which due partly to the risk implicit in mining and the
brought further burdens in the shape of an insistent frailty inherent in joint-stock finance, are the disap-
demand for loans on the part of the exhausted com- pointments or fiascos associated with the Orsk, Eldo-
batants. rado, Esperanza, Santa Gertrudis, Mount Elliott,
Meanwhile, the trouble in Mexico had been simmer- Bwana M'Kubwa, and Great Cobar mining companies,
ing, with occasional explosive outbursts of anarchy, as On the other hand, gratifying developments highly en-
when the Madero government went down, early in the couraging to shareholders have been recorded during
year, and Huerta advanced through assassination and the year in connection with the Mount Morgan, Golden
riot to the presidential chair. During the summer Horse-Shoe, Oroville Dredging, Nundydroog, Kyshtim,
the hope was insistent among those interested in Tomboy, Naraguta, Renong, and Burma mines. Owing
Mexico that the latest military adventurer to rise to to the general shrinkage of quotations, the improved
supreme power would prove an effective despot, and prospects of many other mines have not been reflected
that order would be brought out of chaos, so that in market valuations, but the number of them is con-
mines and railways could be operated without molesta- siderable.
tion. But the unruly element masquerading under a Transvaal.— The output of gold, on account of labor
new name continued to devastate the country, and troubles, will scarcely exceed that of 1912, which was
caused the cessation of industry over large areas. In £38,757,560 or $188,749,317. The mining industry of
the closing months of the year the diplomatic inter- the Rand has passed its zenith, as is indicated by the
vention of the United States has threatened, from day diminution in dividends, compared with the gross out-
to day, to find a sequel in an armed incursion that put and so-called 'profits,' the last being a purely
could only end in a big and costly war. These events, fictitious statistical statement of a highly misleading
of course, have had a dire effect. Mines have closed- character.
down, many have been looted, others are crippled by Gross. Profit. Dividends,
the breakdown of railway transport. The railways 1910 £30,703,912 £11,567,099 £8,887,185
have been dynamited or used for military purposes 19n 33,543,479 11,415,861 7,763,086
.., .. i .. „ ., , .,; . , 1912 37,182,795 12,678,095 7,952,994
untfl the conduits of commerce throughout Mexico have m3 37,000,000 11,350,000 6,500,000
been put out of use. As many of them have been
financed in London, the present loss and the probability These figures, be it noted, apply to the Witwaters-
of greater damage to investors have contributed to rand district only and do not include the 'outside'
the general dismay. districts of the Transvaal. The totals for 1913 are, of
Besides these events, the mining industry of South course, estimated.
Africa has received a body blow from the effects of Reference has already been made to the strike and
which it is still staggering. A strike of white miners riots in July. These have exposed the fact that the
at the end of June led early in July to a sanguinary normal complement of 25,000 white men does not con-
riot in the streets of Johannesburg. The cessation of sist of manual laborers, but of overseers in charge of
work at many mines was bad enough, but the intimida- the 200,000 Kaffirs. The native is bossed by the white
tion of the natives by the wild acts of their bosses was man, who receives from $135 per month at surface to
worse, for it led to an exodus of black labor from the $375 per month on contract underground. Against
Rand. this the colored worker is paid 50c. per shift, and is
Thus war, insurrection, and riot have loomed large housed and fed in a compound. He costs the com-
during the year, freezing the currents of speculation, panies about $20 per month. Owing to incitement by
and causing a shrinkage of quotations that, as we shall labor agitators from Australia and America, the white
see, is astounding. Indeed, the absence of defaults and worker has become increasingly assertive. For this
bankruptcies, entailing a panic, is a striking feature of he has some excuse, but not much reason. The excuse
the position, even if it brings but a lugubrious satis- is the prevalence of phthisis, which itself is largely due
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
21
to the Workman's unwillingness to adopt palliatives,
such as respirators and water-sprays. On the part of
the companies, the deficiencies in ventilation may be
cited, and the lack of effective control, due to the cen-
tralization of management at the head-offices of the
financial groups, whereby the manager has lost
prestige and influence with his white employees.
.Outcrop
Scale of miles
Engineering & Mining Journal in May, 1903, in which
I deprecated the suggestion that the banket lodes of
the Eand had the uniformity and persistence of coal
seams. The conglomerate persists, but the gold de-
creases, in depth. When a banket ceases to be profita-
bly gold-bearing it loses its economic characteristic and
becomes the plain 'pudding-stone' of early Victorian
geology.
Last year at this time I was able to in-
stance the development of the Far Eastern
portion of the Rand as an outstanding fea-
ture of the year. During 1913 the progress
of work has been highly satisfactory in the
case of the Van Ryn, the New Modderfon-
tein, the Modderfontein B, and the Modder-
fontein Deep, but results from the Brakpan,
Government Mining Areas, and Geduld have
been disappointing. The Brakpan has had a
bad time owing to a caving of the hanging
wall and the poor returns from new work-
ings. The drop in the quotation has been
lamentable. The following list of quotations
exhibits the fall in market appraisals of the
leading mining companies operating on the
Rand :
Dissatisfaction, some of it real and some of it merely
vicious, has thrown the local industry out of gear, and
on the top of that the violent quarrel among his bosses
of the dominant race has caused the Kaffir to become
unruly in some cases and intimidated in others. Hence
the unwillingness to renew contracts on the part of
time-expired natives. The recruiting for colored labor
had been vigorous and far-reaching; finally, in March,
the total supply was augumented to 231,700, but even
that did not suffice for the needs of the mines. Then
came the strike and the cessation of recruiting, with
rapid withdrawals to the kraals, until in October the
total supply had shrunk to 170,000, the lowest since the
early part of 1910.
This shrinkage has been hardest on the low-grade
mines, which, to earn a profit, must be operated on the
full scale. As the low-grade mines are also, for the
most part, the deep-level properties, it is not surpris-
ing that several of them are defunct. Among the mines
that have closed down are the Apex, Benoni, Clover-
field, Cinderella Consolidated, Jupiter, French Rand,
Van Dyk, Simmer & Jack East, Rand Klip, Lancaster
West, Rand Collieries, Volgelstruis, Treasury, and
Jumpers. The last two are outcrop mines with a good
record, but now exhausted. Among the mines on which
operations have been discontinued are two of the deep-
est on the Rand. This may be noted in connection with
the statement of H. H. Webb, in his report for the
Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, that the
mines of that group show undoubted signs of im-
poverishment in depth. In this respect the Gold Fields
properties are not unique. The recognition of this
basic fact of non-persistence of ore is interesting, but
belated. Some of my readers will remember an article
entitled 'Even Methuselah Died,' written by me in the
Rand Mines
Central Mining
Con. Gold Fields
General Mining
Crown Mines
East Rand Proprietary
Brakpan
City Deep
Con. Langlaagte
Randfontein Central . .
Village Deep
New Modderfontein . . .
Van Ryn
Dec. 1, 1912. Dec. 1, 1913.
£6% £5%
9% 7y,,
3% 2
1 %
• •7 6%
2"/„ 2
..4 2%
• •3 2%
1% 1%
1% 1%
2% 1%
12% UYi
3% 3%
As I said last year, the space given in this review to
the Transvaal emphasizes the dominance of the Kaffir
market, as is called that department of the Stock Ex-
change devoted to Rand securities. The gloom at
Johannesburg is bound to affect the whole mining
market. Liquidation has been on a big scale, as quota-
tions show, but it has not, I believe, gone too far, in
most cases. The market valuation of mines is preposter-
ous in boom times, it is exaggerated in ordinary times,.
and it only comes down to realities in periods of exces-
sive depression. A rebound may be expected, but it is
likely only to afford the insiders a chance to unload
on the public.
Rhodesia. — The annual output of gold, estimated at
£2,900,000, shows an increase; but it is small, and in no
proportion to the discounting of the future that has
marked Rhodesian finance. I confess to a prejudice
against this part of Africa, for it has been the scene of
the most unblushing stock-jobbery, highly injurious to
the business of mining. During the year the notorious
Amalgamated Properties has gone to the wall, with re-
construction ; the Giant has gone 'scat,' as the Cornish-
22
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
man says ; the Eldorado and Lonely Reef have had some
of their inflation reduced ; the Falcon has been the sub-
ject of an unpleasant episode; and the Shamva has
shrunk in valuation to something nearer its merits. This
mine was bought for £65,000 and transferred for £400,-
000; as soon as the Company was formed, the 500,000
shares were kited to £5%, on optimistic reports and
market juggling, to drop to £1%
now that the mill is about ready
to start. The Globe & Phoenix
is still the largest producer,
yielding 10,500 oz. gold per
month, but it has been rendered
ridiculous by a fight over di-
rectors' fees and by the squab-
bles among cliques and coteries
of shareholders. At the end of
1913 there is talk of a revival in
Khodesian mining, meaning a re-
newed outburst of speculation,
by reason of the proximate be-
ginning of profitable production
at the Shamva, Cam & Motor,
Antelope, Falcon, and Eileen
Alannah mines. Of these the
Cam & Motor is much the most
promising; whether the others
will justify the expectations now entertained, we doubt.
However, the increased yield of gold from these
properties will be a stimulant to the market in 1914.
The downward trend of quotations is seen by the fol-
lowing list, of which it can be said now that not one
depreciates the true merits of the mines :
and ought to prove generally beneficial to industry in
Rhodesia. Unfortunately the proposed alienation of
the land to newcomers is meeting with opposition on
the part of the resident white population, and threatens
to make trouble for the Chartered company.
West Africa. — This part of the world, from the
miner's standpoint, is now divisible into the Gold
Cam & Motor. . . .
Shamva
Globe & Phoenix.
Falcon
Eldorado
Lonely Reef
Giant
Chartered
Tanganyika
Dec. 1, 1912.
37s.
3%
1%
m,
i%
3
1%
26 y2 s.
2%
Dec. 1, 1913.
28y2s.
1%
1%
7/s
%
2%
%
19s.
1%
Of the two chief copper enterprises, the Bwana
M'Kubwa was the victim of a fiasco, due to an errone-
ous assumption of the specific gravity of the ore, and
still has to face sundry metallurgical uncertainties,
while the more famous Tanganyika Concessions has two
blast-furnaces in operation at Katanga, producing
about 900 tons of copper per month. Fine ore is being
briquetted, and the Company is making its own coke at
Wankie. However, the performance seems small enough
after the big promises of four years ago.
One of the events of the year has been the effort
made by the British South Africa, usually called the
Chartered company, to develop the agricultural re-
sources of Rhodesia, by encouraging immigration and
settlement on the land. This promises to help many
of the land companies, and some of the mining com-
panies that own land. It is a commendable departure,
Coast and Northern Nigeria. All the enthusiasm of
early exploration has died out of the Jungle market,
as the West African gold mining department is called.
The annual output of gold, estimated at £1,630,000,
shows a small increase, but it has become realized with
regrettable tardiness that the cost of operations under
conditions so adverse to white men has been under-
estimated all along. A good example is afforded by the
Prestea, a splendid gold-quartz vein, where the yield
was estimated repeatedly at 40s., as against a cost of
20s., per ton. After several years of disappointment
it is clear now that the yield is 33s. per ton, while the
cost is 26s., so that the net resultant profit is about 7s.
as against the roseate predictions of 20s. per ton. The
Ashanti Goldfields is doing well, both as to output and
dividends, but here also expectations are now on a
lower and less flamboyant plane. The Broomassie is
doing better, but far below the promises of its prospec-
tus. The Bibiani has joined the Cinnamon Bippo,
Effuenta, Fanti, and other 'has beens' of the insalu-
brious jungle. Of the mines on the banket, once sup-
posed to give the promise of a second Rand, the Taquah
and the Abosso are both creditable enterprises, but the
margin of profit is small. The Abbontiakoon, which
resumed crushing in the second half of 1912, has
steadily increased its output, but the inability to re-
duce the cost is a severe handicap. Two dredging com-
panies, on the Offin and Ancobra rivers, respectively^
manage to make a profit, but this is done under difficult
conditions, both as to submerged timber and unfavora-
ble climate. No new enterprises of any consequence are
coming forward, so that an expansion of the gold min-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
23
ing industry in West Africa is unlikely. A few com-
parative quotations are appended :
Dec. 1, 1912. Dec. 1, 1913.
Ashanti 21s. 17s.
Prestea 17%s. 13s.
Abbontiakoon fi'is. 6s.
Taquah 13s. 14s.
Abosso 20s. 18s.
Broomassie ..".'<. 5%s. 5%s.
Offin River 5M.-S. 4%s.
Fanti Consolidated Ss. 5s.
Tin mining in Northern Nigeria is making progress,
as is indicated by an increase of production and the
more systematic exploitation of the alluvial deposits. As
yet no veins or lodes of any importance have been un-
covered. The output is the yield mainly from 'calabash-
ing, ' or panning, of rich patches of gravel by native
workers, who are paid from 1 to 6 pence per pound for
the tin concentrate. Ditches and pipe-lines are under
construction by several companies, notably the
Naraguta, Naraguta Extended, Rayfield, Bisichi.'Ropp,
CXEANINO THE TIN IX NIGERIA.
and Kaduna, while two companies, the Jos and the.
Benue, have just begun to work with dredges. If the
latter are successful, it will be an important advance,
but I am not hopeful as to the correctness of the pro-
cedure, because the clay, irregular bedrock, and
patchiness of the alluvium all militate against effective
dredging operations.
The output in 1912 was 2532 tons of concentrate,
averaging about 70% metallic tin ; for 1913 it is proba-
ble that the production will be 5000 tons of a similar
product. The largest producer is the Naraguta, which
ships from 60 to 75 tons of concentrate monthly to
England. The Rayfield sends from 40 to 50 tons, the
Naraguta Extended from 25 to 40, and the Bisichi from
25 to 36 tons per month. A good deal of this concen-
trate goes to the smelter at Bootle, near Liverpool,
erected by Richard Pearce and his son, Frank Pearce,
formerly at Denver, Colorado.
Scarcity of labor, as yet, has not become a discourag-
ing factor, but the competition between the companies,
with offers of higher wages, may render the position
acute unless restraint is exercised. Lack of cheap
transport, of course, has hindered the introduction of
machinery. Most of the tin so far exported has been
carried on the backs of natives. The construction of
railways is being pushed with commendable zeal. The
present railway runs from Lagos to Kano ; the branch
line to Rahama is being continued to the Bauchi
plateau (which is the tin region), leaving the main line
at Zaria and terminating at Bukeru. In addition, the
Government proposes to construct a more direct line
from the mouth of the Bonny river, where deep water is
available, through the Udi coalfield, across the Benue
river, along the edge of the Bauchi plateau, to Kaduna,
where it will join the existing railway. This line will
be 530 miles long and will shorten the distance from the
mines to the coast by fully 160 miles.
The following quotations indicate a fairly vigorous,
market in Nigerian tin shares : \
Dec. 1, 1912. Dec. 1, 1913.
Rayfield 16s. lis.
Naraguta i % \ a/
Naraguta Extended Us. 13s.
Ropp 3% G'/o
Kaduna 114 %
Bisichi 114 ya
Jos 6s. 7s.
Champion 7s. Ss.
America. — This part of the London share-market in-
cludes Canadian, Mexican, and South American mines.
It is nothing like so important as it used to be before
the Rand and Western Australia came into prominence,
and in the days when the Exploration Company was so
active in the Rocky Mountain region. The Treadwell
group, in Alaska, has an agency with the Exploration
Company, and the three mines on Douglas island con-
tinue to do particularly well, but share-dealings are
small, as is apt to be the case with mining of this con-
sistently satisfactory character. The Granville com-
pany, formed in 1911 to exploit large alluvial areas
along the Klondyke valley, in the Yukon, has under-
gone re-organization, the interests formerly controlled
by A. N. C. Treadgold and J. W. Boyle being
respectively incorporated under the names of the North
West Corporation and the Canadian Klondyke com-
pany. Both the former controllers remain as general
managers, and active dredging operations have been
under way during the past season, with results con-
sidered quite satisfactory. Another dredging company,
the Oroville, which started as a Californian enterprise,
has gained renewed life by the acquisition of an alluvial
area at Pato. in Colombia, where a dredge has been at
work since March with highly satisfactory results, the
digging of 315.000 cubic yards during the past 8 months
having yielded $205,000* worth of gold. So far, the
digging has done considerably better than the drill-
holes.
Another enterprise, involving dredging together with
land reclamation is the Natomas Consolidated, the
bonds of which, to the amount of $15,000,000 were
issued in 1910. After three years it has been
acknowleged that more working capital is required and
a reconstruction for that purpose is imminent. The
24
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
yield from dredging has fallen short of the $5,000,000
estimated by $2,000,000. In the land business also ex-
cessive liabilities have been incurred. However, the
fiasco is more surprising than conclusive, for the re-
sources of the Company are enormous and only require
a little less flamboyaney in administration.
In Colorado the Independence, at Cripple Creek, is
now near an end, the profit coming entirely from the
milling of the old dump; in the same way the Camp
Bird, after a fine career, is known to be finally ex-
hausted, the Company owning it having transferred its
energies to the Santa Gertrudis, a silver mine in
Mexico, and the Messina, a copper mine in the Trans-
vaal. A further deal involving the Bonanza and
Siempre Viva mines, in Nicaragua, is being incubated
in the interest of the Camp Bird, which is now prac-
tically a holding company for blocks of shares in va-
rious mines. The Tomboy, also in Colorado, is doing
well, and has added another chapter to a record of wise
management and honorable administration. The Tom-
boy itself, and then the Argentine, were acquired and
worked out; now the Company is operating the Reve-
nue or Montana claims, in the same district, and is
making a profit of $275,000 per annum from a property
that cost $400,000 only.
As regards Mexico, the El Oro district is the most
important to the London market. There, the parent
mine, the El Oro Mining & Railway Co., continues pro-
ductive on a diminishing scale, without any prospect
in depth. The Esperanza and the Mexico, the two
adjacent mines on the same vein system, have de-
preciated greatly in value, despite sundry discoveries
underground that seemed to postpone the day of ex-
haustion. The Dos Estrellas, on the other side of the
hill, has gone the way of most mines that are boomed
on the Paris bourse. At Pachuca, the Santa Gertrudis
also has had a bad time, aggravated by the belated
manner in which information was given to the share-
holders. Below the 18th level the lode is distinctly
poorer, and the 20th level, now being extended, is
yielding results indicating further impoverishment.
Meanwhile cross-cuts on the upper levels are finding
branch veins, and parallel orebodies of considerable
promise, so that lateral development in this mine, as
in others, may lead to the development of fresh re-
sources of decided importance. The Buena Tierra,
Avino, Mazapil Copper, Palmarejo, Barranca, La Fe,
and other mines operated by British capital have been
shut down owing to the condition of anarchy in which
Mexico has been passing during the past year. New
issues have been few. The Reforma mine at Campo
Morado was examined for the Camp Bird people, but,
for sundry reasons, one of which was the political un-
rest, it was dropped. A new company, financed by a
prominent South African operator, Hans Sauer, was
formed to take options on various properties at
Pachuca and in Oaxaca, but nothing important has re-
sulted as yet. As soon as the country is quieted, I
expect to see a notable stimulus to British participa-
tion in Mexican mining, but quiet is a word that ill
consorts with Mexican affairs at the present time. The
trend of quotations is shown herewith :
Dec. 1, 1912. Dec. 1, 1913.
Alaska Treadwell ; 8% 8
El Oro 17s. 14s.
Esperanaza 2% 1
Mexico Mines „ 714 5
Camp Bird \ 23s. 14V2s.
Santa Gertrudis 1^ %
Oroville Dredging 5S. ll%s.
Tomboy 1% 1%
Granville 14%s. 10s.
Casey Cobalt 2% 2%
Cobalt Townsite 3% 214
Several Cobalt issues have been prominent in the
share-market, notably the Cobalt Townsite, Casey
Cobalt, Cobalt Lake, and City of Cobalt. The last men-
tioned is a wild project. The first two are controlled
by Rose & Van Cutsem, London brokers of good repute.
Their mining operations in the new year are to be
guided, I hear, by DArcy Weatherbe. When the
Townsite was taken over, it was thought at Cobalt that
British speculators had been 'handed a lemon,' but
events have proved quite otherwise, the exploratory
work carried out by the manager, A. C. Bailey, having
been highly successful. While these calcite stringers,
full of native silver, are not well adapted to joint-
stock operations, it must be confessed that the public,
so far, has not done badly out of Cobalt ; but the danger
of fallacious expectation is ever present in the case of
deposits of such a character. Incidentally, it may be
noted that the Associated Gold Mines of Western Aus-
tralia has an option on the Keeley mine, in South Lor-
rain, and this option is likely to be exercised, the
exploratory work conducted under the direction of J.
Mackintosh Bell having been remarkably successful.
More recently the same Company has taken an option
on the North Thompson property, at Porcupine. This
adjoins the Hollinger and the Crown Porcupine. The
Hollinger itself had had a small hold on British in-
terest, which has been rewarded, but participation in
the development of Porcupine has been scant, owing to
untoward happenings three years ago. However, sev-
eral English companies have scouts in Northern On-
tario, and the Kirkland Lake developments are likely
to stimulate organized prospecting in the Canadian
Northwest.
Australasia. — This part of the world has been promi-
nent on the Stock Exchange by reason of the activity
in Broken Hill shares. The great Barrier district in
New South Wales, famous for its silver, is now one of
the leading sources of zinc and lead supplies. Flota-
tion processes of concentration have enabled ores for-
merly regarded as inextricably refractory to be sep-
arated into their constituent metallic sulphides in the
form of various marketable concentrates. During the
past year a selective method of flotation has further
facilitated profitable treatment. Meanwhile, the big
orebodies give signs of continuity. The parent mine,
the Broken Hill Proprietary, has an ore reserve still
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
25
over 2,000,000 tons, besides about 1,000,000 tons of zinc
tailing yet to be treated. An issue of 240,000 shares at
£2 each was made by this Company early in the year
for the establishment of an iron and steel industry,
based on immense deposits of ore at Iron Knob, on
Spencer's Gulf. The Zinc Corporation, in addition to
its large milling plant, operated on accumulations of
tailing, acquired the South Blocks mine in 1910, and
MINING CLAIMS AT BROKEN HILL.
has opened up on the 8th level ore 50 to 80 ft. wide
of normal contents, namely, 14% lead, 10% zinc, and
2*4 oz. silver per ton. A new lode, west of the main
Broken Hill lode, has been developed on five levels;
it represents a mineralized zone of great importance,
for it may prove a new asset to several other mines,
namely, the South, the Block 10, and the Proprietary.
This west lode is characterized by an excess of zinc,
which can now be extracted profitably. In the South
mine this lode has been tested by drilling, which has
proved 31 ft. of ore assaying 16% lead, 10% zinc, and
4 oz. silver; and it has been traced from the 825-ft.
level to the 1070, enlarging at the lower horizon. Both
the North and South companies are prospering, and
have increased their dividends. In October the main
lode in the North mine was cut on the 1400-ft. level,
exposing 112 ft. of ore averaging 171/;% iead, 15%
zinc, and 10 oz. silver. This is an improvement in
grade, and augurs well for the future. In the British
and Block 10 mines also there have been disclosures
of fresh ore of a promising character in the western
ground. The Sulphide Corporation, owning the old
Central, has struck the western lode at 1300 feet.
West Australian mines are less prominent, owing
to the decline of the big producers at Kalgoorlie. But
it must be admitted that they are dying hard, and are
being managed with a care unknown in the bonanza
days. The Golden Horse-Shoe, Ivanhoe, Great Boulder,
Lake View & Star, and Kalgurli are still very much
'on the map,' and in the outside districts the Sons of
Gwalia and Great Fingall evince signs of vitality. The
discovery of a rich but erratic orebody in the Vic-
torious mine at Ora Banda created some excitement for
holders of shares in the controlling company, the As-
sociated Northern Blocks, and the beginning of mill-
ing operations in the Bullfinch Proprietary, the sole
survivor of a wicked boom, has been another cheerful
incident.
Among other noteworthy incidents in other parts of
the island continent I may mention the passing of con-
trol in the famous Mt. Morgan from the estates of the
Hall brothers to W. K. D'Arcy and the firm of Lionel
Robinson, Clark & Co. A block of 350,000 shares was
involved in this transaction, which is the first step to
a complete re-organization, under the resident man-
agement of Benjamin Magnus, who succeeds G. A.
Richard, so long associated with the success of the
mine, which is now an important producer of copper,
as well as gold. In Queensland also are the Mount
Elliott, Great Fitzroy, and Hampden Cloncurry — all
copper mines. The former is now deeper than the rich
orebody to which it owed a brief prominence, the sec-
ond is still struggling with the application of flotation
to a low-grade complex ore, while the third has suf-
fered from labor troubles and a fire. Another copper
mine, the Mount Oxide, has been registered as an
English company and is likely to do some good, having
rich orebodies and an energetic management. The
London control, however, is market-wise and not one
to inspire public confidence.
The leading quotations reflect the local situation :
Dec. 1,1912. Dec. 1,1913.
Broken Hill Proprietary 45s.
Broken Hill South . .
Broken Hill North . .
Zinc Corporation
Golden Horse-Shoe . .
Ivanhoe
Great Boulder
Bullfinch Proprietary
Sons of Gwalia
Great Fingall
Waihi
Great Cobar
Mount Elliott
Mount Morgan
Hampden Cloncurry .
8%
7%
18s.
2%
3%
13s.
9s.
1%
8s.
1%
4%
7%
3%
2%
•Capital increased from £200,000 to £000,000 during
34s.
7%
*2%
i7y2s.
2%
2%
14s.
11%S.
17.
13s.
2%
17 "is.
4
3%
1%
the year.
Three promising mines have been shut down owing
to metallurgical difficulties, namely, the Gwalia Con-
solidated, Lancefield, and Yuanmi. The first of these
yielded gold to the value of £400.000 down to 100 ft.
in depth, when the ore became refractory, owing to
arsenic, with graphite. The orebody is said to be 3500
ft. long, and at 500 ft. (according to several bore-holes)
it assays 11 dwt. per ton for a width of 36 ft. The
Lancefield vein is higher grade, but not so wide.
Arsenic and more graphite are here the trouble. At
the Yuanmi antimony is the obstacle. These three
properties offer a big chance to metallurgical inge-
nuity.
The worst episode of the year in Australian mining
has been the debacle of the Great Cobar. The £5 shares
once quoted at £12 (making the valuation £2,238,504)
are now at 18 shillings, and they are not worth that.
It is an old story. The purchase price of the mine was
much too high, the promotion loot was too big, the
working capital was entirely inadequate. Seven years
of toil and trouble, varied by one dividend that ought
26
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
not to have been paid, have now ended in a recognition
of some of the facts, with a debenture debt of £725,000,
and a mine that looks feeble on the bottom levels. A
fine property has been irretrievably despoiled. The
Waihi, which furnished the sensation of 1911, shows no
real signs of recovery. Labor troubles have hindered
deeper exploration, which so far has yielded no results
of importance, only assays that have caused the quota-
tion to rise to an unwarrantable extent.
Russia. — Anglo-American enterprise continues to be
both prominent and successful in Siberia, notably in
copper mining. The Kyshtim, with which Leslie Urqu-
hart, H. C. Hoover, and A. C. Beatty are prominently
identified, has developed into a big property. R. Gil-
man Brown is the consulting engineer. According to
his latest report, the total reserves in October amounted
to 2,054,000 tons of assured ore and 397,000 tons of
probable extensions. The average copper content of
the ore being smelted, at the rate of 600 tons per month,
is 3%. The output for 1914 is estimated at from 9000
to 10,000 tons of blister copper. Drilling has been a
prime factor in discovering and exploring the various
orebodies, of which there are four groups, constituting
as many mines. The smelting plant includes the most
up-to-date equipment, including an electrolytic refinery.
The Hoover-Beatty interest in Atbasar has passed to
the Spassky, which is administered by Ehrlich & Co.,
and includes a French interest headed by E. Carnot
and F. Robellaz. E. T. McCarthy is the consulting en-
gineer. The mine has just been deepened to 630 ft.,
where a cross-cut has penetrated the lode, exposing
ore averaging 12% copper. The main orebody of the
mine is 250 ft. long and 30 ft. wide, while the smaller
orebody is 30 ft. wide for a length ranging from 80
to 120 ft. The average output runs 20% copper, chiefly
in bornite, but the second-class ore, averaging 8%, is
being accumulated, pending the completion of the con-
centrating plant. Dividends of 35% have been paid
on a capital of £595,330, increased by the absorption
of the Atbasar to £950,000. The production of copper
is from 400 to 450 tons per month. So far 21,000 tons
has been produced. At the Atbasar the previous ex-
ploration by boring is being fully verified by sys-
tematic development. The ore is a sandstone impreg-
nated with bornite, yielding an ore averaging 8% in
copper. The workings are shallow — only down to 250
ft. — owing to the fact that the deposit conforms with
the dip of the strata. The erection of a smelting and
concentrating plant is under way; when completed, a
production of 500 tons of copper per month is antici-
pated. The resident manager is H. C. Bayldon, who is
said to be doing excellent work.
Another promising enterprise is the Tanalyk, which,
in 1912, acquired the property of a Russian company
operating in the southern Urals. The control is nearly
identical with that of the Kyshtim. A debenture issue
of £200,000 was made recently for the purpose of com-
pleting the equipment, capable of treating 220 tons of
ore per day and producing 1500 tons of copper per
annum. As yet this is only a large and promising pros-
pect. The chief mine of the group is the Mambet, only
165 ft. deep, exposing a lode 10 ft. wide, assaying 2 to
3% copper, with 8 dwt. gold, and 10 oz. silver per ton.
The first unit of the smelter to be ready in London.
The Sissert, which is also in the Ural mountains, was
placed on our market in 1912, and since then has been
quietly developed by means of bore-holes and mine
workings, while increasing its production of copper to
about 100 tons per month. Dividends of 10% are being
paid on the capital issued, namely, £600,000.
The gold mines are not doing so well. The rich
alluvial ground of the Lena Goldfields is being ex-
hausted, although the returns do not show it. During
the past season 820,189 cu. yd. of gravel was washed
for a yield of £1,424,468, or an average of about 8 dwt.
gold per yard; in 1910 the yield was £1,551,849 from
748,896 yd., or an average of 10 dwt. per yard. The
cost is 25s. or about 6 dwt. per yard. The Company
bought £82,880 worth of gold from its employees.
Owing to Russian control of the management, the
English shareholders get scanty technical information.
The Consolidated Gold Fields, once the principal share-
holder, sold out most of its holding long ago at about
£4. The shares are now at £2. An effort to introduce
American technical methods failed. A recent inspec-
tion by C. W. Purington may presage sundry technical
improvements. Meanwhile the surrounding region has
been investigated by several American and British
engineers, with a view to new enterprises, but the re-
moteness of this Bodaibo district is a severe handicap.
According to late advices, a railway is to be built down
the Lena valley from Irkutsk.
The Orsk Goldfields is not doing any good. In 1912
the gold extracted was worth £36,662, as against an
operating cost of £10,509, but the administration, roy-
alty, maintenance in winter, and London expenses re-
duced the illusive profit of £26,154 to a loss of £3144.
In the same way the Troitzk had an operating profit of
$7800, but a real loss of £600. These theatrical state-
ments of profit are ridiculous. The plain fact is that
both mines are being worked at a loss. No new gold-
mining enterprises in Russia have come into promi-
nence during 1913, but a great deal of scouting has
been done by a number of engineers experienced in
Russian conditions, and I anticipate that some of this
search will result in new business.
Dec. 1, 1912. Dec. 1, 1913.
Lena Goldfields 3% 2
Orsk Priority 1 %
Kyshtim 3% 3
Atbasar 1% *
Spassky U% V%
Tanalyk • 3 2%
Sissert 1% 1%
♦Absorbed by Spassky.
tOld capital, £595,330.
JNew share capital, £950,000.
The Indian gold mines, on the whole, have given
satisfactory results, and the output has been main-
tained. The Mysore continues its run of uninter-
rupted prosperity, which began in 1888, and the work-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
27
ings at 3500 ft. vertical show no signs of exhaustion.
The yearly output is maintained at about $4,500,000,
and the total since the commencement has been about
$75,000,000, of which nearly one-half has been dis-
tributed in dividends. The mine has four years re-
serves in hand. The Champion Reef is not the mine it
used to be, for the grade fell away five years ago. At
various points rich ore is still found in the deepest
levels, and the average has slightly increased during
the last year or two. The Ooregum is in a more satis-
factory condition than a year ago. Early in 1913 the
developments at the Nundydroog were so discouraging
that the output was reduced, but toward the end of the
year an improvement took place, and the old rate of
output was restored. At the Balaghat search is still
being made for another shoot of ore, but without suc-
cess so far. Exploration of the southern continuation
of the lode outside the Mysore company's ground is
being undertaken from the 2385-ft. level of the Mysore.
The exploitatipn of this ground from the surface many
years ago gave indifferent results. During the year
several cyanide and slime plants have been erected in
the Kolar goldfield, but as the proportion of gold not
caught by amalgamation is small, the new plants will
not increase the output to any important extent. It is
worthy of record that the cost of mining has been
greatly reduced of late years, chiefly by the introduc-
tion of electric power instead of wood-fuel.
As regards other Indian goldfields, the Anantapur in
Madras has arrived at the profitable stage, for a small
dividend has been paid by the North Anantapur com-
pany. The developments of the adjoining Jibutil prop-
erty are sufficiently encouraging to warrant the pro-
vision of additional capital to provide a treatment
plant and to continue developments on a large scale.
The mill commenced work in November. On the Rama-
giri block, in the same district, a promising ore-shoot
has been disclosed, and probably a company will be
formed to develop it. The Hutti mine in Hyderabad is
making a good showing in depth after passing through
a disappointing period. Here the 2140-ft. level con-
tains a rich orebody. The Mangalore mine in the
Raichor district of Hyderabad has proved a failure, and
is closed. In the Shimoga district of Madras, addi-
tional capital has been subscribed for developing the
two mines, which are to be worked conjointly.
In Cornwall the position of affairs in connection with
lode-mining is far from encouraging. At Dolcoath the
deep levels tapped by the vertical shaft are in ore of
less than the average grade of the last few years, and
the yield of black tin is less than it was a year ago.
The seriousness of the outlook is recognized by the
management, as is evinced by the fact that parallel
lodes are now being explored. The difficulty of main-
taining an output of profitable ore has once more been
experienced at Cam Brea & Tincroft, and it has been
necessary to close the Cam Brea section and devote
sole attention to North Tincroft as the most hopeful
ground for the discovery of future sources of supply.
The grade of the ore at South Crofty is giving anxiety
to the shareholders. At East Pool additional capital
has been provided by Bewick, Moreing & Co. for the
purpose of pushing development work. This firm has
also taken in hand the Phoenix mines in East Corn-
wall. At the Levant there is some doubt whether the
present Company will renew the lease, for the land-
lords are asking onerous terms and say they have re-
ceived more favorable offers from another party. The
Botallack, which was re-opened six years ago, has
proved a. dire failure in spite of repeated supplies of
working capital. "We may hear of its suspension at
any moment. The Wheal Jane, near Truro, owned
by the Falmouth Consolidated company, has just been
closed; three years ago the chairman grandiloquently
asserted that there was sufficient ore to keep 1000
stamps going. The only lode mine that can be said
to be doing well and to have encouraging prospects is
the Grenville, though mention should not be omitted
of the improved outlook at Wheal Kitty. If this article
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IN CORNWALL.
had been written several months earlier it would have
been possible to refer to the Geevor as a bright spot,
for ample ore reserves had been developed and a mod-
ern dressing-plant erected involving the use of many
new machines invented in America. But as the board
has made a clearance of this plant for reasons that arc
no reasons at all, it is necessary to moderate our en-
thusiasm.
The most prosperous company at present is the Corn-
wall Tailings, which is making a handsome profit out
of the old dumps at Cam Brea & Tincroft. Owing to
the success of these operations, many promoters have
sought similar properties. The sand on Gwithian beach
at the mouth of the Red river, which has yielded a.
good profit on a small scale for many years, has been
purchased by London interests and is to be worked on
modern lines. Another similar tract on one of the
creeks feeding Falmouth harbor is also being attacked
on a large scale. A third is in the Helston district. In
all these cases the material has to be pumped to re-
grinding and concentration plant, and they are not
in the nature of dredging projects, as might be sup-
posed.
Much has been heard of the exploitation of radium
ores in Cornwall during the year, and the Trenwith,
near St. Ives, and the South Terras, at Grampound
28
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
Road, have both been in the limelight. The published
statements show that radium bromide from the pitch-
blende at Trenwith is finding a market, and the recent
great expansion of the use of radium in surgery has
brought many inquiries and orders.
Various. — One of the most important features of
1913 has been the growth of interest in tin mining in
the Malay States. The excellent results obtained by
the Tronoh, Gopeng, Latah, Tekka, Kinta, Pengkalen,
formed in 1911, started its first dredge in January last,
and has been recovering 1 lb. of concentrate or 'black
tin' (72% metal) per cubic yard. This preliminary
work has justified the building of two more dredges,
which will shortly be at work. F. W. Payne is the con-
sulting engineer. The Siamese Tin Syndicate was
formed in 1906 to exploit an alluvial area in the Renong
district of Western Siam. A net profit of £40,822 was
earned during the past fiscal year from a gross profit
MINES OF THE MALAYAN TIN DREDGING, LTD.; photographs by F. Danvebs Powers.
CHINESE BAISING WATER AND 'WASH.' CHINESE TRIBUTE WORKINGS.
BUCKET DREDGE AT TAMBREEN. PUMP DREDGE, SHOWING UNEVEN BOTTOM.
Situpeh, and other alluvial mines in the Kinta district,
in the state of Perak, have stimulated interest in that
region. Across the border, in Siam, the Tongkah Har-
bour, Renong, Malayan, and Siamese companies are
dredging, in contrast to the sluice and elevator practice
in Kinta. The Tronoh is the premier mine, but it has
passed its zenith. Last year 496,495 cu. yd. was washed
with a yield of 12% lb. black tin per cubic yard. The
alluvial practice common to the Kinta district is to be
supplemented at Tronoh by the introduction of bucket-
dredging, on the suggestion of II. D. Griffiths, who has
recently resigned as general manager. At the Trekka
the ground is hydraulicked, while at the Taiping, also
belonging to the Tekka company, a suction-pump
dredge is used. The Malayan Tin Dredging Co.,
of £58,395. This was done with one dredge. Two more
have been ordered. II. G. Scott is the manager. The
Renong Dredging Co. has made a great success with
the dredge erected in 1910. Two more dredges are
about to start, and aditional ground has been acquired.
To do this the Company has been reconstructed, and
£28,000 more capital obtained. It is estimated that a
profit of £50,000 per annum can be earned when the
three dredges are at work. Last year 682,986 cu. yd.
was dredged with an average yield of 14 oz. black tin
per yard, at a cost of 4.41d. per yard, but the total
cost (including an export duty of 1.7d. per yard) was
6.07d. E. T. McCarthy and P. W. Payne are the ad-
visory engineers. Recently a number of new dredging
companies have appeared, such as the Ipoh and Kamun-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
29
ting, both under good auspices. On the whole, this
growth of the tin-dredging industry in the Malay
peninsula is likely to prove a highly successful phase
of Far Eastern development.
Lode mining as yet is represented only by the Pa-
hang, on the east side of the Malay peninsula, an old
enterprise with a chequered career, brightening of late.
In the year ended July 31, 1913, the output was 1125
tons of black tin from 102,797 tons of ore, treated in a
50-stamp mill. In addition, 115 tons of alluvial tin was
THE NORTHERN PORTION OF SOUTH AMERICA. HIIOWINO PATO AND AROA
recovered. The maximum depth of the working is 800
ft. Far north in the Shan States, of Burma, the
Mawchi company is about to start its new mill, having
a capacity of 100 tons per day on a reserve of 107,000
tons of ore, valuable for its tin and wolfram contents.
The mine is young, and full of promise. Farther to-
ward the Chinese border is the property of the Burma
Mines, a company organized in 1906 to beneficiate the
old slag-dumps found in the jungle, and supposed to
have been made in the extraction of silver from a lead-
carbonate ore. While the slag was being extracted and
smelted (first at Mandalay and then at the mine) the
ancient workings in the vicinity were investigated and
explored. Recent development, by adits, has proved
the existence of an enormous orebody, containing 23%
lead, 26% zinc, and 25 oz. silver per ton. with traces of
copper. Old workings indicate that this orebody is
2500 ft. long; it has been proved underground for 750
ft., and averages 50 ft. wide. Another lode containing
8 to 10% copper, 10% lead, 10% zinc, and 10 oz. silver,
from 7 to 8 ft. wide, has been discovered. According
to late advices, it is as much as 35 ft. wide, assaying
14% copper. Here we have two of the finest orebodies
uncovered during the last decade. The copper ore is
docile, while the other is intensely refractory; hence
the exploitation of the first will furnish funds while
experiments are made with a view to treating the sec-
ond. The largest shareholder is R. Tilden Smith, and
the managing director is H. C. Hoover. Recently C. H.
Macnutt was appointed resident manager.
In South America the resuscitation of the old Que-
brada copper mine, near Aroa, in Venezuela, is inter-
esting. The first Company went into liquidation in
1895. "W. A. Heywood, at one time of the staff of the
old Company and known for his work at the Tennessee
Copper, is the metallurgical advisor. A new smelter is
being erected. The new Com-
pany, the South American Cop-
per Syndicate, has already paid
handsome dividends on a re-
duced capital by making ship-
ments of rich ore. The St. John
del Rey in Brazil continues its
honorable career, producing
nearly £400,000 worth of gold
from 165,000 long tons and pay-
ing about £70,000 in dividends
yearly. The workings are 5200
ft. vertical and 7300 ft. deep on
the dip of the lode. Besides
the Pato dredging affair, I
may mention the Anglo-Colom-
bian Development Co., organ-
ized by the Consolidated Gold
Fields to exploit platinum de-
posits of alluvial character in
Colombia. This is said to
promise well. On the whole,
the amount of British capital
now embarked in South Ameri-
can mining is quite out of proportion to the interest
once taken in that sub-continent. The following quo-
tations require no further comment :
Dolcoath
Cornwall Tailings
Gopeng
Tekka
Tronoh
Malayan Tin
Siamese Tin
Mysore
Nundydroog
Ooregum
Champion Reef
South American Copper Syndicate...
Apart from changes in the mines themselves, the
year has been marked by general unrest in the ranks
of labor, accompanied by scarcity in the supply of that
prime instrument of exploitation. The growth of
world-wide industry is making ever increasing de-
mands for labor and the spread of what is called civil-
ization tends to teach the subject races to ask for
higher wages. Meanwhile, white labor becomes in-
creasingly exacting. Hence trouble. To overcome this
obstacle, the inventive genius of man must be supple-
mented by a humane effort to alleviate the drudgery
of toil.
1,1912.
Dec. 1, 1913.
25s.
ITU-s.
1%
7s
1 1 ■'.
1%
3 V,
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
3%
3%
5'4
4%
33s.
2Gi4s.
18s.
22s
12s.
10'{.s.
3 4 1/0 s.
32s.
30
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
Review of the New York Share Market
By C. S. Burton
Any review of the markets for the year 1913 must
differ in no small degree from any similar resume of
market factors in years gone by. If one were sufficiently
venturesome at this time to name the element which
has dominated, it is doubtful if any one else could be
found who would agree with the conclusion. There are
now so many cross currents, so many apparently
contradictory phases in the situation, that there are
almost as many minds as men, the reason for such
diversity lying in the attempt to give specific explana-
tion for general phenomena.
To take up first the features which appear to bear
most directly and conclusively upon market action is
to take a plunge into a wide field of economics. There
is now a vast movement of readjustment making itself
felt throughout the civilized world, and many of the
phases about which much discussion is heard and which
are spoken of as fundamental factors, appear, on deeper
study, to be but parts of a vaster upheaval the end of
which cannot as yet be comprehended. Everywhere
there is increased governmental activity, which, re-
gardless of opinion as to whether it is to be considered
pernicious or not, is but an attempt upon the part of
the masses to secure control of those functions of
present day commercial civilization that reach the life
of every individual.
Workmen's compensation acts, old age pensions, in-
surance for servants, public ownership of telegraph and
telephone lines, and many other measures, including the
projects for breaking up and redistributing land hold-
ings, have kept Great Britain in a turmoil and have
made great inroads upon her hitherto adamant ad-
herence to the ways of her forebears. In Germany,
along with her industrial awakening, there has come a
movement toward so-called radicalism, that is expected
to make itself felt unmistakably when the present
Kaiser's sceptre shall pass to his successor. In the
countries bordering upon the Mediterranean the strife
has threatened to involve all of Europe, and the market
places have shown by their stagnation, the result of
extraordinary calls for the unproductive use of capital
in war. Our own conditions prove that it is not to the
turmoil of war alone that the imperative demands for
capital are due. American enterprises, private, pub-
lic, and quasi-public, have alike had to face bewilder-
ingly increased costs. Cost of labor and cost of mater-
ial have caused gross outlays to increase in greater
ratio than the expansion of business, even though the
latter has been making record figures in many cases.
With an increase in gross and a decrease in net on a
record volume of business, it is not to be wondered at
that investment values have been far out of line,
measured by any previously known standard.
It is not the province of a review of the markets of
the year to minutely describe conditions already well
known and over much discussed, but some small
analysis may be attempted and perhaps be considered
not out of place. It sometimes happens that we can-
not see the forest for the trees and in endeavoring to
arrive at some conclusion concerning the problems now
4v/*:
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
94
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92
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129
118
127
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PRICE OF COPPCB /HC£NrS P£K POUHD
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January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
31
confronting us it may be that this is our trouble. We
hear and read much of the land of opportunity in which
we live, we who are fortunate enough to have been born
in the United States, but at the same time, we may not
realize, or perhaps it is better to say that contemporane-
ous history does not give full weight to the revolution
which the development of our country has meant to
the whole world. We have seen wave after wave of
immigration borne to our shores, from Ireland, from
Germany, from Sweden and Norway, today from the
south of Europe, and from Russia; and we have
assimilated, with some thought perhaps as to the effect
upon ourselves, but without much thought to the easing
of the pressure in the congested countries from whence
the wave was started. Ours was a land, the like of
which no present civilization has ever known. The
pioneer following the setting sun walked from day to
day through a country where axe and rine were all
sufficient. Nature had been prodigal and that the first
comer should be careless of the future, was inevitable.
There was no need to be thrifty, he could waste with
more than abundance remaining.
Are we not now beginning to feel the part deple-
tion of our principal? Our great West is not as it
was, a vast empire where there was always room for
the man who would try. We can no longer relieve our
own congested centres of population by the mere slogan
that there is a quarter section of land to be had for the
asking. We are beginning to feel a little pressure here
and there, and not having been used to it. there is
the spendthrift's unwillingness to unpleasant facts.
With all our riches, there has come a capacity
to enjoy and a forgetfulness of the necessity for self
denial, and an extravagance that manifests itself in
ways that are a little disquieting. Automobiles and
moving picture shows, scarcity of farm labor, the
passage of farm work from the hands of owners to
tenants, are alike the natural consequences of our
national disposition to plunge into our resources
without stint or thought of tomorrow. We are be-
ginning to come to the end of our days of pioneering
and in the course of readjustment we suffer some
pangs. Our own legislative program, which need
not be treated here in detail, must be considered as
only a phase of a widespread general condition.
To sum up, which is a task that must be left in great
part for the future when perspective shall have be-
come fixed, we are beginning to realize that life has
become infinitely more complicated and mankind as a
whole is getting away from primitive conditions,
farther away from the soil, which is our primary point
of production. Of the difficulties which we foresee and
which we discuss and attempt to treat specifically, of
our problems of peace, there are few that are not
based upon the unequal distribution of population, the
congestion in large centres, and the abandonment of
agriculture. There is an effort to coax the tiller back
to the soil, but the movement can hardly be said as yet
to have made itself felt.
It is to such fundamental conditions as are here
nieanMo be roughly outlined, that present day market
conditions are due. The huge demands for capital
represent increased needs due to the complication of
urban existence. The difficulty in meeting such de-
mands is due at least in no small degree to the fact that
our percentage of actual producers has relatively de-
creased and that a correspondingly larger proportion
of both labor and capital are engaged in an endeavor
to supply the needs of communities, rather than in the
work of the actual production of wealth. Huge sums
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
PRICE
cor»*A
'Z.
ITOIO
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97
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32
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
are demanded for city needs; water works, electric
light and power plants, urban and interurban trans-
portation, for railway terminals. As a nation, we have
been indulging in an era of extravagance ; we have
been vastly increasing, multiplying our overhead ex-
pense; and this probably has little more justification
than the similar tendencies of the individual, who has
wondered why he finds himself unable to maintain an
automobile or two and increase his savings bank
balance at the same time.
To treat of the market itself, it almost suffices to say
that stagnation has ruled. The happenings of the year
were not at any time such as to induce any large public
participation. The death of J. P. Morgan in February
left the New York money centre without the leader to
whom it had looked for many years, and the opening
of the new year has not as yet revealed his successor.
In May the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co. was
placed in the hands of the courts and the revealments
of its inside operations have not so far been of a nature
we— i^w
ALASKA PERSEVERANCE MINE, THE NUCLEUS OF THE ALASKA GOLD
MINES PROPERTIES.
to reassure security holders. Later, the New Haven
debacle furnished much argument and justification for
those who have criticised so-called 'high finance,' and
it left New England dazed and indignant. All through
the year the troubles of Mexico have threatened to in-
volve the United States and whether or not of real
effect upon stock market movements, they have served
continually as excuse for, or cause of, this or that pre-
vailing market attitude.
In the world of mines and mining, conditions have
been peculiar. Following the era of undue and un-
warranted speculation of some years ago, mining share
markets throughout the East have fallen into a rut
from which it seems almost impossible to dislodge them.
The results achieved by the porphyry coppers, for which
the public has shown marked favor, form an ex-
ception ; as does also the latest example of the public
preference for large enterprises, the successful launch-
ing of the Alaska Gold Mining Company.
A very peculiar situation as to mining properties
exists now in New York. There is an insistent demand
for anything that is close to the point of production,
but it is next to impossible to interest the same people
or the public in anything that has to be classed as a
prospect. In a way this attitude is faulty as it over-
looks the necessity for primary development, which
requires some capital which, while it, in the majority
of cases will probably be spent without return, need
not be relatively large. It seems to be temporarily
forgotten that there is always the possibility of the
development of ground that will pay many times for
all the previous fruitless efforts and expenditures.
In copper, the trend except toward the close of the
year has been to give" to the producer more and more
the control of the metal market. The ravenous appetite
of the commercial world for copper metal resulted in
the reduction of the world's visible supply to a negligi-
ble quantity. However, the strength of the statistical
position became apparent only at that juncture in
October, when the business attitude was overwhelm-
ingly and generally one of hesitation. There was a
marked reduction from about 17c. per pound to 14%c.
per pound notwithstanding the fact that supplies were
smaller than at any time since the Producers' Associa-
tion began to collect and publish figures covering pro-
duction and consumption. A sharp reaction and higher
prices may be anticipated if the turn of the year
brings with it any resumption of normal activity. The
year just closed saw a further growth of the Guggen-
heim organization in the field of copper production. The
recent development of the Chile Copper Co. marks its
deposit as possibly the largest copper deposit in the
world now being mined. Unofficial estimates mention
between 200,000,000 and 300,000,000 tons of ore of more
than 2.5% copper content. This new development of
the Braden coupled with the possibilities of this
Chuquicamata deposit of the Chile Copper Co. promise
the Guggenheim group a commanding place in copper
output.
Eastern markets have shown a minimum of activity
in precious metal issues. What trading has been done
in Tonopah issues has been of a distinctly professional
character with almost no interest manifested by out-
siders. While Cobalt has surprised all those who have
followed the history of the district and noted that it
has maintained its production and marked another
record for bullion output, there has been but very slight
market interest in Cobalt shares. The Eastern markets
remain, so far as mining shares are concerned, in a
waiting attitude. Could there be opened a new precious
metal district of real merit, the call for funds would
be eagerly and generously answered. Until some such
fortuitous discovery can be heralded, it is safe to antici-
pate continued apathy, though at the same time the
market for partly developed properties was never bet-
ter, and mining activity, apart from the share markets,
never greater.
The details of the year's markets are perhaps suffi-
ciently well shown in the aecompaning charts. It will
be noted that prices of shares in railroads, industrials,
and mining companies have moved together and that
all suffered alike a sharp decline in June and a tempor-
ary recovery in September, and that prices in Decem-
ber were much lower than in Januarv.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
33
Business and Mining — A Retrospection
By F. Lynwood Garrison
At this season of the year when a business man is
disposed to review the past and take stock of achieve-
ment many pertinent thoughts arise in the mind re-
garding the future of the particular occupation by
which one's daily bread is earned. Indeed, this is the
paramount question as long as life lasts, hence any
facts regarding it which are more than commonplace,
are certain to be of interest.
We note among other things numerous communica-
tions in the technical press asking why mining is
languishing and whether prospecting has become a
lost art; moreover one's mail is often not a little
burdened with appeals for work from fellow engineers.
It is impossible not to be impressed by the evident
seriousness of this condition and it seems eminently
proper and timely for us now to seek some of the causes
that have led to it:
Capital on the Defensive
likely to be disputed, but they fail to carry us very far.
We know, or at any rate believe, something is now
wrong with the mining industry as far as we engineers
are concerned. What it is and what may be the out-
look for the ensuing year are matters which gravely
concern us at the present time.
The profession, in common with most of the other
engineering pursuits, is undoubtedly over-crowded.
The mining industry is not, and has not been, for the
pas ten years capable of absorbing the multitude of
graduates from our mining schools. It is a shame and
it is disgraceful to see fine well trained young men,
who have spent from four to six years at our colleges
eagerly offering themselves for $75 or $100 per mouth
and ready to go on such conditions to distant and un-
healthy countries. The man or corporation which ac-
cepts such terms cannot be blamed, for it is simply a
question of supply and demand : moreover, mining com-
panies as a rule consider the comfort and health of their
Statistics will probably show that on the whole min- staffs- especially when abroad.
ing is not decadent, quite the contrary in fact, for the
output is greater and profits probably not less than
last year. Conditions, however, are rapidly changing
all over the world. The exactions of labor are greater
and in this country at least, the insistence of the tax
collector is much more pronounced. Such factors bear
with increasing weight upon the operator, especially
the small one, and capital is put on the defensive, a
condition which inevitably results in combination. Once
upon a time the railroads squeezed the weak and gave
rebates to the strong. Now it is their turn to be pun-
ished, to the loss thousands of unfortunate stockholders
who may have put life savings into their capital stocks,
knowing that they are the arteries of trade and what
hurts the transportation companies, injures the whole
country; hence of all classes of investment, they should
be under normal and logical conditions, as safe and
sound as government securities.
Next to agriculture, mining is our second great basal
industry; modern civilization cannot exist for a moment
without it. With hydro-electric power we may mine
and smelt our metals; we can, at a pinch, do entirely
without fuel if we have hydro-electric power, but with-
out metals we cannot generate and transmit this form
of energy. In brief, we are a metal-using people and
will revert to savagery without it. We must mine to
get metal and mining will not cease as lour.' as there is
any metal to be got. This brings us to the question —
are our mineral deposits being exhausted? The plain
answer to the question is that they are. but also that the
resources are so enormous and with the probability of
much more being developed, we need have little anxiety
on this point.
These reflections are so self-eviflent they are not
Another factor which is serving to depress the mining
business is to be found in the political conditions now
affecting Mexico. This unfortunate country is pre-
eminently the most attractive in the world to mining
men. and deservedly so, by virtue of its matchless
climate, its resources, and its propinquity to the United
States. Hundreds of American engineers are now out
of employment by reason of these disturbances and
there appears to be little hope for better conditions
within the next year.
The enormous and astonishing development of the
oil districts in United States and Mexico cannot fail to
check the demand for coal, especially for maritime pur-
poses. Settlement of .Mexican difficulties and the rapid
development of South American fields will permit fuel
oil to be cheaply delivered on the Atlantic seaboard, and
our Eastern coal operators will be forced to meet this
formidable competition.
The Vanishing Frontier
With Alaska. Canada, the Central and South
American countries undeveloped, not to mention
Siberia, it seems unlikely any considerable slackening
of metal mining may be anticipated due to exhaustion
of resources. Moreover it must be evident to at least
a few thinking and well informed mining engineers
that some of our old districts in the United States are
far from being exhausted, and that they will readily re-
spond to the skill of the engineer and no longer remain
condemned as worked out by the fiat of the so-called
practical mining man. The danger of empiricism in
this as in most affairs of life, is that it is always specific ;
its value depends upon a particular condition or case.
it is not general. The practical man is often uneducated,
34
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
he knows, or can do, only a few things well, he neces-
sarily has the limitations of ignorance and narrow-
ness of an untrained mind. The value of education
has never been more evident than today and perhaps
never so inadequately rewarded, suffering by compari-
son in this respect with the artisan, who exacts more
pay for less good work than ever before. The question,
therefore, naturally arises — may we not be making
technical education too cheap? Whether we are or not,
it is certain we have spoiled many good farmers and
mechanics in the making of supernumerary and indif-
ferent engineers.
Lessons from Germany
Americans have been accused, and to some extent
justly, of being unphilosophical and unduly practical.
The most philosophical people in the world are probably
the Germans, yet no nation in modern history can show
such matchless practical achievement as has Germany
within the past 25 years. If we permit prejudice, of
which we have much, to have place in or replace our
philosophy, we are absolutely certain to find our-
selves at a great disadvantage in competition with the
Germans, for we will thus discount at every turn the
splendid technical training our educational institu-
tions have afforded. It is to be feared we are, as a
people, too conservative, even hide-bound and often
niggerdly and slow in keeping abreast with modern
progress.
In our wild scramble for wealth we are sometimes
so illogical as to defeat our own ends and even of
occasion, have been known to deviate from a course of
business honesty and rectitude, which sooner or later
brings a just and merited retribution. ■ Dishonest re-
ports and lying prospectuses were never more easily
discredited than at present and he who uses them does
so at his peril.
If existing financial and business conditions have
made legitimate mining somewhat sluggish, it has also
put a most wholesome check upon wild-cat promotion
and charlatanism. Sound ethics and personal character
are as important to success as they ever were in the
history of the world. Most of our mining periodicals
and professional organizations today respond vigor-
ously to these sentiments. I doubt if any satisfactory
code of ethics can ever be devised for engineers. The
younger men will be more influenced by what their
elders do, than by any decalogue of don'ts. Man is a
social animal, social ostracism punishes more effect-
ual^ and keenly than the jail. If our professional
organizations of all kinds rigorously purge their
membership of men known to be disreputable or even
open to that suspicion, it will be better for the country
and for the profession.
Moralizing is tiresome even if needed ; we may take
satisfaction, however, in the obvious fact that the
country is as sound, healthy, and moral as it ever was,
even if some of our newspapers are reptilian and
many of our so-called statesmen but ignorant boors.
We cannot have self government and perfection, or
even economy, for it is ever costly in money and some-
times in self-respect. We elect our rulers from the
most plausible talkers ; indeed plausibility is their
greatest asset and often the only gift some of our
politicians possess. At present we are perhaps, as a
nation, disordered but not diseased ; we have been
getting a good many nostrums for imaginary ills. Let
us not indulge in a foolish clamor against corpora-
tions, for combination of capital will go where the
individual fears to tread. All we ask is that both the
individual and corporation get a square deal and no
favors. But we can never hope to have it as long as we
are content to fill big places with small men. Ordinary
prudence forbids, the placing of untried and untrained
men in the management of a large mill or smelter.
Business and Government
The philosophy of government is not different from
that of organized business, and it is beginning to be-
come more and more evident that good business and
good government must go hand in hand. At present it
seems to me we are paying the penalty of indulgence
in fads, fancies, and untried theories. Political parties
are necessary to our form of government. The South-
ern states adhere tenaciously to one political party
because they must, for reasons which are no way politi-
cal, but unfortunately the best men of that section do
not as of old, become the leaders of this party. I dare
say the average American cares little which of the two
great political parties are in power, provided he gets
good government and his country is not made the
laughing stock of a critical world. We can stand high
tariff, low tariff, or no tariff at all, but we cannot
afford to make ourselves ridiculous. Mistakes of
policy or judgment do not shake confidence as does
folly, blatent and crass ignorance; this, at the bottom,
is what is the matter with mining and is troubling
the whole country. We are rapidly getting away from
the notion that business should be detached and apart
from government. Whether or not we are correct in
this assumption is beside the question, the fact remains
these two great functions of civilization are growing
more and more interdependent — what affects one will
react on the other. It therefore behooves us to place
our government in the hands of able and experienced
men. and not to assume that people unfitted for re-
sponsible positions in business can creditably discharge
equally important functions in the government service.
The Mexican Eagle Oil Co. reports that in the year
ended on June 30 last, over 200 vessels have taken oil
at Tuxpam. The facilities now permit the loading of a
10,000 ton ship in 24 hours. Leases have been acquired
on 50.000 acres of additional oil lands and 30.000 acres
have been bought. A new field was brought in with a
5000-bbl. well and development has been generally
satisfactory. The profit for the year was =P8. 166.514.
which, after allowance for depreciation and fields re-
demption, left 1*4,615,500 to be added to the existing
surplus of 1*631,805.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
35
Work of the State Geological Surveys
By Frank W. DeWolf
The public is appreciating more and more the funda-
mental value of scientific work by the various state
geological surveys. The growing need for accurate in-
ventories of natural resources has brought into promi-
•nence the fact that work on the subject has been going
on in a quiet way for a great many years. Intelligent
development and conservation must, of course, be based
on knowledge. While the function of the surveys is
chiefly to aid the development of state mineral re-
sources, and in some cases to investigate soils, forest,
and highway work, nevertheless a large annual contri-
bution is made to pure science itself.
There are 35 active state surveys, including the new
organization created during the year in Oregon. Sev-
eral of the surveys, however, are embarrassed from
time to time by" lack of appropriations. Thus the
Arkansas Survey was officially inactive during 1913.
Altogether, the surveys expended approximately $475,-
000 and received the benefit of $140,000 additional ex-
penditure by cooperating federal bureaus. Over 100
scientists gave full-time service for the states and about
50 others, besides topographers and soil experts, were
furnished by cooperating bureaus. Thus the surveys
have a large and cumulative influence throughout the
country for enlightenment and for scientific develop-
ment of natural resources. The Association of Ameri-
can State Geologists meets each year during the Christ-
mas holidays, and as a rule, in a spring conference at
Washington. Beginning with 1914. field conferences
of state geologists will probably be held, so that prob-
lems in common can be reviewed in the field, and co-
operation between neighboring states can be rendered
more efficient.
Organisation and Funds
State geological surveys and mining bureaus are
organized in one of three ways: (1) under state uni-
versity control, or with the survey director giving part
of his service to the state university; (2) under a
commission or board, without university connections;
(3) under a chief appointed by the governor, or other-
wise independent. Considering the active surveys, 16
belong to group 1 and have financial support averag-
ing $7500 per annum. Group 2 includes 15 surveys,
with annual appropriations averaging $22,300. Group
3 includes two surveys with average funds of $5600
per annum. Judging from the available funds, the
most successful and active surveys are under commis-
sions, and the directors or managers have no outside
demands on their time. Exceptions in this group in-
clude two such surveys with funds averaging only
$8500; exceptions to group 1 include three surveys
with annual funds of $15,000 each, and one which re-
ceives $27,500 per annum. Other factors affecting the
strength of state surveys include the extent and variety
of the mineral resources of the area to be studied, and
in part, the length of time during which the survey
has been in operation. Those states with abundant
mineral resources and important mineral industries
either have very active surveys at present, or have had
such service for many decades though the present
organization may be poorly supported. Information re-
garding the mineral resources of the various states can
be obtained without cost by addressing the officer in
charge, as shown by the following directory :
STATE GEOLOGISTS
Alabama — Geological Survey of Alabama; E. A. Smith, State
Geologist, University.
Arizona— Geological Survey of Arizona; Territorial Geologist,
Tucson.
Arkansas— Geological Survey of Arkansas; N. F. Drake, State
Geologist, Fayetteville.
California — California State Mining Bureau; F. McN. Hamil-
ton, State Mineralogist, San Francisco.
Colorado — Colorado State Geological Survey; R. D. George,
State Geologist, Boulder.
Connecticut — State Geological and Natural History Survey;
Wm. North Rice, Superintendent, Middletown.
Florida — Florida State Geological Survey; E. H. Sellards,
State Geologist, Tallahassee.
Georgia — Geological Survey of Georgia; S. W. McCallie, State
Geologist, Atlanta.
Illinois — State Geological Survey; F. W. DeWolf, Director,
Urbana.
Indiana — -Department of Geology and Natural Resources; Ed-
ward Barrett, State- Geologist, Indianapolis.
Iowa — Iowa Geological Survey; G. F. Kay, State Geologist,
Iowa City.
Kansas — State Geological Survey of Kansas; Erasmus
Haworth, State Geologist, Lawrence.
Kentucky — Kentucky Geological Survey; J. B. Hoeing, Di-
rector, Frankfort.
Maine — State Survey Commission; C. Vey Holman, State
Geologist, Bangor.
Maryland — State Geological and Economic Survey; William B.
Clark, State Geologist, Baltimore.
Michigan — Michigan Geological and Biological Survey; R. C.
Allen, State Geologist, Lansing.
Minnesota — W. H. Emmons, University of Minnesota, Min-
neapolis.
Mississippi — Geologic, Economic, and Topographic Survey of
Mississippi; E. N. Lowe, Director of the State Geological
Survey, Jackson.
Missouri — Bureau of Geology and Mines; H. A. Buehler, Di-
rector, Rolla, Missouri.
Nebraska— Nebraska Geological Survey; E. H, Barbour, State
Geologist, Lincoln.
New Jersey — Geological Survey of New Jersey; H. B. Kiimmel,
State Geologist, Trenton.
New York — Science Division (Geological Survey) of the Edu-
cational Department; John M. Clarke, State Geologist and
Paleontologist, State Museum, Albany.
North Carolina — North Carolina Geological and Economic Sur-
vey; Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist, Chapel Hill.
North Dakota— North Dakota Geological Survey; A. G.
Leonard, State Geologist, Grand Forks. Agricultural and
36
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
Economic Geological Survey of North Dakota; Herbert A.
Hard, Director, Fargo.
Ohio — Geological Survey of Ohio; John A. Bownocker, State
Geologist, Columbus.
Oregon — Oregon Bureau of Mines and Geology; W. A. Parks,
Director, Corvallis.
Oklahoma — Oklahoma Geological Survey; D. W. Ohern, Di-
rector, Norman.
Pennsylvania — Topographical and Geological Survey Commis-
sion; R. R. Hice, State Geologist, Beaver.
Rhode Island — Natural Resources Survey of Rhode Island;
Charles W. Brown, Superintendent, Providence.
South Dakota — Geological Survey of South Dakota; E. C. Per-
isho, State Geologist, Vermillion.
Tennessee — Tennessee State Geological Survey; A. H. Purdue,
State Geologist, Nashville.
Vermont — Geological Survey of Vermont; George H. Perkins,
State Geologist, Burlington.
Virginia — State Geological Survey of Virginia; Thomas L.
Watson, Director, Charlottesville.
Washington — State Geological Survey of the State of Wash-
ington; Henry Landes, State Geologist, Seattle.
West Virginia — West Virginia Geological and Economic Sur-
vey; I. C. White, State Geologist, Morgantown.
Wisconsin — Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey;
W. O. Hotchkiss, State Geologist, Madison.
Wyoming — Geological Survey of Wyoming; C. E. Jamison,
State Geologist, Cheyenne.
Topographic surveys were continued during 1913 in
14 states, under cooperative agreement with the U. S.
Geological Survey, which shares the expense. More
than 10.000 sq. mi. was mapped as a basis for geologi-
cal and engineering studies. A large share of attention,
and on an average of about one-third of the geologic
funds in the various states, are devoted to economic
and detailed areal surveys. Most reports issued describe
local mineral resources in such a way as to encourage
careful investment. Important deposits of stone and
minerals available for building, or for use in cement,
concrete, road-ballast, or in the arts, are found in many
states. Investigations were made and reports pub-
lished as follows : The marbles and crystalline rocks
of Alabama, and slates of western Pennsylvania were
investigated ; reports on building stones of the states
were in preparation in Minnesota, New York, and Ohio ;
a bulletin describing the cement materials of Washing-
ton was distributed early in the year ; a study of lime-
stone and marl for agricultural uses in southern Geor-
gia was in progress; materials available in Iowa for
road-building, and for concrete, were tested ; the lime-
stones of Michigan were also investigated.
Clay deposits of Colorado east of the mountains, and
elsewhere in the vicinity of large towns, were tested
and the results were published during the year. Clay
materials available at coal mines were examined in
Illinois. Practical tests of clays of Kansas were under
way, and a study of Minnesota brick and clay industries
was completed. Fireclays of Pennsylvania were the
object of special study in that state.
The importance of lignite in those western states
which have no adequate supply of high-grade coals, has
recently been brought to public attention. Investiga-
tions of the availability of lignite for gas-producer
practice, were continued in western North Dakota and
in South Dakota. A study of coal resources and min-
ing practices in Illinois was continued in cooperation
with the University and the U. S. Bureau of Mines, and
three reports were issued, including proximate analyses
of 350 mine samples. Several folios covering the coal
territory were issued in cooperation with the U. S. Geo-
logical Survey. In Iowa, a series of ultimate analyses of
coals was completed. Tennessee coals north and south
of the Tennessee Central Railroad were described, and
field work was finished for a report on coals of the
state. Surveys of the important coal fields of Wash-
ington were continued. Nine reports for counties in
the coal fields of West Virginia were either published
during the year, or prepared for publication.
The surveys made extensive examinations of de-
veloped or prospective oil and gas fields. In California
work was begun on a report for the entire state. In
Illinois, a report on the southeastern fields was pub-
lished, and three cooperative folios covering oil terri-
tory were in preparation. Michigan issued a bulletin
on oil and gas resources. In the Oklahoma field, four
parties were engaged in developed or prospective oil
and gas territory. The detailed mapping of the
Hominy quadrangle was completed in cooperation with
the United States. The report on the Vinita and
Nowata quadrangle, was sent to press. In Washing-
ton, investigations regarding oil and gas in the western
part of the state were in progress. Six county reports
published in West Virginia had special reference to
the structural relations of oil and gas. A conference
was called during the spring at Pittsburgh between
representatives of the various state surveys, of the U. S.
Bureau of Mines, and of operators in oil and coal fields,
for the purpose of considering the relation of gas ex-
ploitation to coal mine explosions. Many explosions
have been due to leakage of natural gas into mines. As
a result of the conference a model law providing for
state inspection of drilling operations through workable
coal beds, was recommended to the various legislatures.
Ore Deposits Examined
Surveys of the Platoro-Summitville gold district of
Colorado were made. This is the old Summitville dis-
trict which produced a considerable quantity of gold
twenty years or more ago. H. B. Patton of Golden is
directing the new work in the district. In Missouri,
experiments on the electric potential of minerals were
continued, and a study of the Aurora region was in
progress. Copper prospects in Pennsylvania were in-
vestigated. Eastern Tennessee red-iron ores were des-
cribed in a cooperative report. A bulletin on the geology
aud ore deposits of the Covada silver and gold districts
in Washington was issued. In Wisconsin, the orebodies
in the lead and zinc regions were mapped: and a
magnetic survey was begun to outline new iron deposits
and to classify the land of the northwestern part of the
state for taxing purposes. Detailed areal work, in-
cluding economic geology to some extent, continued in
most of the states.
Although stratigraphic and paleontological studies
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
37
do not, at first glance, appear to have great practical
importance, they nevertheless are necessary funda-
mental studies, and they have indirect economic value.
Perhaps the most significant move of the season was the
'Mississippian Conference' which was called in the
field in Missouri. Eight states sent delegates to the
meeting, and the U. S. Geological Survey was repre-
sented by David White, chief geologist. A committee
of the state representatives was appointed to direct
interstate work, so as to avoid conflict and unnecessary
duplication of formation names and of field work. An-
nual mineral statistics were prepared in nearly all of
the states. Bibliographies of great value to mining
men were issued in Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey, and in
Washington, and studies of road, soil, and other sub-
jects were made in many states.
Zinc Ores and Metallurgy in 1913
By R. G. Hall
The history of the zinc industry for 1913 is not pleas-
ant writing, and while the role of Cassandra has ever
been a thankless one, it does not need the prevision
of a Cassandra to predict a lean period for the ore
producer in 1914. The year 1912 closed with a falling
market, and a decreasing consumption. The elections
of 1912 foreshadowed a marked change in the tariff
conditions, especially as related to the steel business,
and from a high point of about 71/t-c. in October, spel-
ter had reached a figure of 7c. early in January. From
that point, as may be noted, the recession was gradual
until a price of $4.90 per 100 lb. was reached in June.
A recovery from this point was made to $5.60 per 100
lb. by September, only to be lost again on the passing
of the tariff bill, until December sees a price again
below $5. The cause of these fluctuations has not been
entirely the tariff on zinc and zinc ores, but rather the
general business conditions. It will be noted that at
one time the official St. Louis quotations on spelter
were practically the same as those of London, even at
a time when the duty was still l%c. per pound, and
even today the New York price is still below the im-
port basis, and with the spelter stocks now on hand
and yet accumulating, there is no prospect of an ad-
vance in the near future. The history of the iron and
steel business has always been and always will be the
best indication of the history of the zinc industry, and
the past three years have afforded excellent illustra-
tions of this characteristic.
Notwithstanding the much decreased prices, the pro-
duction from the Joplin district has been about equal
to that made in 1912. At this writing a total ship-
ment of 'jack' of 280,000 tons and of silicate of 22,000
tons is indicated, these about equaling the record year
of 1912, and a much larger stock of concentrate re-
mains in the bins than was there on January 1, 1913.
The most potent reason for this condition, of course,
is what one might call the inertia of mining. During
the period of high prices vigorous prospecting was
conducted, and many new mines were opened. These
properties, once opened, can hardly be closed without
great loss. A long-continued period of low prices such
as now prevailing will, of course, forbid the opening of
new properties, and matters will right themselves some
day. But — and here is the discouragement of the Jop-
lin producer — in the meantime the production of the
Western states, due chiefly to Butte, is increasing even
in spite of low prices, and the new tariff conditions
have made possible importations of cheaper ore so soon
as Mexico shall have settled to a point where mining
can be resumed.
Wisconsin also will show a production of close to
72,000 tons of concentrate and carbonate. Colorado
maintained its output close to the 1912 record, although
some decrease will be shown in Leadville carbonate,
as well as from smaller shippers in various parts of
the state. Montana production is of course very much
increased. At the first of 1913 the Butte & Superior
company was marketing about 200 tons per day of 46
to 48% concentrate. The production at present is re-
ported to be close to 350 tons of over 50% grade. The
Elm Orlu has not again entered the list of producers,
but is expected to do so early in 1914. Utah will show
a considerable decrease due to the almost complete sus-
pension of shipments except those from Park City and
the United States mill at Midvale. Nevada also will
show a decrease, as the Good Springs properties sus-
pended production early in the year. They since re-
sumed to some extent, but not up to the former mark.
Idaho continues to produce to some extent, but as the
production is mostly made in connection with lead min-
ing it can easily be guessed what will happen under
a combination of 4c. lead and 5c. spelter, with a
freight rate of $9.75 per ton to Oklahoma smelters.
This gives them a price not much in excess of $8 per
ton for a 40% zinc concentrate on cars in the Coeur
d'Alene district.
Zinc smelting in 1913 has not been productive of
much cheer for those engaged therein. Even if the
price of ore has fully followed down the price of spel-
ter, it is not cheering to watch the shrinkage in the
value of your stocks of at least $1 per ton of spelter
per week, and this not for one period but practically
every week averaged throughout the year. November
1912 to November 1913 saw a drop throughout of
$50 per ton of spelter. At the same time the margin,
as it is roughly figured on Joplin district ores, faded
away from about $18 in the latter end of 1912 to $10
in December 1913 and at times during 1913, it was
even smaller than that. When it is remembered that
the works cost to the smelter is generally figured at
about $10. it will be easily figured that the most prob-
38
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
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APRIL MAY JUNE JULY
SPELTER PRICES, 1913.
AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER OECEMBER
able dividends of 1913 will be 'Irish' ones, or at best
of the 'New Haven' variety.
The year started with a smelting capacity active in
the United States of about 1000 tons per day, and the
figures published at midyear by the U. S. Geological
Survey showed 180,000 tons produced. As there has
been no appreciable decline in production since that
time, it is probable that the total production for the
year will be in the neighborhood of 350,000 tons as
against, a production from all sources in 1912 of 338,-
806 tons. But the stocks of metal on hand during the
first half of the year had enormously increased, and
it is probable that the stock remaining in the hands of
the producers alone on December 31, 1913, will be well
in advance of 50,000 tons, indicating a consumption
of somewhere in the neighborhood of 300.000 tons, as
against 340,341 in 1912. At this writing it is impos-
sible to give these figures with any degree of accuracy.
There have been no advances in the metallurgy of
zinc in 1913 as relates to the practical operation of
smelting works unless an enforced economy can be
considered an advance. Much experimenting was done
in electro-thermal smelting, and one experimenter has
recently announced his intention of carrying on his
work to a commercial basis in the near future. I
understand also that work carried out by others gives
promise of commercial results in the future, but up to
today the amount of data published by anyone is in-
sufficient on which to base commercial calculations.
The only new construction initiated during the year
was the plant of the American Metal Co. at Burgetts-
town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The plant is not
yet ready for operation. It is reported that the New-
Jersey Zinc Co. interests will in the near future start
construction of a plant at Martins Ferry, Ohio.
The effect of the change of duty on the future of
the zinc industry is complicated by many factors. There
is no doubt that under normal trade conditions in
this country and Mexico the present scale of duties on
ores and metal would work to the advantage of the
smelter. Figuring old and new schedules on the basis
of a 40% ore and a normal recovery of 640 lb. of metal
therefrom, yields the following:
Old duty lc. per lb. on zinc in ore $8.00
Old duty l%c. per lb. on metal imported 640 lb 8.80
Protection for smelter per ton ore $0.80
New duty 10% of $14 for 40% at border $1.40
New duty 15% on metal imported, value 4V4c- London,
640 lb 4.10
Protection for smelter per ton ore when metal is 4%c. in
Europe, 5c. in St. Louis' $2.70
This makes a fair showing for the smelter, and one
perhaps hardly intended by the tariff makers, but for
the ore producer of the future the outlook is not so en-
couraging. When during the making of the Payne
tariff bill, prayers were offered in the churches of
Joplin for an extra heavy duty on ore, some profane
Democrats were observed to scoff, but the tariff was
certainly put high enough to satisfy any reasonable ore
producer. Parties change and methods of making
tariffs with them, but I am quite sure that the zinc ore
producers and all good Kepublicans will agree with
me that it is self evident that Mr. Underwood did not
get his inspiration for the zinc ore tariff from the same
source as did Mr. Payne.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
39
Gold and Tin Dredging in 1913
By Charles Janin
The gold dredging industry has had a quiet year; practised by the Yukon Gold Co., thus permitting a
there has been no decided advance in methods em- much lower operating cost. This method of stripping
ployed, and few new dredges have been built, though a and sun thawing I believe did not prove satisfactory
number of investigations of supposed dredging areas when tried by the Yukon Gold Co., except in its first
were carried on in different parts of the world. There experiments. In actual practice it was found that steam
has, on the other hand, been a decrease in the total num- thawing was necessary and during 1912 about 73.5%
ber of dredges operating as compared to 1912 and the of the ground handled by the Yukon Gold Co. 's dredges
outlook in known dredging fields is not particularly near Dawson had to be thawed ; the thawing cost ac-
bright for the future excepting perhaps in the far north counts for about half the cost of operations.
and some in South American countries. In the Yukon Several extensive examinations were carried on in
the new 16-ft. dredge of the Canadian Klondyke Co., Russia and Siberia, but from what information I have,
built by the Marion Steam Shovel Co., commenced with the exception of a dredge for the Bodaibo district,
operations and the four dredges of that Company are all of these investigations of supposed dredging ground
estimated to have made a profit over operating expenses resulted unfavorably. It would seem that there is a
of approximately $750,000 for 1913. The North West field in Siberia and in Russia for small dredges of the
Corporation was formed during the year to acquire A. fume type as used in Alaska if owners of some of the
N. C. Treadgold's holdings in the Granville Company properties in question coidd be dealt with on a sane
and other claims and some new dredges will probably basis, and I believe that some of the dredges will un-
be ordered in 1914. The Granville is the holding com- doubtedly be tried in the future.
pany controlling 75% of the North West Corporation The Pokrovsky dredge of the Orsk company, which
and 50% of the Canadian Klondyke Mining Company, was remodeled from the stacker scow formerly operated,
The Yukon Gold Co. has dismantled two dredges which started work during the year and reports a large in-
were operating near Dawson, and will move the crease in yardage as compared to the former methods.
machinery to the Iditarod. A small dredge ordered During 1912 the Kolchan dredge handled 382,550 yd.
for unprospected ground in the Kotzebue district, with an average recovery of 32.5 cents. The total
Seward Peninsula, has also been sent to the Iditarod to operating costs of the dredge figured from the annual
be constructed next year. report of the Company are approximately as follows:
In the Seward Peninsula the dredges in general have
. . j a i 4u •*. e i i Cost on Koi.chan Dredge, 1912
not had a successful year, the scarcity or water during
Opnts dpi*
the year and an early freeze up made a short season for J cu .
most of the boats. Some areas, on which boats were Operating 4.09
built last year following the too frequent Alaskan Power plant 3.8
practice of building a dredge before prospecting the Winter up-keep 2.37
j *jiu fc-tii it Administration (management, etc.) 8.37
ground, were found to have an insufficient gold content '
to pay operating expenses. Other dredges encountered lg 63
difficult operating conditions, such as frozen ground, Royalty C.3
large boulders, etc., which had not been clearly defined Depreciation, London and general expenses, interest, etc. .10.4
or realized before. A few dredges, mostly of the flume ■
type, and some in the Council district were operated 3533
successfully. There is a future for the flume type of To obtain the figures of royalty, depreciation, etc., I
dredge in Alaska and elsewhere if it is first properly have divided the totals as shown in the report by the
determined that conditions are suitable for dredging total yardage handled. The yield of gold for August,
and that there is a sufficient gold content to make the 1913, from both dredges is given at £10,343 and the total
enterprise a financia^success. Dredges cannot be moved yardage as 116,000 as against 62,000 in July and
as easily as chessmen and some idea of the gold content 41,600 in June. This indicates the efficiency of the
and working conditions to be encountered should be Pokrovsky dredge. The next annual report of the Corn-
known before building a dredge, even an inexpensive pany will be awaited with interest as a real profit over
one, on the haphazard chance that the ground might expenses is looked for.
prove good. In other words prospecting with a dredge In South America investigations were carried on in
is neither good engineering nor good business. Peru, Brazil, British Guiana, and Colombia. In the first
It is said that the investigations of the Canadian two countries examinations resulted unfavorably. Tn
Klondyke Co. on the Yukon have shown that after strip- British Guiana a new dredge is to be built by the
ping the vegetation and top soil the underlying frozen Minnehaha company already operating one dredge on
gravel will be thawed sufficiently by the sun to permit the Potero river, also the Guiana Dredging Co. on the
of dredging without thawing by steam points as Konowarook reports a successful year and another 10%
40
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
dividend making 62% since the Company started
operating in 1907. It is stated that this Company
handles ground at a cost of 10c. per yard but as no
figures of yardage are given in the annual report this is
probably an estimation only. In Colombia a number of
investigations were carried on, one with considerable
preliminary advertisement but so far no new dredging
areas have been found and no new gold dredges have
been ordered. Considerable prospecting work will be
done in Colombia during 1914 by the Pato, Oroville. and
other interests. The investigations of the American
Goldfields Development Co. to the south of the San Juan
river on the west coast have resulted in a dredge being
ordered for 1914 to recover the platinum and gold
shown by prospecting.
Fraser & Chalmers is building a 5-ft. open-connected
dredge for the Servia and if the results prove as antici-
pated other dredges will probably be built in the same
field.
In the Far East
In the Philippines the results from Guamos dredge
during the first four months of the year gave considera-
ble satisfaction to the shareholders and other dredging
men interested in the country. The latest reports, how-
ever, are that the ground proved deeper than expected,
and that the digging ladder coidd not reach bedrock
and conseciuently there was a considerable falling off
in output. This caused a small panic among the share-
holders. Late papers from the Islands talk of an in-
vestigation. It seems, however, that an extension on
the digging ladder would be more to the point. I have
been informed by the New York Engineering Co. which
built this dredge that an extension to the digging lad-
der, was contemplated at the time of construction, to
be put on when necessary. The 5-ft. dredge being built
by the Yuba Construction Co. for the Philippines is
fast nearing completion, and will be operating in
December. The dredge for the Andrada Company in
Portuguese East Africa was expected to be finished in
November. This being built by the Bucyrus Company,
under charge of T. C. Nicolson.
In West Africa the Offin River Gold Estates, which
was formed in 1900 to acquire dredging rights on the
Offin river, has had a continuous production of gold
since 1904 but no profit is yet available to shareholders.
The bullion recovered to the end of 1912 has been £186,-
003, about all of which has been swallowed by expenses.
The Ashanti dredges are working under tributers, the
operations of the Company being unsuccessful and un-
favorable news is reported from the Ancobra dredging
operations. Dredging in Africa has not been a success.
due partly to building dredges unsuited to conditions
of operations but mostly to poor advice when commenc-
ing operations. Had dredges properly designed to meet
working conditions been built when the companies first
started, and in some cases been properly handled after-
ward, a different tale might have been told to the
shareholders.
Dredging in Spain has proved a failure and work has
been suspended pending a search for the 'pay channel,'
which should have been done a little earlier. From
Alaska to Spain is quite a leap but the same methods
seem occasionally to be followed in both these countries
as well as in others.
Some rich gravel is reported to have been found in
San Domingo and if the values can be confirmed a new
dredging area will be open to exploitation.
In the United States little of interest has occurred in
dredging. There has been little new work in California,
a number of boats have exhausted their holdings and
one has been moved to other areas. One new dredge is
reported, that of the Yukon Gold Co. near Auburn, the
machinery of which was taken from an Oroville dredge
which had been shut down. The Yuba Gold Fields had
a successful year during 1912 and operations for 1913
are on the same order. The big all steel 14-cu. ft.
dredge commenced work late in the. year. The Natomas
company has also had a fair year in its dredging
operations and has overhauled several of its dredges.
A new dredge was built by the Yuba Consolidated Co.
for the Pabst interests near Salmon, Idaho, and the big
15-ft. dredge built by the same Company near Idaho
City has been doing excellent work. A new dredge is
reported for Gunnison county, Colorado. In Oregon
the Powder River dredge is said to have done well and
it is reported that a 3-ft. dredge has been ordered by
the Gold Onter Dredging Co., about 8 miles from
Sumpter, Baker county.
Tin Dredging
While gold dredging has not shown much activity
there has been a rapid progress in tin dredging opera-
tions and no review of dredging would be complete
without some reference to the work done and the suc-
cess made by the tin dredges. That tin dredging is
widespread is learned by operations in the Malayan
Peninsula the chief field for tin production, Nigeria
where two dredges have been built during 1913, Alaska
where the York dredge has been operating for three
seasons, and in Portugal where a new dredge is being
built which will commence operations in 1914. Among
the companies which have ordered new dredges the
Renong company in the Siam Eastern states operating
one Werf Conrad dredge has ordered two more ; the
Tonjikah Harbour Dredging Co. operating five Simon
dredges has ordered a sixth ; the Siamese Tin Dredging
Co. has two new 14-cu. ft. Lobnitz dredges designed by
Cutten Bros. : Fraser & Chalmers is building one for
the Kamuning company in the Malay States: Arthur
Brown is building two designed by Payne & Co. for
the Malayan Tin Dredging Co. : two Werf Conrad
dredges were sent to Nigeria : and Fraser & Chalmers
has shipped a dredge which is being erected near Bel-
monte, Portugal. This latter is of interest as it is the
first dredge of strictly California type to be built for
tin dredging in Europe. It will have a close-connected
bucket line of 4-ft. buckets, a steel hull, and will have
a horizontal belt conveyor and be operated on spuds.
The machinery will be driven by electricity. The boat
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
41
was designed by H. C. Peake of the Union Construction
Co. for E. J. De Sabla.
The pump dredge has been successfully used for tin
in the Malayan States and elsewhere and for a time
two of these plants. were operated in Cornwall. The
high operating cost militates against their being
adopted on areas suitable for dredging, or on areas
unsuitable for dredging but having a low tin content.
In Cornwall the cost averaged from 24 to 30c. per yard,
and in the Malayan States according to Alexander
Colledge* about 25c. per cu. yd. Though under ex-
tremely favorable conditions he figured it should be
done for 12c. Costs of tin dredging like costs of gold
dredging, are sometimes a matter of book-keeping, and
sometimes due to an overestimation of the yardage
handled. The man with the most vivid imagination can
thus obtain the lowest operating cost per cubic yard.
In the Malay Peninsula it is generally accepted that
dredging costs average from 9 to 10c. per yard. I have
statements of costs under these figures but it is not
stated how yardage is measured. For myself I prefer
to figure on a basis of 10c. though a company operating
a number of dredges under favorable conditions should
do better than that.f
Recent Changes in Iron and Steel Manufacture
Bv Bradley Stoughton
Electric Smelting
There is but little recent advance of an industrial
nature in the electric processes, and this applies espec-
ially to the electric smelting of iron ore. which does not
seem to progress as rapidly as the advocates of the
process and the theoretical calculations would lead
us to expect. The electric steel furnaces, however, have
increased rapidly in number. There are now nineteen
in the United States, and commercial success seems to
follow where electricity can be obtained at a low
price. A number of improvements of minor nature
have been made in steel-casting plants, and several new
furnaces have been developed without any one of them
coming specially to the front. The principal use of
electricity in the manufacture of steel is in super-re-
fining the product of the open-hearth or Bessemer
furnace. The melting of scrap is also successful where
electricity can be procured at a very low price, and
where a good price can be obtained for eastings of
unusual quality. The melting of alloys to be used in
open-hearth furnaces is also a successful electrical pro-
cess, because of the possibility of melting without
oxidation and waste of the costly alloys, such as
manganese, chromium, etc. The refining of pig iron to
steel is a process too costly to be generally applied on
an industrial scale, but the melting of pig iron in the
electric furnace for the manufacture of iron castings
is said to be highly successful from the standpoint of
the quality of the product. A new patented refractory
material, consisting of boron nitride, will have import-
ant usefulness in electric furnaces if the claims of its
inventor as to its fusibility and chemical inertness are
borne out by practice.
Furnace Changes
A new furnace, having some of the characteristics of
an electric furnace, a Bessemer converter and an open-
hearth furnace, has been put in operation in Maryland,
but has not been tried long enough to prove the in-
dustrial value of the apparatus. The Stock oil-fired
*The Mining Magazine. July, 1913.
converter is a combination of the ordinary sideblow
steel-casting converter and the reverberatory oil fur-
nace for melting iron.
There is a tendency at the present time to return to
the tilting type of open-hearth furnace as compared
with the stationary type, on the ground of greater con-
venience, notwithstanding the heavy cost of repairs
because of the strain in the brick-work during the tilt-
ing. A recent development in the heating of open-
hearth furnaces is the use of blast-furnace gas mixed
with coke oven gas. A process with future industrial
possibilities involves the following principles : By
means of carbon monoxide gas it is possible almost
completely to reduce iron ore and produce a somewhat
impure form of iron sponge, without the use of a blast-
furnace, the resulting iron sponge can be melted and
purified in the open-hearth furnace and thus produce
steel from iron ore in a two-step process similar to the
prevailing commercial process for steel manufacture,
except that it is not necessary to use coke or other
solid fuel.
The Roe mechanical puddling furnace, which was
developed several years ago, is being tried on an in-
dustrial scale and apparently with satisfaction to its
users.
Fuel Problems
The industrial use of oxygen for enriching the blast
driven into the iron blast-furnace has been increasing
so fast, and the price of oxygen is so much reduced, that
it would seem to offer important possibilities to
metallurgists interested in pyritic smelting of copper
ores and the bessemerizing of copper, because of the
valuable possibilities for abundantly and rapidly in-
creasing the temperature of the operation without at
the same time endangering the reduction of iron.
The increase in the price of fuel oil in the eastern
part of the United States has caused » great exten-
sion in the use of pulverized coal for heating, melting,
and annealing. The use of pulverized coal enables the
tA further review by states and districts will be printed
later.
42
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
engineer to control with great accuracy and facility the
temperature and the composition of the flame ; it gives
a higher temperature than can be obtained with oil, and
avoids the difficulty of deposition of graphite and soot,
without at the same time requiring preheated air or
too oxidizing an atmosphere in the furnace. Pulverized
coal has, however, the disadvantage of being very
severe upon the brickwork of the furnace, although
much progress has recently been made in this respect.
Recent investigations into the. heat lost from cupolas
have shown the possibility of melting iron with a
smaller proportion of coke than has been customary. A
process has been announced for desulphurizing iron by
blowing air through the bath of the liquid metal in
such a way as to cause the manganese sulphide to rise
to the surface, but without oxidizing the silicon and
carbon and without increasing the temperature of the
metal, as is done in the blowing of the ordinary
Bessemer process. Steel borings and turnings have been
melted in the cupola, without the ordinary briquetting
or the canning processes, by blowing the fine particles
in through the tuyeres with the blast. A process has
also been announced from Sweden for the dephosphori-
zation of iron by oxidation with air at a low tempera-
ture. The details of its commercial possibilities are not
yet known.
Research in Steel and Iron
The tremendous industrial importance of the critical
points of steel for all those interested in annealing or
tempering steel is now well recognized. During 1913
a new method has been developed for the determination
of the Ax and A2 points, and progress has been made
in the elucidation of the mysterious hardness of steel
by researches upon the properties of the allotropic
modifications of iron.
A very important investigation by J. E. Johnson, Jr.,
was published in 1913 upon the 'Effect of Carbon on the
Quality of Cast Iron, ' which proved the special influence
of the eutectic ratio upon the properties of this metal.
One of the most notable advances of the year has been
the increased attention given to the ingot-forming stage
of the steel-making processes, and the steps that are
now being taken for insuring the production of sound
ingots. Perhaps the greatest of all these steps has been
the very efficient method of supervision of the process
of manufacture, which is carried on and recorded by
inspectors acting on behalf of the purchaser in the
works of the manufacturer. Several important pro-
cesses for the elimination of pipes from the ingots, by
causing the upper portion to cool more slowly than the
lower and thus draw the shrinkage cavity nearer the
top of the ingot, have been described and introduced.
The diffusion of hydrogen gas through steel at a high
temperature has resulted in the removal of some sul-
phur, phosphorous, and carbon in the form of hydrites
without any harmful absorption of the hydrogen by
the metal. An interesting study of the limit of the
amount of oxygen absorbed by molten iron disclosed
the wholly unexpected result that not more than
0.074% could be absorbed. The harmful influence of
oxygen on iron and steel has made a good, rapid method
for the determination of this element of great value.
Much research has been carried on during 1913 to this
end, and although full success cannot yet be claimed,
the end is nearer than ever before. Progress has also
been made in the development of a rapid method for
the determination of nitrogen in steel, and evidence
has been obtained which further indicates the harmful
effect of this element on the quality of the metal. This
has long been a disputed question.
Alloy Steels
Manganese steel, which is very extensively used for
parts of crushing machinery and other apparatus which
is subjected to great wear, is now commonly forged
both hot and cold. It has recently been shown that it
can be made either non-magnetic or magnetic, and that
it has the great peculiarity of exhibiting changes in
structure that do not seem to be related to critical
points in its heating and cooling curves. Mayari cast
iron and Mayari steel are natural alloys of iron, nickel,
and chromium which can be made from some of the ores
of Cuba and some of the ores of Greece without the
addition of any alloying materials. They possess greater
strength, hardness and durability than does ordinary
iron and steel without the nickel and chromium, and are
coming into extensive use in engineering. Cobalt is one
of the latest additions to steel and is said to give greatly
increased durability, especially in high-speed steels.
Copper steel, containing from 0.1 to 0.5% copper, has
been experimented with by many investigators in re-
cent years in their search for a material which will give
extra resistance to corrosion and durability against
wear, such as is needed for railroad rails, for example.
Iron Ore Deposits
The iron ore deposits of Texas, Mexico,. Central and
South America have been developed to a very great
extent and have attracted much attention in recent
years. One of the largest of the eastern steel plants has
acquired great holdings in Chile, and arrangements are
being perfected for marketing Brazilian ores on a large
scale. The opening of the Panama canal will, no doubt,
bring the great deposits known to exist south of the
Equator into still further prominence.
Colorado mines produced in the eleven months of
1913, with an estimate for December, according to
Charles W. Henderson, of the U. S. Geological Survey,
$18,395,000 in gold. 9,150.000 oz. of silver, 85,500,000
lb. of lead, 7,634,000 lb. of copper, and 129,680,000 lb.
of zinc, with a total value of $36,200,000. compared
with $37,320,996 in 1912. This shows a decrease of
$200,000 in gold, an increase of 900.000 oz. of silver,
an increase of 10,300,000 lb. of lead, an increase of
500,000 lb. of copper, and a decrease of 2,540.000 lb.
of zinc. The heaviest decrease in value was $1,732,000
for zinc, and there were increases of $440,000 for sil-
ver and $377,000 for lead.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
43
Fig. 1. SUBFACE wobkings at MOUNT LYKLL, TASMANIA.
Mining Methods and Practice
By E. H. Leslie
Reviewing this broad subject in the fewest possible
words, it may be said that the effort is everywhere
to reduce costs by increasing the scale of operations.
Results on the Rand, where large capital expenditure
has been called for, have not been altogether happy,
but in general the movement is making possible the
working of deposits lower and lower in grade. Lake
Superior mines have pointed the way in open-pit work
and in caving methods, and central electric stations
are everywhere reducing power costs. Gas and oil-
engines are making constant inroads on the field of
steam, but the time-honored Corliss is still far from
being driven from the field. Improved efficiency is
being sought in every department. In underground
work the one-man stoping drill has come to stay. In
the Lake Superior copper mines it has reduced the
stoping cost from 50 to 15 cents and increased the
tonnage broken from 12 to 30. The motorman is
replacing the 'mule-skinner': crushing and sorting
underground is finding favor; use of conveyor belts
is increasing: grouting systems for reducing pump-
ing charges are coming to be recognized ; loading
machines are being tried ; and there is a distinct
tendency toward making repairs to drills and pumps,
and conducting drill sharpening, crushing, and sort-
ing underground. The chief difficulty in the latter
has been the outlay for separate equipment on each
level, but by centring the work this is being met.
Ventilation, of course, must be provided, but this is
not proving difficult in practice. The efficiency of
drills has been much studied at the North Star in Cali-
fornia during the past year, and a rock-drill testing
machine,1 which gives promise of great savings, has
been invented. Underground ore-crushing is now past
the experimental stage and has been found to be espe-
I'Rock-Drill Testing at the North Star,1 by Robert H. Bed-
ford and William Hague, Mining and Scientific Press, August
2, 1913.
cially advantageous where 'bulldozing' and under-
ground sorting are necessary. The jaw-crusher re-
cently installed on the 14th level of the Witwaters-
rand Gold Mining Co.'s property is used to crush the
large rocks formerly broken by hand, and the dis-
charge from crusher is sent direct to the shaft bins.
At the Round Mountain Mining Co.'s property in
Nevada during the year one underground crusher
broke 22,688 tons of ore. of which 16,306 tons was
rejected as waste and left underground, and another
crushed 56,188 tons, of which 40,589 tons was rejected.
The cost of mining this material is from $0.80 to $1
per ton. while the crushing, screening, and transpor-
tation, including all repairs and renewals, amounted
to from 5 to 6c. per ton. The often advanced objec-
tion, the supposed bad effect upon the mine atmos-
phere, is not borne out in practice. At the Knight
property on the Rand the crusher station is surround-
ed with atomizers and the amount of dust created is
exceedingly small.
Mining Machines
The application of mining machines to metal mines
is one of the latest developments. In the mining of
coal, which, by the way, forms a subject worthy of
the attention of the metal miner, mining machines
have made possible the immense tonnages and rapid
development which is characteristic of that industry.
Recently they have been introduced on the Mesabi
iron range,2 where the influx of miners has not kept
pace with the demand for increased output. At the
Harold mine, in the Hibbing district, a pick machine
is being successfully used in soft ground. Under the
old method the miners drilled a round of 3 to 5 holes
in the breast, each hole about 5 ft. in depth. The
upper holes were usually fired first and the bottom
2H. E. Martin and W. H. Kaiser. Trans. Lake Superior
Mining Institute.
44
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
holes after the broken ground had been removed. The
amount of dynamite depended upon conditions, and
varied from iy2 to 15 lb. After the upper holes were
fired the miners secured the back by poling from the
last set of timber into the breast. When the broken
ore had been removed, the miners trimmed the breast,
back, and sides, and the ground was ready for timber.
When doing the work with machines, the number of
men required per crew is 2 machine men, 3 miners,
and 6 shovelers. The minimum number of working
places or rooms required for one machine has been
found to be five, though a larger number will insure
fewer delays and make for higher efficiency. The log
of one round of operations is as follows: The ground
is first undercut with the puncher to a depth of about
five feet, the cut extending from the solid rib to with-
in six inches or so of the opposite side, thus leaving
a small pillar six inches wide and the full length of
the 'set'; the object in leaving the pillar being to
prevent premature caving. Two holes are then drilled
with the air augur about one foot from the solid rib
and spaced about two and six feet, respectively, from
the back. Sometimes four holes are necessary. Two
short holes are drilled in the small pillar supporting
the ground, shoveling boards are placed in the cut,
and under the ground to be broken, and the holes are
loaded and fired. The back is then secured with poles
and the room is ready to be cleaned. After the broken
ore has been removed, the miners spare up the set.
place the timber, and another cycle of operation is
started. The average time for under-cutting one block
of ground is 59 minutes, moving and setting the ma-
chine 26 minutes, drilling with the air augur 2.8 min-
utes per foot.
Aside from reducing the cost of production, the
machine requires but one-half of the labor to be skilled
miners, only one-half the amount of dynamite is re-
quired, there is less liability- of the posts being blasted
out, and there is always a smooth surface from which
to shovel. The rooms worked by machine must be easy
of access from one to another. Their height should
not be less than seven or eight feet, and no bottom
stoping should be necessary. In other words, the ma-
chines are applicable to slicing and square-set meth-
ods. While the mining conditions have not been ideal
for the use of the machine, after five weeks' trial it
was found that the average number of tons per man
was 12, which is considerably above the average in
most of the underground mines on the Mesabi. From
the results obtained it is evident that the machines
have found a place in iron mining.
Mining Methods at Joplin
At the present time over 50% of the concentrate
produced in the Joplin district is from 'sheet ground'
properties, that being a local name for a blanket de-
posit. The blanket from which the bulk of the out-
put of the district is . obtained varies from 8 to 20
ft. in thickness and lies at a depth of from 100 to
200 ft. As a rule, the ore-bearing ground lies under
a heavy limestone, which is supported by pillars of
from 20 to 40 ft. in diameter, about 50 ft. apart. The
ore occurs in a formation known as the Grand Falls
chert, which is extremely hard, and is broken with
air-drills and 40% dynamite by underhand stoping.
The ore is shoveled from the faces of the stopes into
tubs and run to the circular shaft on low platform
cars. Another type of deposit is known as hard dis-
seminated ground. In these deposits a good back
is usually had and the mining is practically the same
as in sheet ground with the exception that rooms are
often cut out 30 to 40 ft. wide, 50 to 150 ft. long,
and 20 to 100 ft. high. The third class of deposit is
that which is known as 'soft' ground. In this form
of deposit the roof is supported by timbers. The usual
method of timbering consists of a cap and posts with
collar braces, each set being tied to the one behind.
It often happens that spiling boards are necessary,
and lagging is used on the sides of the drifts. The
average cost of mining in this district for all types of
mines including sheet and soft ground is about $1 per
ton. This cost does not include amortization. Methods
of mining in the Joplin district have been briefly de-
scribed within the year by Clarence A. Wright in one
of the series of technical papers published by the U. S.
Bureau of Mines.
Flat River
The methods of mining used in the lead belt of
southeastern Missouri are similar in some particulars
to those at Joplin, underhand stoping and pillars being
used. Operations in general, however, are on a much
larger scale, and the equipment is of a more perma-
nent nature. Prospecting is done largely by diamond-
drills in the Flat River district, and mules and elec-
tricity are employed for underground tramming. The
subject has been fully treated recently by H. A. Guess*
in a most interesting and valuable paper.
In both districts the pumping charge constitutes one
of the big items of expense, and it seems probable that
larger use could be made of the method of plugging
water channels. The combination of wedging and
grouting introduced by E. B. Kirby at the Federal
Lead Co. 's property at Flat River, some years ago,
proved a simple and efficient method of sealing and
saved a large amount of pumping. By this method
the channel is stopped with wooden or iron wedges,
a pipe being first inserted into the channel through
which the grouting is pumped. Pumping operations
are continued until the flow of water from the channel
has ceased, when the pipe is capped and the operation
is completed. For filling the channel, either clay,
sawdust, or a fine concrete may be used. When earth
is used, a settling device in the form of a three-com-
partment classifier is employed. Only the finer mate-
rial, that collected in the last compartment, is used
for grouting purposes. George S. Rice has called at-
3'Mining and Mining Methods in the Southeast Missouri
Disseminated-Lead District,' H. A. Guess, Trans. Amer. Inst.
Min. Eng., December 1913.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
45
tention4 to an application of the method to preventing
rock slides, and Francis Donaldson5 has discussed the
matter in connection with shaft-sinking.
Square-Set Stoping
The square-set method of stoping, which was the
standard practice for a number of years, has become
modified and a combination with the filling system is
being widely adopted. The Snow-Storm property at
Larson, Idaho, presents an example of square-set and
fill system. At this property the vein outcrops near
the top of the mountain and dips at an angle of 65°.
It is opened by four cross-cut adits at depths of 100,
200. 1100, and 1600 ft. vertically below the outcrop.
Mining at present is being conducted through the
1100-ft. adit, which is about 1800 ft. long. The adits
are connected by raises in the vein and drifts are
made in the ore at approximately 100-ft. intervals.
The stopes extend from one level to the level above.
A back is left beneath each level until the ore is
mined. The stopes are filled with waste material ob-
tained from underground sorting and an open-cut. The
sets are 6 ft. square and 8 ft. high. A plank ore-chute.
timber chute, and man-way are carried up about every
fifth set. Temporary incline chutes are put in when
necessary. The ore is trammed by hand on the levels
and dropped through rock raises to the adit-level,
where it is trammed by horses to the portal of the adit
and thence by aerial tramway to the mill at Larson.
Ingersoll-Rand 3^4 and 3%-in. piston drills are used
for driving, Waugh hammer-drills for raises and stopes,
and Ingersoll-Rand jack-hammer drills for sinking. The
cost of production for the year ended July 1, 1913,
was $1,444 for shipping ore and $1,474 for milling ore.
At Victor and Cripple Creek the general method of
mining is by stulled stopes, varied occasionally by
filled stopes, or where the shoot is wide, by square sets.
Stoping drills of the Leyner, Shaw, and Waugh makes
are used for all general work, and with the aid of
the 'blow-pipe' a great deal of driving and cross-cut-
ting is done with these light drills. The machines
generally used for long drifts are the Ingersoll 2Vi-in.
and the Leyner piston machines. At Stratum's Inde-
pendence driving on a small vein in granite with 2y4-
in. machine cost $4.44 per foot, while the stoper in
phonolite and porphyry the cost was $5.25 per foot.
Ordinary raising with a stoper is being done at a
cost of $3.50 per foot, while raising in caved ground
averages $9.19 per foot. The Independence property
caved from the surface to the 500-ft. level in 1907
since which time a large part of the work has been in
broken ground. The average cost of driving and cross-
cutting in 1913 was $4.10 per foot, while for develop-
ment the cost averaged $4.65 per foot of advance, cov-
ering all kinds of ground, both caved and solid. There
is but one man to a machine, even on the Leyner and
2V4-in. machines, though a shovcler is allowed to help
set up.
In the mining of wide lodes it has become customary
to provide permanent tramming drifts in the foot-wall.
From these, cross-cuts are driven through the orebody,
from which stoping operations are conducted. As an
example of this class of mining, the method at the
South mine at Kalgoorlie may be cited.6 It is known
as the 'rill floor' method and various adaptations of
it are in vogue in the mines of Broken Hill. It pro-
vides for filling while the stopes are being worked.
At the property of the Mount Lyell Mining & Rail-
way Co., at Mount Lyell, Tasmania, a similar method
of mining has been adopted, which is a combination
of surface and underground methods, and also bears
some resemblance to the milling system of the Lake
Superior district. Fig. 1 shows the surface workings,
from which the idea of the scope and method of mining
operations may be had. At the present time work is
being continued on the overburden and ore benches,
and a large tonnage is being uncovered. All of the
filling for the underground workings is obtained from
this source. As the property develops, the tendency
is toward a diminution in the tonnage mined from
the surface and an increase in the tonnage from under-
ground workings, as at the Treadwell in Alaska.
The pit is worked in benches with air-drills and
cars, the ore being either trammed from the benches
through a tunnel to bins on the mountain slope, or
dropped by gravity to the underground workings and
thence to the surface. At the present rate of mining
there is being stoped from the open pit of the Mount
Lyell mine about 650 tons per day. The properties
altogether produce about 30,000 tons per month at a
cost of about $2.25 per ton.
Caving Methods
Slicing and caving methods have been developed in
the underground mining of Lake Superior iron ores
to an extent not equaled elsewhere. For the first time
these methods were comprehensively described within
the year, in a volume7 written by C. E. van Barneveld
and published by the University of Minnesota. By
these methods the development period is made shorter
than when open-pit methods are used, and the prelim-
inary work, as a rule, is much cheaper. Another ad-
vantage of the caving system is that it is possible to
select the ore and maintain more uniform grades than
in open-pit and steam-shovel mining, as the unit of
operation is smaller. The capital outlay for equipment
is much less, and the method requires but a compara-
tively small amount of timber. The extraction is also
high, being estimated at from 95 to 98 per cent.
The many advantages of these methods are leading
to their wide introduction in the copper-mining dis-
tricts of the West where wholesale mining is in vogue.
At the Miami mine, near Globe, Arizona, a shrinkage
method is employed which has made possible a cost of
*Jour. Wes. Soc. Eng., September 1913.
■See Mining and Scientific Press, November 29.
s'Open Stoping on Wide Lodes,' by Andrew Fairweather.
Proc. Australasian Inst. Min. Eng., N. S. No. 10.
7'Iron Mining in Minnesota,' Minnesota School of Mines.
Experiment Station Bull. 1, p. 215. Minneapolis.
46
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
$1.20 per ton. An interesting recent development is
the handling of ore from the dump by means of a spe-
cial form of drag-bucket scraper, described within the
year.8 The drag-bucket, by the way, is now extensively
used in mining iron ore in Cuba, and has found many
applications in placer mining. At the Inspiration mine
the method used underground is similar to that at
Miami, though haulage is by means of compressed air
and there are other differences. At Ray, the general
system has been materially modified, and, as repre-
senting the latest development, may be described. The
Ray orebody as developed by churn-drills is reputed
to be the second largest in the world. The ore is in
the shape of a huge blanket deposit with an average
thickness of 107 ft. over an area of 183 acres. A
detailed account of the mining of this orebody has
Surface-
*'%<&"
0«£" |i
} 2/ve. sub. 0 S
" ... i Sny
So*
STAGS ^
srAGE S
%r'."r.
drifts are timbered with 12 by 12-in. timber sets on 5-
ft. centres. On top of these drift sets, which lie with-
in the orebody at intervals of 25 ft., 'pony sets' are
erected to hold the stope chutes, and midway between
the stope chutes are erected 'pony sets' for holding the
pillar chutes.
While the haulage-way drifts are being driven,
smaller manway drifts are progressing at 100-ft. in-
tervals on the sub-level 25 or 30 ft. above. These
manway drifts are offset 12% ft. to one side of the
motor drifts, and out of them are run at right angles
a series of parallel sub-drifts placed every 25 ft. over
the whole orebody. These are driven so as to be
directly over the stope chutes on the motor level, so
that when raises are made from the stope chutes they
will break into the stope drifts and become chutes
SURFACE
WW'/:
''/ft
Fig. 2. longitudinal section.
Fig.
MOTOR LEVEL
CROSS-SECTION, shrinkage stopes and pillars.
recently been written by L. A. Blackner,9 an abstract
of which is reproduced here through his courtesy.
Owing to the heavy overburden and the low grade
of the ore, it is necessary that a large tonnage be
produced per day, and toward this end a caving sys-
tem has been developed, which consists of weakening a
block of ore by a series of shrinkage stopes, when,
after undermining pillars, the ore is drawn down sys-
tematically, the capping crushing and settling gradu-
ally over it. At the present ore is being mined from
two shafts by this method, while a third, in high-grade
ore, opens a body which is mined by square-set meth-
ods. The low-grade deposits are opened by three
motor-haulage levels. On each motor level a main drift
is driven from the hoisting shaft along the edge of
the orebody ; from this drift a series of parallel side-
drifts are run at 50-ft. intervals and completely through
the orebody to a 'fringe drift' which runs parallel to
the main drift. Somewhere at a convenient place
along the main drift and outside of the orebody there
is put in a raise to the sub-levels, as shown in Fig. 2
and Fig. 3. This raise is usually divided into two
compartments, one to be used as a manway and the
other for hoisting tools and supplies. The parallel
^Mining and Scientific Press, November 1, 1913.
o'The Ray System of Mining Ore,' Arizona Copper Camp.
through which the ore is drawn to the tramming level.
On a second sub-level, which is placed about 100 ft.
above the first, manway drifts are driven parallel and
directly above those on the first sub-level. These later
serve as passageways through which the men and sup-
plies enter and leave the stopes, and they also serve
for ventilation. Along the manways of the first sub-
level at intervals of 25 ft., or 7% ft. from the centre
of each stope, there are put in manway raises to the
drifts on the second sub-level. Chain ladders are used
in these raises for the use of the men. While the
manway raises are being put in, men with stoper ma-
chines 'bell out' the chute raises so that when finished
they have the appearance of funnels or inverted bells.
In starting a stope, men with s. pers drill a line of
holes into the side of the stope drift. This line of holes,
when blasted together, widens the drifts to 15 ft., so
that they are ready to be mined and stoping opera-
tions commenced.
When this has been completed, manway sets of 8 by
8-in. timber are erected in the manway drifts. In min-
ing a stope, two lines of holes are drilled with stoper
machines all along the back on both sides of the stope.
one line near the side walls with the holes slightly
'toeing' toward them, the other about four feet away,
with the holes inclined slightly toward the centre of
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
47
the stope. In hard ground it is sometimes necessary
to put in a third set of holes. The holes are loaded
with three or four sticks of 40% dynamite and 7-ft.
fuses are used. The ore is drawn from the stope chutes
into 5-ton cars on the motor level and trammed to the
shaft. Only enough ore is drawn from the stopes to
allow the miners head room in drilling. Air for the
machines is supplied through a supply hose dropped
from the second sub-level. The manways are always
built up above the broken ore. so as to keep them clear.
When the stope has reached a point midway between
the first and second sub-levels, the men usually descend
into the stope through the manway raises, and the
cribbed manwavs are left behind.
the ore. The total cost of mining by this method for the
past year, including crushing the ore through an inch-
mesh screen and delivering it on board ears with a
proper apportionment of all fixed charges, was 77.55c.
per ton. This cost is higher than the costs applying
to those parts of the mine which have been sufficiently
opened to permit of economical working, and is accord-
ingly higher than it will be in the future.
Steam-Shovel Operations
Steam-shovel operation as applied to mining may well
be said to be the most important development which
the mining industry of the later day has experienced.
The economic conduct of the operations, although seem-
FlG. 5. STEAM-SHOVEL WOBK AT BINGHAM, UTAH.
When a block of ore has been mined by a series of
such stopes, the undermining of the pillars is com-
menced, starting with the pillar nearest the 'fringe
drift' on the motor level. Raises are run out on inclines
from each pillar chute until they intersect. From
these raises at a distance of 10 or 12 ft. from the
chutes, raises are run back so as to connect with each
other directly over the motor drifts. After the raises
have been connected -all along the pillar, they are
widened and drilled" Snd blasted with deep holes, so
as to undercut the entire pillar. Kadi consecutive pil-
lar is mined in this manner.
In most cases the orebody and capping is badly shat-
tered and broken so that when the pillars are under-
cut the capping breaks in a nearly perpendicular plane
to the surface completely around the area. An accu-
rate account is kept of the ore taken from every chute,
so that the ore remaining in each is always known.
Only a few ears are drawn from any one chute at a
time, so as to give the ore time to settle gradually with
the capping following after and without mixing with
ingly simple, presents problems which if not properly
analyzed may result in the difference between a profit-
able and unprofitable investment. Thorough prospect-
ing, efficient arrangement of the workings, and thor-
ough organization are the main points for consideration
in open-pit or steam-shovel mining. As typical of this
class of mining, the iron ranges of Minnesota present
the standard practice, which with modifications to
meet local conditions, have made possible the so-ualled
porphyry-copper mines of the West. Excellent work
is being done at Bingham. Utah. Chino. New Mexico.
and Ely, Nevada. Steam-shovels are also used in coal-
mining in Kansas, Illinois, and other states, and in
placer mining.
Prospecting, if thoroughly conducted with churn,
diamond-drills, or augurs (as at Moa) will clearly de-
fine the nature of the deposit, position and extent of
commercial ore, amount of stripping, laying out the pit.
entrance and grades, and position of benches upon
which all subsequent operations are based. Without
going into detail, the importance of each step is ap-
48
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
parent and each has been fully discussed by various
writers in the technical press. The shovel itself is the
keystone of efficiency. The tendency, which has been
toward the adoption of shovels of increasing size has
been stopped, and the 100-ton shovel, or thereabouts,
has come to be accepted as standard. The difficulty
with the larger and more powerful machine lies in the
increased wear and tear due to rough handling, which
increases repair charges and decreases running time.
In steam-shovel work it is important to make every
arrangement with a view to securing full time work
with the shovels.
The orebody being mined by the Utah Copper Co.
consists of lenses of ore with rock capping on the sides
of Bingham and Carr Fork canons. Owing to the un-
favorable position of the orebody on steep mountain-
sides, the site is not the most favorable for steam-
shovel operations. Stripping operations require the
and has an average thickness of about 220 ft. The
ore consists of chalcopyrite, chalocite, and pyrite dis-
seminated through a highly-altered porphyry, lying in
great lenses at an average depth of 100 ft. below the
surface. The deposit, being flat, is adapted to the same
methods of mining as those employed in the Lake Supe-
rior iron pits. Stripping operations are conducted by
steam-shovel at a cost of 33.64c. per cubic yard. In
the stripping of this orebody, up to the beginning of
last year, there has been removed 9,916,024 cu. yd. The
longitudinal section. Fig. 6. through the deposit shows
the amount of stripping necessary, the position of the
orebody, the positions of the benches, and method of
working. As the pit is widened and deepened, strip-
ping and mining operations are carried on simultane-
ously. The difference in elevations of the benches is
about 50 ft., and they are about 50 ft. wide. Opera-
tions are conducted bv seven 95-ton and one 70-ton
Fig. 6. longitudinal section through the copper flat obehody.
removal of capping in the ratio of one of rock to be-
tween three and four of ore. The average thickness
of the capping is 110 ft., the total amount removed
last year being 4,676,568 cu. yd., and was removed at
a cost, including prospecting, of 8.84c. per ton of
ore produced. The position of the workings and the
steam-shovel benches are as shown in Fig. 5. The
benches are connected by switchbacks and are at about
75 ft. differences in elevation. The capping and ore
are broken by giant blasts. 'T '-shaped gopher holes are
sometimes driven into the bank and giant blasts of
black powder, ignited by dynamite and electric fuse,
are used. Churn-drill holes are the common practice,
eleven churn-drills being employed for this purpose.
The holes are of 6-in. diameter and spaced according
to the ground, the holes having a burden of 35 to 40
ft. at the bottom. The stripped material is handled by
dump-cars, while the ore is shoveled directly into stand-
ard gage ore-cars of 100.000-lb. capacity and taken to
the mills. The 22 standard-gage steam-shovels operate
about 60% of the time. The actual cost of mining by
this method last year was 26.35c. per ton, to which
must be added the stripping and prospecting charge of
8.84 cents.
The Copper Flat deposit of the Nevada Consolidated
presents an excellent opportunity for steam-shovel
working. There are three pits, the Eureka, Liberty, and
Hecla. The deposit is 2600 ft. long and 1200 ft. wide.
steam-shovels. In blasting. 'T '-shaped gopher holes are
driven into the bank, as at Bingham, and churn-drill
holes are used. The churn-drill holes are of 6 in. diam-
eter and from 50 to 100 ft. in depth. They are cham-
bered before firing.1" The present method of moving
the drill by a crane has been found to be a very
decided improvement over the old method of making
roads and moving it by its own power. Five men are
required where formerly ten were necessary, and a
great deal of time is saved. The actual cost of mining,
including labor, supplies, repairs, management, taxes.
etc., at the time of the last annual report, was 17.35c.
per dry ton. During the last year of operations re-
ported, there was mined by steam-shovel methods a
total of 2.596.991 tons of ore averaging 1.603% copper.
In this review only those features of modern practice
as applied to the more important types of lode de-
posits have been touched, in the hope that such a gen-
eral survey of the subject may point out the trend of
present-day methods and the possibilities of increased
milling efficiency. While the step from breaking ore
by heat to the stoper and dynamite, from the 'chicken'
ladder of the Aztecs to the giant hoists of Lake Supe-
rior and Butte, from the divining rod to the diamond-
drill, and from gopher methods to the steam-shovel has
been a long one, there is still room for improvement.
'"'Blast-Hole Drilling in Open Pit Copper Mining,' Mining
and Scietitific Press, October 25, 1913.
January 3. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
49
The Decline of the Rand
By H. S.
There is something impressive in the suggestion that
the huge gold-producing industry of the Rand has
reached the downhill side of its wonderful career, and
it smacks of the paradoxical to affirm this in the face
of a record of steadily increasing gross production.
Nevertheless, a study of the position must inevitably
lead one to this conclusion, despite the fact that for the
year 1912 the Witwatersrand produced gold to the
enormous value of over £37,000,000 sterling, being an
increase of over 3J/2 millions as compared with the
previous year. The explanation, of course, is that as
against the continued increase in production there is a
marked decrease in the amount of distributable profit.
The sum of dividends distributed shows a steady ad-
vance up to 1909, but the record since then, as indicated
by the following summary — is eloquent of the change
that has come over the industry :
Year Tons milled Output Dividends
1909 20,543,759 £29,900,359 £9,523,518
1912 29,163,803 37,182,795 8,331,575
Difference +8,620,044 +7,282,436 =£1,191,940
Since 1909, therefore, the tonnage crushed has in-
ciciised say 40% and the output 24%, while the divi-
dends have decreased 12%. From the investor's, and
in fact from almost any. standpoint, the vital figure is
naturally the dividend, and since the capability of the
industry to continue its life depends upon its concur-
rent capability to earn dividends, it may logically be
argued that the serious droop in the latter direction
may be safely regarded as an indication that its
vitality is on the wane. Every effort has been made
to keep on the up-grade, because it w;is realized that
once a sign of serious falling off became visible, all
hope of ever recovering would practically be gone. The
brains and the energies of the administration have,
therefore, been turned from one point to another until
it may be said with certainty that ;ill the obvious
remedial expedients have had a trial. In the past ten
years we have seen the adoption of:
The tube-mill, with increased stamp-duty and higher
gold-recovery.
Heavy stamps, with lower capital outlay and greater
unit-efficiency.
Hand-stoping in narrow stopes. with less waste rock
and therefore higher-grade mill-ore.
Machine-stoping in wide stopes, saving hand-labor,
and giving large tonnage at low cost.
Selective mining, to give the maximum possible
profit in the shortest possible time.
Central power-plants, to reduce the cost of energy.
Central administration, to reduce management
charges and to increase general efficiency.
And what has been the result of it all? Certainly
largely increased capitnl outlay, and equally certainly
Denny
much greater tonnage of rock handled, arid un-
doubtedly a reduced 'working cost' per ton, but un-
fortunately a lower yield per ton and a smaller profit
per ton.
There has been great argument as to the relative
merits of big tonnage and low-grade ore, as opposed to
small tonnage and high-grade ore. The objection to the
former policy is that it has entailed heavy capital out-
lay and that it has led to the milling of much worthless
rock. It is claimed, moreover, that any advantage thus
gained in operating cost has been more than offset by
dilution of grade. Against these arguments it is con-
tended that 'working costs' have been reduced with
the result that lower-grade ores could be worked at a
profit.
Limits of Wholesale Mining
Without a doubt the practice of increased tonnage
at any cost has been carried, in some cases, too far.
There is a critical point naturally in the relationship
of the tonnage milled per day to the economic working
of any mine, but in arriving at this point, due weight
must be given to a number of contingent factors such
as labor, number of shafts, development facilities, etc.,
and any one of these may in itself set a limit to the
possibilities. That is to say, it might be figured that a
property containing a probable billion tons of ore
would appear to be unsuitably equipped if it had a
plant of only 100 tons per day capacity, and certainly,
on the basis of working out the mine in any reasonable
'life.' it would appear to be so; but. for the reasons
bound up in the contingent factors, above indicated, it
might be quite impossible efficiently to handle more
than 100 tons per day. In such a case, an equipment of
200 tons capacity would probably lead to inefficient
work in the attempt to keep that plant running full
time, and the residt would be disappointing from every
aspect. Apparently this is what bus happened in many
instances on the Rand. Shortness of labor, coupled
with other difficulties, has forced managers to resort
to all forms of expedients for keeping their mills run-
ning— the commonest evil being the inclusion of waste-
rock with the mill-ore. Waste not only costs just as
much to crush and treat as ore. but whereas it con-
tain! nothing when it comes to the mill, it has actua'ly
carried with it some of the precious metal when it is
finally dumped. It has, therefore, substantially
swelled the monthly statement of working expenditure,
and has simultaneously appreciably reduced the
revenue — both very undesirable results. Personally I
hold tlic opinion that it is largely for this reason that,
in several instances on the Rand, the increase of nulling
capacity h;is been attended with unsatisfactory results,
and the degree of the disappointment is only properly
realized when allowance is made for the amortization
50
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
of the additional amounts of capital involved. Take.
for instance, the case of a company crushing 300 tons
per day for 320 days per annum with a 20 years' life.
Assume it increases its capacity to 600 tons for an out-
lay of £120.000. Without charging any interest, this
sum would represent in its redemption an amount of
1.3 shillings for every ton of ore milled during the rest
of the life of the mine, and if a reasonable rate of com-
pound interest be allowed it becomes a correspondingly
more serious matter. Unless a mine is in a position
adequately to satisfy the demand for the larger ton-
nage, therefore, without undue strain at any point,
it cannot do it to advantage. Hoisting shafts, surface
and underground ore-stations, stope-faces, tram-levels,
breaker-stations, etc., are all called upon for extra duty,
and it has not infrequently occurred that, while the
treatment plant has had its capacity doubled, nothing
has been done relatively to increase the capacity at
other points, and the management immediately upon
starting its new equipment, has found itself in serious
trouble with no possibility of saving the situation ex-
cept by shutting down — a resort too alarming from the
stock market standpoint to be feasible. In shaft-work
alone the additional time required for introducing and
clearing the increased number of under-ground
laborers, and handling the extra amount of tools,
stores, etc.. is in itself an important matter — especially
in deep mines — that must be considered before the
question of handling extra milling and development
rock is solved.
Then again the demand for largely increased develop-
ment area and number of stope-faces has in many cases
not been properly met. In short, while every care has
been bestowed upon the reduction plant, the tendency
has been to neglect the more vital underground part,
with the result already indicated.
A legitimate increase in milling capacity, consistent
with the other features specified, must be beneficial to
the business side of the profit-and-loss account, but it
may easily be conceived from the foregoing remarks
that an ill considered, or one-sided increase, might not
only fail to secure any real benefit, but might even do
great and lasting injury: and when this was done
merely to follow out a fashion that had for its object
the automatic lowering of working cost, there is no
doubt that it was unprofitable.
Investors might therefore have been saved a large
amount of capital outlay that indirectly has had to
come from their pockets.
The Labor Shortage
The labor difficulty has -been more serious than is
realized by most people outside the Rand, and ever
since the repatriation of the Chinese, there has been a
shortage in the supply. It will be remembered that
at the end of the Boer war, there was a great deal of
optimism regarding the supply of native labor, and the
leaders of the industry, men of great experience, were
confident that with the declaration of peace would
come a big inflow of natives. In this they were disap-
pointed. When it became clear that the supply was
unequal to the demand, recourse was had to Chinese
labor. The initial cost of the introduction of this labor
was exceedingly heavy, first because of the stringent
regulations in regard to housing and feeding, and the
control generally, and. secondly, because of the inex-
perience of the eoolie in mining. No sooner had the
industry fought its way through these difficulties than
the Chinese labor question became a political gambling
counter, and most unjustly it was decreed that the
coolie must be repatriated. Thereupon the old diffi-
culty in regard to native labor was renewed, and the
industry suffered a serious misfortune, and incidentally
a number of the mines, whose equipment had been in-
creased on the assurance of a full labor supply, found
themselves unable to keep their mills adequately sup-
plied with clean milling ore. Wider stoping and the
more extended use of machine-drills were adopted to
meet the difficulty, with the results already indicated.
Unfortunately, the average width of the orebodies of
the Main Reef series is low. especially in the higher-
grade stopes. and the shattering effect of blasting
heavy machine-drilled holes inevitably led to the in-
clusion of much fine waste-rock that defied the closest
sorting operations.
The Interest Charge
From the financial aspect, the increase of milling
equipment necessitated the finding of large sums of
money and led to watering of capital on a big scale.
The money was either obtained by the issue of new
shares, or by borrowing at fairly heavy rates of interest.
In the former case, the dividends had to be distributed
over an increased share capital ; in the latter case,
profits had to be absorbed over long periods for re-
payment of the loan. Since the increased profits were
not commensurate with the redemption of the increased
capital, the shareholder naturally suffered. The issue
has been obscured, however, because of the practice of
declaring 'working profits' per ton — an arbitrary
figure that takes no cognizance of either capital
redemption or dividend distribution. A good deal has
been written on Rand methods of book-keeping, and it
has been shown* that on the monthly profits declared
by the various companies approximately only 60 to 80%
is actually distributed in dividends. Custom regulates
pratice in the matters, and once having begun the
policy of issuing this form of statement it became al-
most impossible to alter it. The term 'profit,' how-
ever, if it be rightly interpreted, permits of none of
these fanciful constructions, and the use of the word on
the Rand has, therefore, been incorrect and calculated
to mislead. Many mines have been in the habit of de-
claring 'monthly profits' when the amount of such
'working profit' would not nearly cover a conservative
contribution to the interest and redemption fund: in
other words, while declaring 'working profits' the
company was actually losing money. While there may
be. and doubtless is. much to be said from the financial
*In The Mining Magazine, for example.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
51
expediency point of view, in favor of running a 'work-
ing account' that makes no provision for capital re-
demption and that permits of independent current
capital account, there can be no argument as to what,
in the strict business sense, the practice should be. So
long, however, as custom permits, there is little
probability of a change.
Selective mining, like increased milling capacity is,
in principle, easily capable of abuse, although frankly,
I am of the opinion that for the Rami a little more of
is found in the deep levels today. In effect, therefore,
the average grade of the ore on these levels in compari-
son with the average grade down to the lowest worka-
ble depths would represent a selected product, or, in
other words, to reproduce the same average grade of
ore from the lower levels, would, under present condi-
tions, require a great deal more selection.
It has been argued, in fact, it is still argued by some,
that there is no diminution in the grade of Rand ores as
depth is attained, but the argument can hardly be sup-
HEAb-FRAME OK THE CASON MINE, EAST RAND PROPRIETARY, A TYPE OF THE NEWER CONSTRUCTION ON THE HAM).
the former and a lot less of tin- latter would, all things
being considered, have been better. So long as selective
mining is followed on the principle which has for its
foundation the desire to earn the maximum profit, and
into the calculation of which all those essential con-
siderations of capital redemption anil working ex-
peiidiencv are included, so long and so far- will it be
profitable. There can be no law laid down for its uni-
versal application, because the conditions are never
quite the same in any two mines, and each must be
figured out on its own merits.
In the earlier history of the Rand, and in the
shallower /one, nature had so arranged matters that in
most eases selective mining was imperative, that is to
say that owing to surface concentration, the proportion
of hiffb-frrade ore on the upper levels was greater than
ported by a reference to the facts, and indeed it re-
quires only a cursory study of the statistics over the
past few years to be satisfied on this point. On several
occasions lately I have not hesitated to express my
views in this connection in writing, and in 1011 P. II.
Hatch, the well known geologisl made the following
statement :
"I have not been able, with the material at my dis-
posal, to come to any definite conclusion on this point:
but I am inclined to the view that a general impoverish-
ment in depth does exist. It would lie quite possible,
from existing records and assay-plans, to settle^ this
really vital question; but hitherto no figures relating
thereto have ever been published by any of the big
hous >s. "
It is interesting to note that very recently one of the
52
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1U1A
largest of the groupsf on the Rand included in its
technical statements the following:
"There can be no doubt that there is a gradual fall-
ing off in the average values over large areas of the ore
developed as the deeper sections of the Rand are opened
up. and the time will come when the full importance of
considering every point which will tend to the lower-
ing of costs for the successful treatment of enormous
quantities of low-grade ore, will be realized by the
Government and the general public of South Africa at
large. This fall in average grade with depth at the in-
dividual mines has been shown to be true, not only by
the screen samples of the ore milled, and by the re-
tracted from the Chamber of Mines' past records, and
dealing with the dividends paid on the capitalization
of some of the most successful companies speak for
themselves :
Dividend return
Name of company. on capita!.
Ferreira 4415' ;
Crown Reef 2404*;
Johannesburg Pioneer 2107%
Wemmer 1237* •
Meyer & Charlton 1105<>;
Durban Roodepoort 1100'r
As evidence of the magnitude of the operations of
some of the companies, the following is interesting:
Issued
Name. capital.
Robinson £2,750,000
Village Main Reef 472,000
Crown Mines 940,106
East Rand Proprietary 2,445,897
Geldenhuis Deep 585,753
Randfontein Central 4,193,700
Simmer & Jack 3,000,000
Meyer & Charlton 200,000
Note: These are only some of the best; there are many others.
Tons
Gross
Value per
Dividends
crushed.
production.
ton.
distributed.
5,971,075
£17,378,969
58/3
£9,574,688
5,475,566
11,271,376
41/2
2,911,943
15,908,724
29,540,128
37/2
3,807,428
14,097,016
23,157,114
32/10
3,655,138
10,177,511
16,842,039
33/1
1,969,853
10,956,484
15,687,985
28/8
209,685
8,681,486
13,122,964
30/3
4,566,461
2,132,701
4,026,446
37/9
1,155.308
covery value per ton, but by the careful sampling and
assaying of level by level in each mine as greater depth
was reached, by careful sampling of stopes on each
level sending ore to the mill, and by the yearly recast
of the ore reserves in each mine."
The mere fact that high-grade ore is still found to
occur in the deep levels is of no weight in the argu-
ment. The question is one of average width and value
per foot of linear development, and the available evi-
dence of a gradually falling grade, so far as my infor-
mation goes, appears to be overwhelming. But, to my
mind, there is nothing extraordinary in this; on the
contrary, it is in keeping with all mining history, and
is, in the nature of things, to be expected. And surely
it is better to have had miles of high-grade ore-shoots
of lateral continuity than isolated and narrow ver-
tical shoots descending miles on the dip. The ques-
tion requires no discussion.
Out of a total production of £347.054.851 from 1887
to 1912, dividends amounting to £88.159.489 have been
paid, equivalent to about 25% of the gross production.
From 1890 to 1912 the world's production had risen
from £24,421,000 to £98,267,000. and of this latter figure
the Rand is responsible for roughly 40%. Of the total
increase in the year 1912, as compared with the year
1890, therefore, the Rand, single-handed, is responsible
for as much as the rest of the world put together — a
remarkable record truly, and it is difficult at the mo-
ment to see from what source any falling off from
the Rand is to be made good, for in the last few years
there has been such a dearth of new heavy producers
as to make the present outlook rather black.
Some of the individual performances of the Rand
mines have been splendid. The following figures, ex-
tConsolidated Gold Fields report by H. H. Webb of South
Africa.
In a comparison with other goldfields of the world
the Rand, considered as a whole, has no parallel, either
in the nature of its formation or its magnitude. True.
auriferous conglomerate occurs in several other locali-
ties in South Africa and also in the United states, but
only very limited areas have proved capable of being
worked at a profit. The mines of the Rand, with the
exception of the main east and west breaks, are divided
merely by boundary lines, and the Rand may be looked
upon as one immense mine, arranged for division of
ownership and convenience of working into a number
of small units. At Butte there is something of the sort
on a smaller scale in the copper mines : and at Pachuca
and other places in Mexico, in silver mines; and at
Kalgoorlie in gold mines; but there is nothing really
comparable with the Rand. Out of the first 60 gold
mines of the world over 30 are on the Rand.
I have been among those who have, in the past.
pointed out the advantages of having the mines tied one
to the other like a string of beads. The obvious ad-
vantages are so obvious that to think anything different
at this stage seems rather feeble. But. frankly. I
do not feel quite so sure about it. not that I dispute
the obvious advantages at all — they are actual without
a doubt — but I think that some of the disadvantages
that are not so obvious may be just as material or even
more so. "When two engineers are left to battle by
themselves with a given problem, it is possible that they
both may arrive at some original solution, but if the two
work together on it. the weaker or the less industrious
one may be tempted to lean on the other, or, for other
reasons, one of them may utterly fail where, if he had
been left with the responsibility, he might have accom-
plished something. A tour of inspection along the
mines of the Rand must impress even a casual observer
with the fact that there is a faithful reproduction of
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
53
method as between mine and mine. In fact, duplication
•rerywhere is so patent that the observer could not be
surprised to learn that the design had emanated from
a rery few individuals. This in itself might not always
be a bad thing, and assuming that the responsible men
in eharge of the laying out of the development and
equipment were invariably right, then there could be
no question as to the benefits of the system. But if
these men should have been obstinately wedded for
sentimental reasons to methods or designs that, from a
practical aspect, were opposed to the best knowledge
available in other parts of the world, persistence in such
an idea might conceivably cause an enormous amount
of useless expenditure. Furthermore, the policy of
leaving the responsibility of these things in the hands
of a few is apt to lead to the stultification of ideas on
the part of subordinate engineers.
Engineering Versus Profits
There can be no doubt that a great deal of excellent
work has been achieved on the Rand from the engineer-
ing standpoint, but it cannot be denied that the ex-
penditure on capital account has in many cases grown
out of all proportion to the real requirements, and to
some extent the proximity of the mines to each other is
responsible for them. While the metallurgists of the
Rand have been spending millions in covering large
areas with heavy, expensive, and cumbersome percola-
tion cyanide-plants, and decantation slime-plants,
other countries have been able successfully to evolve.
under much more trying conditions, and often with
meagre financial resources, new systems of treatment
on more complicated ores even with great profit. The
Rand, since the introduction of the cyanide process in
the early days, has done practically nothing to add to
the glory of engineering achievements. It has rather
followed a policy of sticking to the one old principle
and developing the details of that principle to the last
limit. In my opinion, and I share this with a great
many other engineers, the Rand might have saved itself
a large amount of capital outlay if it had adopted
immediately after the war, for the treatment of its
unusually simple clean ores what has been accepted all
the world over in the last ten years, namely, the one-
product one-treatment method. The real truth of this
matter is obscured by the fact that metallurgical work-
ing costs do not on the Rand take into account the
amortization of capital expenditure, and, therefore, no
matter how absurdly high that expenditure may have
been, the real meaning of it has not been realized. It
would be safe, however, to say that there are instances
on the Rand in which, if this principle be applied, the
redemption figure per ton treated would amount to al-
most as much as the stated figure of 'working cost,' and
it is just as real a figure, although not shown, as the
other one. If the mines of the Rand had been more
Isolated, individual effort would have been greater,
•ompetition keener, methods more original, expense
umeh less, and profit correspondingly much greater. I
am making no personal attack in these remarks, being
in many respects perhaps as responsible, and therefore
as blameworthy as many others, but I put it down to a
system that could only have arisen out of the proximity
of the mines.
In heading these notes 'The Decline of the Rand,' it
must not be inferred that I am pointing to any precipi-
tous ending of the industry; I believe firmly, as before
stated, that the Rand will die very hard, and, for many
many years to come, it will hold the place of pride in
the world's gold production. It is not possible, of
course, to foresee what new methods may arise in the
treatment of ores to lower the cost of production, but
it may be taken for certain that as the margin between
expenditure and revenue becomes narrower, so will the
effort to keep them apart increase, and ways and means
that are not known today will be born of necessity to
keep the industry still alive. It is fashionable to talk
about the possibility of treating the untold millions of
tons of ore lying in the Kimberley Reef series, and it
is a fact that even up to now this series has been able
to produce quite an appreciable tonnage of pay-ore.
There is always, however, a limit to what is feasible
under given conditions, and the one great limiting
factor of the Rand is the comparatively narrow average
stopable width. To get tonnage on narrow orebodies
means extensive development, and costly mining, and
even with heavy reductions in the cost of materials such
as explosives and so forth, one cannot at present see
that it can ever amount to enough to make 2 or 3 dwt.
ore cover all expenditure, and return a reasonable
interest on the money invested. Failing the discovery
of new deposits therefore, the end, though not in sight,
is within the limits of approximate calculation even
after liberally discounting for new unforeseen favorable
conditions.
Decline in Speculation
Probably the worst feature of the decline is that
speculative interest gradually dies out, and it is difficult
to interest the public sufficiently to get their purse-
strings loosened for new capital requirements.
With the channels of fresh capital dry, the encourage-
ment to lay out money on attempting new expedients
for the reduction of working costs is little, and those
now in financial control will probably be inclined
rather to keep down all new capital expenditure to the
narrowest limits, leaving the bulk of the present pro-
ducing mines to end their lives with the barest main-
tenance of their existing equipment. This, of course,
is always assuming, as before stated, that there is no
new and startling discovery of some unforeseen nature.
favorably affecting the question of working cost, be-
cause, after all, that is the crux of the whole of the
problem now facing the Rand. My summarized reading
of the indications is that the gross output, like the
dividends, will soon begin to decrease, and the drop
will be steady, though sure.
Finally, the Rand industry is like a great man who
even in bis declining years has still stood head and
shoulders above everybody.
54
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
Hydro and Pyro-Metallurgy of Copper in 1913
By Thomas T. Read
I. Hydro-metallurgy
It is somewhat illogical to place the discussion of
the hydro-metallurgy of copper before that of ordi-
nary smelting methods. But this reversal is perhaps
justified by the present keen interest in wet methods
for the extraction of copper from its ores, arising from
the necessity for devising some means to recover the
copper present in the form of oxidized minerals in
the enormous tonnages of low-grade ores now being
mined and milled in many different places. The ox-
ides, carbonates, and silicate of copper are all rebel-
lious both to ordinary wet concentration and to flota-
tion, and the use of hydro-metallurgical processes
seems the only possible means of effecting the recov-
ery of their copper content. The general criteria of
the hydro-metallurgy of copper has been discussed at
some length in these columns on several occasions,1 and
needs no further references. All the most promising
I'Wet Methods of Copper Extraction,' Editorial, Sept. 21,
1912; 'Sulphuric Acid Leaching,' Editorial, Aug. 16, 1913;
'Leaching of Copper Ores,' John Rooke-Cowell, Aug. 23, 1913.
of recent work has centred around leaching in sul-
phuric acid solution. The simplest method, to be ap-
plied on the largest scale, is that proposed for the
brochantite ore of the Chile Copper Co. at Chuquiea-
mata. This has already been described at some length,2
but may be summarized by saying that careful large-
scale experimental work done by E. A. C. Smith has
demonstrated that the copper content of this hydrous
sulphate of copper can be extracted by leaching the
ore, after crushing to 3-mesh, with 8 or 9% sulphuric-
acid solution. This is to be done in concrete vats hold-
ing 9000 tons each, and it is estimated that one day
will suffice for filling, two or three days for leaching
and washing, and one day for discharging, which is
to be done with clam-shell buckets. The copper in
the pregnant solution will be precipitated electrolyt-
ically. a 40.000-kw. generating station on the seaeoast
and a 100-mile transmission line being already under
construction. This ore contains no gold, silver, bis-
s'Leaehing of Copper Ores in Chile,' Editorial, Mining and
Scientific Press, June 21, 1913.
BRADEN MINE, MILLS, AND SMELTER, BANCAGUA, CHILE.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
55
muth, arsenic, or antimony and, being a sulphate, the
solution builds up in sulphuric acid, so that acid con-
sumption is nil. Small amounts of chlorides and ni-
trates are present and cause difficulties which have
been successfully overcome, but the means by which
this is done have not yet been disclosed.
Leaching work at the Braden has been delayed by
more urgent problems, and the necessity of using the
available electric energy for other purposes. E. A.
Cappelen Smith has recently described the proposed
process as follows: "The process decided on was
roasting of the concentrate in a Wedge furnace in such
a manner as to eliminate practically all of the sulphur
and at the same time oxidize all the iron to the ferric
state. The concentrate, after roasting, contained 2 to
3% sulphur, practically all in the form of sulphate.
15 to 18% copper, and about the same amount of iron,
of which only a very small amount was present in the
ferrous state. The roasted concentrate was leached
with dilute sulphuric acid, the leaching operation
being divided into two stages: first, neutralizing
leaching; second, acid leaching. The solution from tin-
neutralizing leaching was electrolysed direct, whereas.
the solution from the acid leaching was neutralized by
the following batch of calcines. Several teachings made
in the plant indicate an extraction of between !)0 and
95% of the copper present in the concentrate."
Leaching at Butte
The most interesting announcement of the year3 was
that roasting and leaching with sulphuric acid, follow-
ing a method devised by Frederick Laist, was to be
tested on a large scale for treating the tailing from
wet-concentration processes at Anaconda. An 80-ton ex-
perimental plant was constructed, and the results of
the first work were published4 during the summer.
As this paper is readily accessible and contains many
important details, it should be read by all. Briefly,
the process consists in drying the tailing from wet
concentration on the upper hearths of a McDougall
roaster, adding salt, and roasting at a low temperature
to keep down the volatilization of copper chloride and
the production of ferrites. The calcine is then leached
with sulphuric acid solution. Experimental work later
in the year has been highly successful. It was at first
proposed to precipitate the copper from this solution
by H2S, thus regenerating ILSO,. but more recent work
indicates the desirability of using an iron sponge pro-
duced by reducing 20-mesh calcine with coal dust in a
Mi'Dougall furnace. The sulphuric acid required for
leaching is to be made in lead chambers, from the SO,
gas obtained in roasting rich coarse concentrate, at an
estimated cost of $4 per ton. Tentative plans for a
2000-ton plant are well advanced. As a result of the
success of this work experiments along similar lines
are being made at several places.
In preceding years I have usually closed the dis-
lEditorlal, Mining and Scientific Press. May 3, 1913.
''Roasting and leaching Tailings at Anaconda,' Frederick
I.atst, Bull. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., July 1913.
CANAL, GATE sril.I.WAY, AND AUTOMATIC SPIIXWAT.
PENSTOCKS AND POWER-HOUSE, BRADEN MINE.
Hi
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
DAM AND INTAKE HOUSING, CACHAPOAL BIVEB; BRADEN POWEB PLANT.
eussion of this topic with an expression of hope that
by the following year details of the practical operation
of leaching plants would be available. That hope has
at last been rewarded, P. B. Peterson0 having pub-
lished descriptions of the Butte-Duluth and Bull-
whacker plants, which were erected at Butte last year.
It is to be deplored that these descriptions do not in-
clude any account of the numerous difficulties encoun-
tered in the early operation of these plants, as being
more helpful to operators elsewhere than the methods
found successful. These plants operate under special
conditions, in that they treat silicious ore compara-
tively free from the iron oxides present in ordinary
oxidized ores. The Butte-Dulnth plant is 100-ton and
40 Tun Iron Add Taak
36 Tun Storage Tank
Ueudrjr Agitator
Sod Wash Water j
Waah Water I
! r
felirnc tanks
1st Deoniit Solatia::
Eiect rulytiu Cells
i_t_
Barrel Irou Preeii'itator
btonewarc Lined
Centrifugal Pump
Legend
_____ bulpburie Acid
■».»« Water
Wash Water
Mill Halation
ORIGINAL FLOW-SHEET, BUTTE-DULUTH PLANT.
the Bullwhacker 125-ton. In the former the ore is
crushed, by gyratory and Symonds disc crushers, only
through a V_-in. screen ; in the latter it is reduced by
rolls until it passes 16 mesh. The V_-in. ore is dumped
into V-shaped leaching vats, provided with a filter
bottom of boards bored with %-in. holes. After leach-
ing with acid, the vats are discharged through doors
in the bottom. The solution is drawn from the
Tats allowed to settle, elevated to lead-lined tanks.
where it is heated to 60°C, and thence to the electro-
lytic cells. Each of these is 30 by 39 in. and 8 ft.
long, lined with hard lead, and provided with 20
anodes of hard lead, weighing 20 lb. per square foot.
The cathodes are ordinary starting sheets of copper.
The current density used is 12 to 13 amperes per square
foot, and the cathodes assay 99.96% copper, according
to Mr. Peterson. The present cost is estimated by him
as 14e. per pound of copper, but he thinks this can
be considerably reduced, as the sulphuric acid re-
quired now costs $27 per ton or 4%c. per pound of
copper produced. If locally manufactured on a large
scale, the sulphuric acid should not cost over l^_c
per pound of copper. The percentage of extraction on
the V_-in. ore was so low that it was necessary to
abandon that method and for a little over two months
now the following process is being successfully carried
on.
The Company is building at the present time a 1000-
ton dry-crushing plant to reduce the ore to 10 mesh.
This consists of swing- jaw crusher, intermediate
gyratory crusher, Symons disc crusher, rolls, and im-
pact screens. The dry ore is fed to a mixer with
Utin. tng. World, Sept. 6 (p. 423) and Oct. 4 (p. 585), 1913.
CENTRAL MONTANA.
.January 3. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
oi
approximately tour times its weight of 8 to 10% sul-
phuric acid which discharges to a Dorr classifier,
which is the first of a series of 6 arranged in such
a manner that the sand will discharge from, one
into the next. Various times of contact with the
acid in the first four Dorr classifiers were tried out and'
it was found that approximately 40 minutes gave an
extraction between 85 and 90%. The last two classifiers,
No. 5 and 6, in the series, are used for washing. The
overflow from No. 5 is used to make up for the loss of
acid in the strong acid solution.
The overflow from No. 1 classifier carries off
approximately about 13% of the total weight of ore as
slime. This, as well as the overflows from classifiers
2. 3. and 4 are run to the acid leaching-tanks in the bot-
tom of which is a layer of crushed ore to act as a filter.
The underflow from these filters passes to the electro-
lytic cells and on to the strong acid storage-tanks
where the solution is brought up. This method of run-
ning the slime to the acid leaching-tanks is only tempor-
ary as later on it is intended to recover the dissolved
copper content by passing this pulp through a series of
Dorr continuous thickeners operated so as to give
counter-current washing.
Handling Acid Solutions
The second water wash, which is applied to the last
classifier, goes to scrap iron precipitation. The sand
discharged from the classifiers approximates 18 to 20';;
■moisture. No. 1 classifier in the series is a machine
30 ft. long by 4 ft. <i in. wide. The rest of the classifiers
are of standard duplex size. 15 ft. long by 4 ft. 6 in.
wide. These machines are built with wooden boxes and
all moving parts that coifle in contact with the acid.
also built of wood (hard maple). Tin- wear of the
wooden teeth is surprisingly small, but experimentation
has shown that plate glass teeth are the proper thing
to use here, and will be installed in any future classi-
fiers built for this purpose. This scries of 6 classifiers
is operating at the present time and has a capacity of
approximately 200 to 220 tons per 24 hours.
The Dorr Cyanide Machinery Co. is building another
series of 5 machines each 30 ft. long by 8 ft. wide, which
should have a capacity of 400 to 500 tons of ore per day.
At the present time strong acid solution is being added
with the ore to No. 1 classifier, but later on this practice
will be altered and the overflow from No. 5 Dorr classi-
fier will be mixed with the dry ore; the advantage of
this being that the strong solutions can be kept from
coming in contact with the slime, the weak acid solution
not taking iron and aluminum into solution so
readily as the strong. All solutions in the plant are
kept at approximately 55° ('. The cost of this in the
northern winter climate is likely to form a considerable
item of the total working cost.
At the Bullwhacker plant, which is near by, the
ore, crushed to 16 mesh, is agitated with 10% H,S04
solution, 2 tons of solution to 1 of ore, in a Hendryx
agitator. This agitator is to be replaced by Dorr clas-
sifiers when the plant is enlarged. The effluent solu-
tion, containing as much as 4 to 5% copper, is de-
canted from settling tanks, and sent to electrolytic
cells which differ from those previously described in
being circular, 9 ft. in diameter and 5 ft. deep, hold-
ing 24 cathodes. About half of the copper content
of the solution is deposited electrolytically, and it then
goes back to be used for further leaching. The cost
of production of copper is here also about 14c. per
pound.
Difficulties in Leaching
The difficulties of the method employed in these two
mills are. perhaps, not unnaturally, not discussed at
length. They may be summarized as follows: fine
crushing is necessary in order that the copper miner-
als shall be completely soluble, but leads to the pro-
duction of colloids ('slime') which make the solution
cloudy and difficult to settle. It is. of course, impos-
sible to deposit a pure cathode from a solution con-
taining impurities. The leached ore is difficult to wash
for the same reason, and also because the use of wash-
water involves the discharge of solution, which car-
WaUr Tank
Leaching
T
funk i
^-i-
1 :
| Bor»n Irw I'reooiui
Cells
n
: AoiJ fori
r.ibatloo I
Legend
Mill Solution
Waal) Water
_— Bvlvhurk Acid
FLOW-SHEET, BULLWHACKEB PLANT.
ries away with it not only the expensive sulphuric acid
but copper as well. This copper can be precipitated
on iron, but the consumption of iron by the acid cuts
down the net return. The difficulties and excessive
consumption of energy in precipitating copper electro-
lytically when using an insoluble anode are too well
known to need repetition. Here the resistance of
the solution has been decreased by preheating it. and
its conductivity is kept as high as possible by only
precipitating half of the copper present. At several
other mines, notably the Nevada-Douglas, preparations
are being made for the construction of similar plants,
but it is not to be expected that these can be put into
operation without first solving local problems.
At nearly every important copper mine in the West
some member of the chemical or metallurgical staff is
58
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
studying hydro-metallurgical problems in the light of
local conditions. The work at the Shannon, Calumet
& Arizona (Ajo), Arizona Copper, and Braden mines
was described in my review for last year, and no re-
ports of progress have since been given out. At the
Keystone and Inspiration, both a Miami, interesting
work is being done. J. Parke Channing has described
this work in the Bulletin of the Mining and Metallurgi-
cal Society of America. R. C. Canby, at the Keystone,
suggests the possibility of using cast-iron hearths as
at the Steptoe Valley smelting plant, later mentioned,
in the McDougall roasting furnaces, so that the fuel
used on one hearth would better heat those above. He.
proposes to use a special design of burner which will
permit the use of oil as a fuel along with the main-
taining of a low temperature on the hearth. At the
Copper Queen the leaching of low-grade ores is also
being studied.
Leaching at Ray
W. Y. Westervelt describes in some detail, in the
November Bulletin of the Mining and Metallurgical
Society, the following record of a 33-day test on the
average ore at the Ray mine in Arizona.
"The ore in the vats at the beginning of the tests was
carefully sampled and assayed by the vat. That added
during the test wfes weighed, sampled, and assayed by
the vat charges of 200 lb. each. Tailing rejected during
the test was sampled, and assayed by the vat dis-
charged. The ore remaining in the vats at the end of
the test was sampled and assayed by the vat.
"At the beginning of the tests the solutions in the
vats were carefully drawn off, measured, and sampled.
The same was done independently with that in the
electrolytic tank, and again independently with that
in the storage tanks. All acid added ' (commercial
66° B. sulphuric acid) was carefully weighed as added.
Additions of water were measured, the condition of the
solution was daily determined by assay, and on com-
pletion of the test, complete measurement and assay was
again resorted to.
"The electrolytic copper was deposited on copper
cathodes previously made from the Ray ore by strip-
ping the deposition on rolled copper sheets. These
cathodes were removed and weighed daily. The voltage
maintained at the tank was determined hourly by a
Weston voltmeter capable of being read to 0.01 volt.
The amperes were determined both by hourly readings
of a Weston ammeter and by checking against the daily
weighings of a standard copper voltmeter.
"The heating was done solely in the leaching vats by
means of closed lead-pipe coils placed in the bottoms.
Steam was supplied to these coils from a main line run-
ning over the five vats and the condensed water was all
secured by connecting the ends of the coils with the
main drain pipe, the latter itself discharging into a
measuring can. The steam supply was regulated by a
valve to each coil, as was also the discharge into the
drain pipe, by another valve. The drain pipe itself, in
which the condensed water accumulated, was kept
closed by a valve so that no uncondensed steam could
escape.
"The ratio of volume to surface of the vats employed
was 3.03. while that of 26-ft., 100-ton vats is 0.487, or
less than 1/6. In other words, the heat radiating and
conveying surface of the experimental plant was over
six times as great proportionately as would be that of a
100-ton vat plant. Again, the evaporative surface of an
operating plant would not be 14 as great proportion-
ately as that of the experimental plant, while a con-
siderable part of the steam condensing surface in the
experimental plant was outside the vats, thus doing no
MAP OF ARIZONA.
work, while registering as condensed steam. Due
allowance was accordingly made for these which may be
summarized as below :
Copper deposited, total run 40. 2S lb.
Copper deposited, per diem 1.22
Amount ore in vats 1000.00
Copper deposited per diem, per ton in vats
(0.122%) 2.44
Days required to extract 40 lb. per ton 16.4 days
Acid consumed 91.4 lb.
Acid consumed per pound copper deposited. . 2.27
Ampere-hours consumed 22.382
Ampere-voltage 1.7
Kilowatt-hours 38.0494
Kilowatt-hour per pound copper 0.945
Ampere-hours consumed per pound copper. . . . 556.0
Steam condensed per pound copper deposited. 33.0 lb.
Extraction 809}
Average temperature of vats 72CC.
Assay of tailing 0.39J-
The Bradley leaching plant at Anaconda has
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
59
closed down, having proved a failure. The various
other patented processes seem not to have made much
headway during the year. The McKay process, which
is now being developed by Archibald Carmichael, was
under investigation by important interests, but it is
reported that negotiations have been dropped. The
owners of the Alexander process are carrying on ex-
periments, but have made no report of progress. The
same may be said of the Kobertson process. The Irving
process is elsewhere described by L. S. Austin. The
leaching of the copper contained in the burned cinder
from sulphuric acid making is being done in a num-
ber of places, but is quite a different operation from
the leaching of raw or roasted ore. In the precipita-
tion of copper from mine-water, J. W. Richards has
suggested that if the scrap iron used for this pur-
pose were laid upon sheets of copper, a galvanic couple
would be established and the surface of the iron kept
cleaner and consequently more efficient. It is proposed
to use sponge iron for this purpose in place of the
usual scrap iron, but the experiment has not yet been
made. In conclusion, it may be said that the experi-
mental work at Anaconda has demonstrated the possi-
bility of roasting sulphide tailing at a low cost, and
the leaching plants at the Bullwhacker and Butte-
Duluth have demonstrated the practicability of sul-
phuric acid leaching and electrolytic precipitation for
oxidized silicious ores, with prospects of attaining a
low cost. It must not be forgotten, however, that
local conditions create fresh problems at each mine.
II. Pyro-Metallurgy
The year 1913 has been made notable in copper met-
allurgy by the great number of important papers on
that subject which were called out. largely through
the efforts of B. B. Thayer and C. W. Goodale. in con-
nection with the meeting of the American Institute
of Mining Engineers. These papers contain so much
of interest that it is impossible in the space available
to discuss them in any detail. In blast-furnace smelt-
ing. J. A. Church, Jr.,* has described the development
of the blast-furnace at Great Falls. Montana, to a
width of 7 ft. R. P. Roberts7 has discussed the ther-
mal effect of blast-furnace jackets. The problems of
blast-furnace smelting at high altitudes has been dis-
cussed by Vincente Pazos y Sacio.8 who points out
how the decrease in pressure due to altitude decreases
the temperature of combustion within the furnace so
that "oxidizing smelting in Peru today is nothing but
pot-roasting carried to fusion at the expense of fuel."
He suggests the use of back pressure on the blast-
furnace, hot blast, and the reducing to a minimum of
radiation and conduction losses. Herbert Lang has dis-
cussed" the possibility of the use of crude oil in blast-
furnace smelting, but no new experimental data have
been made public during the year. The use of electric
'Bull. Amer. Inst. Mln. Eng., July 1913.
'Bull. Amer. Inst. Mln. Eng., July 1913.
'School of Mine* Quarterly, July 1913.
"Mining and Scientific Press. Feb. 8 and July 12, 1913.
furnaces in the smelting of copper ores is being ex-
haustively studied by the United States Bureau of
Mines, and D. A. Lyon and R. M. Keeney, who are in
charge of this investigation, presented a preliminary
paper10 at the Montana meeting of the Institute, and
a general discussion of much interest before the Den-
ver meeting of the Electrochemical Society.11 I have
already discussed12 this at some length. The met-
allurgical profession is greatly indebted to the Bureau
of Mines for undertaking the study of so timely a
topic upon a scale which would not be practicable in
connection with ordinary metallurgical operations
Roasting
Two important papers on roasting have appeared
during the year. S. S. Sorensen has described13 the
roasting practice at the Steptoe Valley plant, where,
in order to economize on the heat balance when roast-
ing concentrate low in sulphur, air cooling was substi-
tuted for water by boring holes in the rabble arms and
blowing air through them, at 2y2-in. pressure, by the
aid of a fan. Oil-firing was substituted for coal, and
the lowest hearth was made of cast iron. As a result
of these improvements the tonnage roasted was raised
from 50 per day to over 100. These are 18-ft. Mc-
Dougall furnaces. F. R. Corwin and S. S. Rogers have
described14 the carefully conducted experiments by
which the tonnage of the 16-ft. Evans-Klepetko fur-
naces at the Great Falls smelter was increased from
45 to over 100 per day, the limit being apparently the
mechanical strength of the apparatus. This paper is
full of valuable experimental data and should be con-
sulted by everyone interested. I can only mention a
few interesthig points. The tests were first directed to
merely increasing the tonnage roasted per furnace day,
and it was found that this could be doubled by sup-
plying sufficient oxygen, regulating the heat so the
furnace would not get too hot, and by regulating the
drop-hole area so as to avoid too great concentration
of heat and too high a velocity of the gases through the
drop-holes, which leads to the building up of heavy
crusts on the roof of the hearths. The maximum pro-
portion of screened raw ore to concentrate was then
studied. By the use of compressed air. blown in
through small pipes placed beneath the roof of the
fourth and fifth hearths, and about HVr of slack coal
mixed with the ore in the feed hoppers, raw ore con-
taining 171/A% sulphur could be roasted without the
addition of any high-sulphur concentrate. The next
investigation was directed at decreasing the amount of
Hue-dust made in roasting, with the result that by prop-
erly proportioning the drop-holes and by using 'spark-
10'Smelting of Copper Ores in the Electric Furnace,' Bull.
Amer. Inst. Min. Eng.. August 1913.
'1'Possible Applications of Electric Furnaces to Western
Metallurgy.' read before Denver meeting of the American
Electrochemical Society; see Mining and Scientific Press.
Nov. 1 and Dec. 20.
"Editorial, Mining and Scientific Press. Nov. 1.
iafc'n(7. rf Min. Jour.. June 25, 1913.
"Bull. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., July 1913.
«*
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 8, 1914
catchers' to prevent incrustations on the hearth roofs,
the amount of Hue-dust made was reduced from 18%
to about 10% of the weight of the charge. Finally, re-
inforced concrete was substituted for brick in the
hearth construction, with the result that repairs were
greatly decreased, and incrustations were more easily
removed.
In the field of reverberatory smelting, the most im-
portant paper of the year is that of S. S. Sorensen,15
who has given the result of a 3-months' comparative
test of Sterling and Babcock & Wilcox boilers for the
recovery of the waste heat of the gases in reverbera-
tory smelting. This test showed that although the
Sterling boiler is much more easily cleaned, the Bab-
cock & Wilcox gives nearly 20% greater efficiency as
a result of better arrangement of the tubes. I have
already reviewed10 reverberatory smelting practice in
the southwestern United States and will not again re-
fer to it here. (Since this was written the reverbera-
tory furnaces at the Calumet & Arizona and Arizona
Copper smelters have been blown in, but none of the
results attained have as yet been made public.) The
substitution of coal-fired for gas-fired reverberatories
at the Great Falls smelter is in progress, but none of
the furnaces have yet been blown in. Presumably some
interesting new data on reverberatory smelting will be
available next year. As usual, L. D. Ricketts has given
interesting data in his annual report of the operations
of the Cananea Consolidated Copper Co. During 1912
the smelter handled 653,595 tons of new copper-bearing
material at a cost of $2.48 per ton. The reverberatory
furnace handled 145,970 tons (62,147 tons flue-dust,
52,541 calcine, and 31,282 tons Miami concentrate) at
a net smelting cost of $1.66 per ton. The average
charge per furnace day was 223 tons. These furnaces
are 19 by 100 feet.
Sintering
In regard to the handling of fine ore, there is a ten-
dency toward the increased use of Dwight & Lloyd sin-
tering machines, good results in handling the sulphide
in this way having been attained at the plants of the
Tennessee Copper Co., which is using three machines,
the Cerro de Pasco, which has six, and the Tacoma and
Trail smelters, which have two each. The Mond Nickel
Co. has recently started a single machine on its fine
ore. The use of these machines to sinter flue-dust was
discussed in my review of the subject for last year.
R. L. Lloyd has published17 an interesting discussion of
the criteria of sintering at high altitudes, and brings
out the interesting fact that at 14,000 ft. elevation ore
carrying as high as 25% sulphur can be sintered with-
out the generation of excessive heat. It is also inter-
esting to notice that at the new Arizona Copper plant
two mixing cones18 will be used to mix fine silicious
^Mining and Scientific Press, Oct. 11, 1913; see comment
by Hervey Gulich, Mining and Scientific Press, Nov. 23.
■'"■'Copper Smelting Practice in the Southwest.' Mining and
Scientific Press, Oct. 4, 1913.
'^Mining and Scientific Press. June 14, 1913.
^Mining and Scientific Press. Dec. 13.
material with converter slag before sending them both
to the reverberatory furnaces. In this way the excess
iron in the converter slag is to be made to serve as a
flux for the excess silica of the fine. Converter slag
continues to be a bugbear and nearly everybody pours
it back into the reverberatory furnace or through the
blast-furnace settler so 'that it will not hurt the pro-
fessional pride of the technical staff, as it would do if
allowed to run directly to waste. Where converter
slag can be chilled and added to the blast-furnaces it
doubtless serves as a flux, but, except for keeping the
charge easily fusible, its rehandling offers little.
Converting
Converter practice has changed little during the year,
except that at the plants where converters of the Great
Falls type have recently been constructed the workmen
and technical staff have learned by experience the de-
tails of their control. The Pierce-Smith converter has
apparently regained some of the regard which it seemed
about to lose last year, and in several plants very good
results have been attained by its use. Converter prac-
tice at Great Falls has been described by A. E. Wheeler
and M. W. Krejci.19 This should be read by every cop-
per metallurgist. In the following discussion a number
of other important points were brought out by other
metallurgists. E. P. Mathewson20 described the develop-
ment of the basic-lined converter and Ralph Baggaley*1
controverts his statements. It seems but just to believe
that Mr. Baggaley should have the credit for first suc-
cessfully maintaining a basic lining and supplying the
necessary silica by the addition of ore, but his work
was so mingled with financial disaster and the use of
impractical forms of equipment that there will always
exist a difference of opinion as to whether he made a
success or a failure. None of those who developed the
basic-lined converter perceived, until after success had
been attained, that the essential feature is to use a
large enough mass of matte so that its temperature can
be maintained and controlled. In an interesting re-
view of the development of converter practice,22 Her-
bert Haas has pointed out that Paul David deserves
equal credit with Pierre Manhes for the first successful
work in producing copper from matte in a converter.
and draws attention to the fact, too often overlooked.
that Hollway, in his classic experiments, was not at-
tempting to make copper from matte, but to smelt
sulphide ores without the use of fuel. Hollway should
therefore be regarded as the pioneer in pyrite smelting,
rather than in converter practice.
Smelting Mixed Sulphides
The treatment of complex mixtures of copper and
zinc sulphides has been described at some length" by
n>B«n. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Aug. 1913.
=oBttH. Amer. Inst. Min Eng., July 1913.
-'BwH. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Nov. 1913.
—'Development of Converter Practice,' Mining *nH Scien-
tific Press, Oct. 25, 1913.
^Mining and Scientific Press, April 12, 1913; Dull. Amer.
Inst. Win. Eng., Aug. 1913.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
61
S. E. Bretherton, who proposes to use, at Ingot, Shasta
county, California, the Schnabel process of extracting
zinc as oxide from the roasted ore by the use of am-
monia and carbonic acid, smelting the leached ore in
a reverberatory furnace. H. 0. Hofman has pointed
out24 that this process was tried at Lautenthal, in the
Harz mountains, and at Hoboken-les-Anvers. with the
result that it was found impossible to compete with re-
tort distillation. W. McA. Johnson has announced the
successful conclusion of a large amount of experi-
mental work which he has done at Hartford. Connecti-
cut, in developing a continuous zinc furnace in which
the zinc is distilled off. while the copper or lead present
is drawn off as matte or bullion. It is expected that
one of these will be put in operation in California
during the coming season, and the comparative results
of the two methods will be watched with the keenest
interest.
Smelter Fume
The event of the year in advancing toward the solu-
tion of the smelter fume problem was the announce-
ment" that the Hall process for the roasting of sul-
phides without the production of S02 was to be tried
at the smelter of the First National Copper Co.. Shasta
county. California. This process consists in so con-
trolling the temperature and admission of oxygen and
steam into a roasting furnace of the McDougall type
that the metals are oxidized while the sulphur is not.
but distilled off and caught as flowers of sulphur. The
early experiments were handicapped by troubles with
the gas-producers used for making gas from crude oil.
but these have been overcome and the outlook for
eventual success seems bright. J. Nelson Nevius has
published2" a thoughtful study of the conditions in
Shasta county. California, made for the Los Angeles
Chamber of Mines and Oil. Edgar M. Dunn has de-
scribed27 the methods for the determination of the gases
and dust in smelter flues in an important paper. James
p]lton28 described the methods of the recovery of As,0:,
from flue-dust practised at Anaconda, and C W. Good-
ale and J. H. Klepinger have published2" a detailed de-
scription of the Great Falls flue system and chimney,
which is full of interesting details. The metallography
of refined copper has been discussed by E. S. Bard-
well.30 The electrolytic refining of copper is mentioned
elsewhere in this issue.
Actual progress, it is but fair to say. in the metal-
lurgy of copper has probably not been much more rapid
this year than in preceding ones, but the year has been
made a red-letter one by the generous way in which
metallurgists have contributed from their experience
to advance the general good.
i*Bull. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Nov. 1913.
^Mining and Scientific Press. July 5, 1913.
?«Mining and Scientific Press. March 8. 1913.
"Bull Amer. Inst. Mln. Eng.. Aug. 1913.
!»/Wd.
"Ibid.
T'/6i(f.. July 1913.
Electrometallurgy in 1913
By G. A. Roush
The advances in the various lines of electrometal-
lurgy are so numerous, so diverse, and so widely scat-
tered in the literature, that in the preparation of a
review of this kind, all one can hope to do is to select
some of the more striking discoveries in the more
important fields to serve as illustrations of the gen-
eral trend of the industry. What the breadth of these
advances has amounted to. as measured from time
to time, can probably be fully appreciated only when
one considers the enormous development of electro-
metallurgy as it stands today, and measures up against
it the comparatively short span of years through which
this development has extended. By thus setting up
the milestones, as it were, one secures a better idea
of the general perspective into which this brief sketch
of recent progress must fit.
Copper
So far as the current literature shows, there are
no copper ores being treated at the present time in
the electric furnace in this country. Trial smeltings
of copper in a 1000-hp. furnace with an estimated
production of 2000 tons per year have been reported
from the lien Smelting Works at Trondhjem, Norway,
but no detailed data concerning these experiments
have been found.
An article in Eler. Iter. Went. Eler.' describes electric
copper smelting tried at Globe. Arizona. Test runs
showed an extraction of 98% of the copper con-
tent of the ores. The furnace was of the vertical-
shaft resistance type, 6 ft. in height, and lined with
magnesia bricks. The opening of the furnace was 22
in. diameter at the top and 20 in. at the bottom, with
a 5-in. Acheson graphite electrode swung at the top
and a stationary electrode fixed at the bottom. Heat-
ing was started by an arc. and continued as. resist-
ance heating as soon as the charge was sufficiently
melted. The power required was :tt00 kw-h. per ton
of charge.
Stephan2 gives an account of experiments on the
reduction of copper and nickel in furnaces similar to
the Girod steel furnace. It was attempted to reduce
a copper oxide ore high in silica and carrying some
iron and cobalt, using solid carbon as a reducing
agent, and limestone as a flux. A continuous run of
several days resulted in a power consumption of 1000
to 1200 kw-h. per ton of ore. This figure is high on
account of the high temperature required to keep the
very viscous slag fused. With a more easily fluxed
ore, the power consumption was as low as 500 kw-h.
Charcoal, coke, and anthracite, to the extent of 25%
of the copper in the charge, were all used successfully
as reducing agent. The pig copper produced carried
■Volume 63, page 636.
2MetaV u. Erz. Vol. 10. pp. 11-17. 84-86: Met. Chem. Eng..
Vol. 11, pp. 22-23.
62
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
65 to 95% Cu, 1 to 21% Fe, and 1 to 11% CO, depend-
ing on the temperature conditions in the furnace. The
lower the temperature, the smaller was the amount
of impurities reduced, but the larger the loss in un-
reduced copper.
Lyon and Keeney3 report a series of experiments
on the smelting of copper in the electric furnace. Ex-
periments on sulphide ores, where the smelting con-
sists simply in melting down the ore, volatilizing out
sulphur, and separating the slag and matte, indicated
that in a furnace of commercial size the power con-
sumption would be about 480 kw-h. per ton of ore for
a low-grade ore producing a matte carrying 1.22% Cu.
There was some loss of silver by volatilization, but
very little gold or copper. The authors conclude that
the smelting can be done as efficiently in the electric
furnace as in the reverberatory or blast-furnace, and
the desired reactions can be carried out as satisfac-
torily.
This does not include patents granted on a number
of different forms of electric furnace, and various
electrometallurgical processes, concerning which noth-
ing is known outside of the patent claims.
On the whole, the problem of the electric furnace
reduction of copper seems now to be on about the
same ground as the electric furnace reduction of iron
was a few years ago. It is largely a question of the
substitution of electric heating for carbon heating,
which means that it is largely a question of the com-
parative cost, at a given locality, of electricity and
coal or coke, and the relative efficiency with which
they can be utilized. The electric furnace under
these conditions is not the competitor of the combus-
tion furnace, but a substitute for the combustion fur-
nace under certain conditions.
Electrolytic Refining
Burns4 describes experiments on the electrolytic re-
fining of copper precipitate anodes. About 1400 tons
of copper precipitate was melted down in the rever-
beratory furnace, about 25% of the charge being an-
ode scrap, etc. The results showed that wire bar cop-
per could be produced from these anodes at a current
density of 17 to 18 amperes per square foot, while
ingot grade copper is produced at a current density
of 33 to 35 amperes per square foot.
Peterson5 describes the leaching process of the Butte
& Duluth Mining Co., Butte, Montana. These ores are
oxidized varieties, carrying about 2% Cu, readily sol-
uble in dilute sulphuric acid. Leaching with 10%
acid for 24 hours dissolves the copper from the ore,
and the acid solution is then electrolyzed, recovering
the copper and regenerating the acid, which can then
be used for further leaching, after the addition of
sufficient acid to restore the original concentration,
and make up for losses throughout the process. This
■'Bull. No. 80, Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., pp. 2117-2149.
*Bull. No. 79, Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., pp. 1163-7; Min. Eng.
World. Vol. :',9. pp. 469-70.
*Min. Eng. World, Vol. 39, pp. 423-5.
amounts to about S1/^ lb. of acid per pound of copper
recovered. The power used is about 1 kw-h. per
pound of copper. The copper produced analyzes about
99.96% pure.
Then there is the sulphatizing roasting of copper
ores, followed by leaching and electro-deposition. Sul-
phide copper ores are roasted under conditions giving
a maximum formation of sulphate. In this way 93 to
95% of the copper content of the ore can be made
soluble in dilute sulphuric acid. The acid leach solu-
tion is then electrolyzed for the recovery of the cop-
per and the regeneration of the acid, which can then be
used for further leaching.
Zinc
Of all the different metals that are being treated by
electro-metallurgical processes, probably none has been
the subject of more discussion than zinc. Iron and
steel take precedence over zinc only in the importance
of the greater tonnage involved. Zinc secures this
attention because of the proportionately small amount
of progress that has been made in recent years along
the lines of the present standard methods of treating
zinc ores, and the possibility, not only of developing a
process that can be run at a better efficiency than the
present pyro-metallurgical methods, but also the possi-
bility of securing a method of treating ores that can-
not be treated at all by the present methods. And it is
in this latter field that the electro-metallurgy of zinc
promises the most satisfactory returns, at least for
the immediate future. Numerous patents on furnaces
and processes have been granted during the past year,
but as little is known concerning most of these, be-
yond the claims stated in the patent, I will confine
myself to the various publications of the past year
giving the results of experimental work and informa-
tion in regard to the general condition of the electro-
metallurgical side of the zinc industry.
Uebbing0 describes two methods of working a zinc-
bearing burned pyrite. The first method was by
a reducing smelting in an electric furnace, using CaO
to assist in slagging the sulphur. Most of the zinc
was volatilized from the charge, and the iron was
obtained as pig iron. In order not to have too much
sulphur in the pig iron, it would be necessary to reduce
the sulphur in the raw material to less than one per
cent. The second method consisted in reducing the
sulphur by further roasting, briquetting the pulverized
material with tar or pitch, and heating. A prelim-
inary baking produced a part reduction, and subse-
quent heating in a vacuum furnace at 1000 to 1100°
reduced all the iron and distilled out the zinc.
On account of the low cost of power, the Scandina-
vian countries have progressed further in the commer-
cial application of electric zinc-smelting than have any
of the other countries. There is one plant in Sweden,
one in Norway, and it has been recently reported that
a plant has been started in Finland, using 2500 hp.,
«Metall u. Erz. Vol. 10, pp. 1 and 607-611.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
63
which is to be later increased to 6000 hp. In the Aus-
tralian Mining Standard7 it is stated that the Sulphide
Corporation has constructed at Cockle Creek, New
South Wales, a 500-hp. electric furnace for the elec-
tric smelting of zinc, combined with the manufacture
of sulphuric acid and superphosphate.
A recent report of the directors of the Hydraulic
Power & Smelting Co., Ltd., gives the following infor-
mation in regard to Scandinavian zinc smelting. The
capacity of the works at Sundlokken (Sharpsborg),
Norway, has been increased from 8000 to 10.000 tons
per year, and contracts for the sale of the entire com-
ing year's production have been made under terms
giving a satisfactory profit. The erection and equip-
ment of a new plant at Trollhattan, Sweden, is being
pushed as rapidly as possible, and 13 furnaces of 1000
hp. and 8 of 500 hp. have been installed. Five more
1000-hp. furnaces will be built.
The problem of electric zinc-smelting is being stud-
ied in Canada under the direction of Stansfield and
Ingalls, under a grant from the Canadian Government,
but too recent publications have been made by them.
The leading investigators in this country are Johnson
and Peterson, both of whose processes are described
in considerable detail in papers presented at the
Denver meeting of the American Electrochemical So-
ciety, September 1913.8
Zinc Smelting Near
While there have been no radical improvements in
the various processes for the electric smelting of zinc
during the past year, the gradual advance of the ex-
perimental and semi-commercial processes that are be-
ing tried out seems to lead to the conclusion that for
complex ores, where the recovery of the zinc must be
accompanied by the simultaneous recovery of copper,
lead, silver, and gold, electric smelting processes show
decided possibilities. After considering the various
sides of the question, Ingalls comes to the conclusion
that if the zinc can be smelted with an expenditure
of not more than 1200 kw-h. per ton of ore. the elec-
tric smelting processes will become a possibility worth
considering. Johnson, in the article cited above, pub-
lishes values of kilowatt-hours per ton ranging from
1100 to 1700, and expects to secure still better results
with further development of his process, and, with
larger size furnaces, Peterson figures on a basis of
1400 kw-h. per ton of ore.
All things considered, the electric smelting of zinc
seems to be a commercial possibility of the near fu-
ture. The fact that the zinc can be reduced, and that
the other metals of the ore can be satisfactorily recov-
ered, have been already shown. The principal things
remaining to be done are, first, to control the con-
densation of the zinc vapor so that a satisfactory per-
centage of it is condensed as metallic zinc, instead
of blue powder, and second, to control the furnace
operation so that the cost of replacing electrodes does
'May 22, 1913, abst. Met. Chem. Eng., Vol. 11, p. 463.
'Tram. Amer. Electrochem. Soc, Vol. 24.
not exceed the present cost for retorts and condensers.
Iron and Steel
The electric reduction of iron is certainly no longer
in the experimental stage. It is meeting the require-
ments in the localities where it has been introduced,
and for some uses the electric furnace produces a
more suitable metal than the blast-furnace. For ex-
ample, electric-furnace pig iron can be made much
lower in impurities than ordinary blast-furnace pig
iron, which makes it much easier to convert into
steel in the open-hearth furnace.
The electric iron-smelting furnace at Trollhattan
has, according to a writer in Engineering," been modi-
fied to use round electrodes 600 mm. in diameter, and
an apparatus has also been added to purify the gas
by washing. The furnace used 1749 kw-h. to produce
1000 kg. of iron, an efficiency of 74.39%. The con-
sumption of charcoal is only 35 to 45% of that re-
quired in the blast-furnace. From results secured at
Trollhattan it appears that the electric furnace is sub-
ject to greater variations than a well run blast-furnace
and that the sulphur content of the iron is higher.
As a result of the successful operation of the Troll-
hattan furnace, three other furnaces have been built
in Sweden, the four using 12,000 hp. ; in Norway there
is one 3500-hp. furnace in operation, and three 3000-
hp. furnaces are under construction ; in Switzerland
a 2500-hp. furnace is being built; these, with the two
California furnaces, one of 2000 hp. and the other of
3000 hp.. make a total of 32,000 hp. for use in the
electric reduction of iron.
Lyon10 compares Scandinavian practice with the
electric iron furnace with California practice. The
main differences are that in California no attempt
is made to secure any reduction in the stack of the
furnace, there is no circulation of the furnace gases,
and the limestone used is calcined outside of the fur-
nace. Further details on the operation of the Cali-
fornia furnaces are given by Crawford11. The mini-
mum power consumption under present working con-
ditions is given as 2200 kw-h. per ton of pig iron. The
efficiency is not quite so high as the Swedish shaft-
furnaces of the same power rating, but the extension
of the length of the furnace is expected to remedy this,
since the end electrodes work at a lower efficiency
than the electrodes in the centre of the furnace, due
to the increased radiating surface.
The size of the units in use is constantly increasing.
Most of the Scandinavian furnaces are rated at 3000
hp., but it is reported that the A. B. Elektrometall
has completed the design of a 7500-hp. furnace. The
California experiments have led to the development
of a furnace rectangular in shape, with the electrodes
in a straight line, and it is thought that it will be
possible to increase the length of this furnace indefin-
»Vol. 94, pp. 395-7 and 630-5.
i°Met. Chem. Eng., Vol. 11, pp. 15-19.
"Mining and Scientific Press. June 28; Met. Chem. Eng.,
Vol. 11, pp. 383-8.
64
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3. 1914
itely, as has been done with the modern rectangular
copper blast-furnace.
A good summary of the present status of the elec-
tric furnace in smelting of iron ores is given by Lyon
and Keeney in their paper,12 'Possible Applications ©f
the Electric Furnace to Western Metallurgy,' present-
ed at the Denver meeting of the American Electro-
chemical Society in September 1913.13
The principal advances in the electro-metallurgy of
steel are along the line of increased size of furnaces,
and better control of the furnace operation, giving
greater capacity and more thorough purification of
the charge. An induction furnace of 25 tons capacity
has recently been constructed in Germany. The electric
furnace is also proposed as a holder for melted steel,
giving the steel time to clear itself of gas and slag be-
fore it is cast.
The number of electric steel furnaces now in oper-
ation are as follows: Europe, 112; United States, 19.
The production of electric-furnace steel is rapidly in-
creasing in Europe, the 1912 production being about
11.000 tons more than the 1911 production. In the
United States, however, the production has decreased
about the same amount in the same time.
The Societe le Fer14 effects the removal of the hy-
drogen in the production of electrolytic iron by add-
ing to the bath Fe^, which is reduced to FeO. Iron
of high quality is obtained with a current efficiency
of 95 to 98%. even with current densities as high as
1000 amp. per square metre.
Ferro-Alloys
The growth of the ferro-alloy industry in the United
States has been much slower than in Europe, this
country having only two plants using electric-furnace
processes, compared with 25 in Europe. This makes
the production of the ferro-alloys, particularly of
manganese, silicon, and tungsten, of interest in this
country, since the production is not sufficient to meet
the demand, and large quantities are imported annu-
ally, while the growing importance of high-grade and
alloy steels is making these alloys of continually in-
creasing importance. The production of ferrochrome,
fermtitanium, and ferrovanadium is sufficient to meet
the domestic demand. The principal reason for the
more rapid growth in Europe is the fact that power
can be obtained cheaper than in this country. Ores
of chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium
are found in the western United States in sufficient
quantities to make further development of ferro-alloy
manufacture well worth while. Keeney15 gives the re-
sults of a series of experiments in the manufacture
of the various ferro-alloys in the electric furnace.
Floge16 describes the use of an electric furnace for
melting the ferro-manganese used to de-oxidize steel.
^Mining and Scientific Press, Nov. 1.
i^See also Mining and Scientific Press, Dec. 20.
nFr. Pat. 446,614, Oct. 6, 1911.
^■■Trans. Araer. Electrochem. Soc, Vol. 24.
"•■Chem. Y.eit.. Vol. 3fi, p. 307.
resulting in a saving of 35 % of the amount required
when it is added in the solid form, besides giving uni-
form quality of metal and saving considerable time.
Bingham17 patents the production of ferrosilicon using
as a raw material scrap silica bricks from the lining
of open-hearth furnaces, that are partly saturated with
iron.
Gold and Minor Metals
The electric furnace has not yet been applied to
the working of gold or silver ores, although there are
conditions under which this might be advantageous.
There has recently been installed at Lluvia del Oro.
Chihuahua, Mexico, a furnace for the electric smelt-
ing of the zinc precipitate from the cyanide plant
and smelting ore concentrates. The bullion is shipped
and the slag is re-smelted or concentrated.
The electric smelting of straight lead ofes has not
been attempted, largely because of the ease with which
these ores can be handled in combustion furnaces.
Working in a small furnace, Stephan18 reduced from
an ore containing 8.33% NiO 350 kg. of ferro-nickel.
carrying 4.33% Si. The power consumption was about
2000 kw-h. per ton of ore, which could probably be
reduced to about 1200 kw-h. in working.
The increased use of platinum in jewelry makes it
desirable to have a small furnace capable of melting
over scrap to recast into ingots. In Rrass World1* a
small 'Hellberger' furnace is described. This is a
small electric furnace with a removable crucible, tak-
ing 110 or 220 volts, a special transformer cutting this
down to the desired voltage. One kilogram of plati-
num requires 10 kw-h. for melting.
Particulars concerning some experiments made by
the Grondal-Kjellin Co., of London, in smelting tin
ores in Cornwall, are contained in the Revue Indus-
iriellf. Pure ores yielded metal of 98% purity, and
Bolivian ores containing about 507c of tin and 15%
of iron gave metal of 92 to 97% purity. The latter
could be further refined to a purity of 99.75% by
blowing air through the molten mass. The energy
consumed was 1700 kw-h. per ton, but this may be re-
duced to 1400 kw.h. with an efficiency of 55% by using
two furnaces, one for the production of high-grade
metal and the other being used for the treatment of
rich slags.20
Michaud and Delasson21 patent the electrolytic re-
fining of tin in a SnCL solution carrying some MgCL
and II,B0V The tin-bearing material is placed in a
flat porous basket that serves as anode, and the cathode
is a copper plate, from which the deposited tin is
removed by scrapers. In order to keep the electro-
lyte saturated with tin. it is circulated through a con-
tainer filled with tin scrap. The yield is 2.22 gm. of
tin per ampere-hour.
"Brit. Pat. 22,755, Oct. 16, 1911.
i»Metall u. Erz. Vol 10. pp. 11-77. 84-86: Met. Chem. Eng.
Vol. 11, pp. 22-23.
ii>Vol. 8. p. 273.
?<>Met. Chem. Eng.. Vol. 11, p. 653.
siFr. Pat. 435.936. and addition 16.388. Aug. 24. 1912.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
65
Metallurgy of the California Mother Lode
By M. "W. von Bernewitz
A general impression exists that ore treatment along
the Mother Lode is sadly behind the times. During
November I visited all the operating mills from Ama-
dor City to Jackson, and must confess that I was agree-
ably surprised, and so far as my own observations
go I consider the general impression unjustified. Ke-
latively little has been written in recent years regard-
ing ore treatment along the Lode and the following
general resume may therefore prove useful. Except
where stated otherwise, my observations relate only
to that part found in Amador county. For a com-
plete understanding of the Mother Lode of California,
I would refer the reader to the interesting articles of
J. H. G. Wolf, in this journal of June 21 and 28, 1913.
The ore, which is mined from all depths to 4100 ft.
on the incline, may be described as a quartz contain-
ing from 1.5 to 3% iron pyrite. It occurs mostly in
graphitic slates or schists. While ore averaging as
high in value as $7 per ton is produced from one mine,
the general average is said to be about $4 per ton.
Ore as low as $3 per ton may be profitably mined and
milled. The ores of Bendigo, Australia, are very simi-
lar to those of Amador county, save for the arsenic
in the Bendigo sulphides. The treatment is precisely
the same, only that the Mother Lode mills are more
up to date.
A General Review of the Milling Practice
Both vertical and inclined shafts are found along
the Lode. The angle of the latter is never very flat,
and skips up to 4-ton capacity are used. Rock-crush-
ers, mostly of the jaw type, are placed on storage bins
near the shafts. A noticeable feature is the complete
absence of any belt-conveyors from these bins to the
mill-bins, cars holding up to 4 tons moved by man or
mule power being used. While it is true that in some
instances the shaft-bins are a considerable distance
from those at the mills and long bolt installations are
expensive, yet their total absence is marked. The cars
of ore at the Argonaut are weighed. Elsewhere they
are merely counted and a constant weight assumed.
Mill-bins are all built with sloping bottoms, and there
are three types of battery frames, namely, the front
knee. 'A,' and standard construction. These seem to
be about equally popular. With the first named, the
main drive-shaft is level with and in front of the cam-
shafts, the arrangement necessitating tight belts. Ten
stamps are driven by each belt, and the driving pul-
ley is driven by a clutch. King posts and other tim-
bers are of the regulation pattern. Feeders are of the
suspended and hopper Challenge types. Mortar-boxes,
stamps, and other machinery made by many well
known engineering firms is found in the various mills,
but the local firm of Knight & Co., of Sutter Creek,
MOTHER LODE REGION
CALIFORNIA,
seems to have the lead in supplying mill machinery.
It also makes hoists and other surface equipment. The
average weight of stamps used is probably 950 lb.
There are several mills, however, where the weight is
as much as 1050 lb. The quartz ore is friable, and
when slate is mixed with it. the average is soft, so a
light stamp with a 6-in. drop, falling 95 to 104 per
minute, is sufficient to do the work. It has a capacity
of four to five tons per stamp-day through a 20-mesh
screen. In the new 300-ton mill for the Plymouth
mine, on the same vein system, 12 miles from Jackson,
heavy stamps and a two-stage system of crushing with
classification is to be installed, so interesting compari-
sons will be possible later. Both inside and outside
amalgamation is practised, but although in some mills
quicksilver is fed into the mortar-boxes, there are no
inside plates. There is also a wide variation in prac-.
tice regarding copper plates; one plant will have only
a short plate, while others have sluice plates up to
20 ft. in length. With one exception, the Original
Amador, no classification whatever of pulp from the
stamps is made. I was informed that it had been tried
often, but without improvement in results. The pulp
from each battery of five stamps is divided evenly be-
tween two or three Frue vanners. It is peculiar how
the millmen in different mining centres, almost as if by
agreement, find one particular concentrating table to
suit conditions best here the Frue type is most favored.
The only other type is the Deister. there being seven at
the Original Amador. The 6-ft. Frue vanners give
entire satisfaction, and they are certainly skilfully
operated. They are driven at from 180 to 200 strokes
per minute, and the belt travel is from 2 to 6 ft. per
minute. As with all ores containing pyrite, a consid-
66
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
erable amount of fine mineral escapes with the tailing,
and strenuous efforts are made to catch this by canvas
plants of many kinds. For many years the tailing has
been allowed to flow down the different creeks in the
district, but as the farmers on the lower lands com-
- plained of drainage, arrangements are now being per-
fected for its disposal otherwise.
To the natural question why tailing is not cyanided
along the Lode, it would be safe to say, generally, that
it is doubtful whether it could be made to pay. It is
true that a small plant is treating the tailing from the
Bunker Hill mill, but under conditions that would not
be profitable to a company. Both local and outside
men have sampled and experimented on the mill
residue, and intend doing so again ; but results have
not proved favorable. I think that the main impedi-
ment is the graphite in the slate or schist, which is
crushed with the ore. In cyaniding. this mineral
causes a premature precipitation of gold from solu-
tions, which is not recoverable. It is held by Stuart
"Browne that it is the occluded gases in the mineral
that causes the precipitation. Even so, the fact re-
mains that the graphite, or something in it not yet
determined, and which is probably not to be com-
mercially removed, gives trouble. The proof of this
may be seen at the cyanide plant of Messrs. Darrow
& Fitzsimmons treating the tailing from the Bunker
Hill mill, where a great deal of graphitic scum is seen
floating about, and recovery was reduced very consider-
ably lately : due, without doubt, to this mineral. It is
said that greasy slates in the mines will form this scum
also, and possibly may give trouble. Strange to say.
the addition of caustic soda to the charges of sand in
the leaching vats, greatly improves extraction. Graph-
ite is a stable mineral, and would hardly be changed by
adding this alkali, yet its addition has been beneficial.
Tailing from the mills is certainly rich enough for
treatment if there was no deleterious matter in it.
Perhaps, however, the extreme fineness of the min-
eral esca >ing the van; prs and car \-as Hants ] revents
its being caught when lea shed as , and The \ roblem
is interesting, and before long there will undoubtedly
be further work along this line.
All the mills are situated from two to four miles from
any railroad terminus and concentrate has to be hauled
over rough roads for shipment to smelters. The Ken-
nedy Mining & Milling Co. treats its concentrate by
ehlorination, but there would seem to be a field for a
central custom plant, since the cost of treatment need
not be much more than the $2 per ton freight rate to
the smelters. The concentrate contains practically
gold only, and with good mechanical roasting furnaces,
grinding, amalgamating, and finally cyaniding, a
high extraction at reasonable cost should be made. I
understand that the average extraction of gold in the
mills by the present methods is 82% and the cost 50
to 55c. per ton.
Where steam is required on the surface for power,
oil is used for fuel at a cost of from 90c. to $1.25 per
barrel. All the mills and small outlying plants are
motor driven, electric power from the 'Electra' hydro-
electric power-station of the Pacific Gas & Electric Co.,
eight miles away, being supplied at $4.50 per horse-
power month. Water costs 15c. per miners inch per
month ; yet no attempt is made to return waste water
to the mills. Probably this will be done when some of
the tailing impounding systems are in operation. The
stamp-mills are all well kept, which is always an im-
portant point not to be overlooked, and the labor re-
quired is small.
Fremont Mill
The Fremont mine is worked by two shafts, 1500 and
2100 ft. deep, respectively, and produces 6000 tons of
ore per month. At each shaft is a crusher; one jaw
crusher and one of Gates type. The broken ore is
conveyed several hundred feet by mule traction to the
mill-bins. The battery frame is of standard design,
and suspended feeders supply ore to 40 stamps drop-
ping 6 in.. 105 times per minute. Guides made by the
Globe Iron Works of Stockton, and Blanton cams are
used. The mortar-boxes are from the Union Iron
Works of San Francisco. A 75-hp. motor is belted to
the main drive shaft, and jockey pulleys keep the cam-
shaft belts tight. The stamps crush through a No. 6
slotted screen, and outside amalgamation is practised
on long plates. Sixteen Frue vanners save the concen-
trate and are driven by a 20-hp. motor. This mill is
.exceptionally well kept.
The tailing from the vanners is sold on a royalty
SECTION OK A REVOLVING CANVAS CONCENTRATOR.
(1) Central spindle gear or rope driven on footstep bearing;
(2) Tie or stiffening rods; (3) canvas or felt sloping
trays; (4) annular feed launder; (5) tailing launder; (6)
spray pipes.
basis, and is treated on a revolving canvas plant. In it
are two 24-ft. slowly revolving machines, with several
sloping decks about 12 in. apart. The distance from
the central spindle to the inner periphery of the deck,
which latter is about 4 ft. wide, and divided into 4-ft.
sections, is 8 ft. Pulp from the mill is fed upon these
decks at the inside periphery, and thence flows across
to an annular launder. The decks are either covered
with canvas or felt, which catches fine mineral escaping"
the Frue vanners in the mill. At one side of the canvas
huddle, or revolving canvas strokes, is a vertical 2-in.
water-pipe, to which are fitted short ^-in. spray pipes.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
67
one for each deck, manipulated by a crank in such a
way that the sprays wash the fine mineral off each
section as it comes to the proper point. Before that
part reaches this point the pulp flow is stopped on the
section before. In this particular plant, after the con-
centrate is washed off the machines, it is elevated to a
15-ft. machine for reconcentration. the tailing being re-
turned again to the first 24-ft. machine. The fine con-
centrate is shipped to smelters. During the night this
plant runs without attention, being motor driven and
everything slow moving
Bunker Hill Mill
Next along the line of the Lode is the Bunker Hill. At
the shaft is a jaw-crusher and 3-ton cars are trammed
by hand several hundred feet to the 40-stamp mill
bins. The framing is of the 'A' type with the main
drive-shaft behind the mortar-boxes, this shaft being
driven by a 50-hp. Westinghouse motor. The stamps
and the boxes were made by Knight & Co. of Sutter
Creek and are of the usual type. Punched screens are
used, and amalgamation is both in the mortars and on
long plates outside. Twenty-four 6-ft. Frue vanners,
three to each battery, save the concentrate, which is
shipped. The pulp from the concentrating tables then
flows to Darrow & Fitzsimmons cyanide plant. Here
it is first of all cleared of rubbish by a revolving screen
driven by a small water-wheel set in the pulp launder,
the flow of the pulp turning this with ease. The pulp
runs from this to cone classifiers, the underflow goinjr
to eight 12 by 16-ft. wooden leaching vats, about 80
tons being treated daily. Lime is generally used to
neutralize any acidity; but on account of recent
troubles, due apparently to premature precipitation
by graphite, caustic soda is being tried with good re-
sults. Pulp from the canvas plant drives the dis-
tributors above the leaching vats. Cyanide solution
washes are forced up through the charge or on top as
desired. The total time in treating one vat is ten days,
aftei which th residue i sluieei down tl t creek.
The overflow i'r..m the con to goes v./ two 30- Lt. diam-
eter revolving machines with eight decks each, having
a total of 168 canvas trays with a fall of 1% in. per
foot, similar in operation to the one shown in the
sketch. Feed is stopped two trays before the final
spraying, and these are given a clean-water wash, leav-
ing only fine clean concentrate to be sprayed off. The
preliminary handling of pulp from the mill launder is
to be somewhat altered in a short time, by the installa-
tion of new cones above two new 10-deck machines
with 140 trays covered with asphalt-felt, painted and
sanded. These machines will be centre-fed over um-
brella-shaped plates, instead of being fed on the inside
periphery. The mechanism will also lie different, as
the decks of trays will revolve independently of the
central feed arrangement. Generally speaking, this
new machine bids fair to be the last word for this class
of work.
Concentrate washed off the present machines flows to
three small Pachuca tanks, which hold 188 cu. ft. of
charge per tank, the pulp being fed down a 6-ft. hose,
and clear water overflowing by an annular launder.
About six tons of concentrate and fine sand is caught
daily. When the vat contains the required charge,
lime is added at once, then the whole is given a violent
agitation with air, allowed to settle, and water
siphoned off. Strong cyanide solution is then added,
and agitation proceeds for eight hours and settlement
for four hours, when the solution is decanted to sand
filters. The treatment is simply air agitation and de-
cantation covering a total of 72 to 80 hours. All solu-
tions are well aerated by a pump and tower. Gold-
bearing solutions are precipitated by zinc shaving in
small tubs, seven rows of five each for strong, and
four rows of five each for weak solutions. Barren solu-
tions go to three 30-ton wooden sumps. In cleaning up
the zinc-boxes or tubs, the zinc is washed, the sludge
given a sulphuric acid treatment of 24 hours, and
chlorinated by adding salt, manganese dioxide, and
potassium permanganate for 48 hours. Gold is pre-
cipitated from chlorine solution by ferrous sulphate,
filtered, dried, and melted ; the resulting bullion is of
high grade. Only a small number of men are needed
at this plant, and being interested in it, they work
long hours. While proving that a certain recovery
can be made by cyaniding the sand and fine concen-
trate, it is generally believed that not much profit is
realized.
Original Amador Mill
The Original Amador, opened to 700 ft. by an in-
cline shaft, is at the edge of Amador City. One and a
half-ton skips feed the jaw-crushers above the mill-
bins, and the broken ore is fed to twenty 1000-lb.
stamps. These drop 105 times per minute and crush
90 tons per day through a 20-mesh wire screen. The
battery frame is of standard design, and the boxes and
stamps were made by the Joshua Ilendy Iron Works of
San Francisco. A 50-hp. motor drives the main shaft
behind the boj ps. Both inf ide and outsi le amalgama-
tion is pract.-ii 1. the latti l being on pa.cs 4'/o by \ \
ft. in area. Pulp from the plates is classified, this
being the only plant along the Lode where it is done.
The coarse pulp flows to four Deister tables, and the
overflow from the classifier goes to another cone, the
underflow from which is treated by three Deister
tables. Middling from the fine tables goes to a Frue
vanner running at 8"> strokes per minute, and the clean
SOUTH EUREKA MILL, NKAK JACKSON.
68
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
pyrite is pumped to a tank, drained, and shipped.
Classification has proved to be an advantage in this
mill.
South Eureka Mill
Between Amador City and Sutter Creek are several
old mills which are not working, and which have the
appearance of being 'old-timers.' Farther south is the
South Eureka mine, which is opened to a depth of 2700
ft. on the incline. A geared hoist driven by two 400-hp.
General Electric motors coupled to a rope pulley,
which drives the pinion shaft, brings the 3%-ton skips
matically takes a cut of the whole stream in the laun-
der once in five minutes.
Oneida Mill
A pleasant ten minutes walk brought me to the
Oneida mine, which is being developed to 2200 ft.
vertical depth. Flat ropes are used on the hoist, which
raises the skips to a jaw-crusher. From this the ore is
trammed a considerable distance to a hydraulic ele-
vator, which lifts the cars about 30 ft. to the mill-bins.
Pressure is obtained from a water-tank on a hill near-
by, while the descent of the elevator forces the water
» •
KENNEDY MINE AND MILL AT JACKSON.
to a Knight jaw-crusher, the ore falling into a storage
bin. From here it is trammed to the 80-stamp mill,
built by Knight & Co. This plant is a credit to any
mining company, and is certainly well maintained.
The framing is of the 'A' type, and four 50-hp. Allis-
Chalmers motors drive the plant in four units, there
being one belt to each cam-shaft with five cams driven
from the main drive-shafts. The stamps crush five
tons per day through a 24-mesh, brass, wire screen.
They weigh 1050 lb., and drop 102 times through 61/-;
inches. Shoes last 135 and dies 60 days. Amalgamation
is along the usual lines. Three Frue vanners deal with
the pulp from each battery, making 48 in all. They
run at 200 strokes and the belt travel is 40 in. per
minute. Eight tons of concentrate is collected per day.
All mill floors are hosed to a collecting tank, and this
material is re-treated. Before the tailing goes to the
new settling pond, it is sampled by a pipe which auto-
used to a reservoir for the mill supply. The mill has
60 stamps, but only 20 of 1000 lb. each are at work.
They crush about 90 tons daily through a 24-ton cap-
screen, dropping 6V2 in. 100 times per minute. Twelve
4-ft. Frue vanners complete the treatment, after which
the tailing is collected in a pond close to the mill. A
100-hp. motor drives the whole plant.
Kennedy Mill
The Kennedy, about one mile from Jackson, is being
actively worked to a depth of 3600 ft. vertical, and the
vein has been followed to 3850 ft. I saw the stop«s
between 3300 and 3600 ft., getting an idea of the
nature of the ore and country rock. The surface equip-
ment includes nine return-flue oil-fired boilers, making
steam for a first motion Allis-Chalmers hoist, which
hauls 4-ton skips. As a large quantity of timber is
used in the mine, there is a considerable quantity
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
69
stocked on the surface, and a complete sawmill is in
operation. The skips dump the ore upon a grizzly,
and the larger pieces are broken by a jaw-crusher. All
the ore drops into a storage bin, and 5-ton cars, drawn
by mules, take it to the mill-bins. There are 100
stamps crushing 13,000 to 15.000 tons per month
through 20-mesh screens. The style of framing is the
front knee, with the main drive-shaft level with the
cam-shafts. Two 150-hp. motors each drive a small
counter-shaft, this in turn driving the main-shaft by
ropes. Motors are placed at each end of the plant.
The cam-shafts are driven by belts from clutch pulleys.
The stamps, 10 to a shaft, work in Pacific guides, and
drop 100 times per minute through 6 inches. Inside
and outside amalgamation is the rule, the latter being
ARGONAUT MINE AND MUX, JACKSON.
on long sluice plates. Forty Frue vanners, recovering
about ten tons of concentrate daily, are driven at 180
strokes per minute, and this product is reconcent rated
on two more Frue machines. Below the mill is a large
plant of sloping canvas tables in four units, each
being divided into 13 parts. The feed is regulated to
give waves of pulp on the canvas, and at regular in-
tervals the flow is shut off each, and the fine mineral
sprayed, collected, and drained. The final tailing is
run down Jackson creek, but the new scheme of dis-
posal by four elevator wheels in series will soon be in
operation.
Concentrate from the vanners and canvas plant is
carted to a plant about a quarter of a mile away for
local treatment. This is conducted in two oil-fired, hand-
fed, and rabbled, one-hearth furnaces, the firing being
intermittent. The roasted ore is raked into barrows,
damped down, and shoveled into four wooden vats of
10 tons capacity each. Chlorine gas is made in the
usual manner by sulphuric acid, salt, and manganese
dioxide. The gas 'flows' up through the charge, hav-
ing about four hours contact, regular tests being made
with ammonia at a vent to see if the gas is coming
through. The charge then stands about 48 hours be-
fore being washed. Gold is precipitated by ferrous sul-
phate in wooden vats. This is made in the plant by
treating iron with sulphuric acid. The precipitate is
finally dried and melted at the mine and the bullion
shipped.
Argonaut Mill
The Argonaut mill is opposite the Kennedy on a
steep hillside. On the incline the main shaft is down
4100 ft. It is served by an electric hoist. A 12 by 16-
in. jaw crusher, of Knight & Co. 's make, breaks the ore,
this then drops into a bin high above the mill. Two-
ton cars, hand pushed, take the ore to the mill-bins,
every other carload being weighed. The battery frame
is of the front-knee style. Challenge feeders supply
forty 850-lb. stamps, dropping 6y2 in. 96 times per
minute, the daily output being 200 tons. The screening
varies, but 16 mesh is mostly used. A grading test
shows the following :
Screen. Per cent
On 40 1333
°n 60 16.67
On 80 n.67
On 100 9.33
On 150 667
On 200 5.84
On 300 i.5o
Through 300 31.67
This shows how extremely fine the slaty matter in
the ore becomes reduced even when using so coarse a
screen as 16 mesh.
The mill is driven by an 80-hp. General Electric
motor. Amalgamation is mostly inside, 60% of the
total gold being caught there. The apron plate is 4 by
5 ft., and the sluice plate 22 ft. long. There are sixteen
6-ft. Frue vanners, which save 3t/o tons of concentrate
per day Pulp from these machines flows to a canvas
huddle 30 ft. diameter, with 16 decks, divided into
nine tables to a deck, each table being 4 by 5 ft. The
speed of the machine is one revolution in 17 minutes.
Its operation is similar to that of the one described,
the tine concentrate being cleaned of barren material
on a 41/1,-ft. vanner. The huddle saves 14 tons per
month. By concentration, 15% of the gold is recov-
ered, so the Argonaut mill has a total extraction of
85%. Further experimenting is to be done on the ore
at an early date.
Zeila Mill
The Zeila mill is near Jackson, and is of an old style,
and out of 40 stamps only 25 are working at present.
Three and a half-ton cars drawn by a stubborn nude,
transport the ore to the mill-bins, after being crushed
by jaw-crusher at the shaft. The battery frame is of
front-knee construction. The crushing capacity of the
800-lb. stamps varies from four to seven tons per day,
as the ore consists of mixed upper and lower level
material. Sixteen-mesh screens are used, and inside
and outside amalgamation is the rule. Pulp flows to
16 Frue vanners. 11 of which are working, and the con-
centrate is shipped to smelters. The vanner tailing is
sold on a royalty basis, and is treated by a 40-ft. re-
volving canvas machine, making one revolution in 17
minutes. It consists of four decks with thirty 4-ft.
tables in a deck, which are sprayed as previously de-
scribed. The mineral and fine ore caught is reconcen-
trated on four vanners.
70
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
Progress in Gold and Silver Ore Treatment in 1913
By Alfred James
The depression of the day has surely spread to
progress in practice. One would this year have ser-
iously contemplated the necessity of sending out a blank
sheet, as an adequate summary of our progress, but for
the brilliant work of Denny at Nipissing. Whether
looking at crushing, classification, fine grinding, agita-
tion, filtration, or precipitation and recovery, one is
impressed by the idea that during the year we have had
nothing new of note, indeed that in some respects
practice has possibly become decadent, due perhaps to
the remission of the efforts of men formerly interested
in keeping up the level of practice at certain points.
There have been but few new mills and even those have
been on lines already familiar. The good work of the
Consolidated Langlaagte, as shown by the extremely
low cyanide costs (see official report, September 30,
1913, cyaniding cost of 27c. per ton) is perhaps counter-
balanced by the extreme caution which made the staff
defer the adoption of filtration in place of decantation
until their recent mill, the Van Ryn Deep, and even
now in the new mill they are not yet prepared to in-
stall the Nissen stamp, which proved itself so satis-
factory at the City Deep. The Cam & Motor and
Shamva mills are not yet started.
Generally, for the year it may be taken that ex-
ceptionally progress has been on chemical rather than
on mechanical lines. In addition to the Denny aluminum
preparatory process we have also the increasing use of
so-called 'acid' solutions in cyanidation and the substi-
tution, in at least one case, of aluminum-dust precipita-
tion for zinc dust.
Agitation
Agitators widely heard of last year seem now to have
disappeared. To my queries as to the position addressed
to the leading exponents of advanced practice in
Mexico and in South Africa, respectively. I have re-
ceived strong endorsements of Jay A. Carpenter's
statement in the Mining and Scientific Press1 "that
no one of the many less costly types of agitators has as
yet proved to the general satisfaction that under varied
conditions it is the equal of the Pachuca for reliability
and low operating costs;" and this opinion is con-
firmed by the adoption of this agitator in every new
African wet-crushing plant.
A reference to the valuable table on compressing
given in the Minimi and Scientific Press of October
15, 1910, will show one reason for the advantage of a
tall tank over a short tank. Assuming the quantity of
air to vary as the diameter of the tank and the pressure
as the height, then we may take it that the same
quantity of air will agitate double the quantity of
material, provided the latter is charged into a tank of
double height. The pressure of the air, however, would
iMay 3, 1913, p. 646.
be doubled, but to compress 10 cu. ft. of free air per
minute to 15-lb. takes 0.6 hp., to 30-lb. 1 hp., to 60-lb.
1.6 hp., to 90-lb. 2 hp. It would thus appear that by
using a tank sufficiently tall to require high pressure
air it should be possible to agitate three times the
quantity of material for twice the horse-power; but
an even greater advantage of the tall tank is that the
lessened number of cubic feet of air necessary for a
given tonnage of pulp oxidizes or carbonates a less
amount of cyanide. It was surprising to find that,
whereas in New Zealand results showed a less con-
sumption of cyanide by Brown agitator than by
mechanical agitator, the saving being most marked in
the agitation of heavy material such as concentrate, in
America at times heavy consumptions of cyanide have
been reported as due to aeration action only. In every
case of such consumptions which has come to my
notice investigation has proved that the quantity of
air used was out of all proportion to the New Zealand
standard — and it must be remembered that in the lat-
ter territory not only is slime and a mixture of crushed
sand and slime agitated, but even coarse sand, tailing,
and concentrate.
The Continuous Process
As to whether the continuous agitation which has
proved so attractive in practice — at the East Rand
four nominal 100-ton agitators agitate 1700 tons of
slime per diem with an extraction of 97% — should not
be modified, particularly in the case of certain ores, by
the interposition of desolutionizers so that the re-
mainder of the series of agitators may be charged with
fresh solution, is a matter engaging some little atten-
tion. It may be well conceived that a Dorr thickener
interposed between, say, every three agitators, may
have a very useful effect in the treatment of some ores,
but on the other hand engineers have been faced with
just this problem since cyanidation came into being. It
was a question as to how many transfers were desira-
ble, and apparatus was invented for making transfer
so cheaply that even treatment in four separate vats
was economically possible: but in practice it did not
prove desirable and the ultimate tendency has been to
revert to single treatment in one vat only, and by
means of the perfect sand feed now possible from the
use of the Caldecott sand and table and cone or of
mechanical classifiers, for instance as the Dorr and
Ovoca, collection and treatment take place hi the same
vat.
A New Type
A new agitator of the year is that described by
Whitman Symmes in the Mining and Scientific Press
of July 19, 1913. The agitator is an ingenious adapta-
tion of the multi-air-lift principle to a flat bottomed
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
71
tank, and one looks forward to receiving further ac-
counts of the results obtained in practice from its use.
Classification
All of us hare at times used cones. Many of us have
passed from the use of cones to classifiers such as the
Dorr. Perhaps none of us who have once used classi-
fiers of this type have reverted to cones, and I therefore
confess to some little surprise at the geographical limi-
tation of the use of these classifiers. Is it that tem-
peraments differ, the nature of the work differs, or
that it takes a long time and the expenditure of con-
siderable effort and money to displace practice once
settled! For new mills operating under the Sunday
Law in the Transvaal one would have imagined that
classifiers, which could be stopped at once and started
up at once, wonld be much more convenient than cones,
which have to be cleared out and re-started, and then
there is the question of labor and of work accomplished.
It has been a common experience to go through a large
mill and to find the Dorr, Esperanza, or Ovoca classi-
fiers absolutely unattended and with no laborer any-
where near it. Experience with cones has been quite
the reverse, and the product of the latter impresses one
as containing a greater proportion of fine slime than
that of the former. A metallurgist of experience, who
has evolved perhaps the most perfect cone of the day,
writes as follows: "The cone, on the other hand,
makes large capacity possible, on account of the length
of the overflow rim, and is not as sensitive to changes
in the amonnt of feed. However. I think the best classi-
fier, where it is important to save mill head, would, or
should, combine the advantages of each (classifier and
cone) type, the design to embody (a) peripheral over-
flow rim (b) mechanical removal of sand (c) more per-
fect elimination of slime by an auxiliary rising current
of clear water," and he suggests that (a) and (b) be
accomplished by a screw conveyor attachment to the
bottom of a conical classifier, which brings us to classi-
fiers of the well known screw type of which one sees
advertisements in the technical press.
Costs
There is an increasing tendency to the publication of
costs in the technical press. This makes detailed
reference less necessary. During the year the Ilollinger
mill has undoubtedly impressed everyone as a clean
equipment, cleanly run, with clean methods showing
clean costs. Seldom has a property received a more bene-
ficial advertisement than that which the methods of the
Hollinger staff has secured for their operations. A
reference to The Engineering tf- Minimi Journal of Octo-
ber 18, 1913, page 739, gives the costs in very great de-
tail and also the proportion of labor and supplies com-
prised in such costs. Thus we find stamping costs 18c.
per ton; classification and tube-milling. 28c. ; thicken-
ing, lc. ; agitation, 3c. ; and filtration. 15c. Smelting
and retorting (6c.) comes out to nearly as high a figure
as the eoarse crushing. Is it too much to expect that
other concerns should give their costs as frankly as the
Hollinger? Such a course certainly creates confidence
and interest. If we assume an average cost for the
cyanidation of crushed pulp of Is. 6d. (36c.) per ton, it
would be interesting to receive statements from the
various parts of the world where these costs are being
bettered, such statements to be accompanied by a note
of the quantity and nature of material treated, labor
conditions and rates of pay, and other items of interest.
The low cyaniding cost of 13d. (27c.) per ton at the
Consolidated Langlaagte has already been referred to
above. At the Goldfield Consolidated2 the cost may
be taken at least at 62c. per ton, not including 2c. for
assaying, 7c. for precipitation, and 5c. for refining, and
THE VAN RTN DEEP MILL.
omitting the water charge altogether. At the Ilollinger
apparently the cost is 30c. per ton, not including 7c.
for classification and precipitation and 6c. for smelting
and retorting. At the Nevada Hills mill3 tube-milling
is given as 29c, and the system of interrupted agitation
with decantation washing appears to amount to 85c,
and even so filtration comes to 18c. and discharge to
12c It would thus appear that the interrupted method
of agitation referred to above may be considerably
more expensive than the direct method, and the
previous decantation treatments do not apparently
avail to reduce the filtration costs below the high figure
shown. The government report shows that the Indian
mines are working at very low figures; for example,
^Mining and Scientific Press, Dec. 28, 1912.
*Eng. rf Min. Jour., March 29, 1913, p. 646.
72
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
at Balaghat cyanidation comes to 15d. per ton treated,
closely followed by the Mysore at 16 pence.
Fine Grinding
The success of the Hardinge ball mill for coarse
grinding, as contrasted with the modified success of the
conical mill for fine grinding, has long since caused
speculation as to whether short tube-mills would not be
as superior to the Hardinge for coarse crushing as the
lengthened mills have shown themselves to be for fine
crushing.4 Development has been proceeding along
these lines, particularly in America, where a short tube-
mill 7 ft. diameter by 10 ft. long is reported to be beat-
ing a conical mill by approximately 60%; "while it
takes considerably more power it gains more than twice
the tonnage." In Africa the Albu-introdueed shorter
16 ft. 6 in. by 6 ft. tube-mill is now almost universally
adopted in preference to the old standard 22 ft. by
5 ft. 6 in. The report from Mexico as to the results ob-
tained by boring holes in the diameter of the tube-mill
at various distances and taking samples from the
effluent would be more valuable if the sizing tests had
been given in full and also had the relation been estab-
lished between the product at the periphery of the tube-
mill and that delivered at the centre. If it were as-
sumed that a certain proportion of the particles of pulp
—taking tube-mills changed below the axis — were free
to traverse unground from the intake to the exit of the
tube-mill along its axis, then it would be admitted that
a sample taken from the periphery did not represent
the pulp at the axis or even pulp at varying distances
from the axis toward the periphery. To that extent,
therefore, the tests may not be reliable, but it is certain
that in adopting as standard the old cement ration of
4 of length to 1 of diameter, however correct this
standard may have been for use in Western Australia
where fine sliming to 200 mesh was employed, such
ratio could scarcely be the most economical ratio for
such coarse grinding as was formerly the practice in
South Africa (60 mesh) or even the 90 mesh now pre-
valent. The shortening of the tube-mill seems therefore
a step in the right direction, as also the increase of the
diameter to meet the increasing size of the particles
fed, owing to the adoption of coarser mesh for the
stamp screens.
For some years past I have been endeavoring to have
exhaustive tests made in South Africa as to the size of
particle which should be the economical limit for tube-
mills of the size there installed. So far back as 1905
I was led to understand by Mr. Davidsen that 10 or 14
mesh was this economical limit. If this were true — and
Mr. Davidsen 's figures have proved remarkably
accurate in practice — then it is obvious that the pro-
portions for a tube-mill which should be suitable for
taking a 20 or even 12-mesh product would not neces-
sarily be economical for a 3-mesh product, much less
the %-in. clear aperture product recently tried at one
of the latest mills on the Rand. The Rand benefits most
freely by the adoption of methods introduced from the
*See also Gates, Bull. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Nov., p. 2706.
outside. The adoption of tube-mills was worked out in
Australia, in New Zealand, and even in Korea, before
they were introduced to the Rand, and all the informa-
tion was freely available to the Rand, just as today,
when the Rand is adopting Brown agitators and But-
ters filters, it is adopting devices which have been
worked out and proved elsewhere. At the time of the
introduction of tube-mills to the Rand they were used
mainly for the manufacture of cement and in gold min-
ing for absolute fine sliming (minus 200 mesh). The
results of the work of various observers were freely
published5 for the benefit of the Rand. Surely the
Rand might have published in return the results of its
investigations into the problems of coarseness of feed,
dimensions, charge, and other matters more particularly
referred to in this review for last year and in my re-
marks to the Chemical Metallurgical & Mining Society
of South Africa. It is for the benefit of the Rand that
this information is required. But even in the matter
of peripheral discharge, referred to in this review for
1908, as having given to all tests a greatly superior re-
sult to the ordinary discharge, the advantages or dis-
advantages have not been publicly threshed out, and it
has been left to this review to suggest the only possible
disadvantage yet suggested, the question of con-
sumption of power. Strange though it may seem a wet-
crushing mill which discharges either at the periphery
or through the trunnion by means of elevator vanes lift-
ing the pulp from the periphery, similar to the Abbe
or Schmitt feed — these elevator vanes were provided in
many of the first tube mills sent to the Rand — takes
more power than a mill discharging through the trun-
nion in the normal fashion ; and again, a mill with a
discharge outlet considerably larger than the inlet takes
more power, other conditions being equal, than a mill
with a discharge only slightly larger than the inlet —
owing doubtless to the greater proportion of pebbles
rubbing idly, unlubricated by pulp. It is probable that
there will yet be a development on the Rand in favor of
peripheral discharge, but the increased results shown
by the latter cannot be properly appreciated or dis-
counted until one knows precisely the variation in
power conditions required to produce these increased
results.
Power Consumption
Apart, however, from the question of proportion of
diameter to length, and even of variation in size and
weight of pebbles for feeds of different coarseness,
there is no doubt that the main question is that of
power consumption which is now so heavy as to cause
one a feeling of great uneasiness. It is true that in
Australia and New Zealand, and in probably other dis-
tricts where tube-mills were first introduced, mills are
still operated for very low power, as a result of the
adherence to the old standard number of revolutions
and amount of pebble charge, but a consumption
amounting to 1 hp. per ton of slimed product has to be
reduced.
BSee Tram. Inst. Min. & Met., Vol. XIV.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
73
Various liners and roller bearings have been put
forward as a solution of the problem, at least in part,
and there is evidence of remarkable savings arising
from the adoption of such power-saving devices, but
the publication of such a paper as that of M. G. P.
Sohnlein8 on 'Economical Pine Grinding Pans' arouses
a keen feeling on the subject.
A Remarkable Grinding Pan
At times pans certaintly appear most attractive. Some
experimenter publishes results which appear to be bet-
ter than those obtained in practice or which do not
stand critical investigation. Mr. Sohnlein 's paper is
thought-compelling. His 5-ft. pan, taking say 6 hp. for
only 32 revolutions per minute, gave only 2*4 tons per
24 hours. This result probably reflects more on the
type of the initial experiment than on the actual
capacity of the pan. When, however, the pans were
made to handle 7 tons of sand in 24 hours, he was ob-
taining a result of course better than the initial result ;
but at 40 r. p. m. the work of the pan did not compare
with that obtained in Australian practice, where the
normal speed is 56 r. p. m. for coarse crushing and about
50 r.p.m. for fine sliming. Mr. Sohnlein, however, by
means of a most careful attention to detail and the
exercise of no little ability to read the indications
shown by his various tests and to devise improvements
accordingly, was apparently able to grind 30 tons to
minus 200 mesh with his one pan for less than 7 hp.
This is good work and is taken as showing a result of
over 4% tons slimed per horse-power day. Here Mr.
Sohnlein 's practice differs from Australian practice.
which is against the breaking down of coarse sand and
the fine sliming of it in one operation. A 5-ft. Australian
pan is assumed to grind 20 tons of coarse sand (say 200
holes to the square inch), but to fine slime to 200 mesh
20 tons per day two pans would be installed in parallel
for breaking sand with a further pan in sequence to
fine slime the .product of the other two pans, or say
20 hp. in all.
When one comes, however, to look into 'the means by
which Mr. Sohnlein achieved such extremely satis-
factory results, he is met immediately from various
quarters with a statement that all these methods have
been tried before. In Cornwall at the tin works the
investigator is shown pans made in Helston with a
central feed somewhat similar to that shown by Mr.
Sohnlein. From Australia he is met by the statement
that the central feed was tried and discarded because
the centrifugal motion was such that the feed was found
to be sent from the centre between the shoes to the
periphery anyhow, and therefore the central feed was
unnecessary: and it was pointed out that special
passages between the shoes and dies were a feature of
Australian practice. Be this as it may. one is impressed
by Mr. Sohnlein 's work, by his methods of achieving his
results, and by the fact that possibly the methods em-
ployed by him were discarded by previous operators
because they were not tried in the same way. Any
*Eng. A Min. Jour., Sept. 27, 1913.
methods which will give four times the pulp crushed
for the same horse-power are surely deserving of the
closest attention of the industry, and we shall be much
disappointed if we do not hear from Mr. Sohnlein and
of his pan.
A point, however, which arises from perusal of his
paper is that his discharged pulp, containing nearly
50% of plus-100 product, is coarser than that met with
in Australia, and that it may be that the Australian
practice of sliming coarse product in a separate
pan accounts for the apparent excess horse-power con-
sumption. It is difficult to realize how. if Mr. Sohnlein
slimes only 30% of his material in one passage through
his pan, he is to slime the other 70% and at the same
time break down the new ore coming from his mill.
Thus, if we assume a feed of 38 tons of sand from the
Overstrom tables, and that in one passage through only
one-third of this is ground, then we are met with a
return of two-thirds of this to the Dorr classifier with
a consequent reject of 25 tons, or 65 tons in all to be
fed to the pan, which is only capable of sliming 13 tons,
so that there is a consequent return of a still greater
amount to the classifier until a position of equilibrium
is established resulting in a lessened fine sliming out-
put per passage. The paper is silent on the question
of these returns. It is precisely for this purpose that
the extra pans are required in Western Australian
practice. We hope Mr. Sohnlein will let us have a
further paper, with results of monthly runs; either his
daily feed to his one pan is 114 tons per diem instead
of only 38, or he is figuring on one-third of 38 tons
only slimed per diem with results more nearly approach-
ing those of the Ivanhoe and other mines at Kalgoorlie.
Filtration
There must be some reason for the advertised
adoption of the Oliver filter at so many mines possess-
ing fixed submerged filters. It is not suggested that the
Oliver filter is a thorough washer. It was stated in this
review for 1909 that there was far too great a tendency
to use the fixed submerged filter in such a way that the
results obtained were merely identical with those to be
obtained from settlement and decantation. One wel-
comed Mr. Hamilton's statement as to his own particu-
lar practice, but the remarks were made as a result of
working conditions observed at various plants and it
would really appear as though, in the absence of any
particular incentive on the part of the advertisers of
the fixed submerged filter to maintain or effect a high
efficiency, users are discovering that for mere subsidence
results the Oliver filter is simpler and, in spite of the
results shown above at the Nevada Hills, probably
cheaper. W. A. McLeod' shows how the discharge of
unfiltered (unwashed) pulp is prevented in Western
Australia, and from Asia, from Rhodesia, and from
Mexico good results — 6 tons per leaf per diem — are re-
ported from submerged vacuum-filters of rapid transfer
type. It is surely a decadent proposal that for thorough
washing shall be substituted a mere variation of the
'The Mining and Scientific Press, September 13, 1913.
74
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
decantatiou process so thoroughly tried out in South
Africa and in Western Australia. Even if the attractive
proposal, from time to time put forward in the technical
press, of the continuous use of a number of Dorr
thickeners and Pachuca tanks in series be considered, it
is found that the number of washing transfers is so
great as to make such a process appear unprofitable
when contrasted with cheap effective filtration, and cer-
tainly the statement of the Nevada Hills costs pre-
viously referred to does not help the decantatiou theory.
As worked out for a South African project of 100 tons
of 21 dwt. material, it appeared that the loss of dis-
solved metal in residues would be 1 dwt. per ton and
in solutions Yi dwt., or 2s. per ton ; the difficulty in the
case of solutions being aggravated by the impossibility
of adding absolutely barren solution for the various
transfers.
The experiments at Pachuca of dissolving the metals
in filter-presses have been as little successful as the
similar experiments carried out many years ago in
Western Australia. It was then established that suc-
cessful work depends on efficient solution of the valua-
ble content of the ore prior to the introduction of the
latter into filter-presses. Any additional extraction ob-
tained by solution wash through the filter-press is re-
garded as an acceptable contribution toward the cost
of filter-pressing but not as a serious process for the
total solution of the gold in an ore.
Advocates of decantation are apt to forget the
trouble and expense of handling huge quantities of
material ; a trouble plaintively brought to my notice
from the El Oro district at the time the Hacienda
San Francisco, Pachuca, introduced the simpler direct
practice. Even with very expensive decantatiou plants
worked on the huge Witwatersrand scale, my experi-
ence has been that the amount of dissolved metal lost
in the residue, even on very low-grade material, is
greater than the extra cost of treating that same resi-
due in Dehne filter-presses — the most expensive form
of filtration at present commonly employed.
Chemical
Keference was made at the outset to J. J. Denny's
work at Nipissing in the desulphuring of silver ores at
Cobalt. To those of us who since the days of Molden-
hauer have worked in various ways with aluminum in
our solutions and have invariably discarded the use of
this metal owing to the fouling of the solutions witli
the much too readily formed aluminum hydrate, the
statements coming over on this side and finally the
description of Mr. Denny in the Mining and Scientific
Press of September 27, 1913. caused some little incre-
dulity : but incredulity or no incredulity, the fact re-
mains that Mr. Denny's process is giving effective
results and that it has to be taken seriously. It is
true that it is stated that Mr. Denny's treatment at
Cobalt effects a saving of from one to four ounces of
silver per ton, depending on the amount of refractory
minerals present, at a cost of, say, 1 oz. of silver or
actually 54c. per ton, or the cost of roasting ores at
Kalgoorlie (see this review for 1906), and therefore
as a mere substitute for roasting it may appear that
there is but little to gain by the change ; but the more
closely one investigates Mr. Denny's discovery the
more one is convinced of the advantages which may
arise from its application under certain conditions. W.
E. Simpson has told me the result of his immersion
of some Australian telluride ore in Mr. Denny's solu-
tion apparatus, and experiments carried out by me
here have confirmed the importance of Mr. Denny's
discovery. Metallurgists in difficulty are invited to
experiment with this new contribution to our knowl-
edge, or. better still, to communicate with Mr. Denny
at Nipissing.
With regard, however, to the use of this method
in practice, as also to the use of aluminum dust in
place of zinc for precipitation, we have not yet suffi-
cient information to enable us to determine the effect
in practice of the accumulation of aluminum in the
works solutions. We were fortunate in the early days
of cyanide in the aid of natural reactions which pre-
vented the zinc from accumulating in solution. Un-
less we have some similar reaction in the case of alu-
minum, the difficulties arising from its use may be
greater than the benefits. Mr. Denny is silent in his
paper, but doubtless will give us the benefit of his ex-
periences at an early date.
Another improvement of the year is the use of so-
called 'acid' solutions in the treatment of ores which
are found to foul and decompose the ordinary alkaline
solutions. G. Gitsham's process has been described in
'Cyanide Practice in 1910-1913.' pp. 102-104, and ref-
erence to it will also be found in the Journal of the
Chemical, Metallurgical & Mining Society of South
Africa. At one of the great gold mines in Asia, where
acid solutions have been employed, a lessening of cya-
nide consumption is reported for the same recovery
as heretofore. Sulman and Picard point out that hy-
drocyanic acid is commercially impracticable as a solv-
ent for gold, but the addition to the hydrocyanic solu-
tions of a small quantity of ferrous or ferric sulphate.
or of copper sulphate, in presence of air. renders hydro-
cyanic acid an effective solvent, and this is probably
the explanation for the use of these 'acid' solutions
on ores otherwise untreatable in view of the cyanide
consumption when alkaline solutions are employed.
At Pachuca. tailing formerly treated by cyanide is
now being leaehed for a long time with hyposulphite
solution containing copper. There is an extraction of
50% of the gold, a much better extraction of the silver
than formerly obtained, and in addition practically a
total extraction of the mercury. Solutions are precip-
itated by copper pellets instead of by zinc, and the
sludge is distilled. The cost is less than the cyanide
treatment and the mercury is saved in addition. The
volatilization process of gold recovery at the Gwalia
Consolidated has been closed down. This news was
not unexpected. It was recognized that Ben Howe had
to deal with very serious difficulties in the recovery
of volatilized gold.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
75
Progress in the Application of Compressed Air
By Robert Peele
No marked improvements or radical departures in used for cleaning out the pipe. As the pipes are to
practice are to be noted for the past year, in the pro- be filled with concrete, the material within them must
duction, transmission, and use. of compressed air for be completely removed. For this purpose, at intervals
mining service. The field of application of compressed
air power transmission, however, is continually widen-
ing in connection with the arts and manufactures, as
well as in mining. In foundry work, pneumatic ham-
mers have become indispensable for compacting large
molds. This practice, which began about 1908, is now
common in all foundries of any importance, and many
different types of hammer are in use. The applica-
tions of compressed air have also extended in other
directions, for foundries and machine-shops, as ad-
juncts to the main power-plant.
Progress in the use of electric drives for air-com-
pressors has continued. It is unquestionable that,
whenever electric current is obtainable at low rates,
as from a central power-plant, both first cost and
operating cost are reduced, as compared with steam-
driven compressor plants. The installation of such
plants for compressed-air hoisting engines, which be-
gan at the mines of the Miami and Anaconda compa-
nies in 1911, has given satisfactory results. Seven of
the main Anaconda steam hoists were changed to com-
pressed-air drive in 1911 and 1912, namely, at the
Mountain View, High Ore. Diamond, Leonard. West
Gray Rock, Tramway, and Pennsylvania shafts. Dur-
ing the past year the work of remodeling on the same
lines the plants of all the remaining Anaconda shafts
has been in progress. Ultimately, at this mine, there
will be 9 main and 12 auxiliary hoists operated by
compressed air.1 Tests on the Mountain View hoist
(the first to be run on the new system) showed a
total mechanical efficiency, without reheating, of
36.37%: with reheating, something over 50%. This
practice is likely to be followed at other properties
where a number of hoists can be run from central
electric and compressor plants. At the Copper Queen
mine, five direct-acting main hoists, and two geared
hoists have recently been converted to the use of com-
pressed air, the old boiler plants being utilized as re-
ceivers. The air is reheated to 275° Fahrenheit.2
The increase in the use of hammer-drills has been
general in this country for stoping and raising and
sometimes shaft-sinking. In South Africa, also, where
their introduction was at first slow, recent reports
show that they are growing in favor. A number of
new designs, and modifications of the older patterns, of such tests have appealed more and more to pro-
of every two or three feet, the driving is stopped, a
small air-pipe is forced down inside as far as it will
go, the receiver pressure run up, and the compressed
air turned on. This quickly empties the pipe, and
driving is resumed. On the Trans-Caucasian railways,
compressed air, instead of steam, is now used for atom-
izing fuel oil. It avoids the formation of explosive
gases in the furnace and economizes fuel consumption. ;
A new high-vacuum air-pump has been invented by
W. Gaede. It is of the multiple rotary type, working
up to about 8000 r.p.m., at which speed a nearly com-
plete vacuum is produced.4
The granulation of slag by compressed air is super-
seding the older method by water, and is the subject
of a paper recently read by G. Juntzen before the Ger-
man Metallurgical Association.
The Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co.. of Arizona.
has ordered six 10-ton. compound, compressed-air loco-
motives, together with a charging compressor of capa-
city sufficient for 14 locomotives, which, it is expected,
will eventually be installed. The pipe-line pressure
is 1000 lb.; main tank pressure. 800 lb.; initial pres-
sure for the high-pressure cylinder. 250 lb., from which
it is expanded to 50 lb. Before entering the low-
pressure cylinder, the air is re-heated. It is stated
that tests show that this mode of using the air gives
a large increase of efficiency over the single-expansion
type of locomotive. A series of tests recently made
in Germany on compound compressed-air locomotives
gave the following results: air preheated for both cyl-
inders to 180°C. ; length of run, from 0.fi2 to 1.1 ti miles:
gross loads. 70 to 16fi tons; air consumption per Ion-
mile. 26.3 to 32 Ml. ft. for adverse grades of 0.13' , .
Aside from the question of relative economy of elec-
tric and compressed-air underground haulage, the lat-
ter has a distinct advantage for mines working ore-
bodies of large lateral extent in which there arc many
secondary gangways and but few long continuous
lines.
A Drill Tester
A few years ago the practice was begun of making
efficiency tests on compressed-air rock-drill plants of
large mines. The reasonableness and practical value
have lately been put on the market.
In connection with a new method for putting down
large diameter drive pipes for foundation work, by
means of the Goubert pile-driver, compressed air is
ifluH. No. 81, Amer. Inst. Mln. Eng., and Mining and Scien-
tific Press. Nov. 2, 1912.
Uni,n<i and Pcientiflc Press. March 15, 1913.
gressive mine managers, and during 1913 series of
tests have been made at several mines: for example, the
North Star mine"' in California, and the Ojibway mine"
37Van.s\ Amer. Soc. Mech. Eng.
*Comprensed Air Magazine. Jan. 1913.
^Mining and Scientific Press. Aug. 2. 1913.
«Eng. rf Min. Jour., June 14, 1913.
76
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
in Michigan. Similar work, previously inaugurated,
has been continued at the Franklin zinc mine, also at
the mines of the Copper Eange Consolidated Co., and
other properties of the Michigan copper district. A
drill-testing machine has lately been patented by W.
I). Paynter, of Grass Valley, California, for making
shop tests. Indicator cards are taken, air consump-
tion recorded, and the strength of blow measured for
different air pressures. Defective drills are thus read-
ily detected and held for repairs, instead of being
sent underground and causing loss of time. The effects
of changes of air pressure and lubricants can be con-
veniently investigated. The apparatus is also useful
for testing new equipment or for comparing the effi-
ciencies of drills of different makes. It is adapted to
both piston and hammer drills.7
A novel use of compressed air, for quarrying gran-
ite at Mount Airy, North Carolina, is described in
Mines and Quarry, July-August, 1913. The granite lies
in nearly horizontal sheets, forming a low hill. A
hole three or four inches in diameter by five to eight
feet deep is drilled near the centre of the area to be
removed. The bottom of the hole is chambered out by
half a stick of dynamite. In the cavity thus formed,
a small charge of powder is exploded, which starts a
horizontal cleavage. This is followed by a succession
of charges of increasing size, the hole being plugged
each time to confine the gases, until the cleavage
reaches an area of say 75 to 100 ft. radius. Finally,
a pipe is cemented in the original hole by melted sul-
phur, and connected to the compressed-air line. Air
at 70 or 80 lb. is admitted, extending the cleavage over
an area of several acres, thus affording a parting to
which the quarrymen work in cutting the stone into
blocks.
Portable Compressors
There has been a notable increase in the use of
small, portable, independent air-compressors, driven by
an electric motor or gasoline engine. In either case,
the entire apparatus, including an air receiver, is
mounted on a low truck. An electrically-driven com-
pressor of this type, built by the Sullivan Machinery
Co., has a 10 by 10-in. cylinder, and, at 20 r.p.m., com-
presses 181 cu. ft. of free air to 80 lb. gauge. A cir-
culating pump is provided for cooling the air cylinder.
The over-all dimensions, including truck, are about 8
ft, long by 5 ft. wide; total weight, 7200 lb.s The
compressor may be driven either by chain or gearing.
These little plants are useful for a variety of under-
ground service, where power is required temporarily
at a distance from the main mine plant; for example,
to operate one or two rock-drills, or a small pump, or
a coal pick machine. Other designs of portable com-
pressors are made by the Ingersoll-Rand Co. and the
Clayton Works of the International Steam Pump Co.
The Ingersoll-Rand Co. also supplies a number of dif-
iMining and Scientific Press, Aug. 2, 1913, and Eng. £ Min.
Jour., Nov. 1, 1913.
tColl. Eng., Nov. 1913, p. 260.
ferent sizes of small, semi-portable, belt-driven vertical
compressors.
Among the new gasoline-driven portable compreasors
are those of the Ingersoll-Rand Co., National Brake
& Electric Co., and the Sullivan Machinery Co. One
type, built by the last mentioned concern, is mounted
on a heavy wagon truck for surface work, such as the
operation of rock drills and contractor's machinery.
Its rated capacity is 95 cu. ft. of free air per minute
to 90 lb. at 165 r.p.m.: or 112 cu. ft. to 100 lb. at 193
revolutions. The gasoline engine is horizontal, and of
15 to 20 horse-power.
New York Law
The New York state law governing the conditions
under which labor may be employed in an atmosphere
of compressed air, has recently been radically amended
by the Legislature. It is printed in the Compressed Air
Magazine, October 1913, page 6998. A well known au-
thority on compressed air engineering has called at-
tention to two oversights in the amended law, in that
it takes no account of the temperature nor of the
breathable conditions of the air as determined chiefly
by the volume furnished.
New designs of multiple-port, light disk air-valves
are features of some recent compressors. They have
a large port area and small lift. Among them may
be mentioned those of Roby & Co., Ltd., Lincoln, and
Walker Bros, of Wigan, England, the Iversen 'Auto-
matic Plate' valve, made by the Mesta Machine Co.,
and the Kogler-IIoerbiger valve used in the Belliss and
Morcom compressors, of England. All of these are
spring driven, almost noiseless, and capable of work-
ing at high speed.
In 1908 the Rand Mines, Ltd., and Eckstein & Co.,
controlling large groups of the Witwatersrand gold
mines, determined to- adopt electric drive whenever
applicable and to centralize their compressed-air plant.
This led to the incorporation of the Rand Mines Power
Co., the capital for which was furnished by the Vic-
toria Falls & Transvaal Power Co., Ltd. The latter
Company had been previously formed to supply power
to the Transvaal mines, having in view the possible
installation of a hydro-electric plant at Victoria Falls,
on the Zambesi river, about 700 miles north of Johan-
nesburg. This plant is still in abeyance and both com-
panies, operating as a single engineering undertaking,
are supplying power from steam turbine electric gen-
erating sets. The following is abstracted from the
Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical Engineers,
London, March 13, 1913 :
The aggregate power of the plants thus far installed,
or under construction, is about 180.000 kw. (241,280
hp.), while the total power now being used by the
mines on the Rand is estimated at 400.000 hp. During
the past year, an additional plant has been under con-
struction and the main transmission lines extend near-
ly throughout the whole fifty odd miles of actively
worked reef. There are four principal power-stations
and two distributing stations. At two of these poinis,
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
77
six miles apart — Rosherville (near Germiston) and
Robinson Central Deep (east of Johannesburg) — are
installed compressing plants supplying air to a 14-
mile main pipe system. There are now in operation
12 rotary compressors of 3500 kw. each, and three new
units of 7000 kw. each are now under construction ;
total, 63,000 kw., which is equivalent to 84,450 horse-
power.
As a basis for determining a fair rate per unit to
be charged to the consumers, a number of the separate
mine compressors were tested. The average over-all
efficiency of six of these sample compressors was 64.1%,
and a commercial unit was fixed upon equivalent to
0.641 of the quantity of air which would be compressed
isothermally by the expenditure of one kilowatt-hour
of electric energy. The measurement of the compressed
air was an important and difficult problem. A dis-
placement meter of large size was designed, which
gave sufficiently accurate results for a flow of air
through an orifice of 0.1 in. diameter. With this mas-
ter unit as a standard, a series of orifices were cali-
brated for testing the sample mine compressors. For
measuring the air used by the individual consumers,
a meter working on the principle of the Venturi tube
was adopted. The coefficient for the tube was fixed
by a long series of tests, and measurements are now
being made with extremely small limits of error. Of
the air units supplied, 95% are recorded on the con-
sumers' meters, 3% lost in transmission, and 2% un-
accounted for. The delivery pressure is 100 lb., the
average pressure drop from the generating plant to
the consumer being not over 6 lb. The observed de-
livery pressure is found to vary not more than 2%
from the calculated pressure. This remarkable instal-
lation of central and distributing plant is likely to be
still further extended.
The Irving Leaching Process
By L. S. Austin
Joseph Irving, of Salt Lake City, has patented a
process* for the leaching of oxidized and sulphide
ores of copper containing gold and silver. Essentially
it consists in crushing mixed carbonates, oxidized, or
sulphide ores of copper to 12 or finer mesh. The
crushed ore is subjected in leaching vats to the action
of the mother liquor containing ferric sulphate from a
prior leaching, to which has been added some sulphuric
acid and common salt. The ore and solution together
is mechanically agitated and heated by injecting steam.
Upon conclusion of the agitation the mixture is allowed
to settle. It is then drained and washed, yielding a
copper-bearing solution, which is passed through a
filter consisting of sand and fresh iron pyrite, and
then through the precipitation vats. Recovery of the
metals may be accomplished by electrolysis and by
passing solution over scrap iron. The remaining solu-
tion can be regenerated for further use : it is oxidized
by a steam jet which agitates it violently, bringing it
in contact with air. The solution is then reinforced
with sulphuric acid and salt, and is ready to be again
used for a fresh charge.
It would appear that the free sulphuric acid reacting
on copper carbonate would give cuprous sulphate which
would decompose the salt as follows :
(1) CuS04 + 2NaCl = Na2S04 + CuCl2
and the copper chloride, acting upon silver sulphide,
wonld decompose it :
(2) Ag,S -f CuCl2 = CuS -J- 2AgCl
In presence of salt in the solution the silver chloride
dissolves. Gold would be acted on in the same way.
*U. 8. patent 1048541, December 31, 1912, Salt Lake Mining
R«rt*w, XY, 17; Met. rf Chem. Eng., XI, 1G0.
Ferric sulphate, acting on chalcocite, changes it to
copper sulphate thus :
(3) Fe2(S04)3 -f Cu2S = CuS04 + 2FeS04 + CuS
and the resultant CuS, as well as that in the same con-
dition in the ore, would be changed as follows:
(4) Fe2(S04)3 + CuS + 30 + H20 = CuS04 +
2FeS04 + H2S04
When the ore has been leached, the resultant solu-
tion, before going to the scrap-iron boxes for precipi-
tation, must have the ferric sulphate changed to ferrous
form, otherwise the consumption of scrap iron will be
largely miscarried. This is done, as already specified,
by running the solution through a filter containing
fresh pyrite.
(5) 7Fe2(S04)3 4- FeS2 + 8H20 = 15FeS04 + 8H2S04
This ferric is changed to ferrous sulphate and sul-
phuric acid is regenerated.
After the copper, gold, and silver have been pre-
cipitated the barren liquor, being agitated by a steam
jet, its contained ferrous sulphate is changed to ferric
sulphate.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a 50-ton mill, designed for the
effective carrying out of the process along lines sug-
gested by the long experience of the inventor in the
hydrometallurgy of copper.
The ore, after coarse crushing, goes to the 100-ton
storage bin Jt. whence it is fed regularly to a ITardinge
mill, being crushed in the iron sulphate solution flow-
ing from the iron sulphate storage tank. The leaching
vats E. K' are alternately filled with the pulp, beiny:
at the same time agitated by a four-arm stirrer.
When two-thirds full the proper quantity of sulphuric
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
acid is run in from the acid storage tank or acid-bear-
ing liquor from the dilute copper sulphate storage tank
D. When a vat has been filled with pulp, the stirrer
is stopped and the contents allowed to settle. The
supernatant liquor is now decanted, going to the
strong liquor storage tank J. The pulp left in the
leaching vat is drawn off to the cone-classifiers F and
G. In these classification is effected by aid of a rising
current of wash-water, while the underflow from both
cones goes to the concentrating tables in case it con-
tains heavy sand of value, otherwise it is wasted.
From the concentrating tables the tailing, if worth
while, can be pumped back to the Hardinge mill for
further treatment. The overflow from the second
Crasher
cone G goes to the pulp storage tank //. From this,
as much of the clear liquor as possible is decanted
before the remaining slime is withdrawn at the bottom
to one or other of the filter-tanks / and /'. The filter-
tanks have false bottoms of porous tiles which will be
unaffected by the acid liquid. The filtrate from either
tank is withdrawn to either of the liquor storage tanks.
One of the tanks is for the stronger, the other is for
the weaker solution. From these the solution is de-
livered in regulated flow to the electrolytic-deposition
boxes K, K, K. K, where most of the copper is pre-
cipitated electrolytically. The partly impoverished
liquor then goes to a sump-tank L and to the iron pre-
cipitation tanks M, M', where the remaining copper
is recovered by scrap iron ; or the solution at
L containing a little copper, may be sent back
by a centrifugal pump to the copper sulphate
storage tank D to be again used. The barren
solution in the second sump tank N is also
sent back by a centrifugal pump to the high
level iron sulphate tank C and is there agi-
tated by blowing in steam, whereby the fer-
rous sulphate is changed into ferric sulphate,
and is then ready for use on a fresh charge.
The cycle of operations for crushing, filling
tank, leaching, and washing contents, and
finally emptying tank, will average 48 hours.
A number of laboratory tests in 1 to 5-lb.
lots have shown an extraction of copper vary-
ing from 77 to 99% and with an average of
91.4% ; while several ores which had appre-
ciable amounts of gold and silver with the
copper were also found amenable; for ex-
ample :
Gold. Silver. Copper.
Utah ore: Original 0.06 0.56 1.60
Tailing 0.01 0.09 0.13
A1
:-Q?
This amounts to an extraction of 75% of the
gold, 835 of the si rer, and 92% of the
copper.
On a larger scale, using 700 lb. of copper
ore containing 1.32%, an extraction of 79%
was made ; on another lot of 1500 lb. contain-
ing 1% copper there was a recovery of 74%.
In precipitating the copper there was con-
sumed 1.28 lb. iron per pound of copper re-
covered.
On these 50-lb. lots, some Utah copper ore.
containing Cu 0.81%, together with 0.145 oz.
An, and 5.06 oz. Ag per ton, gave, as the re-
sult of three tests, an average extraction of
56% of the copper, 41% of the gold, and 60%
of the silver with a copper precipitate con-
taining 68.52% copper with 1 oz. of gold and
189 oz. of silver per ton.
On an operating scale, March 1913. on some
Nevada ore a charge of 23.19 tons, contain-
ing 4.65% copper, gave the following results
using decantation and leaching, the ore hav-
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
79
ing been crushed in the returned barren solution ;
there was actually extracted by the solution 93% of
the copper. Precipitation was slow because all the
iron was new. There was used 1603 lb. of acid; the
milling time was $\U hours.
On another charge, 30 tons dry weight, March 1913,
the ore contained 2.86% copper. The ore was crushed
in the barren solution, and after settling 12 hours the
supernatant solution was decanted. Acid was then
added and the whole mass was stirred and allowed to
settle. The decanted solution contained 1.57% copper.
The total copper dissolved was 1610.66 lb., equal to a
94% extraction and 3200 lb. of acid was used. This
charge contained a very large portion of copper glance
(chalcocite). It is interesting to note that ores con-
taining copper glance leach slowly.
On copper carbonates and oxides, and with acid
quoted at an average price of $25 per ton. the acid
consumption would be 2c. and average treatment costs
4 to 5c. per pound of copper. On heavy sulphide ores
acid consumption would be 3c. and average treatment
costs 5 to 6c. per pound of copper. It is estimated that
a crushing and leaching plant to treat 100 tons per
day would cost $35,000. This includes building and
equipment complete. Scrap iron delivered would cost
$15 per ton. The consumption of iron is placed at not
to exceed 1.5 lb. per pound of copper recovered and
of acid not to exceed 2 lb. per pound of copper, and
it may be considerably less than that.
Gold-Dredging in Burma
Gold-dredging in the Irrawaddy river has been act-
ively carried on for the past eight years by the Burma
Gold Dredging Co., according to an article in the
Rangoon Times recently quoted by the Fur Eastern Re-
view. Starting with one small dredge, the Company
has increased the magnitude of its operations until
it now has five boats on the river. The dredging is
entir ly confine* to the bed -f the [rraw il'y river.
for t.iei > appear to be no Leaih-gravel i,i benches
containing gold. The banks of the river are high and
consist of solid rock. Dredging on the river is both
difficult and hazardous, although the gravel, where
accessible to the dredges, is said to he easy to dig
and free from large boulders. The gold occurs in
an extremely finely divided condition. It is stated
that about 50 miles of the inner bed contains gravel
which is profitable and suitable for dredging. The
gold content is low. but the average per cubic yard
is not stated. During the eight years of operation.
the Burma company has made a total recovery of
gold valued at about £150.000. but the earnings have
been insufficient to permit of the payment of divid-
ends. It is stated that the cost of operating is ap-
proximately 4c. per cubic yard. The management has
found that the native laborers are quite competent
to handle the dredges after they have been trained
by white dredgemen, with the result that the expert
white labor has been found unnecessary.
Flotation Processes During 1913
By Edward Walker
In reviewing the progress of dotation processes of
concentration during the past year, the subject natur-
ally divides itself into two parts dealing with law-
suits and technology, respectively. Never was any
branch of metallurgy fraught with so many disputes,
both legal and personal, and to an independent jour-
nalist it is no congenial task to have to write on the
subject at all. Even now the last echoes of my article
appearing in your pages in January last have not died
away. I shall begin by recording the legal history of
the year.
The appeal of the Elmores against the Xew South
Wales judgment was heard in October before the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and after
*
the arguments were completed the litigants were noti-
fied that the case was to be re-heard in January. The
reason for this step was not given, and all sorts of
wild guesses have been made on the subject, The less
said by me on this occasion the better. The other liti-
gation was in the Montana court where Minerals Sep-
aration sued James M. Hyde for infringement in con-
nection with the- plant at the Butte & Superior. The
judgment was against Mr. Hyde, but it did not involve
the Butte & Superior company, and so did not further
the collection of royalties on the ore treated. A sep-
arate action was commenced in October with the latter
object in view and was decided in November. The
Butte & Superior entered a different defense from
Mr. Hyde, and pleaded that it used more than 1%
of oil, claiming thus a distinction from the Sulman-
Picard-Ballot process, which refers to comparatively
minute quantities of oil. It was held that there were
no new issues involved in the case, and while a pre-
liminary injunction was refused by the Court because
of the industrial disturbance that would have resulted.
th> Butte <S Superior was put under bond pending de-
cision of the appeal of the original case. A year ago
I mentioned that J. D. Wolf was intending to bring
suit for infringement of his rapid-agitation method as
applied to flotation. Nothing further has been beard
of this, and the inventor is apparently waiting for
the result of the Elmore-Minerals Separation suit,
As regards the technology of the subject, the Min-
erals Separation process continues to prove its effect-
iveness and cheapness, and its use is extending widely.
It is not necessary to give details of the many plants
erected or in course of erection, but it is opportune
to say that the first part of the plant at the Inspira-
tion copper mine in Arizona was ready for operation
December 1, though actual commencement of operations
has been delayed owing to failure of power. Work
will doubtless begin in January with a capacity of
600 tons per day. Much has been beard recently of
three processes developed at Broken Hill that may be
described not unjustly as modifications of the Minerals
Separation process adapted for special purposes: that
80
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
is to say, they are intended for selectively separating
the galena and blende in the slime. Lyster's process
in use at the Zinc Corporation plant and owned by Min-
erals Separation consists of floating the galena and leav-
ing the blende to sink. This is effected without acid
and with a small amount of eucalyptus oil, in water
at the ordinary temperature and charged with salts
such as the sulphates of lime and iron. The Owen and
Bradford processes aim at floating the blende, using
very high temperatures, and more acid and oil. The
Owen process is being installed in the Sulphide Cor-
poration, Broken Hill South, and De Bavay's plants.
The Bradford process is being worked at the Propri-
etary and is a modification of the Potter-Delprat proc-
ess, introducing oleic acid. The variations between
these three processes are, of course, largely caused by
the different constitutions of the ores to be treated. The
Horwood process, involving a. part roast to sulphatize
the galena, is in use at the Zinc Corporation mill, and
its value as compared with the Owen and Bradford
has yet to be tested. The Elmore vacuum process is
not being used to any great extent nowadays.
The other process that has potentialities is the Mu-
rex, and probably its future will be in the treatment of
carbonate copper ores. At the Whim Well, in West-
ern Australia, excellent results are obtained, though
a hitch has temporarily intervened requiring the sub-
stitution of dry crushing and dry screening instead
of the wet-crushing plant. The cause of this trouble
was the kaolin in the ore making a mud that would
not pass the screens. The process is at work at Ma-
lines, in Prance, on a zinc-lead ore, and at the Grund
mine, in the Harz mountains, Germany. The most
recent plant built is one shipped to the Kahn copper
mine in German Southwest Africa. It has a capacity
of 200 tons per day and is to treat a mixed carbonate
and sulphide copper ore. The plant at the Cordoba
copper mine, in the south of Spain, is not giving sat-
isfaction, and the directors are threatening to suspend
its operation. This plant does not treat the whole out-
put, but only the re-crushed jig-middling. The process
was adopted on account of the large amount of cal-
eite, which consumed the acid used by other processes.
That was several years ago, and probably some modern
modification of the Minerals Separation would be ap-
plicable. No doubt also some of the modern concen-
tration tables would be of service. The dissatisfaction
at Cordoba is, however, not associated entirely with
the process itself; it is largely caused by the poor
quality of the plant.
Mining Litigation— Review and
Forecast
Application of flotation methods to treatment of cop-
per ores made great strides in America in 1913. It is
now being used from British Columbia to Chile and its
applicability to Alaskan ores has been shown by test.
Its importance in this connection is due to the fact
that the copper ores are the ones that are now being
worked upon large scale and at the same time the ones
where wet-concentration is especially imperfect.
By Robert M. Searls
The year which is just passed has not been note-
worthy for any number of important decisions in min-
ing cases. Perhaps the overruling of the Yard decision
by the new First Assistant Secretary of the Interior in
the case of J. P. Nichols and Cy Smith before the Land
Department, is entitled to the most important con-
sideration. Although the effect of the Yard decision,
as a precedent for the general interference of the Land
Department in the matter of oil placer locations was
largely nullified by the Act of Congress of August 24,
1912, it has remained for the present administration in
the Interior Department to clear the horizon generally
by flatly overruling this decision. If government lands
have been illegally located or are being illegally held
under the mining laws, the proper forum for determina-
tion of this fact is now admitted to be in the courts, not
before the Land Department.
Only two cases of any importance involving extrala-
teral questions reached the Appellate Courts, the Round
Mountain case in Nevada and the Stewart-Ontario case
in Idaho. In the first case, although the orebodies in
dispute were in the extralateral segment of the vein, the
case hinged on the right of the plaintiff to swing its
location lines under an ambiguity in its patent so as
to include a segment of defendant's extralateral sweep.
The court permitted the defendant to go back of the
patent and show from the record the relative rights as
established by location priorities. The case is still
pending on a re-hearing. The Stewart-Ontario case in-
volved an attempt to claim an apex on the faulted edge
of a vein, the court holding that no extralateral right
could be predicated on such a showing as it would in-
volve taking the right on the strike instead of on the
dip of the vein. The decision also reaffirmed the rule
that the end lines of the discovery vein are the end
lines for all secondary veins having their apices with-
in the claim. This case has been taken to the United
States Supreme Court and is still pending.
Two interesting decisions by the Federal Courts in
Wyoming and Idaho in the Duffield-Chemical Co. cases
have upheld the jurisdiction of the courts to determine
the character of the land involved in a suit brought on
an adverse claim by lode claimants against applicants
for a placer patent to the same ground, where such a
determination is essential to a proper decision of the
controversy. Incidentally it was held in these cases
that rock phosphate is properly locatable as a lode and
not as a placer deposit.
Distinction between bona fide and paper oil placer
locations was made by the California Supreme Court
in the case of Smith t>. Union Oil Co. Neither
plaintiff nor defendant had made an actual discovery
of oil, but the junior locator was in actual possession
and proceeding with due diligence to make a discovery
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
81
on the claim which the senior locator had held for 27
years without other evidence of title than a paper
location. Upon such a showing the junior locator was
allowed to quiet title against the senior. Work done
on adjoining claims was not allowed to count as dis-
covery work on the claim in dispute.
An interesting case arose in Utah involving the
measure of damages where one of two co-tenants has
extracted ore and failed to account to the other co-
tenant for a share of the proceeds. In this case of
Silver King Coalition Mines Co. v. Silver King Con-
solidated Mining Co., the court held that the defraud-
ing co-tenant was liable only for the value of the ore
less the cost of mining the same, on the grounds that
the taking of the ore was lawful although the deten-
tion of the proceeds might be unlawful, and that hence
the lesser measure of damages should prevail.
The escape of tailing from the Arizona Copper Co.'s
mill into the Gila river was perpetually enjoined by the
United States Supreme Court at the suit of riparian
agriculturists whose lands had been injured by such
deposits. In addition to the foregoing, a few cases on
the question of conflicting location boundaries and a
large number of suits involving the construction of oil,
gas, coal, and other mining leases have been decided
during 1913.
Decisions Expected
The coming year promises to bring some important
decisions terminating cases of great national interest.
Chief among these are the suits brought by the United
States and private locators to test the validity of
patents held by the Southern Pacific Railroad Co.
covering a large acreage of valuable oil lands in Cali-
fornia. The Kennedy Extension-Argonaut case in Ama-
dor county, California, involving extralateral owner-
ship questions, should reach a decision in the trial court
and the considerable sums which have been accumulat-
ing as the output of the Argonaut mine during this
litigation be released. In Arizona there is a condemna-
tion suit pending between the Inspiration and New
Keystone Copper companies, the decision of which will
settle for that state the question of whether mining is a
public use in view of the existing constitutional and
statutory provisions. In Alaska, the new territorial
mining code will doubtless be productive of litigation,
especially those provisions which require $100 worth of
labor to be performed annually on each 20-acre sub-
division of an association placer location even though
such location may have been made prior to the enact-
ment of the code.
Outside of the field of litigation, interest in the min-
ing world will centre on the movement which will
doubtless crystallize into congressional bills looking to
an entire revision of the mining law of this country.
Just what will happen it is too early to predict, but
there is already enough discussion on both sides of the
question to insure its presentation to Congress from all
points of view, and to warrant a fair consideration of
the subject at the hands' of the national legislature.
Quicksilver Production and Prices
By Clifford G. Dennis
During the past year the quicksilver producers have
experienced not only a decrease in price for their
metal, brought about by London sales and the effect
of the new tariff schedule, but have suffered with all
other industries through decrease of sales and cor-
responding increase in stock. Quicksilver is some-
thing that consumers do not buy because it is cheap,
but because they absolutely need it in their business
Consequently a decrease in price does not mean in-
crease in sales and increase in mine operations; in,
stead, as in the past year, it means storing what sur-
plus accumulates and curtailing production and ex-
pense where curtailment can be exercised without dan-
gerous disorganization. The price of the metal is reg-
ulated by the London market absolutely, the only
exceptions being those brought about by the zeal of
the different agencies to do business. This zeal, for
the past three years, has reduced the price received
by the American producers from $3 to $5 per flask
below the price indicated by the London market.
The production for the United States is estimated
at 23,000 flasks, which is below normal. That for
the past ten years has averaged 25,619 flasks. The
average price actually received during 1913 was $39.25
per flask. The average price for the past ten years
was $41.83 per flask. The gross value for 1913 was
$902,750; the average gross value for the past ten
years $1,071,650. Of the 23,000 flasks produced. Cali-
fornia furnished 18,000; Nevada, 2400; and Texas, 2600.
Oregon failed to report any production, as did also
Utah and Arizona.
The New Idria mine, in San Benito county, Cali-
fornia, continued to maintain the largest production
in the United States. The Guadalupe mine, in Santa
Clara county, California, ranked second, and the Chisos
mine, in Bewster county, Texas, third. Operations at
the New Idria mine continue to demonstrate the al-
most inexhaustible supply of mercury ores that occur
in the oldest of Coast Range formations, early Cre-
taceous metamorphie, and of the consistency of this
belt of material that extends from Lake county in the
north to San Luis Obispo in the south. At the Oceanic
mine, in the latter county, operations are proceeding
with very satisfactory results. Murray Innes, of San
Francisco, recently purchased this property from the
Oceanic Quicksilver Co. of Los Angeles. Mr. Innes
reports that during the past year he has developed
300,000 tons of ore with a tenor from 8 to 10 lb. of
mercury per ton, that the ore is very even in grade,
that the vein is from 20 to 40 ft. wide, and that the
shoot is 800 ft. long. A shaft from the present fourth
level is under way, the intention being to sink to a
depth of 500 ft. It will be interesting to learn what
the geologic conditions are, when the shaft at the
Oceanic mine penetrates the sandstone and enters the
82
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
metamorphic formation. At the Gaudalupe mine in
California the furnaces have been running continu-
ously, and it is said that developments in the mine
have demonstrated that there is more ore in sight
than was extracted in 1913. At New Almaden, the
Quicksilver Mining Co. ceased mining in June at the
time of the reorganization of the Company. Since
that time the furnaces have been operated from ore
gleaned from old dumps by sorting. The Company
contemplates an extensive development program dur-
ing 1914. This development will probably consist of
exploring that territory between Mine hill, where the
old mine was situated, and the El Senidor mine about
3% miles distant. Most of the ore mined at New Al-
maden for the past few years has come from the El
Senidor and the possibility of more ore in this mine
is most promising. At the Helen mine, in Lake county,
California, production has been curtailed while ex-
tensive development was proceeding.
The Chisos mine, in Bewster county, Texas, con-
tinued to operate throughout the year. Other activi-
ties in the Texas field consisted of prospecting and
development only. In Arizona, the Cinnabar Develop-
ment Co., operating the old Colonial mine in west
central Yuma county, failed to report any production.
It was rumored that a set of retorts was to be placed
at this mine to work the rich ore that was found on
the lower levels. The Sunflower Cinnabar Mining Co.,
with headquarters at Phoenix, Arizona, has taken over
a property near Cline, in Gila county, and is expected
to begin the erection of a furnace immediately.
The Mercury mine at lone, Nevada, continued to
operate its furnace throughout the year. The Nevada
Cinnabar Mining Co. completed the erection of a 50-
ton plant on the lone property. The plant consists
of a double, four-tile, Mirabel type, Scott furnace,
and eight double condensers. The plant itself is one
of the best ever built, but the situation and arrange-
ment could have been more convenient and better
adapted to the delivery of the ore from the mine. The
common brick for the furnace was made on the ground
from a comparatively weak clay full of sharp angular
bits of rhyolite, the moulding was done with a soft-
mud machine ; the result was a hard, square, almost
perfect brick far superior to the common slop brick.
The Ruby mine, situated about five miles south of
Imlay in the Humboldt range, erected a battery of
twelve 12-in. pipe retorts during the year and had a
satisfactory run. It is proposed to erect a furnace
on this property in the spring. The Nevada Quick-
silver or Goldbank Quicksilver mine, situated about
40 miles south from Winnemucca, Nevada, has done
considerable developing and has exposed the largest
single deposit of cinnabar in the state. There is not
a great deal of high-grade ore, but a large quantity
of commercial ore is exposed and so situated that
it can be mined at a low cost per ton. The metal
occurs generally in an imperfect agglomerate. The
agglomerate lies quite flat in parallel bedding, varying
in thickness from a foot to four feet. These 'reefs'
of agglomerate alternate with strata of altered rhyo-
lite varying from a few inches to several feet in
width and thoroughly saturated with cinnabar. At
a distance of approximately 300 to 400 ft. is a strong
fissure filled with opaline material that carries a little
cinnabar. The evidence of hot-water circulation is
very clear and the relation of this main fissure to the
ore-bearing material will prove a most interesting
study as the work progresses. Upon locating the
points on the map where mercury occurs in Nevada,
it is interesting to note the directness of the course
between them. Beginning at the Pine Forest range
(reported in 1899) in the north, thence to the Ruby
mine just south of Imlay, thence to the Goldbank
in the East Range, thence to the Mercury and Nevada
Cinnabar at lone, thence to the several deposits about
Round Mountain, Manhattan, and Belmont, thence to
a deposit reported as 20 miles east of Goldfield, thence
to the Fluorine district, 5 miles east from Beatty in
the south, they are practically in a straight line and
include 90% of the reported occurrence of the metal.
Books of the Year
Charlton, W. H. 'American Mine Accounting.' 367 pages.
McGraw-Hill Book Co. $5.
Durham, E. B. 'Mine Surveying.' 390 pages. McGraw-Hill
Book Co. $3.50.
Earl, T. C. 'Gold Dredging.' 208 pages. Sponn & Cham-
berlin. $8.
Emmons. S. F. 'Ore Deposits.' 954 pages. American Institute
of Mining Engineers. $5.
Fawns, Sydney. 'Radium: Its Production and Uses.' 60
pages. The Mining Journal. $1.
Finlay, G. I. 'Introduction to the Study of Igneous Rocks.'
228 pages. McGraw-Hill Book Co. $2.
Hatschek, Emil. 'Physics and Chemistry of Colloids.' 94
pages. P. Blakiston's Son & Co. $1.
Heather, H. J. S. 'Electrical Engineering for Mechanical and
Mining Engineers.' 324 pages. D. Van Nostrand Co. $3.50.
Hofman, H. O. 'General Metallurgy.' 909 pages. McGraw-
Hill Book Co. $6.
Hoover, Herbert C. and Lou C. 'Translation of De Re Metal-
lica,' by Georgius Agricola (1556). 640 pages. The Mining
Magazine. $8.
Hoover, T. J. 'Concentrating Ores by Flotation.' 221 pages.
The Mining Magazine. $3.75.
Iddings, J. P. "Igneous Rocks.' Vol II, Descriptions and
Occurrence.' John Wiley & Sons. $6.
Janin. Charles. 'Mining Engineers' Examination and Report
Book.' Two parts, 94 and 57 pages, respectively. Mining
and Scientific Press. $2.50.
Leith. C. K. 'Structural Geology.' 169 pages. Henry Holt
& Co. $1.50.
Lewis, J. V. 'Determinative Mineralogy, with Tables.' 151
pages. John Wiley & Sons. $1.50.
Lindoren, W. 'Mineral Deposits.' 883 pages. McGraw-Hill
Book Co. $5.
Lord and Demorest. 'Metallurgical Analysis.' 334 pages.
McGraw-Hill Book Co. $2.50.
McCulloch and Futers. 'Winding Engines and Winding Ap-
pliances.' 452 pages. Edward Arnold. $6.
Of, Charles (Editor). 'Mineral Industry.' Vol. 21, 1090 pages.
McGraw-Hill Book Co. $10.
Paine and Stroud. 'Oil Production Methods.' 239 pages.
Western Engineering Pub. Co. $3.
Redwood, Sir Boverton. 'A Treatise on Petroleum.' Third
edition. In three volumes. 1198 pages. Chas. Griffen
& Co. $15.
Richardson, C. H. 'Economic Geology.' 320 pages. McGraw-
Hill Book Co. $2.50.
Rodenhauser and Schoenawa. 'Electric Furnaces in the Iron
and Steel Industry.' 417 pages. John Wiley & Sons. $3.50.
Skinner, W. 'The Mining Manual,' 1913fl 1356 pages. Walter
R. Skinner. $5.25.
von Bernewitz, M. W. (Editor). 'Cyanide Practice, 1910-1913.'
732 pages. Mining and Scientific Press. $3.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
83
Metal Prices and Markets in 1913
Special Correspondence from New York
METAL PRICES AND MARKETS IN 1913
In 1913 the metals slumped in price, apparently in line with
the statement that the times call for a readjustment o£ the
cost of raw materials. The declines were helped along, of
course, by the lessening of business activity in the last four
months of the year. The year was notable for the low points
reached by copper stock, at home and abroad. Exports were
good. Lead touched the lowest figure since February, 1912.
The feature of antimony was the oversupply. Pig tin de-
clined about 14c. in the year. Aluminum was greatly af-
fected by the new tariff and suffered also from the slower
activity of the automobile industry.
of the month having been greater by 5,302,928 lb. than that
of February. The domestic consumption showed a marked
increase in the month. In April there was another large de-
crease in stock, that on May 1 being 28,720,162 lb. less than
that on April 1. The big reduction was due chiefly to a in-
crease in deliveries of nearly 10,000,000 lb. over those of
March, about 8,000,000 lb. of the increase being for export. In
May the stock decreased 8,074,883 lb. leaving on hand at the
end of the month 67,564,225 lb. May production ran 5,986,014
lb. over that of April, while domestic deliveries increased
about 3,000,000 lb. and those for export decreased 17,608,749.
In June there was a decline in production of nearly 19,500,000
GENERAL COURSE OK METAL PRICKS PLOTTED FROM WEEKLY QUOTATIONS IN THE MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS.
COPPER PRODUCTION' AMI DELIVERIES
The production in January— 143,479,625 lb.— was the largest
ever known for that month and resulted in an increase of
17,885,750 lb. in the domestic stock of surplus marketable
copper. In February, for the first time since the preceding
August, the figures of the Copper Producers' Association
showed a decrease in stock. The decrease was only 896,134 lb.,
but it marked the turn, after which the stock continued to
dwindle until October. As the table herewith shows, the low
point with only 29,793,094 lb. on hand was reached October 1.
Production fell off in February, but total deliveries increased
6,251,140 lb. A falling off in surplus stock was expected in
March, but that it would decrease 18,032,928 lb. as it did, was
a surprise and the more noteworthy because of the production
pounds as compared with May, which caused a decrease in
stock of 14,659,619 lb., despite the fact that domestic con-
sumption was about 12,600,000 under that of May and that ex-
port deliveries fell off slightly also. The lessened production
was in part due to the strike at the Nichols refinery on Long
Island. August 1 there was an increase in stock of 690,339
lb., domestic consumption in July having fallen off nearly
10,000,000 lb., while foreign deliveries increased 10,000,000 lb.
September 1, the stock had dropped to 38,314,037 lb., a decrease
of 15,280,908 lb. from that of August 1. The nearest previous
low record was 44,335,004 on July 1, 1912. Production in
August declined nearly 7,000,000 lb., while domestic deliveries
were 14,745,609 lb. over those of July; with foreign deliveries
over 5,000,000 less The September production was 131,401,-
84
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
229 lb., about the same as that for August, but at the end
of the month the stock had decreased to 29,793,094 lb., the
smallest for any month since the first publication of the
figures of the Copper Producers' Association about five years
before, the nearest previous low stock having been that of
September 1, 1913. The figures of the Copper Producers' Asso-
ciation coupled with those of Henry B. Merton & Co. Ltd.,
London, England, showed the world's visible supply on
October 1, 1913, to be 41,119 tons, a reduction of 10,030 tons
as compared with September 1 and the lowest supply on
record. From October 1, the stock increased, gaining in the
month 2,773,288 lb. Production in October increased 7,669,252
lb., and domestic deliveries increased 1,336,823 lb., while
foreign fell off 4,961,802 lb. November brought a decrease
of 4,982,773 lb. in production, but nevertheless an increase of
15,363,047 lb. in stock was shown December 1, because of the
heavy falling off in domestic deliveries. They decreased
19,516,862 lb. from those of October and totaled but 48,656,858
lb., the lowest in any one month for nearly two years, the
previous low record having been in January 1911, when about
42,000,000 lb. was delivered. Deliveries for export in
November were 70,067,803 lb. or 1,944,330 lb. over those of
October. Following tables show the United States production
and deliveries, and the domestic surplus stock at the begin-
ning of each month as presented by the monthly statements
of the Copper Producers' Association:
Domestic Deliveries
Production. Deliveries, for export.
Total for 1911 1,431,938,338 709,611,943 754,932,733
December, 1912 143,354,042 58,491,732 65,713,796
Total for 1912 1,581,920,287 819,665,947 746,396,452
January, 1913 143,479,625 65,210,030 60,383,845
February 130,948,881 59,676,492 72,168,523
March 136,251,849 76,585,471 77,699,306
April 135,333,402 78,158,837 85,894,727
May 141,319,416 81,108,321 68,285,978
June 121,860,853 68,452,571 68,067,901
July 138,074,602 58,904,192 78,480,071
August 131,632,362 73,649,801 73,263,469
September 131,401,229 66,836,897 73,085,275
October 139,070,481 68,173,720 68,123,473
November 134,087,708 48,656,858 70,067,803
Domestic
surplus.
December 1, 1912 86,164,059
January 1, 1913 105,312,582
February 1 123,198,332
March 1 122,302,198
April 1 104,269,270
May 1 75,549,108
June 1 67,564,225
July 1 52,904,606
August 1 53,594,945
September 1 38,314,037
October 1 29,793,094
November 1 32,566,382
December 1 47,929,429
The total of copper exports from the United States in eleven
months of 1913 as compiled by C. Mayer, secretary New York
Metal Exchange, was 352,157 tons, against 298,491 tons in the
same period of 1912. In the first 11 months of 1913 Germany
took 134,585 tons as against 107,172 tons in the same period
of 1912. In 12 months of 1912 total exports were 327,965 tons;
in 1911, 336,801 tons; in 1910, 301,935 tons, and in 1909, 301,-
657 tons. Mr. Mayer figured the total importations in 10
months of 1913 by steamers and railroads, including ores,
matte, and regulus reduced to fine copper, to be 152,000 tons,
against 148,000 tons in the same period of 1912.
COURSE OF COPPER PRICES IN 1913
January was ushered in with the market quiet, but strong,
at 17.75c. cash for Lake and 17.60c. to 17.62%c for electrolytic.
The closing days of 1912 had seen good buying. The metal
was tightly held by the large interests, but could not with-
stand the unfavorable showing of the Copper Producers' state-
ment for December. With the appearance of these figures
which showed an increase in stock on January 1 of 19,000,000
lb. over Devember 1, 1912, a decline set in which was helped
along by the unsettled Balkan condition and violent fluctua-
tions of copper abroad and by January 20, Lake was selling
down to 16.25c. cash and electrolytic at 16c. Then came a
turn upward and at the end of the month, 16.25c. cash was
quoted for electrolytic and 16.50c. for Lake. Large sales were
made in the month. Early February was unsettled and there
were predictions that the price would drop to 15c. and at the
end of the month, Lake was quoted at 15c. cash and electrolytio
at 14.75c. The lower prices stimulated buying and one of the
best movements of the year resulted. In the first few days of
March a better demand from Europe started prices upward
and by March 31 successive advances carried Lake to 15.37%c.
cash and electrolytic to 15c. An additional cause of strength
was the Copper Producers' statement showing that stock in
February had fallen off nearly 900,000 lb. Unsettled political
conditions abroad, the Balkan war then being in full swing,
tended to restrict European buying, but toward the end of the
month, the tension abroad eased up and foreign consumers
came into the market strong along with domestic buyers,
which caused prices to take an upward trend which they pur-
sued throughout April. At the end of the latter month, Lake
was quoted at 15.75c. cash and electrolytic at 15.62 14c. The
March report of the Producers' Association which showed a
further reduction in stocks of 18,000,000 lb. was a strong bull
influence. The buying, especially for Europe, continued good
until almost the middle of April. Lake was becoming scarce
and about this time the labor troubles in the Lake Superior
District began to attract attention. European uneasiness
caused by unsatisfactory conditions in southeastern Europe re-
sulted in electrolytic dropping a few points in the early part of
May, but it soon recovered and by May 10, 15.75c. was quoted,
but it did not hold and at the end of the month electrolytic
was quoted at 15.50c. and Lake at 15.75c. On a basis of
15.62%c. cash there was fair dealing in electrolytic early in
May. The producers' statment for April, showing a reduction
in stock of over 28,000,000 lb. greatly strengthened the market.
June set in with Lake at 15.75c. cash and electrolytic at 15.25c.
cash, but the month brought weakness and it closed at 15c.
cash for Lake and 14.62y2c. cash for electrolytic. The brass
mills about this time began to note a decline in new orders.
Toward the middle of June there was good buying, followed
by quiet to the end of the month. Prices of brass and copper
products weakened in June. The course of July was down-
ward, though prices strengthened in the last week of the
month. They dropped to 14.50c. cash for Lake and 14.12 %c.
cash for electrolytic (July 15) then turned upward and July
31 were 15.25c. cash for Lake and 15.12%c. cash for electrolytic.
The last week of July brought activity in electrolytic, but
Lake was nominal. In August the trend was upward and at
the end of the month Lake was quoted at 16.12%c. cash and
electrolytic at 16c. Lake copper continued hard to secure be-
cause of the strike in Michigan and tight holding of the
available supply, but there was some buying of it in the second
week of the month, which was checked by advancing prices.
Late in August, the Lake situation began to clear up slowly.
In September the range of prices was from 16.25c. to 17c. cash
for Lake and 16.12%c. to 16.75c. cash for electrolytic. Prices
were at their highest in the third quarter of the month,
after which they declined and October began with Lake at
16.621/oc. and electrolytic at 16.50c. The strength which was
gained was almost entirely due to the diminishing stocks.
Good buying attended the rise in prices, while Lake became
harder to obtain than ever. In the latter part of October it
became apparent that the big agencies were well sold up and
second hands tried to force action by offerings at concessions
but they aroused no inclination to buy. Prices fluctuated in a
January 3, 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 85
lively way in October, but near the end of the month settled 4.50c, New York and 4.37%c became the price for St. Louis,
at 16.87%c cash for Lake and 16.62%c. for electrolytic. From Prior to the advance the routine demand was maintained and,
this time" until near the end of the year there was little buy- intermittently, good buying occurred although it was re-
ing of copper, although the statistics were strong. Quotations peatedly said that uncertainty over the approaching changes
declined steadily until 15.25c. cash for Lake and 14.62%c for in tlle tariff had the effect of restraining big business. Yet
electrolytic were quoted. It had been believed that consumers when the terms of the new tariff bill, so far as they pertain
would be forced to buy for December, but the hopes did not to iea(jt became more concrete, they had little effect on the
materialize and the big agencies as well as second hands came market. It was pointed out that the tariff would only serve
down in prices. There was some business, but not nearly aa t0 preVent prices from soaring. The advance to 4.50c. was
much as had been looked for. In the latter port of November acCompanied by the statement that the price had been too
it was no longer a secret that new orders for brass and copper low The 4.50c. price held until May 5, when there was a re-
products had fallen off sharply with the general decline in all duction to 4.35c. New York and 4.20c. St. Louis again, the
metal lines and reductions in prices were a result. Some of reason announced for the change being that demand had
the mills went on four and five day time and their stocks of siackened. At 4.35c. New York, the price was stationary
copper on hand were sufficient to carry them along without through the remainder of May, June, and until July 29, when
the necessity of buying. In December there was little buying quotations went to 4.50c. New York, and 4.35c. St. Louis, again.
and December 23, Lake was 14.62%c and electrolytic 14.37%c Tne st. Louis price had varied 2% points at times. In June
cash. the metal was high and going higher and fear was entertained
The average prices paid for copper by the brass mills in the 0f London coming to New York and upsetting this market.
Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury average) in 1913 were as fol- It proved, however, that the London market was bolstered up
10W8: by a corner which did not hold. Meanwhile domestic buyers
Cents. Cents. proceeded slowly. In early July, consumers began complain-
Deoember, 1912 17.75 June 15.37% jng 0f their new business showing a falling off, but latter In
January, 1913 17.00 July 14.75 the month they bought more freely their stocks having be-
February 15.50 August 15.62% come very small. The 4.50c. New York price announced July
March .15.12% September 15.87% 29, held until August 15, when the A. S. &. R. Co. advanced its
April 15.75 October 16.87% New York price to 4.75c. At St. Louis 4.65c. was quoted at
May 15.87% November 16.25 this time. Rumors of labor troubles in Missouri which culmi-
nated in a strike in August strengthened the situation, as did
^ I II M '1 'I ' It
a good demand that came about the middle of August. When
This metal began the year at 7.30c. New York and 7.17%CJ the strike was declared, August 15, the A. S. & R. Co. with-
St. Louis, and at the end of November was about 5.15c. New drgw from the market Ior a few hours, then announced its
York and 5c. St. Louis. It dropped to 6.80c. New York in advance to 4 75c, The price held until September 25, when
January. In that month German spelter was imported and independent interests came down to 4.70c. New York, and
sold at or near 7.05c. on the Atlantic seaboard. Fears as to 4 55c gt Louis Meanwhile the aspect of the lead situation
results the new tariff might cause was an unsettling influence ba(J been change(j by the settlement of the strike in the latter
on the market in the greater part of the year. In February, part Qf August Demand began to subside and finally came the
prices dropped to 6.25c. New York and 6.10 St. Louis. In reduction by independents. On October 1, the A. S. & R. Co.,
March, demand was good, the trend turned upward and prices whicn had been feeling the underselling by other companies
advanced to 6.40c. New York, and 6.25c. St. Louis, but the came down tQ 4 6Qc New York and 4.45c. St. Louis. The
strength did not last long and the month closed at 5.85c. New competition continued and October 8, the big interest came
York and 5.70c. St. Louis. In April, prices declined further, doWQ tQ 4 50c New York and 4 35c st Louis again. Further
demand having been satisfied, and the market in consequence, cuts followedi in the anxiety to get business, and on October
being quiet. In this month large quantities were being de- 16^ the A g & R Co reduCed its quotations again, this time
livered against old contracts to both brass mills and galvaniz- tQ' 4 g5c New York and 4.20c. St. Louis. Outside producers
ere. In May quotations had dropped until near the end of I0n0wed. With other metals declining on every side, lead held
the month they were about 5.35c. New York, and 5.20c. St. itg own thr0ugh the remainder of October and to November 26
Louis, and dullness was the principal feature. In June, when wben the A S. & R. reduced its prices to 4.25c. New York and
quotations touched 5.10c, New York, and 4.95c, St. Louis, 4 jqc St. Louis. Business was light at the time and keenly
business was slow, but it picked up at the end of the month competed for. December 2, the price came down to 4.00c. New
and the New York prices advanced to 5.30c In early July York. Toward the end of the month greater strength de-
there was good buying and in that month prices mounted to Veloped.
5.60c. New York, and 5.45c. St. Louis. In August, business was axtimoxv
fair and quotations advanced to 5.90c. New York and 5.75c. St. ^ January bQtn dealerg and consumers were overloaded with
Louis. The advances were accelerated by strike troubles in ^ Qwing to a more or ,ess {renzied buying 0I1 a rise
the West and higher prices of ore. Not until about the mid- ^ ^ m2 ^ there wag Qn aU sjdes pressure to sell at
die of September did prices begin to decline again, but after ^^ g ^ fm Cookson.s> 937,r,c for Halletfs and 9c. for
that time they came down steadily and on September 30, the ^^ es By Feoruary Cookson's nad weakened to 9.45c.
New York price was 5.60c In September, foreign spelter was ^ ^^ con(inued ,lfelesg tnrough February and March
again offered but found few purchasers and this t me It was ^^ ^ bettement and smne de:lIers were incline d to with-
said that consumers preferred the domestic metal with the ^^ from the market ^^ than force sa,es ,n AprU Hal.
qualities of which they were more familiar. October saw a ^^ t(> g ^ _ and chinege nnd Hungarian brands t0
continuance of the decline, and the month closed with the ? ^ ^^ ^ aBx{om to se„ offerert Hal.ietts at
New York quotation at 5.40c Steady declines and little bust- g ' ln L M&y brought sUU ,ower prices, cookson's
ness were the features of November and on December 1, quo- ^ - offered &t g „0c Ha,lett.B at 8 20f, and chinese and
tations were 5.15c New York and 5c St. Louis. These held H r,an grades at 750c. The decline continued in June, but
to December 23, up to which time busines was light. ^ ^^ wag otherwise featureless. In July the inactivity
lead continued and prices were lower. In this month government
Throughout January, February, March, and until April 22, statistics showed that there was in bonded warehouses about
lead quotations were 4.35c New York and 4.20c St. Louis. On 4,500,000 lb. of antimony, which had been imported in antici-
the date named the A. S. & R. Co. advanced quotations to pation of lower tariff duties. This amount approximates a
86
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
year's supply. August closed at 7.75c. for Hallett's, 8.35c. for
Cookson's and 7.37y2c. for other grades Prices in September
were unchanged. Toward October dealers were withdrawing
from warehouse only metal which they had actually sold.
After the new tariff became effective on October 4, the big
supply in government custody was more freely drawn upon
and the market slumped. The low quotations for October
were 7.25c. for Hallett's, 7.62%c. for Cookson's, and 6.50c. for
other grades. In November there was a further decline of
about 12% points for all grades, with business extremely
slow. Conditions were unchanged in December.
PIG TIN
On January 2, pig tin for prompt delivery sold at 50.60c. and
while it mounted to 51c. and dropped to 49.85c. in the next 30
days, the month closed at 50.15c, quotations which were partly
sustained by the scarcity of spot metal. At, or near, the high
prices a good business was done. Toward the end of the
month the shortage was relieved by heavier importations. At
the auction of 2500 tons of Banca tin in Holland January 29,
the price obtained was 137% florins, equal to about 50c, c. i. f.
New York. January deliveries totaled 3700 tons. In Febru-
ary prices weakened throughout the month, 49c being touched
February 3, followed by fluctuations in which declines were
greater than the recoveries, until on February 28 the price
was 47.55c. Business was fairly good in the early part of the
month and the chief cause of the reduction in price was the
decline in London prices. In February a shortage of spot
supplies was again feared and stimulated buying to cover short
contracts. It developed at this time that American consumers
were overbought and many of them were embittered by the
fact that prices began to decline as soon as they had loaded
up, not in itself a new story. February deliveries were 3500
tons. In March the metal declined from 47.75c on the third
day of the month to 45.70c on the 17th; then gradually picked
up again until 47.90c. was quoted March 31. London early in
the month was erratic, reflecting anxiety over the Balkan
situation. Through March buying was intermittent and not
extremely heavy at any time. About the middle of the month
about 320 tons of Chinese tin arrived on vessels from Chinese
ports which was unusual for this port. Deliveries in March
reached the record breaking total of 5900 tons, the nearest
previous high figures having been 5400 tons in April, 1912.
April ushered in a rising market again and on the 14th of
the month tin touched 50c On April 17, 50.10c was quoted,
after which it declined gradually until April 30, when the price
was 49.87 %c Foreign influence caused the rise. It was a
market in which consumers had little faith and consequently
they did little buying. Deliveries in April totaled 3450 tons.
In May, prices hovered around the 50c level until the middle
of the month when a decline set in, and May 31 the price was
47c. As a rule business was dull throughout the month. The
sale of 2500 tons of Banca, in Holland, May 28, realized 135%
florins equivalent to about 49.45c, c. i. f. New York. Deliveries
in May were 3350 tons. June prices ranged between 46.60c
at the opening of the month and 42.50c. at the close, the de-
cline being practically without a break. Excepting at inter-
vals the market was quiet in June and speculation was evi-
dent in what buying there was. In the second week of the
month 100 tons of Banca for which sale could not be made
was returned to London. In the third week liquidation in
tin holdings was forced in London because Vienna speculators
could not obtain extensions of loans wherewith to finance their
operations and this brought about lower prices. In 4 days,
tin declined £12 in London. June deliveries were 3800 tons.
In July prices came to 39.35c (July 14) after which they
rallied and crept up to 40.60c, at which August opened. In
July consumers were using metal for which they had paid up
to 48c Now and then there was a day of good buying. The
July sale of Banca in Holland, when 2500 tons were disposed
of, brought 111% florins, equal to about 40.60c. c. i. f. New
York. The low price caused weakness both abroad and here.
July deliveries were 3900 tons. Throughout August tin was
steady at about 41c. The lack of any considerable fluctuation
was unusual. Trading was not heavy in the month, although
on a few days fair buying was reported. Deliveries against
old contracts were heavy. In August, 3600 tons were delivered
to consumers. In September prices mounted to 43.80c, but they
were more irregular than in the previous month and Septem-
ber 30, stood at 41c. again. Features were lacking, except that
the September sale of Banca realized 116% florins equal to
about 42.30c, c i. f. New York. September deliveries were
3100 tons. In October prices again pursued a rather even
course and at no time were far above or below 40.35c, while
business was light, and it was conceded generally that con-
sumption was falling off. October deliveries were 3700 tons
which exceeded all estimates for the month. In November,
the downward course of prices continued, 39.25c. being touched
early in the month, which closed at 39.50c. At no time in
November was 40.25c. exceeded. Business was fair at times,
but not satisfactory and it was apparent that consumers had
plenty in stock, adding their purchases to the stock which
they were enabled to carry over because of the smaller demand
for their products. The November Banca sale brought an
average price of 109% florins, equal to about 40c. c. i. f. New
York. Deliveries were light, amounting to 2800 tons. With
little trading, December presented few features. By Decem-
ber 23, the price dropped to 36.62%c.
ALUMINUM
At the beginning of 1913, the market was about 26.50c,
whereas late in December it was 18.50c. to 19c. for prompt
delivery domestic. Consumption was goo*d in the early part
of the year and prices went up a few points in March, 26.87%c.
to 27.12 %c being quoted for prompt shipment domestic. From
this month on, the course of prices was downward; the lowest
of each month being approximately as follows: 26.75c. in
April, 25c in May, 23.50c in June, 23c. in July, 21.50c. in
August and September, 19.75c. in October and 18.50c. in
November. In May there were especially heavy deliveries, and
these led to resales and lower prices, the decline being helped
along by apprehension over the then impending tariff changes,
an influence which was felt until the new duties became
operative. Pending the inactment of the bill there was
accumulated in bonded warehouses a large quantity of the
metal and this had a depressing effect upon the trade. The
imports in August were 1,336;835 lb. as compared with 576,252
lb. in August, 1912. Later in the year a further depressing
influence was the slower extent to which automobile manu-
facturers were purchasing. Throughout the year prices of
foreign and domestic were close together and often on the
same level. The slight difference, when there was any, was
in favor of domestic In late December, both foreign and
domestic prompt metal were quoted at 18.75c to 19c
LOCAL, METAL PRICES
San Francisco, December 31.
San Francisco is not a primary market for the common
metals except quicksilver. The prices quoted below therefore
represent sales of small lots and are not such as an ore pro-
deer could expect to realize. Ore contracts usually call for
settlement on the basis of Eastern prices, less freight and
treatment charges. The prices quoted are in cents per pound,
except in the case of quicksilver, which is quoted in dollars per
flask of 75 pounds.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15% — 15%c
Pig lead 4.40— 5.35
Quicksilver (flask) $40
Tin 41 — 42%c
Spelter 6%— 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7(4 to 8c. per pound.
January 3, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
87
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, December 31. — The general tone of the market
Is strong and the feeling In general Is optimistic. The copper
market is strong and advancing and a large domestic business
Is reported. The lead market is also strong and the tendency
is toward an advance, the sellers are holding back. The spelter
market Is quiet but firm. The Tennessee Copper Co. reports
an estimated output for the month of 1.700,000 lb. copper and
a total for the year of 13,252,000 lb. The price movements in
the share market have been irregular during the greater part
of the day and trading has been confined to but a few stocks.
Operations are generally quiet awaiting the developments of
the new year, which are looked upon as promising.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Dec. 25 Holiday
•• 26 51.50
■• 27 57.62
•• 28 Sunday
•> 29 57.62
" 30 57.50
•• 31 57.37
Average week ending.
Nov. 19 59.26
" 25 58.20
Dec. 3 57.22
" 10 58.2.1
" 17 57.79
" 24 57.77
" 31 57.52
Monthly averages.
1912.
Jan 56.25
Feb 59.06
Mch 58.37
Apr 59.20
May 60.88
June 61.29
1913.
63.01
July
61.25
Aug.
57.87
Sept
59.26
Oct.
60.21
Nov.
59.03
Dec.
1912.
July 60.67
61.32
62.95
63.16
62.73
63.38
1913.
58.70
59.32
60.53
60.88
58.76
57.73
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are In cents per pound.
pate. Average week ending
Dec. 25 Holiday
" 26 14.38
•• 27 14-38
" 28 Sunday
- 29 14.63
" 30 1475
•• 31 14.75
Nov.
Dec.
19 15.08
25 14.62
3 14.41
10 14.13
17 14.17
24 14.28
31 14.56
Monthly
1912. 1913.
14.09 16.54
14.08 14.93
14.68 14.72
15.74 15.22
16.03 15.42
17.23 14.71
LE
A In cents per
rk delivery.
4.15
4 15
averages.
Julv ...
1912.
17.19
1913.
14.21
Feb
17.49
15.42
Sept. . . .
17.T.6
16 23
Oct. . . .
17.32
16 31
15 08
Dec. . . .
17 37
14 »5
Lead
pounds.
Date.
Dec. 25
" 26
*' 27
Is quote
New Yo
Holiday
AD
pound or dollars per hundred
Average week ending
Nov. 19 4.18
" 25.
" 28
Sunday
1912.
4.43
4.03
4.07
4.20
4.20
4.40
. . , 4.15
. . . 4.15
Monthly
1913.
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
4.34
4.33
" 10. .
. 4 00
" 29
" 17. .
. 3 90
" 30
" 31
" 24..
" 31..
averages.
Julv ...
1912.
4.71
4.54
4.02
. 4.15
1913.
4.35
Feb. . .
Mch. . .
4.60
4 70
Oct
5 OS
4 37
May
Nov. . . .
Dec. . . .
4.91
4.20
4.16
4.02
ZINC
Zinc Is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, In cents per pound.
Date.
Dec. 25 Holiday
" 26
" 27
" 28 Sunday
" 29
" 30
" 31
5.13
5.13
5.13
5.13
5.13
Average week ending
Nov. 19 5.05
25.
3.
Dec.
10.
17.
24.
31.
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 6.88
1912.
. 6.42
. 6.50
. 6.57
. 6.63
6.68
Monthly averages
1913
6.13
Aug.
5.94
Sept.
5.52
Oct.
6.23
Nov.
5.00
Dec.
1912.
July 7.12
f..9d
7.45
7.36
7.32
7.09
5.08
5.00
5.00
. 5.00
. 5.15
. 5.13
1913.
5.11
5.51
5.55
5.22
5.09
5.07
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for t
the metal Is almost entirely Imported. San Francisco qu
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given
monthly New York quotations, In cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1912.
July 44.25
Aug 45.80
Sept 48.64
Oct 50.01
Nov 49.92
Dec 49.80
Jan
Feb
1912.
42.53
42 96
1913.
50.45
49 07
Mch
42.58
43 92
4fi.!)5
May
46.05
49.10
45.10
in, since
otatlons
average
1913.
40.70
41.75
42.45
40.61
39.77
37.57
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver Is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price Is fixed In the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Week ending
Dec. 4 40.00
" 11 40.00
Dec. 18 40.00
" 24 40.00
" 31 40.00
Monthly averages.
Jan
Feb
1912.
43.75
46.00
Mch 46.00
Apr 42.25
May 41.75
June 41.30
1913.
39.37
41.00
40.20
41.00
40.25
41.00
1912.
July 43.00
Aug 42.50
Sept 42.12
Oct 41.50
Nov 41.50
Dec 39.75
1913.
41.00
40.50
39.70
39.37
39.40
40.00
NEW YORK METAL MARKET REVIEW
Copper was quiet in December and prices declined. Spelter
was not active, but gained strength. Lead saw much competi-
tion, and there were repeated reductions by the large in-
terest which were followed by the independents. At the end
of the month a change toward higher prices was indicated.
Antimony was without feature. Pig tin dropped to the low
figure of 36.62%c. for prompt and sales were light. Aluminum
dropped a few points and showed but little life.
Copper was quiet from the first to December 23 and there
were no indications on the latter date of any heavy business
before 1914. Prices continued their course downward, the
month opening with Lake at 15.12 '{.c. and electrolytic at
14.62Voc, while on December 23, Lake was 14.62V2c. and
electrolytic 14.37%C. European deliveries were better than
the domestic. Exports to December 22 were good, totaling
24,999 tons.
Spelter prices held up in December better than did the
others, quotations standing from December 1 to 23 at 5.15c.
New York and 5c. St. Louis and gaining strength as the
month came near its end. There were no features of special
interest.
Lead prices on December 2 were reduced by the A. S. & R.
Co. from 4.25c. New York to 4.10c. New York, the former price
having been established on November 26. On December 9,
the big interest announced a reduction to 4c. New York at
which figure it stood throughout the month. The principal
reason for the series of reductions was that independent com-
panies had been steadily underselling the big company and
getting most of what business there was to be had. The metal
had not been on the same level before since February, 1912.
At 4c. the A. S. & R. Co. took practically all of the business,
but there was not much stirring. Late in the month greater
strength developed in St. Louis and the price there crept
up to 3.95c. In the early part of the month it was reported
that the A. S. & R. Co. had ordered the closing of all its
smelters in Mexico, including the Monterey smelter, employing
over 2000 men. In all 7000 employees were said to be af-
fected.
Antimony markets were glutted in December, otherwise de-
void of feature. Prices were practically stationary at 7c. to
7.25c. for Hallett's, 7.40c. to 7.50c. for Cookson's and 6c. to
6.60c. for other grades.
Tin prices became lower in December until on December 23
the quotation was 36.621/Jc for prompt deliveries. London
was very weak toward the end of the month and the news
from that city was pessimistic. On only a few days in
December was there good buying. The total visible supply
November 30, 1913, was 14,470 tons against 12,348 tons
November 30, 1912. In the eleven months of the year there
was a decrease of 4650 tons in deliveries, as compared with
the same period in 1912.
Aluminum in the early days of December for both domestic
and foreign delivery was quoted at 19c. The demand was
poor, though the month was said to have brought an improve-
ment, to the automobile trade and consequently a better de-
mand was expected to develop for aluminum. About the
middle of the month prices, with domestic and foreign still
on the same level, were 18.75c. to 19c. where they stood as
the month was nearing its close.
88
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 3, 1914
The Stock Markets
Mineral Statistics for 1913
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
December 30.
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s 8 97}
K. I. du Pont pfd 84
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 5s —
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated Oil 74
Associated Oil 39}
Giant 84
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd 65
Pacific Crude Oil —
Sterling O. & D . —
Union Oil 66
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
—
General Petroleum 6s
49
49}
—
Natomas Dev. 6s
—
100
Pac. Port. Cement 6s..
99J
—
85
Santa Cruz Cement 6s
83}
90
STO
CKS
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
77
Noble Electric Steel...
—
8
39J
Natomas Consol
2
50
Riverside Cement
. —
—
Santa Cruz Cement...
45
35c
Stand. Port. Cement ..
19 J
—
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
San Francisco, December 31.
Atlanta $ .15
Belcher 64
Belmont 7.50
Big Four .10
Cash Boy 08
Florence 20
Goldfleld Con 1.42
Goldfleld Oro .08
Halifax 1.25
Jim Butler 75
Jumbo Extension 14
MacNamara 09
Mexican 1.15
Midway 38
Mlzpah Extension i .31
Montana-Tonopah 1.25
Nevada Hills 45
North Star .38
Ophlr 14
Pittsburg Silver Peak 36
Round Mountain .38
Sierra Nevada .11
Tonopah Extension 1.75
Tonopah Merger 52
Tonopah of Nevada 7.00
Victor .30
West End 1.27
Yellow Jacket 30
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
December 31.
Bid
Allouez 8 35
Ariz. Commercial 4j
Butte * Superior 31}
Calumet & Arizona... 63}
Calumet & Hecla 425
Copper Range 37}
Daly West 2
East Butte 11
Franklin 3}
Granby 74
Greene Cananea 30
Isle-Royale 18}
Mass Copper 2}
Ask
35}
H
32
64
430
38
2}
Hi
3*
74}
30}
18J
n
Bid
Nevada Con 8 14}
North Butte 28
Old Dominion 50}
Osceola 77
Qulncy 60
Shannon 6}
Superior & Boston 2J
Tamarack 29}
U. S. Smelting, com... 40
Utah Con 8}
Winona 3
Wolverine 44
Ask
15}
28}
51
78
61
6}
2}
30}
40}
8}
3}
45
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. F. Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
December 31.
Ask.
Bid.
Braden Copper. . 7
Braden 6s 143
B. C. Copper. ... 2%
Davis-Daly 1%
Dolores 2
El Rayo 1
Ely Con 1
First Nat 2%
Giroux %
Iron Blossom... lVs
Kerr Lake 4%
La Rose 1%
Mason Valley... 3%
7%
148
2%
2%
4
2
2
2%
1
iy*
4%
i%
3%
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am.
Nipissing ....
Ohio Copper . .
San Toy 15
Sioux Con. . .
So. Utah
Stand. Oil of Cal.26
Tri Bullion . . .
Tuolumne
United Copper.
Wettlaufer ....
Yukon Gold . . .
Bid.
Ask.
1
1%
2
2%
7%
8
%
*4
15
20
1
2
hi
tt
60
262
hi
Va.
%,
%
Vx
%
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
December 31.
Bid Ask
Amalgamated 73} 73j
Anaconda 35j 35}
A. S. & R 63} 64}
Calif. Pet 18} 19}
Chlno 39} 39}
Mexican Pet 46 46}
Miami 21} 22
Bid Ask
Quicksilver, com 8 1} 2
Ray Con 18} 18|
Term. Copper 33} 33}
U. S. Steel, pfd 105} 106}
U. S. Steel, com 58J 69
Utah Copper 50} 50|
South Dakota mines produced gold worth $7,200,000 in
1913, against $7,891,370 in the previous year. Silver output
fell from 206,460 to 164,800 oz. A small quantity of lead and
copper was produced, according to Charles W. Henderson, of
the U. S. Geological Survey.
Michigan copper mine* produced 105,000,000 lb. of metal,
or at the rate of 210,000,000 lb. per year, during the first
half of 1913; but on account of the miners' strike, which
began on July 23 and is still partly on, the year's output
will be only about 145,000,000 lb., according to R. H.
Maurer. The average price received for copper was 15.5c.
per pound, making the gross value of $22,500,000. Nine com-
panies distributed $8,344,788 in dividends during the term.
The principal producers in 1913 were as follows: Calumet &
Hecla, 53,420,000 lb.; Osceola, 11,686,000 lb.; Champion,
11,448,000 lb.; Quincy, 10,894,800 lb.; Ahmeek, 9,100,000 lb.;
Baltic, 8,686,000 lb.; and Mohawk, 5,369,000 pounds.
New Mexico made increases in its mineral production dur-
ing 1913, according to Charles W. Henderson, of the U. 8.
Geological Survey. The output of gold showed an increase
of $100,000 over the $784,446 in 1912; that of silver, an In-
crease of 100,000 oz. over the production of 1,536,701 oz. In
1912; lead, a decrease of 800,000 lb. from the yield of 5,494,-
018 lb. in 1912; copper, an increase of 20,000,000 lb. over
the yield of 34,030,964 lb. in 1912; and zinc (figured as spel-
ter or zinc In zinc oxide), an increase of 8,000,000 lb. over
the output of 13,566,637 lb. in 1912. Despite lower average
yearly prices for copper and zinc, the total value of the
output was $11,620,000, an increase for 1913 of over $3,000,000.
Alnxknn mine* produced $18,900,000 in minerals during
1913, according to Alfred H. Brooks, of the U S. Geological
Survey. The value of the gold output is estimated at
$15,450,000; that of 1912 was $17,145,951. There was a
marked decrease In copper production, that of 1913 being
estimated to have been 19,700,000 lb., valued at about
$3,014,000, while that of 1912 was 29,230,491 lb., valued at
$4,823,031. The silver output is largely a by-product of
gold and copper mining, and showed a decrease In value
from $316,839 in 1912 to about $220,000 in 1913. Other min-
erals, including marble, gypsum, tin, etc., are estimated to
have been produced to the value of $220,000, or about the
same as that of 1912. I
California*!* mineral production during 1913 was valued at
over $95,000,000, according to the State Mining Bureau. This
is an increase of $4,000,000 compared with the previous year.
The petroleum output was approximately 93,000,000 bbl.,
valued at $43,500,000, increases of 3,500,000 bbl, and $1,500.-
000 respectively. Deep mining, dredging and higher operat-
ing efficiency keeps up the gold yield to about $20,000,000
per annum. There have been few changes in the copper
mines, whose metal was worth about $5,500,000. The cement
output increased in value by $2,000,000 to $8,000,000. Crushed
rock and granite production was $6,000,000; brick, $3,000,-
000; natural gas, $1,250,000; borax, $1,000,000; silver, $800,000;
and quicksilver, $750,000. The minor mineral products
showed normal activity and growth.
Coal production of the United States in 1913 was between
565,000,000 and 575,000,000 short tons, against 534,466,580 in
1912, according to the U. S. Geological Survey. Of the in-
crease, about 4,500,000 tons was from the anthracite mines.
There were a few labor disturbances in 1913, but they were
local in extent and effect. The most pronounced labor dis-
affection was in Colorado, where a general strike was called
about the middle of September, and coal production in that
state during the last quarter of the year was but little more
than 50% of normal. There was general complaint, par-
ticularly in the Eastern states, of shortage of labor and in-
ability on the part of the operators to keep their mines
working at full capacity. This was probably the reason for
less than the usual complaint of the inadequate or insuffi-
cient transportation service. Coal-mining, like all other in-
dustries in the Ohio Valley states, was seriously interfered
with by the floods in that region during the spring of 1913.
ERRATA
Referring to the description of the Irving process on page
77. Mr. Austin adds that the ferrous sulphate may be re-
garded as being changed to ferric sulphate according to
(6) 2FeSO. + H.SO, + 0 = Fe1(SO,)s + H,0
He corrects the analysis of original ore on page 78 to read:
gold, 0.04%; copper, 1.68.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.
Whole No. 2790 *"£»"•
San Francisco, January 10, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ESTABLISHED MAY 24, 1800
EDITORIAL
controlled by t. a. rickard QANTA DOMINGO goldfields have attracted atten-
editorial staff- ^ou ^rom time to time, and there have been many
San Francisco tales of riches to be found there by dredging. Mr.
5fiJ§S1!>E5 KS™ " > " " " " " " Editor Henry F. Le Fevre has recently returned from an
£/UL.fciI>>Ji, H. L.fc,bl_,lfc, I _ _ _ Assistant Editors
M. w. von bernewitz / eight months' investigation of the country and per-
New York
thomas t. read .-.-- Associate Editor mits us to quote him to the effect that there are no
London gold placers there suitable for dredging.
T. A. RICKARD ----- Editorial Contributor p ' L_
EDWARD WALKER Correspondent , ... ,.,_,,„„,,_ . , , ,, „
/GOVERNMENT aid to prospectors by the Common-
special contributors: \J lth government of Australia, which controls
A. W. Allen. Charles Janin. & or.
Leonard s. Austin. James f. Kemp. the Northern Territory, an area of 523,620 square
ceiasio caetanK c. w. purington. n t lengths unknown in the United States.
Courtenay De Kalb. C. F. Tolman, Jr. ° e
F. Lynwood Garrison. Horace v. wincheii. Tlie government is erecting a five-stamp mill tor the
published weekly by the dewey publishing^ benefit of prospectors in the Maranboy tinfield. The
at 420 market street, san Francisco. erection and operation of government mills in West-
cabie Address: Pertusoia. Code: Bedford McNeill (2 editions). ern Australia and Victoria has, on the whole, been a
branch offices: great aid in stimulating prospecting and developing
Chicago— 734 Monadnock Bdg. Tei.: Harrison 1620 and 636. new districts. Whether such means are either neces-
NEW YORK — 1308-10 Woolworth Bdg. Tel.: Barclay 6469. . .
London— The Mining Magazine, Salisbury House. E.c sary or advisable elsewhere is less certain.
Cable Address: Ollgoclase.
STATISTICS are interesting as approximations
united states and Mel^. ^f^.™?*5. *3 ° showing the general trend of metal production,
Canada *4 and when estimates are presented that the calamine
Other Countries in Postal Union 21 Shillings or $5 . , .. ,. . „ . ,.,.,„ ioi'5
production of the Joplm district tor the year 1!I13
L. A.GREENE Business Manager ,«««/. -.-., , i -, . ilni r. i .-> i a
— was 40,346,251 pounds, valued at $491.2-43, such figures
Entered at San Francisco Postofflce as Second-Class Matter. . , . . T
— cannot be claimed as being exact to the last digit. In
TABLE OF CONTENTS tne current issue we present the well known produc-
tion statistics of Mr. Otto Ruhl. of Joplin. and in the
t.Di hum m : Page. ■ r
Notes s» Special Correspondence columns will he round figures
Miii conrsVr^rcUondandeope?ation.s '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. si covering the same district, compiled by our Joplin cor-
artki.es. respondent. While differing somewhat, the totals show
Gold Dredging in the United States Charles Janin 93 1 & ... , .
Revision of the Mining Law .... ..Grafton Mason 98 a decided activity ill the milling of the lead and Zinc
Ore Production of Joplin District tor 1913. ..Otto Hulil 100 •> °
Iron and Steel Production In F™™^- ^-^iiice 101 deposits of this district.
Oregon Metal Production 1°3
Uranium-vanadium •■•■.••;■■•;■;,•:, \U A RBITRATION as a means of preventing industrial
Mineral Production Statistics for 1913 J'' r\ i
The California Mother Lode and the Plymouth Mine.. 09 .T*. tr0„bK..s has not been entire! V Successful. A com-
Production of Arsenic in 191.1 1J" J
Metal Production of Texas in 1913 no nussion jn \ew South Wales. Australia, lias recently
Wyoming Metal Production ] \ '
iron Ore from Minnesota Mines - investigated the operation of that state's industrial
Mineral Output of Japan >-» " '
Gold output of Western Australia -i j covering a period of twelve years. The object of
Belt-Conveyors {j" ° » • "
Mine-Rescue Telephones i-'> arbitration is to stop strikes and lockouts, but the
DISCUSSION: _ . . .. , ,. ,, .. .... , i i l
The Government and the Individual. . .Henry S. Hazlltt 110 Commission lound that tile strike IS still used l)V labor
Lead's'liu ffcyanuUHon'. '.'.'.'. '.'.". '.'. John a Livingston in unions. Threats of strikes are indeed more frequent
concentrates "2 tjiail eve_ ;1]1(| jt seeius that agreements by peaceful
SPECIAI. I'OIIHKSPOMIKXCK lli , ... .. .... ,. ,.
general mining news 119 methods, such as arbitration, are still tar trom um-
departments! versal. During the nine months that ended on De-
sch*o"sa and Societies ' .' .' '. '.'. }22 ccmher 1, 1913, there have been 148 disputes in the
The Metal Markets \%\ . ,-_.,,_ . mi,„ ,,,,,„
The stock Markets J2,4 Conimoiiwealt h. involving 41.i3( employees, the num-
Current Prices for Ores and Minerals "■> , , , .
Current Prices for Chemicals 125 ))er (|f vvorking days lost Was 529,642, and tile iOSS 111
Company Report J, 5 . - - - n nnr.
Commercial Paragraphs > '« wages $1,110,000.
Catalogues Received li0
90
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
'C'KOM Malaguit in Paraeale, Philippine Islands,
-*■ comes the news that the village churchyard has
been located as a most promising piece of placer
ground and negotiations are afoot for mining it. While
the churchyard has generally been consecrated to other
purposes than the dredge, gold is where you find it,
and who knows but what other padres might well turn
prospectors.
A S an undesirable citizen, Charles H. Mover, pres-
■**■ ident of the Western Federation of Miners, has
been forcibly deported from Calumet by the 'Citizens
Alliance.' This action on the part of the 'Alliance'
should meet with the approval of both strikers and
operators as little good could be expected from the
efforts of one so ill-reputed in the district as the pres-
ent president of the Western Federation of Miners.
TV/I" EMBERS of the American Institute of Mining En-
■"■*• gineers residing in northern and central Califor-
nia will meet at the Engineers' Club, in the Sutter
hotel, of San Francisco, on the evening of January 12,
to act upon the report of the Committee on Organ-
ization. Preceding the meeting a dinner will be
served at 6 : 30. The subject for consideration is one
of particular interest to the local engineers, and an
interesting meeting is anticipated.
T^URTHER argument to the effect -that the mining
A law needs revision in more than incidental par-
ticulars is advanced on another page by Mr. Grafton
Mason, who has most courteously answered our Mace-
donian cry for help. His arguments are not only sound
in themselves, but coming as they do from one who
as attorney for the land department of the Northern
Pacific railroad, has seen much of the practical appli-
cation of the mining law, they are entitled to consid-
eration even from those who affect to believe that as
to law no opinion is final save that of a lawyer.
TT'RANKXESS in discussing the situation is not easy
•*- when the grade of ore is going down. We have
frequently commended the full and frequent state-
ments given out by the Goldfield. Consolidated Mines
Company, and are sure that our readers will read
with interest the following from a speech made by
Mr. Albert Burch at a recent public dinner held at
Goldfield to inaugurate a movement designed to make
that city a more livable place. "So far as the <!old-
field Consolidated is concerned, everyone knows that
the cream has been skimmed and that we are now doing
our best to subsist on skimmed milk ; but at that we are
doing fairly well. It can probably never be the profit-
earner that it once was. nor can its present scale of
operations be continued indefinitely ; but on some basis
the Goldfield Consolidated will be running for several
years yet. We are now working a low-grade mine, and
in order to make it pay we do not plan to reduce
wages; nor to ask any man to break his back doing
an unusual day's work: but we do ask him, if he is
our friend, to bend his back to pick up a dollar's worth
of drill steel if he sees it being buried in the muck, and
in any other way that he can, use his brains as well as
his hands to help stop leaks." We trust that the ap-
peal made by Mr. Burch will evoke the answer it de-
serves, and we hope with him that the great mine may
run for many years yet.
TXCOME TAX questions have been worrying officials
A of a good many American mining companies. Not
that they are so excessively wealthy, but because of
the difficulty of determining depreciation in the case
of a wasting asset, such as ore in the ground. Many
have been puzzled by the decision of the Supreme
Court in the case of Stratton's Independence, Limited.
The matter is really very simple. Mining companies
will be allowed a depreciation charge of 5 per cent
on their gross output, and all other possibilities are
swept away. This covers the past as well as the future,
and opens the way to corresponding rebates and addi-
tional collections where any other basis was used in
figuring:.
The Secretary and the West
The report of Mr. Franklin K. Lane, as Secretary
of the Interior, for the fiscal year that ended June 30
last, was made public Christmas eve. It is a straight-
forward readable brief, rather than the usual dry and
formal departmental document. The Secretary has had
the good sense to concentrate his attention upon one
of the groups of questions now before his Department,
and he has presented his recommendations and the
argument for them so simply, as to increase greatly
the chances for securing favorable Congressional ac-
tion. Many phases of the problem of further disposi-
tion of the public lands, which is what chiefly concerns
the Secretary, have been the cause of acute and acrid
controversy. A number are even now bitter fighting
ground, and yet it is fair to say that already differ-
ences of opinion are disappearing, and there is un-
doubtedly a sufficient agreement as to policy to war-
rant Congress settling at least a few of the many
vexed questions. We believe that Mr. Lane is abso-
lutely right when he says, and the italics are his, "The
West no longer urges a return to the hazards of the
'land is land' policy. But it does ask action." We sin-
cerely hope that enough of the spirit of fair compro-
mise may obtain at Washington this winter to permit
determination of at least the .more pressing matters.
Speaking in general terms, the Secretary favors a
leasing system for the coal lands, not only of Alaska
but of the rest of the United States, and for the oil,
phosphate, and potash lands. Further than that he
does not go, and in this we believe him wise. What
may be proper as to further disposition of other min-
eral lands, no one can certainly say at this time, but
as regards coal, oil, phosphate, and potash lands, there
is sufficient knowledge to permit intelligent action.
Our own views regarding this are too well known to
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
91
require lengthy re-statement. While not prepared to
endorse every detail of the Secretary's proposed form
of lease, we heartily favor the general plan, and we
have no fear that any bill which gets past Congress
will not be sufficiently liberal. In later numbers we
shall speak of particular proposals.
Another of the recommendations made by the Sec-
retary is that the various activities of the United
States Government in Alaska be placed under the
charge of a single board or commission and that this
board be given large freedom of action. As he truly
says, "there can be no satisfactory administration of
land laws, or any other laws, at a distance of 5000
miles from the point of action. The eye that sees the
need should be near the voice that gives the order."
It will be remembered that Mr. Taft. when president,
favored a commission form of government for Alaska
and that his proposal raised a storm of dissent. Since
then an elective government has been constituted for
the Territory and to it has been delegated the local
political power. As we understand Mr. Lane's sug-
gestion, what is now proposed is a Board of Directors
to manage the property in Alaska that belongs to the
United States. There is an important difference, and,
while there would seem to be room for much friction
between such a board and the local Legislature, the
proposal merits careful consideration. Certainly there
is need for bringing the administration closer to the
local needs of the people, and, without pretending any
great sympathy for the 'black l>ear which is in the
care of one department while the brown bear is in
another,' we are quite prepared to agree that the or-
ganization of administration in Alaska could be greatly
improved.
As a whole, the report is a plea for the West : a
demand that means be found, without undue sacrifice
of national interests, to permit the continuance of
the great work of building there homes for the people
of the Nation. It is written by a man who honors
and loves the West, and it rinsrs true.
Mill Construction and Operations
In 1913 no country was especially conspicuous in
the construction of new plants. In the United States,
several interesting mills began work and others are
well on toward completion. During October, the Com-
monwealth mill, at Pearce. Arizona, started work. This
mill consists of 30 heavy .stamps. Hardinge mills, Pa-
chuca agitators, and Oliver filters, and has a capacity
of 350 tons per day. Interesting work is being done
at the Tom Reed, Gold Road, and Vulture mills, and
in Texas the Presidio Mining Company has converted
its pan-amalgamation mill to cyanide with a gratify-
ing increase in capacity. In California there are four
all-sliming plants, the latest being the Globe 20-stamp
mill at Dedrick, Trinity county, and in a few months
a 300-ton mill will be erected at the Plymouth mine,
California, embodying the best Mother Lode practice
together with several new features. In the meantime,
the nine mills containing 400 stamps dropping on ore
in Amador county are doing satisfactory work, as de-
scribed in the last issue, and elsewhere along the lode
there were few changes. Small stamp-mills and cya-
nide plants in Oregon have continued in operation.
At Fairbanks, in Alaska, 16 small mills are in oper-
ation, and at Juneau proposals for new mills to treat
ore worth only $1.50 per ton are interesting in that
stamps and rolls will be tested side by side. The work
here has been described for our readers by Mr. F. W.
Bradley and Mr. Grant Tod. The current'year should
see the first units in operation.
In Nevada a 300-ton mill, containing some novel
features, is under construction for the Buckhorn com-
pany. There will be no stamps, but crushers, rolls,
Hardinge and tube-mills, Akins classifiers, agitators!
and Oliver filters. The ore is clayey and crushes eas-
ily. At Aurora, in the same state, a large stamp-mill
is being erected for the Aurora Consolidated Mining
Company. In Nevada the Goldfield Consolidated treat-
ed its 950 tons per day, with the usual good results.
The seven mills at Tonopah continued literally to
pour out silver bullion, the production being nearly
35 tons per month. More stamps are being added to
the West End mill. In Colorado the Stratton's Inde-
pendence, Portland, Camp Bird, Tomboy, and many
small plants have been improved and were in continu-
ous operation. In South Dakota the Homestake com-
pany added 20 to its existing complement of 1000
stamps; the Wasp No. 2 treated ore as cheaply as
ever, although circumstances prevented its operation
during the full time.
At Porcupine, in Ontario, Canada, both the Dome
and Hollinger mills are being enlarged. Several
plants for treating gold-bearing ores have begun work
in adjoining districts. At Cobalt the Northern Cus-
toms 40-stamp mill is being duplicated ; the McKinley-
Darragh extensions were finished; and the Nipissiug
high and low-grade mills continued their highly in-
teresting work, the refinery output being about 17
tons of silver per month. Canadian authorities are
now experimenting with the object of saving the co-
balt from the ores of the district. Two valuable con-
tributions to metallurgical knowledge came from the
Nipissing mills: desulphurizing of the ores by alumi-
num, described by Mr. J. J. Denny in our issue of
September 27, and precipitation of silver from cyanide
solutions on aluminum dust.
Although Mexico has been in the throes of a revolu-
tion through the year, and many mining men have tem-
porarily left the country, the mills at El Oro, Pachuca,
and Guanajuato have worked without interference.
Parral has had a troublesome year, and at present
little is being done there. In Jalisco, El Favor plant
is being enlarged, and mills of big capacity are under
construction at the Cinco Minas and San Pedro Analco
mines, also at the San Martin in Oaxaca. and a 500-
ton concentrator at the Teziutlan Copper Co. in Puebla.
La Blanca mill, at Pachuca, Hidalgo, is being enlarged
92
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
and the agitation system altered. During the past
financial year the Santa Gertrudis mill treated 263,554
tons of ore yielding 21,800 ounces of gold and 4,243,-
000 ounces of silver. Improvements have been made
to the El Tigre mill, which treats a complex ore under
numerous difficulties. Experiments with the manga-
nese-silver ores of Jalisco are still under way. In Hon-
duras the Rosario, in Costa Rica the Abangarez, in
San Salvador the Butters Salvador, and in Brazil the
St. John del Rey mills have been in continuous oper-
ation.
The Indian group of gold mines at Kolar increased
its output slightly, and improvements are being
made at several plants, notably in slime treatment.
There were apparently no important developments in
the mills of West Africa. Rhodesia has been of inter-
est on account of the new mills under construction, or
about to start work, these being the Shamva, Cam &
Motor, Falcon, Antelope, Bell, Kimberley Reef, and
New Found Out. Antimony has been one of the main
sources of trouble in gold recovery in this country,
and it will be interesting to watch results from the
Cam & Motor plant where the practice includes dry-
crushing in Krupp ball-mills, roasting in Edwards fur-
naces, leaching sand, and filtering the slime. It has
been designed from the best practice at Kalgoorlie.
and has a capacity of 15,000 tons per month. On the
Rand, an average of 9982 stamps and 287 tube-mills
have been at work crushing 2,100,000 tons of ore per
month. There have been several enlargements of plant
in additional stamps and tube-mills, also three new
Butters filter-plants at the Randfontein Central, Van
Ryn Deep, and Geduld, with daily capacities of 1500,
900, and 500 tons, respectively.
The Oriental Consolidated stamp-mills and cyanide
plants in Korea have operated continuously, and
crushed an average of 25,000 tons per month. The
gold and silver mills in Japan have run their usual
even course. In Sumatra, Redjang Lebong and Keta-
hoen mills treated the gold and silver ores according
to their customary methods, there being no changes
of importance. Going south to Australia, a new cya-
nide plant was erected at the Scottish Gympie mine
in Queensland. This is interesting, as at Gympie there
is a large amount of graphitic slate, and, like the
Mother Lode of California, there has been trouble from
this mineral causing premature precipitation of gold.
The ore is also low grade, and care is necessary in all
departments. In New South Wales, there have been
improvements to the equipment at the Mount Boppy
stamp-mill and cyanide plant, which treats 6000 tons
per month. From the Cassilis mine in Victoria a very
refractory ore is extracted, and after several years'
experiments a new treatment plant, consisting of
stamping, concentration, cyanidation of pulp, and
roasting and other treatment of the concentrate, is
soon to be completed. At Kalgoorlie, Western Aus-
tralia, the dry and wet processes for treating sulpho-
telluride ores gave their usual satisfactory results.
and profits were made at the Perseverance and South
Kalgurli from ore worth from $5 to $6 per ton. In
this journal of September 13, Mr. A. W. MacLeod dis-
cussed the metallurgical tendencies in the state. While
the development of oil-engines has expanded in other
countries, the great advance made in the use of suc-
tion-gas plants in Australia, especially in the western
states, has surpassed the progress made elsewhere.
Grinding pans are still much in favor. Two plants have
been built wherein the sand is first removed from the
pulp by cones, the slime being thickened, and the sand,
after being continuously agitated, rejoins the slime,
both being then treated in the one vacuum-filtration
plant. The Sons of Gwalia mill, 13,000-ton capacity,
was remodeled ; the Queen of the Hills mill, of Holman
pneumatic stamps, is doing excellent work; as is the
Bullfinch stamp-mill and vacuum-filtration plant. One
of the most interesting mills, the success of which was
doubtful at the end of 1912, was that at the Victorious
mine, 40 miles from Kalgoorlie. Four Huntington
mills, two pans, an agitation plant, and three Ridgway
reciprocating filters treated 95,640 tons of ore in 12
months to September 1913. This ore averaged $5.26
per ton, and the profit totaled $173,000. The failure
of the Howe volatilization process, as described in this
journal of October 4, 1913, was unfortunate. As a
result, two mines with large ore reserves are now shut
down indefinitely. After a serious decline of the state's
gold output since 1903, the past year in Western Aus-
tralia has shown a considerable increase.
In New Zealand, the Grand Junction at Waihi is
adding 20 to its existing 40 stamps; the Waihi com-
pany only operated its 200-stamp mill, treating 14,600
tons, yielding $120,000 per month; at Karangahake,
the Talisman continued treating its high-grade silver-
gold ore, the average yields of late being 4300 tons
returning $106,000. Recovering the old tailing from
the river 6 to 15 miles below the Karangahake and
Waihi districts, and treating it by tube-milling, agita-
tion, and vacuum-filtration continued with interesting
success at the Waihi-Paeroa Gold Extraction plant. To
date a total of 219,700 tons of tailing has yielded gold
and silver worth $340,000.
In connection with new processes, it may be said
that attempts to use the Clancy system of regenera-
tion of solutions have stopped at Cripple Creek. There
is an increasing interest in the electrolysis of solu-
tions. The new process of precipitating gold on zinc
wafers does not seem to have met with success, as at
Waihi and on the Rand results were not satisfactory.
The litigation of the year included the Moore-Butters
vacuum-filtration dispute ; the Brown system of crush-
ing in cyanide solution and concentration versus the
Tonopah Mining Company ; and the London & Ham-
burg Gold Recovery Company versus the Golden Horse-
Shoe Estates Company, in connection with the bromo-
cyanide process, and trial of issues regarding flotation
as discussed elsewhere. All of these subjects received
extended reference in this journal from time to time.
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
93
Gold Dredging in the United States
By Charles Janin
California
Figures of dredge production in 1913 are not availa-
ble as yet but are not likely to vary greatly from those
of 1912 when the production of gold won from dredging
operations in California was $7.429.951 ; this was a de-
crease of $236,506 compared to 1911. As pointed out
in my review of last year, the production of gold from
dredging in this state reached its zenith in 1911 with
$7,666,461, and a gradual decrease may be expected.
A number of dredges, notably in the Oroville district,
have exhausted, or nearly exhausted, the ground for
months out of commission, have been working steadily,
and the yardage results will closely approximate those
of 1912. No. 13 dredge, built in 1912, has averaged
about 250,000 yd. per month from deep ground, and
one month had an output of 310,000 yd. While this
yardage does not equal that of the Idaho dredge,
mentioned elsewhere, considering the difference in the
ground handled, it marks without question just as good
work. No. 14, the new steel dredge being built for this
Company, and an excellent boat, began work late
in December. Some delay was experienced in getting
■-^** *<
YUBA NO. 14, THE LATEST ALL-STEEL OOLD-DBEDCE.
which they were built, and, except in a few instances
where the machinery from these boats can be profitably
transported and used on other areas, the boats will be
dismantled and the equipment used for repairs.
The most successful dredging enterprise in the state
and in the world for that matter, is that of the Yuba
Consolidated Gold Fields in Yuba county. With 11
dredges operating part of the time until No. 2 was
dismantled, the profits from dredging operations for
the year that ended on February 28, 1913, were $1,640,-
848 from 164.8 acres. The depth varied from shallow
ground dug by No. 9 in working to new ground, to
ground 70 feet deep handled by some of the other
dredges. The average amount recovered was practi-
cally the same as the year previous, 16.78c. per cu. yd.,
but the working cost was 5.34c. or an increase of 0.67c.
per yard. The results of operations for 1913 are not yet
available, but the 10 dredges of the Company, with the
exception of No. 5, which sank July 31 and was two
steel shipments from the East, or the dredge would have
been completed sooner. A matter of some interest to
the general reader, but of more importance to those
acutely concerned, is the fact that the Yuba Consoli-
dated has distributed over $8,000,000 in dividends
among its shareholders; no phantom profits there.
The Natomas Consolidated operates 10 dredges in
Sacramento county and 3 in Butte. The Company had
a fair year as far as its dredging operations were con-
cerned, though net profits fell somewhat short of
estimates. The dredges handled during 1912 a total of
22,155,162 cu. yd. with an average recovery of 9.12c,
and an operating cost of 4.46c. per cu. yd. The net re-
sult from dredging operations for the year was $1,031,-
804. For the eight months that ended August 31, 1913,
the net result from dredging was a little in excess of
$791,000, and it is expected that a total approximating
nearly 24.000.000 yd. will be handled during the year.
During 1913 dredge No. 7 was entirely reconstructed
94
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
OPERATIONS OF GOLD DREDGES IN CALIFORNIA*
County, district, and
name of company.
Name of
dredge.
Cap. of
buckets.
Manager or superintendent.
Butte County — 20 dredges operating; approximate total yardage for 1913, 17,000,000.
Oroville District:
Oroville Dredging, Ltd Boston 4
Exploration 21 5
Exploration 3 7
Natomas Consolidated, Feather 1 8
Feather River division Feather 2 8
Feather 3 15
Pacific Gold Dredging Co? Pacific 4 7
Oro Water, Light & Power Co Lava Bed 2 6
Empire 5
Victor 5
Hunter 5
Indiana Gold Dredging Co?
El Oro Gold Dredging Co El Oro 2 5
Ophir Gold Dredging Co Ophir1 5
Pennsylvania Gold Dredging Co Pennsylvania! G
Vil Oro Syndicate Vil Oro 7
Gardella Oro Vista 5
Butte Creek District:
Butte Creek Con. D. Co Butte Creek 11
Drexler Dredging Co Wade 4
Horncut District:
Kentucky Ranch G. D. Co Kentucky 5
Gardella Horncut 5
W. P. Hammon, general manager,
Alaska-Commercial Bdg., San Francisco.
S. L. G. Knox, general manager,
Alaska-Commercial Bdg., San Francisco.
O. C. Perry, manager, Oroville.
C. G. Leeson, manager.
O. C. Perry, manager, Oroville.
W. S. Noyes, president, Mills Bdg., San Fran-
cisco; C. Helman, superintendent.
F. S. Mayhew, manager,
Clunie Bdg., San Francisco.
Sam Cheyney, manager,
237 First St., San Francisco.
W. James, superintendent, Oroville.
L. Gardella, manager, Oroville.
H. D. Gallihan, superintendent, Chico.
John Ross Wade, superintendent, Chico.
L. Gardella, manager, Oroville.
L. Gardella, manager, Oroville.
Yuba County — 13 dredges operating; approximate total yardage for 1913, 20,000,000.
Yuba Con. Gold Fields 8 dredges 71/) Hammon Engineering Co., San Francisco.
Yuba 13 15
Yuba 143 15%
Marysville Dredging Co Marysville o and 4 8 Bulkeley Wells, general manager, Marysville.
Sacramento County — 11 dredges operating; approximate annual yardage for 1913, 26,000,000.
S. L. G. Knox, general manager,
Natomas Consolidated Natomas 1
Natomas 2 and 3.
13i/,
8 Vo
Natomas 4 131/-!
Alaska-Commercial Bdg., San Francisco.
Natomas 5, 6, and 7
Natomas 8, 9, and 10. .
Union Dredging Co Union 1
9
15
9
Calaveras County-
A. Turner, superintendent, Folsom.
3 dredges operating; approximate total yardage for 1913, 3,500,000.
Calaveras Gold Dredging Co Calaveras' 5
Isabel Gold Dredging Co Isabel* 5
Oro Water, Light & Power Co Mokelumne 9
Butte Dredging Co Butte* 3
Shasta County — 2 dredges operating.5
Shasta Dredging Co Shasta 5
U. S. Gold Dredging Co Redding 3
Placer County — 4 dredges operating.
Gaylord Mining Co Gaylord 6
El Dorado Placer G. M. Co Cache Rock
Beaver Gold Dredging Co Beaver 4
El Dorado & Placer Co. G. D. & M. Co 31-'
S. A. Moss, manager,
Alaska-Commercial Bdg., San Francisco.
F. L. Estep, superintendent, Jenny Lind.
O. G. Leeson, manager,
First National Bank Bdg.. San Francisco.
L. N. Parks, superintendent, Jenny Lind.
R. F. Lewis, secretary,
Mills Bdg., San Francisco.
C. A. Westenberg, manager, Berkeley.
E. C. Gaylord, manager, Auburn.
A. W. Copps, superintendent.
N. J. Martin, superintendent, Loomis.
A. Tredidgo, manager,
Foxcroft Bdg., San Francisco.
O. C. Perry, manager, Oroville.
Yukon Gold Co 7%
Trinity County — 2 dredges operating."'
Alta Bert Dredging Co Alta Bert 7y2
Trinity River Dredging Co Trinity 9
Siskiyou County — 1 dredge operating.5
Siskiyou Dredging Co Siskiyou 5 M>
Merced County — 1 dredge operating.5
Yosemite D. & M. Co Yosemite 314
Total — 56 dredges operating; approximate yardage for 1913, 70,0*00,000.
The number of dredges given refers to those in operation at the end of 1913, eight boats having completed their ground.
M. Ashley, superintendent, Trinity Center.
Baker, superintendent, Minersville.
George C. Carr, president, Hammonton.
James H. White, manager, Snelling.
'Nearly worked out its ground.
^Indiana dredge to go to Michigan Bar, Sacramento county. Pacific No. 1 was moved to Auburn, Placer county.
■!Yuba 14 started December 18.
<Three dredges in Calaveras county short of water during the fall.
sTotal approximate yardage, Shasta, Placer, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Merced counties, 3,500,000.
♦Table prepared by Mr. Janin for use in the Mining and Sci entific Press, January 1913, revised by M. W. von Bernewitz.
January 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
95
with new steel hull, and re-commissioned in Blue Ravine
May 12. No. 5, which sank June 8, was uprighted and
ready for repairs early in July. Xatomas No. 2 had a
narrow escape from sinking July 3, but a bad leak was
stopped by promptly putting cement between the outer
and inner walls of the hull. Recent work by the
Natomas dredges is described in the Mining and
Scientific Press of December 27. The other operations of
this Company have not attained the success contem-
plated, and it is undergoing reconstruction at the time
of this writing.
The operations of the Oroville Dredging, Ltd. at
Oroville are gradually coming to an end, though the
Company expects about five years' life for two dredges.
Five dredges operated during 1912 and part of 1913,
and for the 18 months ending January 31, 1913, handled
7,062,528 cu. yd. averaging 10.29c. per yd. at a profit
of 5.2c. The profit for 1913 is estimated at approxi-
mately $160,000, and from 1914 to 1918 at about $65,000
annually, though it is questionable if both of the boats
will be in operation that length of time. Exploration
No. 1 sank during the year, and after investigation it
was decided not to repair it. At the end of the year
there will be only two dredges operating. Meanwhile
the Company's holdings in Colombia are becoming
productive, as mentioned elsewhere, and payment of
dividends, which have been long deferred on account
of financing the Colombian property, will, it is ex-
pected, be resumed early in 1914.
The other companies in Oroville have, in general, had
an uneventful year. A fire destroyed a sub-station of
the Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and caused a temporary
shut-down of a number of dredges. Shortage of water
also caused some lost time. The Vil Oro has had a good
year, and has several years more to run. The Pennsylva-
nia dredge finished its ground and is to be used to dig
a small piece of ground left by the Oroville Dredging
Co.'s dipper dredge. The boats that ceased operations
in the Oroville field in 1913 were, Pacific 1, Boston and
California No. 2, Baggett 1. Leggett dredge near
Palermo, El Oro No. 1, and Exploration 1. Exploration
2 will cease operations about the last of the year, and
Indiana Gold Dredging Co.'s boat will finish about
January 1. The machinery from Pacific No. 1 was re-
moved to a new hull on the American River near Au-
burn. The transportation and erection of the boat was
completed and the new boat put in commission in less
than four months, which was good work.
A New Form of Tumbler
Satisfactory trials have been made during the year
with a round tumbler in place of the six-sided tumbler
in general use. The new tumbler is made a little larger
than actual size required for holding six buckets. This
prevents buckets from striking the same point on the
tumbler, and insures uniform wear both on tread faces
and side or cheek faces. With a tumbler of this
description the slipping of buckets is obviated, and
much wear and jar is eliminated. Some dredges are
using tumblers made entirely of manganese steel, except
the shaft. Other tumblers
are made of carbon steel for
the base, with wearing plates
of manganese steel.
The re-dredging of some of
the dredged areas has been
advocated to some extent, but
nothing has yet been at-
tempted in this line, except
as mentioned in previous re- wear on bucket working
VieWS. OX A ROIXI) TUMBLER.
In Sacramento county the
Ashburton dredge has exhausted the Company's hold-
ings and has been shut down. The Company was ne-
gotiating, with results unknown to me at the present
writing, to secure the dredge and land of the bankrupt
Union dredging company having the adjoining prop-
erty. The method of promotion and of financing the
Union dredging company was criticized in my previous
review.
An Ambitious Scheme Fails
The Tarr Mining Co., near Smartsville, after spend-
ing a large sum of money in building a complicated
plant expected to handle the gravel from the old Blue
Point mine, and to dispose of the tailing without ob-
jection from the Debris Commission, decided to investi-
gate the value of the gravel that the plant was to
handle; which, needless to say, should have been one
of the first things, not the last done. The superintend-
ent reported that the ground did not contain sufficient
gold to warrant further development, or to finish pay-
ments on the property, so the Company retired, and the
big plant which was always looked upon with amuse-
ment and suspicion by engineers familiar with the dis-
trict and with gravel working, was never started. The
whole business is a striking example of how an en-
thusiastic promoter can secure capital for an unstable
enterprise, and also of the folly of going into mining
without proper engineering advice. Had the services
of a competent engineer been secured, much money
would have been saved the shareholders.
In Calaveras county, the Mokelumme dredge, describ-
ed in the Mining and Scientific Press of December 13, is
doing good work. Construction of this dredge was
commenced by the Mokelumne Dredging Co.. which
formerly owned the property, but owing to financial
troubles, it was unable to complete the boat. The prop-
erty was taken over by the Oro Water, Light & Power
Co. in 1912, and the dredge, which is equipped with
7%-ft. buckets, was completed and commenced opera-
tion in February, 1913. The Isabel dredge, near Jenny
Lind, has been equipped with new bucket line and a new
steel bow-gantry. The Calaveras dredge in the same field
has about worked out its profitable ground. The Butte
dredge is said to be doing excellent work. All dredges
around Jenny Lind lost considerable lime in the fall
from lack of water, and w-ere obliged to shut down early
in October. In Placer county the Yukon Gold To. lias
built a dredge on the American river near Auburn, con-
96
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
structing a new hull and using the machinery from
Pacific No. 1, an Oroville boat. The Eldorado & Placer
Company has a dredge at Poverty Bar, and the dredge
at Loomis, belonging to the Beaver Gold Dredging Co.
has undergone some changes to facilitate handling the
tailing and reclaiming the land after dredging. The
ground being dredged is shallow, averaging 12 to 15 ft.
deep, and was formerly an orchard. Ground of this
depth can be easily leveled behind the boat, which
would not be possible with dredges operating on deep
ground. The Yosemite Dredging & Mining Co. expects
to rebuild its dredge in 1914, if some investigations now
being made are successful.
During the year the dredging interests in the state
were jeopardized by some proposed regulations and re-
strictions of gold-dredging operations, which were the
object of attack in a bill introduced in the state legis-
lature, and which found some favor among the legisla-
tors. Prompt action on the part of the dredge compan-
ies, and by the supervisors of the counties in which
dredging has proved such a benefit, defeated the bill.
The matter was discussed in detail in the Mi?iing and
Scientific Press of March 8 of last year, so it is unneces-
sary to go into it further at this time.
Idaho
The principal gold dredging operation in Idaho is
conducted by the Boston & Idaho Gold Dredging Co.
near Idaho City. The 15-cu. ft. boat of this Company
made a remarkable record during 1912, handling 3,775,-
398 cu. yd. of material, or an average of over 314,000 cu.
yd. per month. The largest yardage, 361,190, was
handled during October. The ground is light and easily
handled, which accounts for the high yardage, which is
a world's record for any dredge. The working costs
also constitute a world's record, but cannot be used in
comparison with dredges in other districts. The dredge
at Pierce, Clearwater county, was destroyed by fire,
probably caused by a short circuit, on September 25.
Insurance of $10,000 was carried by the Company on
the dredge, which was several years old. The Yuba Con-
struction Co. has built a dredge near Salmon for
interests connected with Pabst Brewing Company of
Milwaukee.
Montana
The fleet of the Conrey and Poor Farm companies,
working at Ruby, Montana, now consists of two boats
with I1/*, one with 9y2, and one with 16-cu. ft. buckets.
In 1913 these handled about 4,750,000 cu. yd. with a
return of something over $650,000. The big 16-ft.
dredge was overhauled in July and a new screen in-
stalled. It is thought to be the strongest in use in the
world, the whole screening surface being made of one-
inch perforated manganese steel plates with agitating
bars cast on them. It weighs nearly 100 tons. It has
worked most satisfactorily. A 500-hp. motor was put
in use on the bucket-chain drive and overhauling and
adjusting it led to some delay. While the dredge has
handled 270,000 cu. yd. in single months, even better
duty is expected. It is to be remembered that the
gravel at Ruby is more thoroughly cemented than at
Yuba and Oroville, and this accounts for a lower
dredge duty and higher cost. Manganese steel buckets
are now used on all the Ruby dredges and are giving
excellent satisfaction.
Colorado
Besides the dredges operating in the Breckenridge
district, a dredge and power-plant has been completed
by the Tin Cup Gold Dredging Co. in Gunnison at a
cost of $180,000. Operations commenced during the
last week in October, but an accident necessitated shut-
ting down for the winter. Details are lacking as to
conditions of operations, and particulars of dredge con-
struction, which has a capacity of about 2600 cu. ft. per
day. The Company owns 1900 acres of property, which
is said to average 45c. per cubic yard.
Seward Peninsula
An exceptionally dry year was responsible for re-
duciiig the average yardage and output of the
dredges by 30% of what it otherwise would have been
had the rain conditions been normal.
The winter frost penetrated to a greater depth
than usual during the preceding winter, due to the
light snowfall, which afforded little protection to the
ground from freezing. From June to the middle of
September there was practically no rainfall, and as
the summer rains and running water are the best
thawing agents, a considerable part of the dredging
ground, as a result, was in a semi-frozen conditions
until the middle of the season. Some of the flume
dredges ran successfully, and there is still, in my
opinion, a future for that type of boat on the Peninsula
where care and judgment have been exercised in care-
fully selecting the ground before building the boat. I
have previously pointed out the all too frequent practice
in that country of building a dredge on a property be-
fore it was known if the ground was suitable for dredg-
ing operations and if the gold content was sufficient to
justify the enterprise.
Four new dredges were constructed this year. A
SY^-cu. ft., close-connected bucket, flume dredge was
constructed on the Kugruk river for Iver Johnson
and associates by the Union Construction Co. The
dredge was completed on August 23 and operated to
October 10. The average daily yardage was over 2000.
The labor and fuel costs were 9c. per cubic yard; the
average fuel consumption being 200 gal. per day of
No. 1 engine distillate. This dredge is equipped with
two 50-hp. Union marine type gas-engines. A 14-in.
centrifugal pump discharges 500 inches of water per
minute into a steel flume 42 in. wide. 75 ft. long, with
an undercurrent at the outer end 7 ft. wide and 12
ft. long. This undercurrent is lined with cocoa mat-
ting and expanded metal. About 4% of the total gold
recovery was made from the undercurrent.
The Union Construction Co. dismantled the Arctic
Gold Dredging Co.'s 2%-ft. dredge on Saunders creek.
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
97
The machinery was moved to Ilobson creek and in-
stalled in a new hull. Kimball and Soupe installed
a 2^-cu. ft. flume dredge on Melsing creek in the
Council district, which is reported to be successful.
The American Dredge Building & Construction Co.
built and erected a small IV2-C11. ft. flume dredge on
the present beach near Nome. After running a short
time, it was closed down, as it was found that the
ground had been worked out by the miners at the
time of the discovery was made when the present beach
was rich in gold. The Anglo Alaska Gold Dredging
Co. erected a 2-cu. ft. flume dredge on Sunset creek
in the Teller district. This dredge was fairly suc-
cessful on a creek where a hydraulic equipment, cost-
ing over $350,000, had made a complete failure. The
total cost of the dredge was less than $40,000. The
steam dredge on Osborn creek sank during the win-
ter, and as it never had been a success, the machinery
was dismantled and sold to satisfy claims for haul-
ing. The Johnstone dredge on Windy creek in the
Port Clarence mining district suspended operation in
midsummer on account of frozen ground. There is
supposed to be good ground ahead of the dredge,
but it will be necessary to remove tundra covering
the ground for a distance of 1000 ft. The owners are
planning to do this in the spring. The Inmachuck
Dredging Co.'s dredge closed down on October 7 after
a fairly satisfactory season. The Arctic Cold Dredg-
ing Co. had considerable trouble handling large flat
boulders on its ground on Hobson creek. The machin-
ery on this boat was moved from the former dredge
of the Company on Saunders creek and put in a new
hull. The Ernst dredge on the beach is said to be
working successfully.
The York dredge (tin) had a short season on ac-
count of lack of water, and was also obliged to cut
through some of the old tailing piles to new ground.
The output for 1913 has been estimated at 75 tons
of concentrate. The Ruby dredge closed down on
October 12. Operations during the year disclosed a
greater number of large boulders in this ground than
had been expected. The Solomon dredge has almost
worked out the Company's holdings, and the Nome
Montana dredge has exhausted its ground. The owners
are now trying to dispose of the boat. The Seward
dredge underwent another overhauling. The crown
sheet blew down in one of the boilers and a make-shift
arrangement had to be used for the rest of the season.
Two old small boilers were obtained at Solomon and a
small gas engine was also added. The fuel consumption
is high and, while the digging end of the boat does ex-
ceptionally well, the high power cost and low efficiency
of the engines add greatly to the operating cost and
prevent the success that under different conditions
might have followed operations. The dredge started
May 20 and closed down November 20. During the
first part of the season practically all of the ground
was thawed with steam. The ground was from 9 to
11 ft. deep. The points were driven 9 ft. apart, and
after driving were left in the ground for 12 hours.
Thawing operations were started on April 20. The
boilers on the dredge were used to supply steam un-
til the dredge started May 20 ; 300 ft. of ground ahead
having been thawed when the dredge started oper-
ations. A 24-hp. boiler was then used, supplying steam
to 24 points. The thawing costs were 12y2c. per cubic
yard, which included all costs of steam, hose, points,
labor, and fuel. Oil delivered in a tank at Solomon
cost $1.70 per barrel of 42 gal. ; freight to the dredge
cost $3.75 per barrel.
The Blue Goose dredge, operating on Ophir creek,
had a successful season. This is one of the first
dredges constructed on the Peninsula. It was orig-
inally a 5-cu. ft., open-eonnected bucket, steam-
driven dredge, built at Portland, Oregon. Its pres-
ent owners, in the last five years, have practically re-
modeled the dredge. This season they changed the
bucket line from a 5-cu. ft., open-connected, to a 3-
cu. ft., close-connected line, and increased their yard-
age 40 per cent.
The Wild Goose dredge engine was changed and some
trouble and delay was experienced at first with the new
one. The Shovel Creek Dredging Co. was obliged to
dig considerable bedrock, as the ground is shallow.
This cut down the expected yardage. Difficulty was
also experienced with the engine breaking a shaft.
This was successfully welded by use of thermite. Good
reports come from the Flodine and Kimball dredges,
which are said to be working successfully.
Altogether 1913 has not been a banner year for dredg-
ing on the Seward Peninsula, but that does not prove
that other areas will not be found and, after correct
prospecting, be properly equipped and successfully
handled in the future. Indeed there is no doubt a
chance, if suitable areas are developed, to buy some of
the dredges which were improperly placed at a fraction
of their first cost and move the machinery. I need only
repeat what I have said in former articles, that I be-
lieve there is a field for small boats in the Seward
Peninsula, but better judgment must be used, to first
see that the conditions for operation and that the gold
content of the ground to be handled, justify the venture.
The value of minerals exported from Broken Hill,
New South Wales, during September was $1,930,000.
This included silver-lead concentrate, 30,158 tons; zinc
concentrate, 35,881 tons ; silver-lead ore, 2614 tons ;
silver-lead slime, 1384 tons; and zinc slime, 299 tons.
The Central mine has opened its orebody at 1300 ft..
and the North, at 1400 ft., has drilled through 112 ft.
of ore. According to the Australian Mining Standard,
recent developments show the following results :
Level, ft. Lead, %. Silver, oz. Zinc, %■
North 1400 17.5 10.0 15.0
Central 1300 14.0 12.0 17.0
British 1100 19.6 13.0 13.3
Junction 1000 20.0
Statistics of exports of mineral products from Gua-
temala during 1912 show only 30,840 lb. of material
worth $2737.
98
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
Revision of the Mining Law
By Grafton Mason
Kevising the mining law or leaving it intact without
considering the opinions of Mining Congresses, Di-
rectors of Geological Surveys, or Secretaries of the In-
terior is like passing a currency bill without hearing the
Comptroller of the Currency, commercial organizations,
or the Secretary of the Treasury. Giving entire control
of mineral legislation to those engaged in practical
mining rests in the beneficiaries power to measure the
extent and conditions of the Government's benefac-
tions in disregard of the interests of the non-mining
public.
If the mining law were as simple as the statement
of the article, 'Revision of the Mining Law — A Pro-
test, copied in the Press of October 18, 1913, the prac-
tical miner might be presumed to be content; but the
author admits that he is not, and concedes that there
is a general feeling that 'something is wrong.' He
then brushes aside all that is supposed to be wrong
by a consideration of existing statutes which are said
to contain certain provisions, and these statutes are
epitomized by the omission of the important terms
which create the feeling that something is wrong and
cause the demand for revision.
The free grant of valuable minerals in the public
lands to anyone who may find them makes no provision
to cover the search. Only mineral lands are open to
mineral entry, and the question whether any particular
parcel of public land is mineral or non-mineral is an
open one until it has been judicially determined. The
miner may be in possession and looking for valuable
minerals with all diligence, but he is subject to con-
test by the Government, by claimants under any of the
agricultural land laws, or by the State, or by railroad
grantees of non-mineral land on the ground that the
land is non-mineral. These contests involve long ex-
pensive hearings before the local land officers followed
by appeals to the Commissioner of the General Land
Office and then to the Secretary of the Interior. What
the result will be is conjectural, for these questions
appear to fall within a twilight zone of interpretation.
The question 'what is mineral land' has disturbed
many tribunals, official and judicial. A proper defini-
tion was once thought to be: Land that is more valu-
able for mineral than for agricultural purposes ; and
this must appear as a present fact "from actual pro-
duction of mineral, and not from any theory that it
may produce it." (Dughi r. Harkins, 2 L.D., 721.)
The generally accepted definition, however, is that
given by the Supreme Court of the United States in
Davis' Administrator v. Weibbold, 139 U. S., 507-519.
not "all land in which minerals may be found, but
only those where the mineral is in sufficient quantity
to add to their richness and to justify expenditure for
its extraction." Two recent cases in the Federal
Courts illustrate one of the embarrassments of this
question. In the case of United States v. Diamond Coal
& Coke Co., 191 Fed., 787, the Circuit Court of Appeals
for the Eighth Circuit held land to be coal land, where
the presence of coal in paying quantities was not shown,
but geological conditions were convincing that the dip
of a well known outcrop on near-by land, and traced
for many miles, would carry the coal to the land in
suit. Judge Bourquin in United States v. Kostelak.
207 Fed., 447-452, another coal case, questions the cor-
rectness of that decision, believes this is a construction
and application of the law not warranted and never
before arrived at by any court, nor by the Land De-
partment of the United States ; and points to the agri-
cultural entries of lands adjoining the mines at Butte
toward which their veins dip and strike, made and
patented after the great value of the mines was com-
mon knowledge, with the query: "If presumption is
to be indulged that a vein or lode extends under lands
two miles distant from the outcropping, why not five,
ten, or an indefinite number of miles ; where will be the
limit and how and by whom will it be determined?"
It must be conceded, however, that there is greater
reason for locating coal measures, by projection than
the metalliferous veins at Butte.
Occupancy of Public Land
The 'Protest' asserts that present statutes grant a
conditional right of exclusive occupancy of public land
for the purpose of exploration for minerals. The con-
ditional feature is said to be that the law shall be the,
rules, customs, and regulations of the miners of the
district, who, however, cannot make a lawful rule un-
der which exclusive occupancy for exploration may be
had without a precedent discovery of the lode or vein
of the rock in place which might contain the valuable
mineral. The language of the statute is: "All valu-
able mineral deposits in lands belonging to the United
States * * * are free and open to exploration and pur-
chase and the lands in which they are found, to occupa-
tion and purchase * * * under regulations prescribed
by law. and according to the local custom or rules of
miners in the several mining districts,*' etc., and "the
locators of all mining locations * * * on any mineral
vein, lode, or ledge situated on the public domain * » *
shall have exclusive right of possession and enjoyment
of all the surface included within the lines of their
locations."
The miner's right of possession prior to location ap-
pears to be limited to the ground actually occupied
pedis posscssio.. The location is the important step: and
to make a valid location there must be discovery, mark-
ing on the ground, posting, and recording. The true
interpretation of these provisions does not give the
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
99
result advanced in the 'Protest' of a conditional right
of exclusive occupancy of pubic lands for purposes of
exploration, but is rather a grant of the right to con-
tinue work after finding a lead to work upon, or after
discovery.
The definition of 'discovery' has not been stated
uniformly with the accuracy of mathematics; but after
these many years of practical application of the statute
the Protestant is convinced that it means only the find-
ing of a vein or ledge of quartz, for he asserts that
there has been an erroneous supposition that the
statutes required a discovery of the mineral.
The Supreme Court of the United States in Erhardt
t: Boaro, 113 U. S., 527-536, has given an interpretation
of this provision as follows: "a mere posting of a
notice on a ridge of rocks cropping out of the earth or
on other ground, that the poster has located thereon a
mining claim, without any discovery or knowledge on
his part of the existence of metal there, or in its im-
mediate vicinity, would be justly treated as a mere
speculative proceeding and would not of itself initiate
any right. There must be something beyond a mere
guess on the part of the miner to authorize him to make
a location which will exclude others from the ground.
such as the discovery of the presence of the precious
minerals in it, or in such proximity to it as to justify
a reasonable belief in their existence. Then protection
will be afforded to the locator to make the necessary
excavations and prepare the proper certificate fop
record. ' '
Again in Chrisman v. Miller, 197 U. S.. 313-323,
"there must be such a discovery of mineral as gives
reasonable evidence of the fact either that then; is a
vein or lode carrying the precious mineral, or if it be
claimed as placer ground, that it is valuable for such
mining."
Discovery Requirements
The ' Protest ' says that the plain reason for requiring
discovery of a lode, and not minerals in the lode, is
that it may afford the measure to determine extra-
lateral rights, but the Secretary of the Interior holds a
different view. In paragraph 8 of the Mining Regula-
tions, he states that the object of the provision "is
evidently to prevent the appropriation of presumed
mineral ground for speculative purposes, to the ex-
clusion of bona fide prospectors, before sufficient work
has been done to determine whether a vein or lode
really exists."
The 'Protest' asserts that "there is no requirement in
the statutes that there shall be a precedent discovery
to make a lawful claim of occupancy of public land as
placer." The Secretary of the Interior and the Courts
appear to hold otherwise. See the case of II. II. Yard
rl fil, 38 L. D., 59. where the Secretary cites the case
of Steele v. Tanana Mines R. Co.. 148 Fed.. 678. in
which the Circuit Court of Appeals of the Ninth Cir-
cuit, said: "Although in some instances courts have
questioned the necessity of an actual discovery of min-
eral upon gold placer ground, it is established by the de-
cided weight of authority that appropriate disco very is
as necessary to the location of a placer claim as to the
location of a lode claim." That case also throws some
light on the nature of the 'discovery' required to sup-
port a location. The Court uses the following lan-
guage : "Doubtless colors of gold may be found by pan-
ning in the dry bed of any creek in Alaska, and miners
upon such encouragement, may be willing to further ex-
plore in the hope of finding gold in paying quantities.
But such prospects are not sufficient to show that the
land is so valuable for mineral as to take it out of the
category of agricultural lands and to establish its char-
acter as mineral land when it comes to a contest be-
tween a mineral claimant and another claiming the
land under other laws of the United States. ' '
In Waskey v. Hammer, 223 U. S., 85-90, a placer case,
the United States Supreme Court on January 22. 1912,
held: "The mining laws * * " make the discovery of
mineral 'within the limits of the claim' a prerequisite
to the location of a claim, whether lode or placer, the
purpose being to reward the discoverer and to prevent
the location of land not found to be mineral."
It is not clear what the protest means by the gnat
mass of court decisions where the good faith of the
location was not in issue being in line with the letter
of the statutes in confirming rights of exclusive occu-
pancy for purposes of exploration without there being
a precedent discovery of the mineral; but it is surmised
that the basis for this assertion is no more than the
principle announced in Chrisman v. Miller: "It is true
that when the controversy is between two mineral
claimants the rule respecting the sufficiency of a dis-
covery of mineral is more liberal than when it is be-
tween a mineral claimant and one seeking to make an
agricultural entry, for the reason that when- land is
sought to be taken out of the category of agricultural
lands the evidence of its mineral character should be
reasonably clear, while in respect to mineral lands, in
a controversy between claimants, the question is simply
which is entitled to priority."
The "grant of free timber from unappropriated pub-
lic land" proved a snare to one Plowman, of Idaho.
who come to grief when he attempted justification, of
timber cutting on the public domain under the Act of
•June 3, 1878. His position was sustained by the Cir-
cuit Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court of the
United States held him accountable for trespass (216
U. S., 372). Plowman and the lower courts thought
"the law cannot be construed to limit the cutting of
timber simply to ground that is known to contain
mineral" and that "the law includes as mineral hinds
not only those tracts in which mineral has actually
been discovered and which has been or could he legally
located as mining location, but also all other lands
lying in reasonably close proximity to or in the general
neighborhood of such known mineral tracts." The
Supreme Court held that too little regard had been
paid to the words of the act defining the land on which
it permits timber to be cut as "mineral, and not sub-
100
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
ject to entry under existing laws of the United States,
except for mineral entry." The Court holds that the
right to cut is exceptional, that the only lands ex-
eluded from any but mineral entry "are lands 'valu-
able for minerals' or containing 'valuable mineral de-
posits','' and again defines 'mineral land' in the lan-
guage of Davis v. Weibbold.
These few cases lead us to believe that there is some-
thing wrong with the mining law. These cases, at least,
do not warrant the conclusion that all there is about
the matter is that there is a free grant of minerals,
with a free occupancy for the purpose of exploring
for them and the free use of timber for mining pur-
poses, and all the miner has to do is to take what has
been so generously offered him, controlled only by
such regulations as he may make for himself in con-
junction with his fellow workers.
The order of grant is not : Free occupancy for ex-
ploration and then minerals if you find them ; but is :
Free minerals that have been found and then posses-
sion to recover them. This is conclusively shown by
the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the
case of Belk v. Meagher, 104 U. S., 284, wherein the
court said: "The right to the possession comes only
from a valid location. Consequently, if there is no
location there can be no possession under it. Location
does not necessarily follow from possession, but pos-
session from location."
Ore Production of
Joplin District for 1913
By
Otto Ruhl
Zincblende,
Calamine,
Lead,
tons.
tons.
tons.
Webb City, Missouri
79,639
4-
22,066
73,690
1,611-
6,949
Miami, Oklahoma
21.934
7,892
Galena, Kansas
18,182
85-
3,107
17,659
2,194
3,514
Alba-Neck City, Missouri.
15,046
407
210
Oronogo, Missouri
12,703
1,344
Carl Junction, Missouri. . .
10,856
115
Lawton, Kansas
3,450
36
Granbv, Missouri
3,136
10,854
680
Cave Springs, Missouri. . .
3,444
197
Spring City, Missouri....
2,192
2,178
1,275
Carthage, Missouri
2,017
18
Sarcoxie, Missouri
1,782
73
Quapaw, Oklahoma
519
91
516
1,743
146
Wentworth, Missouri ....
452
313
Springfield, Missouri ....
404
32
14
Badger, Kansas
45
4
7
Total
267,666
19,498
47,661
511,523,497
BY ^TATES
$441,530
FOR 1913
$2,492,976
PRODUCTION
Zincblende.
Calamine,
Lead.
tons.
tons.
tons.
. . . 223,546
19,399
36,528
22,443
7.983
21,677
89
3.150
AVERAGE PRICES PER TON OF BLENDE, CALAMINE,
AND LEAD ORES FOR 1913
1913. Blende. Calamine. Lead.
Jan. 4 $53.38 $30.11 $52.13
Jan. 11 53.57 30.95 52.56
Jan. 18 53.35 31.66 53.00
Jan. 25 52.63 31.86 53.81
Feb. 1 47.37 29.25 53.34
Feb. 8 46.25 25.26 53.10
Feb. 15 46.26 30.14 52.80
Feb. 22 46.41 26.79 53.88
Mar. 1 45.42 26.83 52.89
Mar. 8 45.72 25.43 53.29
Mar. 15 47.67 18.73 52.58
Mar. 22 48.32 25.59 53.68
Mar. 29 40.36 28.49 53.18
Apr. 5 40.31 18.88 53.45
Apr. 12 41.50 21.89 52.44
Apr. 19 40.70 23.46 51.85
Apr. 26 40.77 22.56 52.04
May 3 40.07 24.73 52.92
May 10 39.85 22.10 52.86
May 17 40.00 21.81 53.22
May 24 41.29 21.62 51.58
May 31 45.76 23.10 51.45
June 7 39.83 22.60 50.35
June 14 39.06 22.61 51.40
June 21 40.27 18.63 51.89
June 28 41.00 19.50 52.00
July 5 40.07 24.25 50.35
July 12 40.02 21.65 51.93
July 19 41.00 26.26 51.90
July 26 39.30 22.63 52.02
Aug. 2 40.08 22.44 52.37
Aug. 9 43.69 21.98 53.50
Aug. 16 44.00 23.74 53.95
Aug. 23 47.00 23.86 54.00
Aug. 30 48.00 24.89 56.00
Sept. 6 47.50 24.90 57.38
Sept. 13 46.50 24.65 57.62
Sept. 20 44.10 23.00 56.47
Sept. 27 43.50 22.52 57.02
Oct. 4 43.50 21.00 53.50
Oct. 11 40.50 21.95 52.50
Oct. IS 39.50 20.00 51.78
Oct. 25 39.41 24.08 51.15
Nov. 1 39.43 22.40 51.39
Nov. 6 40.88 22.74 51.19
Nov. 15 40.49 21.99 51.51
Nov. 22 41.00 23.32 51.07
Nov. 29 37.70 20.00 51.40
Dec. 6 37.00 20.14 48.61
Dec. 13 37.00 21.34 46.75
Dee. 20 36.92 22.00 47.54
Dec. 27 37.43 22.23 47.45
. Year 43.05 22.64 52.09
Total value of production of the district, $14,458,003.
The carnotite shipped from the Paradox Valley
region in Colorado in 1011 aggregated 1515 tons, con-
taining 26 tons of uranium oxide ; in 1912 the output
was 1092 tons, containing 22 tons of uranium oxide.
The decrease was due partly to inactivity of two cor-
porate operators during part of the year, and also be-
cause many of the rich surface pockets of carnotite
had been worked out. The output for 1913 will be
about 1200 tons, containing about 25 tons of uranium
oxide. Efforts are being made to bring about a better
extraction and consequent conservation of these ores.
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
101
Iron and Steel Production in France
Paris Correspondence
In view of the immense progress made by Germany,
the French are taking stock of their present and future
in respect to iron and steel production. Although here
iron and steel production cannot be said to compare in
point of quantity with that of Germany or England,
history attests that in point of quality France can hold
her own with either. About the end of the last century,
production was fairly distributed between the centre
and the north of the country. The works in the east
only possessed at the time a secondary importance. The
discovery of the Thomas process, which made it possi-
ble to utilize the high-phosphorous ores of the Meurthe-
et-Moselle, completely revolutionized the steel metal-
lurgy of the country, and brought about the creation
of France's most important metallurgical works close
to the raw material. The basin of the east soon occu-
pied a leading position, and it is there today that
France produces most of her iron and steel. At the
same time as the eastern basin was being developed,
the centre one, handicapped by higher costs, underwent
a gradual evolution, and the greater portion of its
furnaces went out of blast, the district becoming a steel
producer. Naturally, it retained some specialities for
which it was well equipped, and in the making of
which the works in the east showed no disposition to
compete.
The Normand-Angevin Basin
The north, which is favorably situated with regard
to coal and not too far removed from the iron ore de-
posits of the Meurthe-et-Moselle, was able to stand
competition, and is equipped for using the Lorraine
ores which have thus become the foundation of France's
iron and steel industry. For some years, therefore, a
new iron ore basin, that is the Normand-Angevin basin,
has been undergoing development, and it appears
destined to play an interesting part in France's
metallurgical economy. This basin already supplies ore
to two large works in the north : those of Isbergues and
Denain, and also supplies the Trignac works. In two
years the iron ore from this district will be used by
the Caen blast-furnaces, and most of the metallurgical
companies of the east have been exploring in this region
and have solicited concessions.
The Normandy ore is considerably richer than that of
Lorraine; it contains 50 to 53% of iron against 33 to
38%. But it appears that at present the iron ore beds,
for area, contain less than those of the Lorraine basin.
At the moment the metallurgical situation in France
may be drawn as follows: In the east there are the
large producers of iron, steel, and common goods. In
the north are large producers, but of less tonnage,
which, on the other hand, put out products of higher
finish. In the centre, quantity is sacrificed for quality.
The following table indicates the position of the
various companies with blast-furnaces in France on
June 30, 1913 and will give a fairly complete idea of
the producing capacity, in tons, per day, of the great
French iron works :
Number of
Names of houses. blast-furnaces.
existing. In blast.
Acieries de la Marine 11 10
De Wendel et Cie 8 .8
Longrwy 9 7
Micheville 6 6
Pont a-Mousson 9 9
Denain-Anzln 8 7
Chatillon-Commentry 5 5
Forges du Nord et de l'Est 7 6
Senelle-Maubeuge 5 4
Acieries de France 6 6
Pompey * 4
De Saintignon 5 4
Basse-Loire 6 5
Providence 3 3
Esperance * 3
Creusot 5 4
La enters 12 2
Montataire 4 3
Commentry Fourchambault 6 4
Forges d'Alais 5 4
Louraine Industrielle 2 2
Maxeville 3 2
Chasse 2 2
Paris-Outreau 3 3
Metallurglque du Perlgord 2 2
Ariege 3 2
Total pro
Thomas
Refined
Moulding
duction
iron.
cast iron.
iron.
per day.
1,200
175
30
1,405
1,200
1,200
1,100
60
1,160
1,100
1,100
840
840
650
180
830
800
80«
410
110
225
745
700
700
360
320
680
600
600
190
325
515
200
200
100
500
500
500
360
110
470
160
100
100
360
320
320
300
300
240
30
270
200
200
200
200
105
75
180
160
160
80
60
140
110
110
75
25
100
102
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
In central France the works for producing metal
for guns, armor plates, nails, automobile parts, and
special steels are situated. In the southwest there
are some small plants working for local clients, but
seeking particularly to specialize. Finally there are
on the sea coast the two works known as the Boucau
and the Trignac, which are the chief source of supply
for the neighboring consumers.
On June 30, there was a total of 48 works in France
producing pig iron, with 159 blast-furnaces, of which
133 were in blast, with a total daily producing capacity
of 15,660 tons of iron. The largest French producer
today is La Societe des Acieries de la Marine, it having,
however, only recently come into this premier position,
which used to be disputed between the houses of
Longwy and Micheville. It will be observed that the
house of Creusot, once France's premier metallurgical
house, now occupies a relatively humble position in the
list. It has devoted itself to specialization, and has an
undisputed superiority in all that refers to the metal-
lurgy of war material. It is hinted that the house pur-
poses struggling again for a higher position as to
quantity in the list of producers, and plans to construct
a model works on the eastern frontier, where it holds
the concession of Droitaumont.
Output Increasing
In 1912 France produced 4,959,000 tons of iron, di-
vided as follows : Thomas iron, 3,324,000 tons, or 67.2% ;
foundry pig iron, 865,000 tons, or 17.5% ; refined cast
iron, 536,000, or 10.9% ; bessemer iron, 156,000, or 3.1% ;
special iron, 68,000, or 1.3%. There is scarcely any
need to point out the importance of the item Thomas
iron, which 30 years ago was practically only a product
of the laboratory. On the other hand, refined cast
iron, which in the olden times played a preponderat-
ing part when puddling was the only method known for
producing iron, is annually dwindling in importance ;
because of the difficulty of finding good puddlers and
the gradual disappearance of puddling furnaces. Ac-
cording to basins the production in 1912 was as fol-
lows: East, 3,455,000 tons, or 70.2%; north, 816,000
tons, or 16.4% ; southwest, 260,000 tons, or 5.2% ; cen-
tre, 187,000 tons, or 3.7% ; southeast, 185,000 tons, or
3.3%; west, 66,000 tons, or 1.2%. The east stands
easily first and does not seem in danger of having its
position challenged ; but it is expected that in the
course of perhaps three years the order of importance
of some of the other basins will be changed. For ex-
ample, the west, which stands last, is expected to
stand third ; for the blast-furnaces of Caen will begin
to produce over 300,000 tons of iron per year. And
the southwest, which will have the advantage of the
extension of the Trignac works, should follow close.
In 1912 the French production of iron increased by
479,000 tons compared with 1911. This is an improve-
ment of a little over 10%. It is known that in 1913,
current year, this progress has been maintained, and
statistics of the first 6 months show that the average
daily production has been 15,565 tons as against 14,130
tons during the first 6 months of 1912. This is a
further increase of about 10%. If thus the production
continues at the same rate during the second half of
the year, the 1913 production may be estimated at
5,500,000 tons of cast iron in round figures. The ques-
tion then arises whether France's producing activity
is not about to ease off. Up to November, when this
is written, the French works have been working full
time, but have been living on the orders of 1912; for
since the beginning of this year very few new large
orders have been booked. Only large corporations
such as railways, shipbuilding companies, and the war
department have kept a good current business in ex-
istence; but this does not alone suffice to support the
national steel industry. The country is about, then, to
enter on a period when the large iron works will have
to obtain fresh orders, and it is reasonably hoped
that the clearer political atmosphere will permit this.
It may be that the iron works will have to reduce
prices in order to encourage buyers, but as far as can
be judged at present the year will terminate with a
good volume of business in existence. Some French
authorities say that the construction of new works is
being overdone, that overproduction will be the result,
and a similar situation be created to that of Germany,
where the iron works are said to be in a state of per-
manent overproduction.
Furnace Building
Coming now to the question of the future, it may
be noted that in the north the Acieries de France is
going to transfer the production of hematite iron to
the Calais works, and transform the two small blast-
furnaces of Isbergues into larger ones for the produc-
tion of Thomas iron. In this region the Forges du
Nord et de l'Est is to have three blast-furnaces at the
new Valenciennes works instead of the two existing.
Further, in the north the Denain-Anzin concern is
going to construct two new blast-furnaces at Escaudain
near its present Denain works; and the end of 1914
will no doubt see the Pont-a-Vendin subsidiary of the
Lens concern at work. It is designed to produce 300,-
000 tons of iron annually. In the east the Acieries de
la Marine is planning the construction of a new set of
three blast-furnaces at the Homecourt works. These
works are now considered the model works of France.
The Chatillon-Commentry Co. has now completed two
new installations at its Neuves-Maisons works. The
Ougree-Marihaye concern has re-equipped the blast-
furnaces of the Chiers. The Micheville house is going
to increase the capacity of its blast-furnaces by 200
tons. The Longwy concern is going to construct a
blast-furnace, No. 7, of the greatest known capacity.
In the southwest, the Acieries de la Marine is repair-
ing the two blast-furnaces of the Boucau works in order
to increase their capacity, and the Basse-Loire has
recently lighted its Thomas blast-furnace. In the west
the Caen blast-furnaces should begin work by the end
of 1915. and will produce 300,000 tons of iron per year;
and finally, the special east iron works of Paris-Ontreau
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
103
is constructing a third blast-furnace ; and the blast-
furnace works of Rouen is preparing to produce 100,000
tons of iron per year. The total of these different
projects, most of them in process of realization, means
the creation of 13 blast-furnaces, not to speak of the
repairing of old ones, nor of the works of Pont-a-Ven-
din or of Caen. These blast-furnaces will be of large
capacity, and it may be calculated that the producing
power of France will therefore day by day increase
in three years by 1,200,000 to 1,500,000 tons ; that is to
say, that the annual production of the country will
approach 7,000,000 tons. Hitherto the domestic demand
has afforded a sufficient market for France's iron
works, which have done very little as exporters. This
can be seen from the following table :
Production of Home Foreign trade,
cast Iron. consumption. Imports. Exports.
Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.
1903 2,841,000 2,672,000 27,000 195,000
1904 2,974,000 2,810,000 26,000 191,000
1905 3,077,000 2,882,000 25,000 220,000
190J 3,314,000 3,313.000 46,000 147,000
1907 3,590,000 3,369,000 36,000 257,000
190S 3,401.000 3,278,000 36,000 179,000
1909 3,574,000 3,451,000 31,000 154,000
1910 4,038,000 3,964,000 42,000 116,000 "
1911 4,470,000 4,414.000 57,000 116,000
1912 4,949,000 4,788,000 68.000 229,000
It is difficult to imagine that the French market will
be able to absorb the increase of 1,500,000 tons in three
years' time. It will be requisite, therefore, to find
buyers abroad, not for cast iron, but for middle and
finished products; for all the new metallurgical works
under construction will have steel plant and rolling
mills, and all those that are increasing their produc-
tion of iron are enlarging their steel plants in pro-
portion. The Balkan States and Morocco are expected
to take up a portion of this extra production, also
Central and South American countries which are in-
debted to France for cash, and no doubt will require
again to appeal to the French money market. The
danger of overproduction, which to a certain extent
is already discounted by the increasing requirements
of railways and naval demands, apparently does not
frighten those now engaged in the iron and steel indus-
tries of France.
Oregon Metal Production
The mines of Oregon made a somewhat unexpected
large increase in gold yield for 1013. compared with
1912. The mine report of 1912 showed a production of
$770,041. but the preliminary estimate for 1913. made
by Charles G. Yale, of the United States Geological Sur-
vey, shows that the gold output nearly doubled in 1913.
amounting to $1,393,322. or $623,281 more than in 1912.
The mine output of silver in 1912 was 57.081 fine
ounces, while the estimate for 1913 shows a yield of
218.949 07... an increase of 161.868 ounces.
The copper output in 1912. according to mine re-
turns, was 260.429 lb.: the estimate for 1913 is 144,796
lb., or 145.633 lb. less than in 1912. The mine report
of 1912. showed a yield of 39.317 lb. of lead, but for
1913 the estimate is 96.743 pounds.
Uranium- Vanadium
Deposits of uranium and vanadium in the United
States have recently been investigated by Messrs. R.
B. Moore and K. L. Kithil for the Bureau of Mines.
According to their preliminary report,* the carnotite
deposits of Colorado and Utah are the most important
uranium-bearing ores and they constitute the largest
supply of radium-bearing minerals known in the world.
Austria is the only other country in which large de-
posits of uranium-bearing ores are known ; and the
Austrian government considers them of such impor-
tance that it has taken entire charge of them. The
deposits of carnotite in this country are much larger
than those in Austria, and the output is larger also,
but the deposits have been exploited and mined by
rather crude and wasteful methods. Nearly all of the
carnotite ore mined in the United States has been
shipped to Europe for the purpose of extracting the
radium contained. During the year 1912 the carnotite
ores produced contained 28.8 tons of uranium oxide,
which should yield 8.8 grams of radium chloride. There
is only one American company that has been prepar-
ing radium salts of a high degree of radioactivity. It
owns carnotite mines in Colorado and operates its
own plants for the extraction and refining of radium
salts.
The principal deposits of carnotite in the United
States are found in western and southwestern Colo-
rado, and in eastern Utah. The deposits in Colorado
have been chiefly found along the Dolores and San
Miguel rivers and their tributaries in Montrose, San
Miguel, and Dolores counties, although carnotite has
also been found in Rio Blanco and Routt counties.
Numerous bodies of uranium and vanadium ore have
been discovered in eastern Utah, principally in the
Green River and Thompsons districts, but also at Split
Mountain and Table Mountain. The Utah deposits con-
tain smaller amounts of uranium and vanadium than
do those in Colorado, but the properties in Utah are
more accessible and have the advantage of lower trans-
portation charges. In both cases the mineral deposits
are so distant from railroads and so unfavorably situ-
ated that only the deposits of high-grade ore have been
mined. In most of the localities the lack of water
has made the use of the ordinary methods of milling
impossible for the concentration of these ores. As a
consequence, only the higher grades of ore have been
exploited, the mining has resulted in much waste of
medium or low-grade ore. and the shipments have
been chiefly made from the small pockets of ore which
contain comparatively large amounts of uranium oxide.
The employment of such wasteful methods of mining
and rough hand-sorting is to be deprecated, because
the pockets of high-grade ore may soon be exhausted,
leaving large quantities of ore containing less than
2% UsO„ which it might be impossible to utilize.
♦U. S. Bureau of Mines, Bulletin No. 70.
104
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
The production from the Utah fields has been small
on account of the low grade of the ore. During the
year 1912 a total of 346 tons was shipped from Green
river, Thompsons, and Cisco — the only places in Utah
from which uranium ore was shipped. This ore prob-
ably averaged less than 2% U308. The ore occurs in
strata of coarse sandstone overlain with fine conglom-
erate. The ore-bearing portions vary in thickness
from a few inches to about five feet. The carnotite
occurs in cracks or fissures, in small pockets or vugs,
or impregnating the sandstone. Small pockets of red
vanadium ore, probably calcium vanadate, are found
in some places in the sandstone. The Thompsons de-
posits are almost flat bedded. Mining there has been
confined to the best outcrops, and the low-grade ore
from hand sorting was thrown on the dump.
The principal production of carnotite ore in Colo-
rado has come from Paradox valley and surrounding
districts in Montrose and San Miguel counties. In
Rio Blanco and Routt county the cost of transporta-
tion has been too high to permit of shipping ore at
a profit. In the Paradox Valley region the typical
ore is a sandstone so impregnated with yellow car-
notite that the color is quite noticeable. A consider-
able part of the ore is eomposed of small kidneys of
brown sandy clay which contain vanadium. High-
grade carnotite often occurs in vugs, and this ore is
so soft that it can be molded in the fingers. In places
the sandstone is impregnated along the lines of strati-
fication, and in alternate layers of carnotite and dark
vanadium ore. The deposits are usually pockets of
ore, many of which are large, however, as the extrac-
tion of 50 tons of shipping ore from a single claim
is not unusual. The ore is found in the McElmo for-
mation (Jura-Trias). This is a light-colored sandstone
overlain in places with shale and conglomerates. Be-
neath it lies the La Plata sandstone, and below that
the Dolores red sandstone.
Some desultory work was done in these districts
from 1886 until 1909, and a considerable amount of
uranium oxide was shipped from time to time. Min-
ing in Paradox valley was not actively carried on
until the formation of the General Vanadium Co. in
1909. In 1910 the Standard Chemical Co., of Pitts-
burgh, began work in this district, and these two
companies are now the largest operators there. In
1912 the American Rare Metals Co. bought the Dolores
mill in the Mclntyre district. The General Vanadium
Co. has about 60 claims, and the Standard Chemical
Co. about 90; most of these claims are in the Long
Park, Club Ranch, and East Paradox districts. The
Radium Extraction Co., Crucible Steel Co., and Primos
Chemical Co. have done some work on several claims
in Long Park, but no large shipments have been made.
The principal mine in Saucer basin is the Cliff, which
has been one of the heaviest producers in the history
of the industry. Much high-grade ore has been mined
from pockets or vugs, but a large quantity of low-
grade ore is left in the mine. In one place this de-
posit is 14 ft. wide. On the north side of East Para-
dox valley are the Jacobs and McKeever claims, from
which 13 tons was recently shipped, which contained
3.43% U308 and 13.66 V2Os. The main camp of the
General Vanadium Co. is on the south side of East
Paradox valley. The Company has mined nearly all
of the high-grade ore, but there is a large quantity
of low-grade ore in place in the mine and on the
dumps. Nearby is the Joe Dandy claim, until recently
a heavy producer. The American Rare Metals Co., of
Denver, has large deposits of rather low-grade ore in
the Mclntyre district, where its plant is situated.
The price paid for uranium and vanadium ore in
1912 were approximately $1.30 per pound of uranium
oxide for 2% ore; $1.40 for 2.5% ore; and $1.50 for
3% ore, f.o.b. New York. For the vanadium content.
30 to 35c. was paid per pound of vanadium oxide.
The high-grade ore from vugs, carrying 12 to 20%
U„Og, bring about $3 per pound of oxide, f.o.b. New
York. On account of the high costs of mining and
transportation, it was not profitable to ship any ore
containing less than 2% U2Og. At present the price
■of carnotite ore has advanced at least 33%, and ore
as low as 1% is being shipped.
Pitchblende has been found in several localities in
the United States, but the only deposits which have
been productive are in Gilpin county, Colorado, where
five mines near Central City have shipped considerable
quantities of ore.f During 1905 and 1906 the Kirk
mine produced about 20 tons of pitchblende ore hav-
ing an average content of 35% U8Og, and over 100
tons of ore containing 3 to 4% uranium oxide. In
recent years the production has been small. The Ger-
man and Belcher mines during 1911 and 1912 shipped
240 lb. of ore containing more than 70%, 220 lb. con-
taining 20%, 5 tons of 2.6% ore, and 1 ton of ore
containing 2% of U308.
The largest deposits of vanadium in the United
States are near Placerville, Newmire, and Sawpit, in
San Miguel county, Colorado. These deposits are in the
McElmo formation. This consists of two beds of light-
colored sandstone separated by a thin bed of lime-
stone, the vanadium-bearing rock being in the lower
bed of sandstone. The Primos Chemical Co. is min-
ing extensive deposits on Bear creek, and has done a
large amount of work, especially on the east side of
the creek. The vanadium-bearing rock is a light to
dull green fine-grained sandstone which is easily
mined. The average content of the ore is only about
1.5% V20B, but it is possible to mine and treat this
ore at a profit on account of the size of the deposits.
the ease with which they can be mined, and the good
transportation facilities. The Company has a treatment
plant 2V2 miles from the mine. Other vanadium de-
posits of minor importance have been found in Huer-
fano and Eagle counties. Colorado, at Cutter. New
Mexico, and in a few other localities, but no vanadium
oxide has been marketed as yet.
tSee Forbes Rickard, Mining and Scientific Press. June 7.
1913.
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
105
Mineral Production Statistics for 1913
Production of Lead
An estimate of the production of refined lead in the
United States in 1913 has been compiled by C. E.
Siebenthal, of the United States Geological Survey,
from reports made by all lead refineries and soft-lead
smelters in operation during the year. These reports
cover actual production for the first ten or eleven
months and an estimate for the remainder of the year,
and from them the figures of production are made up
without change. The statistics of imports, exports.
and lead remaining in warehouse have been taken from
the records of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce for eleven months, the figures for December
having been estimated.
The total production of refined lead, desilverized
and soft, from domestic and foreign ores in 1913 was
approximately 466,843 short tons, worth at the aver-
age New York price, $41,082,184, compared with
480,894 tons, worth $43,280,460, in 1912, and 486.979
tons in 1911. These figures do not include an estimated
output of 16,338 tons of antimonial lead, against 13,552
tons in 1912 and 14,078 tons in 1911. Of the total pro-
duction, desilverized lead of domestic origin, exclusive
of desilverized soft lead, is estimated at 256,458 tons,
against 221,480 tons in 1912; ami desilverized lead of
foreign origin at 54,372 tous. compared with 88,377
tons in 1912. The production of soft lead, mainly from
Mississippi Valley ores, is estimated at 156.013 tons.
compared with 171,037 tons in 1912.
The final figures of production of soft lead are likely
to show an increase of a few thousand tons over those
given here, for the reason that the argentiferous lead
smelters and refineries undoubtedly treated more or
less soft lead from the Mississippi Valley which is not
distinguished from silver-lead ores in their prelimi-
nary estimates. It may be, with these additions, that
Missouri will retain first place in the year's output of
refined lead. In the mine production of lead. Missouri
lost first place to Idaho. The imports of lead are esti-
mated at 9878 short tons of lead in ore. valued at
$490,060; 46.888 tons of lead in base bullion, valued at
$2,347,148; and 41 tons of refined lead, valued at $3655;
a total of 56,717 tons, compared with 83.560 tons in
1912.
The amount of lead available for consumption during
1913 may be estimated by adding to the stock of for-
eign lead (domestic stocks are not known ) in bonded
warehouses at the beginning of the year (10,492 short
tons) the imports (56,717 tons) and the domestic pro-
duction (412,471 tons), making an apparent supply of
479.680 tons. From this is to be subtracted the foreign
lead exported from warehouse (44.000 tons), the for-
eign lead exported in manufactures under drawback
(7214 tons in nine months), the deduction by liquida-
tion (391 tons), and the stock in bonded warehouses at
the close of the year (assumed to be the same as at the
close of November, 6301 tons), leaving as available for
consumption 421,774 tons, which by comparison with
388,148 tons in 1912, with 385,319 tons in 1911. and
379,196 tons in 1910 seems to be an excessive figure,
making it seem probable that in lead, as in zinc, there
has been a large increase in smelter stocks.
Production of Copper
Statistics and estimates received by the United States
Geological Survey from all plants known to produce
blister copper from domestic ores and from all Lake
mines indicate that the copper output of the United!
States in 1913 will show a considerable decrease from
the record production of 1912.
Decreases in production were shown by Michigan,
Montana, and Alaska, and notable increases by Ari-
zona, Utah, and New Mexico.
The figures showing smelter production from domes-
tic ores, which have been collected by B. S. Butler, of
the Geological Survey, represent the actual production
of most of the companies for eleven months and an
estimate of the December output. The November
figures for a few companies were not available and
these companies furnished estimates for the last two
months of the year. According to the statistics and
estimates received, the output of blister and Lake cop-
per was 1,223,700,000 lb. in 1913, against 1.243.268.720
lb. in 1912. At an average price of about 15.3c. per
pound the 1913 output has a value of about $187,200,-
000, against $205,139,338 for the 1912 output.
Figures published by the Copper Producers' Asso-
ciation show an output of refined copper of 1,483.480,-
408 lb. for the first eleven months of 1913 and indicate
that the production of marketable copper by the regu-
lar refining plants from all sources, domestic and
foreign, will amount to 1,618,000,000 lb. for 1913 if
the December output is equal to the monthly average
for the first eleven months. This compares with
1.568.104,478 lb. in 1912.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, imports of
pigs. bars, and ingots for the first ten months amounted
to 246,785,319 lb., and the copper content of ore, matte,
and regulus imported amounted to 88.306,732 lb. If
the imports for November and December were equal to
the average monthly imports for the first ten months,
the amount of copper entering the United States for
the year was about 402,000,000 lb., against 410.240.295
lb. for 1912. Considerable of the copper imported as
blister had been previously exported as ore or concen-
trates.
Estimates based on figures published by the Bureau
of Statistics and also by the Copper Producers' Asso-
ciation indicate that the exports of copper for 1913
will show a marked increase over those for 1912 and
106
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
may equal 865,000,000 lb. Stocks of refined copper
held in the Tinted States January 1. 1914. are con-
siderably less than on January 1, 1913. Foreign stocks
also show a considerable decrease.
Spelter Production
The annual preliminary statement just issued by the
United States Geological Survey shows that the output
of spelter in 1913 established a new record, exceeding
that of 1912 by a fair margin, though falling far short
of the figure indicated by the phenomenal production
of the first half of the year. The increase was alto-
gether from domestic sources, as the production from
foreign ores was the smallest since 1906. due, of course,
to the strife in Mexico. The production during the
first half of the year kept on at an increased rate over
that of 1912, and somewhat exceeded the demand as
shown by the increase in stocks from 4522 tons on
January 1 to 21,856 tons June 30. The production
slowed down materially during the last half of 1913,
but the demand failed to even a greater extent, as
shown by the increased spelter stocks of 36,393 tons,
the greatest perhaps in the history of the industry.
The extent to which production was curtailed is shown
by the fact that only about three-fourths of the retort
capacity available for ore was in active operation dur-
ing December.
The following figures have been compiled without
change by C. E. Siebenthal, of the Geological Survey,
from reports furnished by all operating smelters of zinc
ores, showing their output for the first eleven months
of the year and their estimated production for Decem-
ber. Figures showing the imports and exports for
eleven months were obtained from the Dureau of For-
eign and Domestic Commerce, and to these figures esti-
mates for December have been added.
The production of primary spelter from domestic ore
in 1913 is estimated at 336.667 short tons and from for-
eign ore at 8908 tons, a total of 345,575 tons, worth, at
the average St. Louis price, $39,395,550. compared to a
total of 338,806 tons in 1912, worth $46,755,228 and
made up of 323,907 tons of domestic origin and 14,899
tons of foreign origin.
The total production of spelter is equivalent to the
output of 81,312 average retorts operating continuously
through the year on 60% zinc concentrates. The retort
capacity, available for ore, of plants active in 1913
was, at the beginning of the year, about 101,000 re-
torts. Many of. them, of course, were used on low-
grade ores, lessening their capacity. To these were
added during the year 5850 retorts, making about
107,000 retorts available for ore during the latter part
of the year.
Imports of zinc ore were approximately 28.541 short
tons, containing about 13,036 tons of zinc, compared
with 43.940 tons of ore. containing 17.567 tons of zinc,
imported in 1912. Of the zinc ore imported, 18,110 tons,
about 63%, came from Mexico, compared with 35,925
tons, or 80%. imported from Mexico in 1912. The ex-
ports of domestic zinc ore were 17,713 short tons,
valued at $632,000. compared with 23,349 tons in 1912.
The imports of spelter are estimated at 6056 short tons,
valued at about $656,600. compared with 11,115 tons
in 1912.
The apparent domestic consumption of spelter in
1913 may be computed as follows: The sum of stock
on hand at smelters at the beginning of the year, 4522
tons, plus the imports, 6056 tons, and the production,
345,575 tons, gives the total available supply. 356,153
tons. From this there is to be subtracted the exports
of domestic spelter, 7714 tons, the exports of foreign
spelter, 5802 tons, the exports under drawback, 5751
tons, and the stock on hand at smelters at the close of
the year (to be exact, on December 15), 36,395 tons, a
total of 55,662 tons, leaving a balance of 300,491 tons
as the apparent domestic consumption. This calcula-
tion takes no account of the stocks of spelter held by
dealers or consumers. On comparing the consumption
in 1913 with the previous year, it appears that the con-
sumption has returned to the normal after the phe-
nomenally large consumption of 1912.
Arizona's Record Production
In 1913 there was a record mine production of gold,
silver, copper, lead, and zinc in Arizona, according to
preliminary figures of the United States Geological
Survey. The total value of the mine output was about
$71,000,000, an increase of nearly 6% over the value of
1912, which was $67,050,784. The copper output was
valued at nearly $64,000,000; the gold at about
$3.948,000 ; the silver at more than $2,263,000 ; the lead
at $612,000 ; and the zinc at $510,000.
The mine yield of gold in Arizona in 1913 was more
than 191.000 oz., an increase of 5% over the output of
1912, which was 181,996.91 fine ounces. Of this total,
over 42% was taken from silicious ores and most of the
remainder came from copper ores, which are undoubt-
edly the source of the increased gold output in 1913.
The mine production of silver increased about 8%,
amounting to more than 3,773,000 oz.. against 3,490,387
oz. in 1912. Most of- the silver was derived from cop-
per ore. but in 1913 the increase was due largely to
shipments of lead ore and concentrates from Cochise
and Mohave counties. Much silver also comes from
silicious ore.
With a mine production of about 414,593,000 lb. of
copper in 1913, Arizona led all other copper-producing
states. The output in 1913 shows an increase of more
than 49,000,000 lb., or about 12% over that of 1912,
which was 365,038,649 lb. As the price of copper was
slightly lower in 1913, the value of the metal increased
only about $3,500,000. There were 11 active copper
smelting plants in the state, and ore and concentrate
were also sent to six copper and lead plants in other
states.
With an increase of more than 104%. the mine pro-
duction of lead was larger than in any other year.
The total output was nearly 14,000.000 lb., valued at
January 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
107
about $612,000. as against 6.806.443 lb., valued at
$306,290 in 1912. The mines at Bisbee produced much
lead ore. and in 1913 there was a large increase.
The mine production of recoverable spelter was
about 9.100.000 lb., valued at $510,000, which was an
increase of about 340,000 lb., or nearly 4%. over the
production of 1912. On account of the lower price
paid for the metal, the total value decreased more than
$90,000.
California Mineral Production
California shows an increase in output of gold, silver.
copper, lead, and zinc in 1913. compared with 1912.
according to preliminary figures compiled by Charles
G. Yale, of the United States Geological Survey. The
mine figures for 1912 were $19,713,478 in gold and
1,300.136 oz. of silver: the estimates for 1913 indicate
an output of gold valued at $20,013,374 and 1.606.261
oz. of silver, an increase for 1913 of $299,896 in gold
and 306,125 oz. of silver. There are about 1100 pro-
ducing metal mines in the state, and the deep mines
are yielding about 2,700.000 tons of ore annually. It
is probable that the increase in gold has come mainly
from the deep mines, while the added quantity of sil-
ver has come from increased output of copper and lead-
silver ores.
The producing deep gold mines of the state, which
yield about 56% of the total gold output each year, arc
between 450 and 500 in number and are situated in 26
counties. They have nearly 200 reduction plants, with
a daily capacity of over 12.000 tons. The largest pro-
duction from this source is derived from the five Mother
Lode counties, where about 1.300.000 tons of ore is
annually treated with an average recovery of $3.70 per
ton. During the year 1913 several of the old mines
along the foothills and in the mountain counties have
been reopened and equipped after lying idle for years,
ami some new 'prospects' have been opened.
In placer mining in California the dredges continue
to furnish about 86% of the gold derived from the
auriferous gravels. Of the total gold yield from all
sources, deep and placer mines, the dredges produce
about 38%. As yet there are no special signs to in-
dicate any diminution of the total yield of gold from
dredging operations, but some of the older fields are
on the decline, the best ground having been worked
out. A few of the companies have entirely worked
out the paying ground in their holdings and have
ceased operations.
Dredging has the advantage over most forms of
placer mining that it requires less water in proportion
to the quantity of gravel handled, and dredge miners
are not materially affected by dry seasons, which occur
occasionally in California. The winter of 1912-13 was
very dry and there was a scarcity of water for mining
operations. As a result the output of the hydraulic,
drift, and surface placer mines of the State was re-
stricted. The hydraulic mining industry suffered most
and manv of the mines had onlv a few weeks' water
supply to wash the gravel, and others only a few
months' supply. The hydraulic mines now produce
only about 8% of the placer gold yield in California.
Contrary to expectation, the copper output of Cali-
fornia in 1913, according to preliminary estimates, ex-
ceeded that of 1912. when the mine production was
33.451.672 lb. The estimate for 1913 shows an output
of 36,700.430 lb., an increase of 3.248,758 11).. notwith-
standing continued agitation by farming communities
against the damage claimed to be done by smelter
fumes and the fact that several of the larger copper-
smelting plants, idle from that cause in 1912. still con-
tinue unproductive.
Lead mining in the state made a marked advance in
1913. The mine report for 1912 showed a lead output
of 1,144,731 lb., while the estimated returns for 1913
show a yield of 5,060,841 lb. This is an increase of
3.916.110 lb., and is due mainly to the renewal of min-
ing and shipping operations of the Tecopa Mining Co.,
of Inyo county.
In zinc mining an advance in output is also shown,
though it is small. In 1912 the mine report showed a
yield for California of 4,345.591 lb. ; the estimate for
1913 is 4.500.000 lb., an increase of 154.509 pounds.
Idaho Metal Output
In 1913 the metal mine output of Idaho was so much
increased that the total value exceeded that of the
record year. 1906, according to preliminary estimates
of C. X. (Jerry, of the United States Geological Survey.
The value of the gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc
mine production was over $23,500,000, an increase of
over $2,000,000. or nearly 10%. Record productions
were made in silver, lead, and zinc ; and substantial
increases were made in output of all metals but gold,
which remained close to the yield of 1912, the figure
for 1913 being $1,373,000. To compensate for this
loss, the gold output from dredging continued to in-
crease and that from copper ore was greater since the
Lost Packer smelter was operated.
The mine yield of silver output increased 20%, from
8,294,745 oz. in 1912 to about 9,970,000 oz. in 1913. a
large increase even over the previous record of 1906.
In silver output the state, which in 1913 had a value
of nearly $6,000,000, was only exceeded by Nevada,
Utah, and Montana. Nearly all this silver was derived
from lead ore and concentrate, shipments of which were
unusually large.
The copper output from Idaho mines increased from
7.492,152 lb. in 1912 to about 9,312,000 lb. in 1913. an
increase of over 24 per cent.
The lead mine production increased from 284,000.000
lb. in 1912 to nearly 311.000,000 lb. in 1913. or over
9%. At the average price for 1913, this total was
valued at more than $13,500,000. Probably 93% of
the lead came from the Coeur d'Alene region of Sho-
shone county, and the remainder from Lemhi, Fremont,
Blaine, and Custer counties.
The record mine production of zinc ore and eoneen-
108
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
trates in Idaho in 1913 increased the spelter output
from 13,905,502 lb. in 1912 to 23,594,000 lb. in 1913, an
increase of nearly 70 per cent.
Two smelting plants within the state were active in
1913, one a lead plant at Clayton, now owned by the
Red Bird Smelting Co., and the other a copper matting
plant at Ivers. Both are in Custer county. Four
dredges were operated, two at Idaho City and two in
Lemhi county. The construction of a fifth one on
Bohannon bar. Lemhi county, was completed.
increased from 13,322,988 lb. in 1912 to 15,137,000 lb.
in 1913, or about 13%. Practically all of this output
is from the Yellow Pine district from carbonate ores.
Nevada Metal Output
Nevada's mines yielded in 1913 from ores sold or
treated, $36,374,000 in value in gold, silver, copper,
lead, and zinc, according to preliminary estimates of
V. C. Heikes, of the United States Geological Survey.
Of this total, which is about 5% less than in 1912, the
value of copper forms the largest part, or 37% ; that
of gold, 33% ; that of silver, 25% ; and the values of
lead and zinc each about 2 per cent.
The mine production of gold decreased about 10%,
from $13,456,180 in 1912 to $12,072,000 in 1913. The
silicious ores cyanided were the main source of gold,
which, in the form of bullion, was shipped chiefly from
Goldfield, Tonopah, Fairview, Wonder, Virginia City,
Manhattan, Round Mountain, National, and Seven
Troughs. An increase estimated at 15% in the Nye
county production of gold, from $3,123,935 in 1912 to
$3,602,753 in 1913, is due to the large tonnage of silver
ore treated at Tonopah and of gold ores at Manhattan.
Nevada in 1913 was the leading state in silver pro-
duction, which came mainly from the silver ores at
Tonopah. The mine production increased to about
15,300,000 oz., or about 7%. Eleven of the Tonopah
mines produced 11,923,651 oz. of silver, which was ex-
tracted from the ore largely by the cyanide process.
In 1912 the district yielded 10,144,987 oz. of silver.
The Belmont mine, followed by the Tonopah Mining
and West End Consolidated, were the largest pro-
ducers. On the Comstoclv lode in Storey county the
silver ores yielded about $1,248,000 in gold and silver.
This is slightly less than the output valued at $1,352,-
089 in 1912.
An increase estimated at 2% in the mine production
of copper, from 86.477,494 lb. in 1912 to about 88,368.-
890 lb. in 1913, is due to a slight increase in the output
of the Nevada Consolidated and Giroux mines from
copper 'porphyries' at Ely and in a larger output of
copper matte at the Thompson smelter from Mason
Valley, Nevada Douglas, and custom ores.
The lead mine output decreased from 19,500,100 lb.
in 1912 to 15,300,000 lb. in 1913, or about 21%. This
decrease is largely due to the decline in shipments
from the Bullionville tailing dump near Pioche. The
Yellow Pine district in Clark county had its usual out-
put of about 6,500,000 lb. The lead mines in Eureka
county did not all resume work, but the production of
lead was greater than for several years. The output
of recoverable spelter from zinc ores sold or treated
Utah Metal Output
Utah mines in 1913 produced over 10,250,000 tons of-
ore with recoverable gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc
valued at $43,000,000, according to the preliminary
estimates of the United States Geological Survey. The
tonnage shows an increase of about 32%, but the total
estimated value is only slightly larger than in 1912.
No new mines of consequence were put in operation,
but those having large development and improvements
in handling greater tonnages increased the ore output.
Notable tonnages of ore were mined and shipped daily
from the Utah Copper mine to its mills at Garfield
where the treatment of the ore concentrated increased
from 18,000 tons during the first part of the year to
more than 21,000 tons per day during the latter half
of 1913. The output of Bingham was the largest in
the history of the camp, increasing from 6,567,948 tons
in 1912 to over 9,300,000 tons of ore mined in 1913.
The Tintic district mines yielded approximately 390,-
000 tons of ore, all of which was of shipping grade ex-
cepting a small tonnage of dump ore treated locally
by the cyanide process. Ore mined at Park City ag-
gregated about 225,000 tons.
In gold yield a decrease was noted, due largely to
the closing of the Mercur gold mines. This loss was
partly made up, however, by the increase in gold from
copper ores, bringing the total value of the gold pro-
duced to about $3,581,900, which is about 16% less
than that of 1912. Mining of true gold ores on a large
scale is on the decline in Utah.
The silver yield of Utah is principally from the lead
ores, but although there was a material increase in the
lead output in 1913, the silver yield from this source
decreased. The mine output aggregated about 12.500.-
000 oz., which is about 9% less than in 1912. Park
City, Bingham, and the Tintic district mines yielded
nearly all the silver. Larger tonnages of lead ore with
low silver content were shipped from Bingham and a
notable silver decrease was indicated in the Park City
district for 1913. Most of the silver is recovered at
the smelters, but recently the use of the cyanide pro-
cess on Bingham and Tintic ores has been encouraging.
The copper mine output, which has broken previous
yearly records, reached 137,307.485 lb. in 1912 and
slightly over 158.200,000 lb. in 1913, an increase of
about 15%. Much of this increase was made from the
'porphyry coppers' in Utah, all of which had larger
production of copper, aggregating 131.000.000 lb., in-
creasing 22%, against 102.662.335 lb. in 1912.
The lead mine output shows an increase of nearly
12% in 1913, reaching the total of 156.679.000 lb..
against 140.311.135 lb. reported in 1912. The produc-
tion of zinc ore and concentrate shipments remained
about the same as in 1912. yielding over 17,000.000 lb.
of recoverable spelter.
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
109
The California Mother Lode and
the Plymouth Mine
At the annual meeting of the London, Australian
& General Exploration Co., Ltd., held in London early
in December, W. J. Loring made the following re-
marks with reference to the Mother Lode and the
Plymouth mine:
The Mother Lode of California, in which the Ply-
mouth mine is situated, was prospected in the early
days, with the result that highly profitable ore was
found at or near the surface in rather widely-separated
areas. In the late eighties, one mine after another
closed down on account of having reached, as was
thought, the end of profitable zones in the bottom of
the mines, they having .been highly productive down
to 1200 and 1500 ft. After the mines had been lying
idle for a number of years, syndicates or private com-
panies were formed to reopen some of these mines.
After sinking from 90 to 300 ft. below the old work-
ings, profitable ore was discovered, and, as a result,
other mines were reopened and good results were ob-
tained. The mines were equipped for a second time,
and another series of highly productive results were
obtained. When at a depth of from 2000 to 2500 ft..
another poor zone was encountered, similar to the one
found at about 1000 to 1500 ft., and. without consid-
ering what had occurred at the shallower depth, the
mines were shut down, exactly in the same manner as
previously. After these plants had been sold, or de-
molished, a third series of investors took an interest
in the properties, and for a third time the mines were
reopened and profitable ore was again opened quite
similar to that previously opened. The result is that
the mines now at work on the Mother Lode are down
to a depth of between 2500 and 4000 ft. on the incline.
Development at the Plymouth Mine
Highly profitable results are at present being ob-
tained at a depth of 4300 ft. on the underlie in a
mine which is situated about nine miles south of the
Plymouth Consolidated. On a visit to California, 2y2
years ago, I was approached by some of the princi-
pals in the Plymouth Consolidated, by whom I had
been employed for 18 years, who made a proposal
that I should endeavor to handle the Plymouth Con-
solidated group. Before recommending this property,
Messrs. Bewick. Moreing & Co. considered it necessary
to investigate thoroughly what had happened in other
mines along this line of lode. With that object in
view, the services of Malcolm Maclaren were secured,
and, together with that gentleman, I investigated the
points referred to. Having an intimate knowledge of
other mines on the Mother Lode, and what they had
done, and supported by the strong recommendations
of Mr. Maclaren that we could expect to prove the
downward continuation of profitable ore in the Ply-
neii'li Consolidated by deeper sinking, the California
Exploration Co. was formed. The unwatering of the
mine commenced with two bailing tanks, operated by
an electric hoist, and 64,000,000 gal. of water was re-
moved. When unwatering had reached the 950-ft.
level, the station was found to be in good condition.
By the time the water had been lowered to 1140 ft.,
an inspection had been made of the southern workings
off the 950-ft. level, and sampling proved the value
to be $9.16 per ton, and upon reaching the 1140-ft.
level it was found that the south drift had collapsed.
No attempt was made to reopen it, but a winze which
extended from the 950 to the 1140-ft. level was cleaned
out and on the latter level there had been stoped
nearly 200 ft. The ore remaining in the back averaged
$19.34 per ton over a width of 41 in. By this time
the water had been reduced to the bottom of the
mine, the 1600-ft. level was cleaned up, and driving
north was commenced. The orebody on this level is
160 ft. east of the shaft. The vein exposed in the
drift was sampled, showing unprofitable ore, although
the width was about 16 ft. Driving south was con-
tinued for a considerable distance, when profitable
ore was opened, and for 115 ft. the average value was
$6.02 per ton over a width of 5 ft. It should be men-
tioned that this was north of the downward continu-
ation of the original shoot worked by the former own-
ers. An old winze was found below the 1600-ft. level.
at a point 63 ft. north of the shaft, and, after clean-
ing it out to a depth of 75 ft., the first sample across
the bottom assayed a value of $17.18 per ton over
a width of 30 in. Sinking was continued in more or
less profitable ore to the 1850-ft. level, or 250 ft. be-
low the 1600-ft. level. At the same time driving south
had been commenced on both the 1500 and 1600-ft.
levels. In the 1500-ft. level, 195 ft. of ore was opened.
of an average value of $4.36 per ton, over a width
of 3y± ft., and the east and west cross-cuts at 116 ft.
south showed 10 ft. of ore worth $8.56 per ton. On
the 1600-ft. level the ore was 5 ft. wide for a length
of 255 ft., and had an average value of $6.96 per ton.
while the cross-cuts at 87 and 153 ft. south proved a
width of 191/. ft. with an average value of $5.12 per
ton, which must be considered satisfactory. At the
1850-ft. level, opened up by the winze, good ore was
opened from the beginning, and 334 ft. of driving
proved an average width of 41,/. ft., and assay value
to be $6.32 per ton over the total length. When the
end of the shoot had been reached, driving was dis-
continued and deeper sinking commenced, with a view
to proving the downward extension of the ore. When
the 2000-ft. level was reached, the vein where cut
showed 21 ft. of ore which averaged $5.78 per ton. or.
taking a section, the average value for 10 ft. was
$8.80 per ton. Driving south was continued for 90 ft.
The average value of the ore for a distance of 120 ft.
was $15.86 pei- ton over a width of 71/t ft. There are
parts standing in the south face at present worth $288
per ton. This is. of course, from special samples, but
taking it as a whole it is a magnificent body of ore.
no
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
The resources of development in this mine have not
by any means been exhausted.
Apparently the second series of profitable ore-shoots
has been entered, the same as has been found in other
mines on the Mother Lode, whereas other mines have
entered their third series, and if there is a third series
in the Plymouth, of which there can be very little
doubt, there is at least 2000 ft. still to go-before reach-
ing the greatest depth worked by other companies.
This mine was worked to 2450 ft. in depth, and over
a million tons of ore was taken out of it, yielding
$7, 200,000, about one-half of which was distributed in
dividends. Working costs in this part of California
are low, and, together with loss in residue, the total
will be covered by $3.12 per ton. This is mainly due
to cheap power, which is generated by water within
easy reach of the mines on the Mother Lode. There
has been developed 110,000 tons of ore, having a gross
value of $720,000, or a net value of $350,000, which
is equal to $3.04 per ton ; but for the purpose of all
calculations, the net profit is based on $2.46 per ton.
The plant is expected to treat 8000 to 9000 tons per
month, and will start about September 1. 1914. The
profit obtained will range between $240,000 and
$288,000 per year over all expenses. The property
should certainly prove to be a substantial producer for
many years to come.
Production of Arsenic in 1913
The output of arsenic in the United States during
1913 was all in the form of white arsenic or arsenious
oxide, commonly known as arsenic, and amounted to
about 2375 short tons, valued at $142,340. against 3141
tons, valued at $190,757, in 1912, a decrease of 766
tons in quantity and $48,417 in value, according to the
preliminary figures collected by Frank L. Hess of the
United States Geological Survey.
There is so little direct profit in the manufacture of
white arsenic, owing largely to the long distances it
must be shipped to market, that the smelting companies
make it only because they must prevent its escape into
the atmosphere. If the demand and prices justified a
larger output the production could be greatly in-
creased. Arsenic is used principally as an insecticide
for spraying fruit trees; in the manufacture of glass,
especially plate glass : and for destroying weeds.
Metal Production of Texas in 1913
The output of Texas mines for eleven months of
1913 and an estimate for December, according to pre-
liminary figures compiled by Charles W. Henderson,
of the l*. S. Geological Survey, was $100 for gold.
401.415 oz. of silver. 260.000 lb. of lead, and a nominal
quantity of copper. The greater part of the output
of these metals came from the Shafter district, Pre-
sidio county. Lead-silver ore was shipped from the
Sierra Blanca district, El Paso countv.
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to his own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
The Government and the Individual
The Editor:
Sir— In the issue of December 6, 1913, in your
editorial comment on the reversal of the Yard Decision
by the Department of the Interior, you say, "As be-
tween the Government and the individual, no questions
arise until application for patent is made. Prior to
that date locators must rely upon state courts for pro-
tection, though there is a shadowy right of the Gov-
ernment involved in protection of the public domain
from trespass."
Uuder the rulings of the Supreme Court of the
United States, unless recently reversed or overruled, a
mining claim is private property. It is a contingent
freehold estate, held under the following conditions:
(1) Before the location can be made, there must be a
discovery of mineral-bearing rock, or deposit contain-
ing valuable minerals; (2) when the location is made
it must be recorded as required by the regulations of
the mining district in which it is situated; (3) each
year thereafter until a patent is issued for it, the locator
must perform labor upon the claim or make improve-
ments thereon to the value of at least one hundred dol-
lars. Under the provisions of section 2324 of the Re-
vised Statutes of the United States, every organized
mining district is a quasi land district, the records of
which are notice to the Government and its officers as
they are to all others.
There should be no question of the right of the Gov-
ernment, at all times to bring suit to have a mineral
location set aside and canceled on the ground of fraud
in its inception, or for failure on the part of the locator
to comply with the terms of the grant.
I am one of those who believe that the courts are
the proper tribunal for the settlement of all disputes.
whether arising between the Government and a citizen,
or between private individuals. The courts are the
bulwark of the liberty of the citizen, and any assump-
tion of judicial power by an administrative bureau is a
menace to the freedom guaranteed under our constitu-
tional form of government.
Henry S. Hazmtt.
Dixie. Idaho, December 12. 1913.
Specialism and Efficiency
The Editor:
Sir — Mr. Sydney Addlton's articles on the design
and erection of milling plants, which have appeared
in your journal of late, are of more than usual interest,
and he is to be congratulated on the definite stand
Januarv 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
111
taken in a subsequent letter with regard to the value
of a specialist in connection with special work. As he
says, a remedy for the many gross blunders connected
so often with mill design and erection may be found
in the employment of a metallurgical engineer, assisted
by a chemist if necessary, to devise treatment; the
same metallurgical engineer, assisted by a mechanical
engineer if necessary, to design the plant and estimate
the cost; and the same metallurgical engineer, assisted
by a constructing engineer, to supervise the installa-
tion. A metallurgist has to run the plant, not a mining
engineer, and it is only right that all phases of design
and erection should be under the control of a metal-
lurgical specialist.
The same views were propounded by a correspond-
ent in a London contemporary, The Mining Magazine,
some time back. Local opinion was, however, on the
side of the general practitioner. A reply was pub-
lished from one of the latter, who deplored the con-
fined field which would be left for the mining engineer
if a specialist were engaged for special work. An
imaginary example was quoted of a cyanide 'special-
ist' having been called in to advise treatment on a
copper ore. and who advocated cyanidation. The
moral pointed out was that the mining engineer, "of
broad training," would have seen that smelting was
the correct method. Such an argument would only
escape severe criticism in a centre where metallurgical
decision was made by the mining engineer, and where
the metallurgical specialist was only required to fill
positions as working operator. In the first place, the
phrase 'cyanide specialist' or 'cyanide expert' is a term
which generally denotes a limited experience, coupled
with a swelled head. A metallurgical specialist must
be conversant with the metallurgy of a metal or group
of metals. Knowledge in one detail of treatment does
not permit him to assume the consulting position of a
specialist.
The correspondent referred to is inclined to decry the
work of specialists on account of their limited outlook
which might result in taking a too narrow view. In
other words, if the mining engineer who makes this
statement was suffering from concussion of the brain
he would prefer the services of an ordinary medico in
preference to those of a specialist for fear that the lat-
ter might turn out to be a chiropodist who would insist
on massage of the toe joints as the correct treatment.
A glance through the professional directory of The
Mining Magazine indicates that, as far as London is con-
cerned, there is practically no metallurgical influence
to moderate or control the connection between the
mining engineer and the metallurgical machinery
houses. This is a situation which, for obvious reasons,
neither the one nor the other desires altered. On the
other hand metallurgical specialists were somewhat
elated by a recognition of their status by the late Presi-
dent of the Institution of Mining & Metallurgy who, in
his inaugural address (March 21, 1912. stated that
, <<••••• t^p fH(.t was overlooked that the metallur-
gist was a specialist, whom they, as mining engineers,
gladly recognized as being no less important to the
success of mining enterprise than themselves." Hopes
ran high, but subsequent official utterances, aided by
an influential press, have since clearly defined the pro-
fession as consisting of mining engineers — and the rest.
The final paragraph in the last letter published in
The Mining Magazine on the subject leave's no doubt as
to the position the mining engineer insists on assuming
with regard to metallurgical matters. "The subsequent
work of the specialist in designing and laying out the
mill work that is to embody the scheme of treatment
selected is of extreme importance, but it must be con-
trolled and directed by the all-round engineer, who
alone should be held responsible." The need for the
specialist is admitted but he is to take a subordinate
position; and his work is to be controlled and directed
by a man with no special knowledge. Of what use
is any specialist who is not allowed a free hand; and
what more damning influence on initiative and perse-
verance could be conceived than by the adoption of
such a method. How easy and safe and unselfish for
the 'all-round' engineer to assume responsibility when
he has a specialist of proved ability and professional
reputation to advise him. and when he knows that the
glory goes to the person assuming such responsibility.
'Specialist.'
Bulawayo, Rhodesia. December 10. 191:!.
Lead Salts in Cyanidation
The Editor:
Sir — In M. W. von Bernewitz' article on 'Lead Salts
in Cyanidation' in the issue of November 15. he states
that. "Litharge has-been used by C. M. Eye to good
advantage, instead of lead acetate in treating reground
tailing, etc. Only 1.5 lb. of the former salt was used.
against 2.5 lb. of the latter: the litharge cost half as
much and showed a saving of 30 per cent."
An inspection of these figures show that the saving
would be 707r instead of 30f/r as stated. In Mr. Eye's
notes he said "reduced to 30% of original cost." which
would correspond with the data given.
John B. Livixosto.y.
Chicago. December 12. 1913.
Wyoming Metal Production
The ouput of Wyoming mines for eleven months of
1913 and an estimate for December, according to pre-
liminary figures compiled by Charles W. Henderson, of
the United States Geological Survey, was $26,100 fur
gold, 1040 oz. of silver, and 437,000 lb. of copper, com-
pared with $22,235 for gold. 265 oz. of silver, and 25.080
lb. of copper in 1912. The principal producing mining
districts in Wyoming in 1913 were the Atlantic City
(or South Pass) district. Fremont county, with output
in gold bullion and cyanide precipitates: and the ITart-
ville district. Platte county, with output in silver-
bearing copper ore.
112
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
In New Caledonia there are 800 nickel concessions,
but only 40 are being developed.
Total working force at Panama canal at the end of
October numbered 36,426 people.
Minimum wage of miners at Rio Tinto, Spain, is 3
pesetas, or 58 cents, per day of 81/-; hours.
Mineral production in South Australia in 1912 was
$2,880,000, an advance of $216,000 over that of 1911.
Practically all of the carnotite ore mined during the
year 1912 was shipped abroad. At this time the Colo-
rado deposits are furnishing three times as much
radium from its deposits as all the rest of the world
put together.
Copper ingots for the Royal Mint, London, must
not contain less than 99.8% copper, and not more
than 0.005% lead, 0.005% tellurium and selenium
taken together, 0.001% bismuth, 0.001% tin, 0.001%
antimony, 0.01% iron, and 0.02% arsenic.
Coins valued at $1,108,325 were made at the mints
of the United States in November. These consisted
of 30 double eagles, 235 half dollars, 248.235 quarter
dollars, 5.450,000 dimes, 9,657,285 nickels, and 1.768,518
pennies (one cent), a total of 17,124,303 pieces. For
the Philippine Islands, 360,000 ten-centavo pieces were
made.
Steel plates in sluice-boxes get highly polished from
the flow of water, sand, and coarse gravel through
them. It is found that this is important for the life
of the plates. A 0.75% carbon steel is practically as
good as 1.25%, and much easier to make plates from
in the rolling mills. With such plates it is possible
to use a 2% grade in the boxes, as compared with
6% for rails. The life of plates is from 10,000,000
to 12.000,000 tons, against 200.000 for rails. Plates
are being tried at Lagrange hydraulic mine, Trinity
county, California.
Recent determinations made by G. K. Burgess and
R. G. "Waltenberg show the following melting points :
CC.
°F.
3263
3128
2768
2300
°C.
Iron 1530
Cobalt 1478
Nickel 1452
°F.
2786
2692
2545
Titanium 1795
Vanadium 1720
Chromium 1520
Manganese 1260
The determinations were made with a micro-pyrometer
and the metals were melted in hydrogen gas to pre-
vent oxidation. In some cases the metals were melt-
ed in an Arsem electric-vacuum furnace.
Sand for filtration plants should be clean, with
either sharp or rounded grains, entirely free from
clay, dust, or organic impurities, and if necessary
should be washed to remove such materials from it.
The grains should all of them be of hard material
which will not disintegrate. The effective size should
not be less than 0.25 nor more than 0.35 mm. The
uniformity coefficient should not be more than 3. The
sand should be free from dust and contain not more
than 1% finer than 0.13 mm., and should be entirely
free from particles over 5 mm. diameter. The sand
should not contain more than 2% by weight of lime
and magnesia taken together as carbonates. Gravel
for the floor of filters may be broken trap rock or
granite screened to the proper sizes, or gravel screened
from sand and gravel banks of a sandy nature. Gravel
screened from hardpan or clayey material cannot be
sufficiently cleaned. The gravel should not contain
more than a very small amount of shale or limestone,
and should be washed entirelv free from fine material.
In steam-shovel operations the method of moving
the Keystone drills, used for drilling blast holes, has
been greatly expedited by the use of steam cranes.
METHOD OF HANDLING CHUBN-DBILLS.
Formerly the drills were moved by their own power,
and roads or track were necessary in moving from
one position to another. The crane method has re-
sulted in a saving of time and money. The halftone
shows the crane in use at the Nevada Consolidated
property.
Januarv 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
113
Special Correspondence
MEXICO
Mixing Conditions. — Shelters. — Hydbo-Electbic Power-
Plants. — Financial Situation. — Petroleum. — Copper
Companies. — Conditions in Northern Mexico. — El Oro
and pachuca.
The mining industry of Mexico was affected to a greater
extent in 1913 than in either of the preceding two years of
political trouble. Government statistics covering the first
Rebel depredations during the year did not extend to the
big power-plants supplying current to mining districts, al-
though trouble seemed imminent on several occasions. The
El Oro and Pachuca districts received continuous supplies of
power from the Necaxa plant of the Mexican Light & Power
Co., and the Guanajuato Power & Electric Co. and the Cha-
pala Hydro-Electric Co. suffered no interruptions. The Mex-
ican Northern Power Co., the Canadian concern building the
Conchos river dam and power-house, and which will even-
tually supply power to important Chihuahua mining districts,
was compelled to suspend work, due to the impossibility of
securing supplies. The dam has been built to an elevation
of 144 ft., and the power-house is practically completed, with
much of the machinery in place. The Company reports that
its properties have not been damaged.
MAP OF MEXICO.
two months of the present fiscal year (July and August),
which are the latest at hand, show a decrease in exports of
mineral products of 1*9,871,938 compared with the correspond-
ing months of the last fiscal year. General conditions were
bad at the opening of 1913, and after the overthrow of the
Madero government and the launching of the revolutionary
movement against Gen. Huerta, they steadily grew worse.
Rail communication between the interior of Mexico and the
American border was stopped early in the year, and repeated
attempts to reestablish it have been unsuccessful. Scores
of bridges and station buildings have been destroyed, long
stretches of track have been wrecked, and many trains have
been dynamited.
The Torreon, Velardena, and Matehuala smelters were forced
to close during the first half of the year. The Aguascalientes
smelter has been able to operate almost continuously, but
at reduced capacity. The smelter at Chihuahua has been
shut down at intervals, but has operated during the greater
part of the year, and the same has been true of the smelters
at Monterey. The Towne smelter at San Luis Potosi was
able to operate until August, when inability to get coke caused
a shut-down of two months. The plant was again forced to
suspend operations in December.
Financial disturbances have resulted from the inability of
the Huerta government to secure a foreign loan, due to the
attitude of the United States, and high exchange rates have
prevailed since early in the year. In April a 10% export tax
on all gold not sold to the Exchange Commission, at the
established rate of H.33% per gram, was decreed, and has
been in force since that time. An executive decree issued
in November doubled the stamp taxes, including those per-
taining to the mining industry, and increased the tax on
crude petroleum produced to 75 ceutavos per ton. These in-
creases became effective December 1. Discovery that Mex-
ican pesos were being extensively melted for exportation in
the form of bars, their silver value under prevailing exchange
rates being greater than their value as Mexican money, re-
sulted in an executive decree in October providing severe
punishment for those guilty of such practice. During the
latter part of the year the government recoined many silver
pesos into 50-centavo pieces. The increased revenues for
domestic expenses resulting to producers by reason of the
high rates of exchange are offset to some extent by increased
costs of operation and marketing, due to disturbed conditions,
and now by increased taxation.
Petroleum production continued to increase during 191,:,
114
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10. 1914
and in a memorial protesting against a heav.y increase in
taxation, prepared by producers and submitted to the govern-
ment in November, the production for the year was estimated
at 3,955,228 tons. At the opening of 1913 there were 64
producing wells in the Tampico territory, with a possible
production of nearly 200,000 bbl. per day. The year's exports
through the ports of Tampico and Tuxpam have been heavy,
increased transportation facilities having been provided. In
November, rebels attacked the port of Tuxpam, and in De-
cember the port of Tampico, and the petroleum industry was
temporarily affected as a result. When the rebels entered
the Tampico territory, the American government warned
them that foreign properties must not be molested, and this
warning proved effective.
Shipments from the Coahuila coalfields were stopped with
the cutting of railroad communication in Coahuila, early in
the year, but a number of the concerns continued operations
for a time and accumulated big reserve supplies of coal,
which were burned when the mines were dynamited by the
rebels.
The Mazapil Copper Co., one of the important copper pro-
ducers of Mexico, was forced to suspend operations in April.
The Company has a copper smelter at Concepcion del Oro,
Zacatecas, and a lead smelter at Saltillo. Later in the year
the Saltillo smelter was blown in again, but did not operate
long. In 1912 Mazapil averaged 495 tons of fine copper, 63,000
oz. silver, and 1200 oz. gold per month. In the first 10
months of 1913, Greene Cananea had a production of 36,685,-
000 lb. of copper, and complete returns for the year will
show about 43,000,000 lb. The 1912 production of Greene-
Cananea was 48,346,000 lb. At the start of the anti-Huerta
movement in Sonora, the Company had difficulties, due to
lack of transportation and labor troubles. Its dividends were
passed as the result of curtailed operations. The Moctezuma
Copper Co. had the best year in its history in 1913. In
the first 10 months the production was 30,031,600 lb. of cop-
per, as against 32,080,099 lb. in the 12 months of 1912. Com-
plete returns for the year will show a production consid-
erably in excess of that of last year. The Teziutlan Copper
Co., another important copper producer, was able to operate
until late in the year, when rebels made an attack on Tezi-
utlan, in the state of Puebla, and it was necessary to sus-
pend temporarily. The Company is resuming. During the
year a 500-ton concentrator was built.
The impossibility of securing supplies and of shipping
products forced many Chihuahua mines to shut down in 1913.
The same was true of Durango properties. Operations in
the Santa Eulalia district of Chihuahua were well maintained,
considering conditions, the ores supplying the Chihuahua
smelter. The Mines Company of America closed its EI Rayo
and Dolores plants. Suspension of traffic on the Mexico
Northwestern railway stopped shipments from Cusihuiriachic
district mines. The Alvarado Mining & Milling Co. con-
tinued operations in the face of great difficulties, and made
shipments of bullion by wagon-train to the border. Many
of the Sonora concerns have continued operations during the
year, due to the fact that after the Sonora revolutionists
secured control of the state there was little brigandage, and
the operation of the railroad lines enabled them to secure
supplies. For months mining has been practically at a
standstill in the state of Sinaloa. The important El Tajo,
Panuco, and Guadalupe de los Reyes properties are shut clown.
Quiet has prevailed during the year in the El Oro district
of the state of Mexico, and the important concerns there have
operated steadily. Labor troubles threatened at the Dos Es-
trellas, but the difficulties were satisfactorily adjusted, and
no break occurred. Dos Estrellas production has fallen off
during the year, and the dividend payment has been reduced
to P3 per share per month. There has been no interference
with operations in the Pachuca district of Hidalgo, except
that near the end of the year a scarcity of dynamite tempo-
rarily affected some of the companies. The Real del Monte
has been milling about 40,000 tons per month and has earned
big profits. Good records have been made by the Santa Ger-
trudis, San Rafael, and La Blanca companies.
The Amparo Mining Co., of the state of Jalisco, has paid
16% on its capital of $2,000,000 in 1913. Production has been
increased during the year. The El Favor Mining Co. became
a dividend payer, disbursing $35,000 quarterly. A 250-ton
reduction plant was built by the Cinco Minas Co. and will
be in operation early in 1914. The Consolidated Mining Co.
built a small experimental plant at its Casados mine, and
has been at work on a plant to handle 100 tons per day.
Work on a 50-ton cyanide plant was started by the Aniajac
Mines Co., but bandit activity forced a temporary suspension
of work in November. The Magistral-Ameca Copper Co. re-
sumed work at its concentrating plant, and has been ship-
ping concentrate during a great part of the year.
Rebel activity in the state of Guanajuato did not inter-
fere with mining and milling in the Guanajuato district,,
and shipments of mill products have been made regularly
during the year. Rebel activity has made it impossible for
the Towne interests to continue operations at Sombrerete
and Fesnillo, in Zacatecas, and the Santa Rosa Mining &
Milling Co., of that state, was forced to shut down in May.
Operations have been at a standstill in the important Sierra
Mojada lead district of Coahuila since April. The antimony
smelter at Wadley, San Luis Potosi, was forced to shut down
several months ago. Operations in Oaxaca districts have
been greatly curtailed during the year.
LONDON
Levant Mine and 'Lords.' — Further Notes ox Geevor.
A few months ago I mentioned that the directors of the
Levant mine, near Land's End, were in a quandary as to
the future of their operations, owing to the approaching ter-
mination of their lease, and also that there was every pros-
pect of the owners of the mineral rights, called 'the lords'
in Cornwall, demanding onerous terms for a renewal. This
mine is still run by a 'cost-book' company, being the sole
remaining mine of any size to stand out against the prin-
ciple of limited liability. It is also the only mine in Corn-
wall producing both tin and copper. Another fact in con-
nection with it that is of interest is that Francis Oats, of
De Beers fame, is a large shareholder, and gives the last
word of advice in connection with the policy to be pursued.
It was due to him that a reserve fund was accumulated, and
money spent freely on development. At the present time the
mine is only just paying its way, and it is doubtful whether
the board will care to renew the lease. Now comes the pub-
lication of the terms under which the lords offer the new
lease. They demand the expenditure of £60,000 cash capital
in improving the mine, and an advance of 33% on the dues,
that is, royalties. As the dues are based on the gross output
and not on profits, an increase during bad times is a serious
matter. The directors urge that to spend such a sum on a
mine that is fairly well equipped and drained would be
contrary to the best mining policy. It will be remembered
that when the lease at Dolcoath was renewed 10 years ago,
the demand made by A. F. Basset, the lord, for the expend-
iture of £25.000 on lines laid down by his own advisors was
regarded as a prodigious imposition, so that £60.000 for
Levant is a 'fair knock-out,' as Bombardier Wells would say.
But this does not exhaust the subject by any means, for it
is necessary to add that the chief lord at Levant is the
Duchy of Cornwall Office. This Office manages the estate
of the Duke of Cornwall, otherwise the King. In feudal days
it was the King in his personal capacity: nowadays the
Office is only a government department. The administration
of the Crown Lands is already known to be strict and grasp-
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
115
ing to the uttermost farthing, as heartless and soulless as
a limited liability company. What will happen when all
land and minerals are under the control of the government
is apparently foreshadowed by the action in connection with
the Levant lease. The only people likely to take the prop-
erty on such terms are the promoters of the rascally type;
it is impossible to imagine mining men, detached from the
Stock Exchange, acceding to them.
In these notes of December 20, I recorded the results of
concentration with step-classification and step-grinding tried
at the Geevor tin mine, which is quite close to the Levant,
and that Horace G. Nichols had read a paper at the Novem-
ber meeting of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy de-
scribing the results obtained, also that Oliver Wethered, the
chairman of the Company, had contributed to the discussion
by announcing that this modern plant had been remodeled
and Dolcoath practice substituted. This week the report of
the Geevor Tin Mines, Limited, for the 15 months ended
September 30. 1913, has been published. The directors here
give their own version. They state that, during the earlier
months of the period under review, they were "caused grave
anxiety owing to the great delay in restarting the mill, and
the unsatisfactory results obtained from the method of treat-
ing the ore, which necessitated very material alterations.
This delay had the inevitable result of disturbing the Com-
pany's finances, and as the whole of the debentures had not
been subscribed, it was necessary to obtain assistance from
the principal shareholders; advances were also made by the
directors." It is stated in the report that after the altera-
tions profits were made, but the information given as to the
alterations is so meagre that I will not quote it.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
Metal Pricks. — Increased Output From Oklahoma. — Prok-
pecting. — Development at Tiioms Station. — Production
Statistics.
Although prices for both zinc anil lead ores throughout the
year of 1913 were much lower than prevailed in 1912, when
new price records were attained, production of both ores was
remarkably heavy in the Mlssouri-Kansas-Oklahoma district.
In lead ore production a new record was established, the out-
put reaching 94,962,640 lb. and exceeding the previous record
attained in 1911. The state of Kansas has always been sec-
ond in the rank of the three states prior to 1913 when Okla-
homa forged into second position, due to the heavy output of
the Miami, Okla., mines. The Miami camp jumped from sixth
to third place in the list of 21 camps, so far as aggregate
valuation of the ores was concerned, while in lead ore pro-
duction it went to second place, forging ahead of the Joplin
camp in this item.
The year was one of imiwrtance to mining men although
no high-price records were established. Probably more pros-
pecting was done in 1913 than in any previous year in the
district's history, yet there was not a great deal of develop-
ment as a result of the prospecting thus undertaken. While
the reports of new strikes were comparatively few. those that
were made are considered of unusual worth. The greatest
amount of work in virgin territory was undertaken to the
north of Miami, Okla., and this field bids fair to be a heavy
producer of both zinc and lead ores. As the ore deposits, as
a rule, occur at great depth in that locality the cost of de-
velopment is heavy. Some of the richest of soft ground de-
velopment was carried on in the Thorns Station district, ad-
joining Joplin on the north. Not only were several large new
concentrating plants constructed in that field during the year
but a number of new properties are under course of develop-
ment which bid fair to do their share in helping Thorns
Station retain the important position it has reached because
of its continuous heavy ore production of the past few years.
The blende production of the entire district amounted to
541,107,593 lb., which was valued at $11,305,797. The calamine
production for the year amounted to 40,346,251 lb., valued at
$491,245. The lead production amounted to 94.962,640 lb.,
valued at $2,559,421. The total production of the district,
which includes parts of Missouri. Oklahoma, and Kansas,
amounted to $14,356,461. The metal production of that part
of the district which is in the state of Missouri was 451,049,-
423 lb. of blende valued at $9,559,972; 40,346,251 lb. of calamine,
valued at $486,600: and 72,402,320 lb. of lead, valued at $1,-
976,438, making a total of $12,023,010. In Oklahoma the pro-
duction of blende amounted to 47,043,870 lb., valued at $877,-
map of MISSOURI.
997; calamine 105,620 lb., valued at $1320: and 16,150,763 lb. of
lead valued at $418,456. The total production of that part of
the district lying in Oklahoma is valued at $1,297,775. In
Kansas, the production of blende amounted to 43,014,390 lb.,
valued at $867,828; calamine. 272,190 lb., valued at $3323: and
lead 6,409.557 lb., valued at $164,527; making a total of $1,035,-
678 from Kansas.
CALGARY, ALBERTA
Coai. Mining in the Province.
The extensive railway construction in Alberta during 1913
lias been accompanied by a rapid development of the coal
deposits thus rendered accessible, which will form an im-
portant source of supply for railway requirements. The
Brazeau Collieries, Ltd., in which the Canadian Northern
railway is largely interested, is developing a large coal area
near the new townsite of Nordegg, 120 miles west of Black-
falds, on the new Canadian Northern branch line from Stett-
ler, which is now nearing completion. The first shipments
are expected to be made before the end of January. Devel-
opment has been in progress for 18 months by driving 140(1
ft. of adits on two seams which are, respectively. 14 and 7
ft. in thickness, with a dip of only 12 degrees. The develop-
ment work alone has produced 35,000 tons of coal, which is
now ready for shipment. An up-to-date plant with a capacity
of 2000 tons per day has been ordered, to be installed in run-
ning order by September 1, 1914. and in the meantime a
temporary chute has been installed, sufficient to handle from
400 to 500 tons per day. When in full operation, the two
mines now opened will employ about 450 men.
The Mountain Park Coal Co.'s mines have been reached
by a branch of the Grand Trunk Pacific railway, recently
completed, and now that transportation facilities are assured.
will considerably extend its operations. The present output
is about 500 tons per day, and by April 1914 it is expected
to be increased to 2500 tons. A colony of English and Scotch
miners was brought out by the Company, for whose accom-
modation a village of 50 houses was built at the mines. The
force will before long be increased to about 800 men. The
coal is high-grade bituminous, and suitable for steam pur-
poses.
116
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
BUTTE, MONTANA
Copper Output in 1913. — Labob Situation. — Pilot Butte and
buliavh acker.
The estimated production of copper during the past year
was 290,000,000 lb. To the man about Butte it would seem
that there has been no intentional curtailment of output. In
fact, operating conditions have been improved at many of
the mines and smelters, with a view to increasing tonnage.
The figures will probably show a considerable increase in
tonnage. This means, of course, that the average grade of
the ore is lower. This fact is reflected at the smelters, where
5% ore is now considered first class and is charged direct
to the blast-furnaces. Reviewing the statistics of produc-
tion for the past 10 years, it is apparent that the copper
production from Butte has remained about stationary — this
in spite of the opening of several new properties. It is rea-
sonable to conclude from these facts that Butte is at the
zenith of its copper production, with a lowering grade of
ore. With increasing depth, and increasing labor costs, it
is not improbable that a gradual decreasing production will
characterize the coming years.
At present there are more than 15,000 men employed about
the mines at Butte, and the payroll is estimated to exceed
$2,000,000 per month. This local prosperity has been widely
made known among the miners of the country, and in conse-
quence the town is overrun with idle men. Men should be
warned not to come to Butte this winter, as the "rustling
line" at the mines is already very long and living expenses
are high here. The year's payroll of the Butte mines makes
large figures, estimated as follows by The Butte Miner:
Company. Amount.
Anaconda $14,400,00(1
East Butte 695.000
North Butte 1 ,250,000
Butte & Superior 1,180,000
Tuolumne 168,000
Butte-Duluth 100,000
Pilot-Butte 60,000
Davis-Daly 292,000
Butte-Alex Scott 182,500
W. A. Clark 600,000
Miscellaneous (estimated) 500,000
Total $19,427,500
These estimates cover the Butte mines alone, and do not
take in the smelters, coal mines, logging camps, etc. Includ-
ing all its branches, the Anaconda company's payroll alone
amounts to over $20,000,000.
It is generally conceded that labor unions run things just
about to suit themselves at Butte. But once in a while
they overstep the mark, and the general public rises in its
wrath against some rank injustice. A case in point is now
attracting local public attention. The Workingmen's Union,
composed of the unskilled labor of the community, has issued
an ultimatum to the effect that on and after January 1, 1914,
the minimum wage for the craft shall be $4 per day. As
the skilled underground miner, under the present price of
copper, receives $3.50 per day, the humor of the situation
becomes apparent to all but the employers. They have failed
to see the joke, and are now banding themselves together
with the intent to resist the demand. The present minimum
price for unskilled surface labor is $3.50 per day.
The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has so far pursued the
policy of letting its employees look after themselves outside
of working hours, and Company boarding-houses, stores, etc.,
have not been introduced. Of late, however, a tendency is
manifesting itself for the Company to take more interest in
the welfare of its employees. This interest can in no way
be construed as encroaching on the rights of the individual.
For instance, a young men's club has been started in Mead-
ersville, and has been given material financial assistance by
the Anaconda company. That, however, is to be the extent cf
the Company's interest in the matter. The club is to be
managed by the members themselves. In similar manner
it is now proposed to assist the employees of the Anaconda
smelter to secure comfortable houses and a competence for
themselves. This is to be done by selling them on easy
terms and at low interest farm tracts of ten acres each in
the Deer Lodge valley, near the works. The Company will
spend large sums in improving the land, laying out the tracts,
putting water and electric light systems in, and other neces-
saries. The returns which the Company expects from the
investment will be in a better, thriftier, and more con-
tented class of employees at the smelter.
The Pilot-Butte Mining Co. is arranging to sink its shaft
from the 2000 to the 2400-ft. level. A fund of $50,000 will
be necessary to do this work and to make some needed sur-
face improvements.
The Bullwhacker Copper Co. has completed a building to
bouse 24 precipitation-vats and the electric generator con-
nected therewith. With this equipment it expects to be
able to precipitate 4400 lb. of copper per day. Some recent
developments in the mines nearby suggest that the oxidized
leachable ores extend to depths of several hundred feet, which
condition is encouraging to the operators of the leaching
plants.
NEW YORK
Utah Consolidated Property. — Great Falls Mill and Smel-
ter Proposals. — Business in Copper in 1913. — Prksent
Copper Situation.
The Utah Consolidated is showing a surprising ability to
come back.' Its lead output for 1913 is estimated at 17,000,000
lb., compared with S,700,000 in 1912 and 3.000,000 in 1911.
The net earnings are not expected to greatly exceed $600,000,
those of last year. The Company owns the old Highland
Boy mine, which was a good producer of silver-lead ore
forty years ago and gradually developed into a copper mine,
with the result that the earnings of the Company in 1906
were nearly $3,000,000. About this time, the Company, like
all others in the Salt Lake district, was subjected to the
attacks of 'smoke farmers' and had to curtail operations of
its smelting plant. In 1910 the blow fell, for a special exam-
ination by R. H. Channing showed that instead of the mil-
lion tons of 2Ar/r copper ore believed to be in reserve, there
was actually less than 400,000 tons. There followed a period
when directors, managers, and consulting engineers were
busily engaged in explanations, and then the mining of lead
ore was resumed. The ore reserves are now small, being
given as 24,100 tons of 15r/r lead ore, 12.000 tons of 6.8% lead
ore, and 251,500 tons of 1.9% copper ore. The Utah receives
about $40,000 per year as dividends on its shareholdings in
the International Smelting & Refining Co., but, curiously
enough, it was the failure of the Highland Boy mine which
gave the International its greatest setback. The excellent
copper-smelting plant of the International was built chiefly
to handle the copper ore from the Highland Boy. and as a
result has never been operated at over one-half, its rated
capacity.
The news that the Anaconda company will hereafter divert
its concentrating ore to the mills at Anaconda, shutting down
the concentrator at Great Falls, is merely a natural step in
the evolution of institutions. Except to keep up capacity,
there have been few good reasons for maintaining the plant at
Great Falls since it was taken over by the Anaconda. There
is unusually cheap water-power available in abundance at
Great Falls, the plant is there and has an unusually well
organized technical and laboring staff, and there is always
January 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
117
an advantage in having eggs in two baskets; in other words, 1912. For example, the Britannia company, operating on
in the event of an attempt to hold up the Company either Howe sound, about 40 miles from Vancouver, has acquired
at Anaconda or Great Falls, it would be easy to divert oper- all of the mineral-bearing zone situated between the beach
ations to the other place. Over against these advantages is and the original Britannia group of claims. These additional
the 280-mile haul of the ore and the fact that the coal avail- properties include the Goldsmith and Empress groups as well
able at Great Falls for reverberatory smelting is of every poor as some other claims. The Granby company has purchased
quality as compared with the coal available at Anaconda. some of the claims formerly included in the Van Anda com-
The Company will unquestionably continue smelting opera- pany's property on Texada island, also a mine on Prince of
tions at Great Falls, for the reasons mentioned, but there Wales island, Alaska, formerly owned by the Hadley Copper
seems no good reason for hauling the crude ore 280 miles, Co., and the Midas group of claims on Solomon basin near
only to put it through the mill and send a large portion of Valdez, Alaska. The British Columbia Copper Co. has- ac-
it to the waste heap. As a matter of fact, milling operations quired a large number of claims on Copper mountain in the
at Great Falls have been gradually reduced for a long time Similkameen district.
back, the mill having been used for the purpose of carrying In the Sandon district, of the Slocan mining division, act-
out careful and elaborate experimental work to determine ive work has been resumed on the Slocan Star, the Payne
the most efficient and economical milling method. This is and Noble Five silver-lead mines. On Vancouver island, the
now being introduced- in the reconstruction at Anaconda, and Ptarmigan Mines, Ltd., an English corporation, has started
the Great Falls mill has therefore served a very useful pur- opening the old Big Interior property. A syndicate of Butte
pose. mining men is preparing to work a group of copper claims
Market journals and brokers' circulars have had much to near Quatsino sound. At Sooke. about 30 miles from Vic-
say during the year concerning the tremendous effect on toria, B. H. Johns and associates have been working on some
the output of copper expected from the Lake Superior strike claims containing copper-bearing ore. In the Kamloops dis-
and the Mexican troubles, and it is interesting to notice that trict, the Kamloops Copper Co. has resumed operations at
the V. S. Geological Survey estimates that the output for the Iron Mask. On Queen Charlotte islands, at Tassoo inlet,
the year is only 1.759? less than that in 1912. Most observers a group of claims carrying copper-bearing ore in a magnetite
would have expected that the shrinkage in the volume of bust- gangue, has been acquired by R. H. Hedley and associates of
ness resulting from the desire of everyone to wait and see Vancouver. They have been extending the development and
what the effect of the new tariff and banking regulations are purpose to ship ore in the near future. In the Lillooet dis-
to be. was much greater than 2r/< and it is doubtless the trict, development has been resumed on the Pioneer, Why
unusually heavy exports of copper that sellers have to thank Not, and Blackbird claims on Cadwallader creek, and milling
for staving over a greater decline in the price of copper than operations started on the Coronation property, after the mill
the market has shown during the year. The general senti- had been closed down since 1910.
inent is that an early increase of business activity is now to The most work done by prospectors has been confined prin-
be expected, and probably the price of the metal will remain cipally to four fields as follows: The North Thompson river,
fairly steady at 14 to 15 cents. This is certainly to be hoped along the line of the Canadian North Pacific railway; the
for. as rapid tips and downs help no one hut the speculator, and Cotton-Belt, on the north fork of the Seymour river, on El-
what the miner wants is to know where he stands and then dorado and Taylor creeks, to the north from Bridge river,
to be able to go ahead. and situated between that river and the Chilcoten country;
and on McGillivray mountain in the Lillooet district. The
BKITlbH UOLUlVlislA number of prospectors in these districts has been few as com-
The Mining Industry in tiik Province in 1913. pared with the number which was formerly searching the
. . _ , , . , , ,„.., mountain ranges for ores; but the amount of work done has
Metalliferous mining in British Columbia during 191.! pro- •
,. .. . ., been considerable. In other words, the prospectors out dur-
gressed satisfactorily. From the standpoint ot dividends paid. . . ,.
, ing the past year have been working to show up their dis-
the vear has been the best on record, as is shown by the ,
coveries rather than confining their energies to staking and
following table: traveling. On the North Thompson, some gold-bearing quart/.
Standard Silver-Lead Mining Co $ 650,000 ha8 been 0,)ened during 1913, which may develop into suc-
Hedley Mining Co 360,000 cessful mines, and as these locations are near the Canadian
Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co 464,416 Pacinc railway, they are of easy access. On the Cotton Belt,
Granby Consolidated Mining. Smelting & Power Co. 899,911 some Qf the oreg carry copper in a quartz gangue. and
British Columbia Copper Co 88,756 others carry gaiena and zinc in a magnetite gangue. These
Le Roi No. 2, Limited 43,200 iocations at present are handicapped by lack of transportation
facilities. On Eldorado and Taylor creeks the ores are free
Total $2,506,283 mii]|ng mainly and contain gold. On McGillivray mountain.
The above table does not represent the total profits de- in the Lillooet district, about 10 miles from the line of the
rived from mining operations during 1913, because profits Pacific Great Eastern railway, where the grade crosses the
have been earned in addition to the dividends paid by the mouth of McGillivray creek, considerable prospecting work
companies mentioned, as well as by the Britannia Copper has been in progress on a vein carrying silver in gray cop-
Co., the Crow's Nest Coal Co., and some of the smaller min- per ore.
ing companies. The total production from the province dur- The only camps in British Columbia to produce any great
ing 1913, including gold, silver, lead, copper, coal, and coke quantity of placer gold have been at Atlin and Cariboo, where
is estimated at about $2,000,000 below that of the total the operations have been successful and satisfactory to the
production for 1912, when the output was $32,440,800; but owners of hydraulic claims. So far, dredging lias not yet
the fact of the long period during which the strike lasted been carried on with success. Some prospecting was done
among the coal miners on Vancouver island, and which on Louis creek, a tributary of the North Thompson, during
caused almost a suspension of coal-mining operations for sev- the past summer, and it is claimed that about $8000 in placer
eral months, must be considered. gold was recovered by individual miners. The bedrock is
One of the most satisfactory features relative to the metal- deep and only exposed at one point. This creek was worked
liferous mining industry is the fact that many of the lead- as early as 1862 for placer gold. The placer gold production
ing companies have acquired considerable areas of mineral in the province in 1913 is estimated at $550,000, about the
properties in addition to the holdings they were operating in same as in 1912.
118
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10. 1914
ALASKA
Juneau
November returns from the group of mines on Douglas
Island are as follows:
Alaska Alaska Alaska
Mexican. Treadwell. United.
Development, feet 261 113 1,033
Ore in stopes, decrease or
increase, tons +4,281 -38,743 -6,158
Stamps working 120 540 240
Ore crushed, tons 18,438 74,508 37,793
Concentrate produced, tons. 401 1,456 816
Gold by amalgamation $16,300 $109,209 $36,906
Gold by cyanidation 18,019 85,420 31,612
Realizable value 33,976 192,683 67,832
Net profit 5,533 102,510 12,900
Shushana
There are 400 men at Johnson City, which is at the actual
seat of placer operations, with others coming and going every
day. On December 5 about 100 lb. of mail left Dawson for
the district. Thirteen of the James claims have been sold
to F. Manley, E. J. Ives, and J. J. Price for $500,000. Cash
amounting to $40,000 was paid, and the balance when the
option is up. There are six suits pending against James
and his associates over the claims located in the district.
These will be tried at Cordova. Many claims are still being
staked.
ARIZONA
Gila County
Seven engineers and draftsmen are at Globe with Repath
& McGregor in connection with the new smelter being erected
by the International Smelting & Refining Co. This plant
will treat concentrate from the Inspiration and Miami mills,
also custom ores. A. G. McGregor has stated that the smelter
will consist of three large reverberatory furnaces, a drying
and roasting plant, a sampling plant, drying and roasting
furnaces, three reverberatory furnaces with waste-heat boil-
ers in the flues, five converter stands, modern flues, and two
stacks, 22 by 300 ft., and 15 and 250 ft. in diameter and
height respectively. The daily capacity of the plant will be
500 tons of concentrate and 300 tons of first-class ore and
fluxes.
Gbeenlee County
(Special Correspondence.) — A 50-ton concentrator and cya-
nide plant is being erected at the property of the Twin
Peaks Mining & Milling Co. at York. Treatment will consist
of leaching the sand and agitating the slime in Parral tanks.
The El Paso Foundry & Machine Co. is supplying the equip-
ment, and the plant should be in operation by March 1.
The ore opened in the mine justifies the installation, and
this will be increased as development warrants.
York, December 23.
Beam Bros., of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, have leased the
old Carlyle mines, 18 miles from Duncan and 8 miles from
the Twin Peaks property. Machinery is being received at
the mine, and 60 men will be employed by the middle of
January.
Pinal County
At the Ray mine, an area of ground 400 ft. in diameter
above the stopes did not settle, and arrangements were
made to blast it. A drift was driven through the ore, and
four winzes and four raises were driven from the drift.
These were charged with dynamite, and on Christmas Day
the ground was blasted.
Santa Cbuz County
At the Chief mine, at Patagonia, the shaft is down 175
ft. A good grade of ore containing gold, silver, lead, and cop-
per has been opened in other parts of the mine. It is prob-
able that shipments will be made from the property at an
early date.
CALIFORNIA
Amadob County
It is reported that at a depth of 2700 ft. the Central Eureka
company has cut an extension of the South Eureka orebody.
Sinking will be continued to get under the ore. The Rail-
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road Commission has made practically no changes in freight
rates over the Amador Central railway. A suit under
the compensation law was recently heard at Sutter Creek.
where a miner sued the South Eureka Mining Co. for dam-
ages on account of a fall of rock in the mine. The case is
not finished.
The suit between the Kennedy Extension and Argonaut
mining companies is being further argued at Jackson. On
January 5, Judge Woods inspected the underground workings
of both mines, with a view to getting acquainted with the
ground in dispute.
Calavebas County
An examination of the copper mine at Copperopolis has
been made by Thomas Leggett, J. G. Hardy, Samuel Levy,
and G. McM. Ross for the American Smelting & Refining Co.
The mine is said to have a large tonnage of good ore opened
and is equipped with a mill and smelter, the latter requir-
ing overhauling.
Eldorado County
At the Slate mountain mine, 10 miles east of Georgetown.
O. W. Jackson has several men employed. Good ore has
been opened and a stamp-mill will be erected in the spring.
The principal mines at Georgia Slide are the Blue Rock.
Pacific, and Beattie. The Live Oak, near Georgetown, is
yielding profitable ore.
Lassen County
An option has been secured by J. G. Benninghoff on a prop-
January 10, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
119
erty about 20 miles from Susanville. C. E. Emerson has
taken over the Wild Horse mine.
Nevada County
Rich ore is being extracted from the lower levels of the
Pennsylvania mine at Grass Valley. Forty stamps are work-
ing. During 1913 the North Star company paid $200,000 in
dividends. The Union Hill mine, at Nevada City, under bond
to L. B. Doe, has been acquired by a new company, Henry
Malloch being manager. The Rose Hill, near the Golden
Center company's property, is to be reopened.
Plumas County
The Walker copper mine, 18 miles north of Portola, partly
owned by J. K. Walker of Salt Lake City, has had new
equipment installed. High-grade ore has been opened. Either
auto-trucks or traction engines will be used to haul ore
to Portola.
Sierba County
Work has been resumed at the Columbia drift mine, 10
miles east of Forest City. Shortage of water last summer
caused the shut-down. It is probable that the Omega gravel
mine, on Oregon creek below Forest City, will be opened in
the spring. F. O. Dale, of Oakland, represents the control-
ing interests. At the Sixteen-to-One mine, at Alleghany,
drifts are being opened in quartz at 100, 150, and 200 ft.
The mine is dry, being drained by the lower workings of
the Tightner. Sinking is under way at the Plumbago mine.
On January 6 the Tightner company, operating at Alle-
ghany, paid a dividend of $500 per share to its 100 stock-
holders.
Siskiyou County
The Highland mine, near Sawyers Bar, will be reopened
on a larger scale than formerly next spring. The Forks
of Salmon gravel property, operated by the Lagrange com-
pany, is to be equipped with hydraulic giants and elevators.
M. A. Singer is in charge. The Forks of Salmon placer prop-
erty is being sold to Los Angeles people. An elevator has been
installed at the Michigan Salmon mine. Hydraulic mining
is being done on about a dozen properties, there being plenty
of water.
Sutter County
The county of Sutter has commenced suit against W. J.
Chaney and others to enjoin them from further dumping of
debris from gold dredges into the Feather river near Oro-
ville. The complaint is on secret file.
Trinity County
Steel plates are being tried in sluice-boxes at Lagrange
gravel mine. The Company's siphon on Stuart's fork blew
up on December 20. This is a 36-in. diameter steel pipe and
carries water across a canon. A new pipe was to have been
inserted. A wagon with 22 horses and 11 men have been
trying to transport a new steel plate to the break, but with-
out success. It is now to be taken there over the Buckeye
ditch. The Company's officials figure that it will cost $2000
to deliver the plate, but it must get there for the season's
work.
Yuba County
Reports received at Marysville from Smartsville state that
the Guggenheim drilling plant on the Yuba river was de-
stroyed by a flood, and two valuable drills were lost.
COLORADO
Chaffee County
This county produced $290,000 in gold. 154.000 oz. of silver,
2,763,000 lb. of lead, and 300,000 lb. of copper, and a consid-
erable quantity of zinc in 1913, a heavy increase for all the
metals.
Conejos County
(Special Correspondence.) — There have not been any very
favorable developments in the Platoro district, and no ship-
ments have been made. There are said to be about 50 men
wintering in the district. There are unconfirmed rumors
regarding a discovery of copper ore near the Worrell ranch.
Platoro, January 1.
Clear Creek County
(Special Correspondence.)— A rich mineral discovery has
been made at the Georgetown adit, on Columbian mountain.
At a distance of 800 ft. from the portal, a vein has been
opened, and two streaks give assays of 700 oz. of silver per
ton. J. J. Keating is manager. The motor for the Capital
adit has arrived, and the trolley system has been brought
into use. The Onondago Mining Co. will at once enlarge
the working force, and the Capital company will also en-
large operations. Good results are coming from work at
the Esmeralda, Montgomery-Ward, Santiago, Little Giant,
and lessees at the Jo Reynolds and Free America properties.
The New Era mine at Freeland has been sold to Eastern peo-
ple for $250,000. Mineral output from the Idaho Springs
district in 1913 was about $960,000. Snowstorms have inter-
fered with work lately.
Idaho Springs, January 1.
Clear Creek county's output of metals in 1913 was $495,000
in gold, 424,700 oz. of silver, 4,230,000 lb: of lead, 524,000
lb. of copper, and approximately 1,500,000 lb. of zinc, an
increase for all the metals except zinc. On December 24 the
Edison rolls were started at the Burleigh mill.
Eagle County
The output of this county, from Red Cliff and from Eagle
(a new producing silver district in 1913), was $42,000 in
gold, 300,000 oz. silver, 1,000,000 lb. lead, and 5,500,000 lb.
zinc.
Gilpin County
This county's output in 1913 decreased about $200,000 in
gold and 50,000 oz. of silver, allowing for bullion produced
in Clear Creek county mined through the Newhouse tunnel.
Ore shipments from Black Hawk during 1913 totaled 76,075
tons, a decrease of 8275 tons compared with the previous
year. This was principally due to the stoppage of work at
the Frontenac-Aduddell and Topeka properties.
Gunnison County
Owing to the closing of the Gold Links mine at Ohio, the
county's output of bullion, ore, and concentrate showed a
heavy decrease for gold. Lead and zinc production also
decreased, but there was an appreciable increase in silver
output, owing to the opening of mines at Whitepine and on
Italian mountain.
Hinsdale County
The output from this county in 1913 showed a decrease
of 400,000 lb. of lead.
Lake County (Lf.adville)
Including the Lackawanna Gulch district, this county in
1913 produced $981,416 in gold, 3,200,000 oz. of silver, 2,000,-
000 lb. of copper, 28,000,000 lb. of lead, and 98,000,000 lb. of
zinc, with a total value of $10,000,000, as against $11,780,131
in 1912, according to the U. S. Geological Survey. The out-
put of zinc carbonate was 137,000 tons of approximately 27%
zinc, against 142,782 tons of 29.2% zinc in 1912. The pro-
duction of zinc sulphide shipped varied little from the 104,148
tons of 24% zinc in 1912. The zinc carbonate ore was treated
at smelters in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, and the
zinc sulphide was treated at the Empire Zinc Co.'s magnetic
separation plant at Canon City, at the Western Chemical
Co.'s wet-concentration and magnetic separation plant at
Denver, at the United States Zinc Co.'s magnetic plant and
smelter at Pueblo, and at the zinc oxide plant at Coffeyville,
Kansas. A total of 453,560 tons of ore was mined in the
Leadvllle district.
120
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10. ]<)14
Mineral County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Del Monte mine is produc-
ing over 1000 tons per month now, in spite of the fact that
it was supposed to have been worked out six years ago.
The Amethyst is also producing about 1000 to 1200 tons
per month, and the Bachelor and Commodore are shipping
regularly. The Creede Mines Co. has been doing almost
nothing but development work during the past year. Its
properties are on the north end of the Amethyst, the Antlers-
Park Regent, and the Happy Thought. Considerable milling
ore has been developed. In the near future the Company
will start the Humphreys mill, which has been shut down
for eight or ten months. Shrive Collins, of Creede, is work-
ing the fluorspar deposit at Wagon Wheel Gap, and is ship-
ping about three cars per week to the steel works at Pueblo.
It is said that this is excellent fluorspar, containing over
90% pure in carload lots. On the whole, Creede is in a
promising condition at present; better than for some time
past.
Creede produced $52,000 in gold, 790,000 oz. silver, 3,560,-
000 lb. lead, 35.000 lb. copper, and 510,000 lb. zinc in 1913.
which is an appreciable decrease for gold and lead, but
an increase for silver, copper, and zinc.
Creede, January 1.
Park County
In 1913 the output of silver, lead, and copper increased,
more than balancing an appreciable decrease in gold.
Pitkin County
The mineral output of Aspen in 1913 was 591,000 oz. silver
and 16,780,000 lb. lead, an increase of 62,000 oz. and 8,370,000
lb., respectively.
Routt County
The Routt County Taxpayers' League, on January 3, de-
ported seven union men and gave notice to every coal miner
that he must get work or leave the county.
Summit County
The output of gold from dredges and small mines at Breek-
enridge, in 1913, according to the U. S. Geological Survey,
increased $50,000, and gold in smelting ore from Kokomo,
Breckenridge, and Montezuma showed an increase for the
county of $14,000. Silver, lead, and copper yields showed
increases. The yield of zinc decreased, owing to the clos-
ing of the wet mill of the Wellington company during the
latter part of the year, although the magnetic plant con-
tinued to be operated.
Tkller Count? (Cripple Crekk)
During December the Cripple Creek district was visited by
storms, and the output decreased. The following shows the
estimated yield for the month:
Plants. Tons. A v. val. Gross va'.
Smelters. Denver and Pueblo... 3,500 $65.00 $ 227.51)0
Golden Cycle, Colorado Springs. 25,000 20.00 500,000
Portland, Colorado Springs 8,500 22.00 170.000
Portland, Cripple Creek 15,000 3.00 45,000
Stratton's Independence 10,000 3.00 30,000
Colburn-Ajax 4,000 4.00 16,000
Wild Horse 1,100 4.00 4,400
Kavanagh-.Io Dandy 1.600 2.15 3,440
Gaylord-Dante 1,000 3.00 3,000
Rex 500 3.00 1.500
Isabella 450 3.00 1 ,360
Total 70,650 $1,002,190
Dividends amounting to $180,000 were paid in December.
On January 1 the Golden Cycle company paid dividend No. 82,
equal to $45,000.
The Progressive Leasing & Development Co., operating
the Chicken Hawk mine on Guyot hill, owned by the Katinka
Gold Mining Co., has finished sinking, and timbermen are
now at work in the station cut out at a depth of 1250 ft.
from the surface. The collar of the Chicken Hawk shaft is
at an elevation of 9800 ft. above sea-level. At a depth of
500 ft., on the 350-ft. level of the Eclipse shaft, the El Oro
company has opened rich ore containing tellurides. Warner
and party, lessees at the Ajax company's block 13, have fin-
ished their lease. It is figured that they have netted $125,000.
According to the U. S. Geological Survey, the district's gold
output showed an increase of $176,000 during 1913.
MONTANA
Fergus County
The Barnes-King Development Co. has acquired full title
to the North Moccasin property, the final payment of $4178.40
having been made on December 24. The full price was
$150,000, and $5000 was paid in cash when the contract for
purchase was made in August 1912. The balance, $145,000,
has come out of the mine, and in the meantime important
additions to the equipment and development have been made.
In November the gold output was $27,942, and for December
it is estimated at $30,000. On account of the Heinze injunc-
tion in New York, there is $90,000 in funds tied up tem-
porarily.
Madison County
It is stated that representatives of a dredging company
are examining ground in the vicinity of Twin Bridges.
Powell County
There is said to be a fair amount of active work going on
in the Snowshoe district, northeast of Powell.
Sii.verbow County
The new development on the Edith May vein, at 2600 ft.
in the North Butte mine, is regarded as important. Ten
feet of ore containing 5.5# copper has been opened on the
foot-wall. Generally the mine is looking well. An official
announcement has been made by the Anaconda Copper Min-
ing Co. that after February 1 no more ores will be sent to
the Boston & Montana mill; milling will be done at the Washoe
concentrating plant. Only high-grade ore and concentrate
will be sent to the Great Falls smelter. The mill at Great
Falls has a daily capacity of 2700 tons in its six units", and
the smelter about 5000 tons per day. It is 172 miles from
Butte to Great Falls, and freight on ore costs 75c. per ton.
These changes will result in great economy for the Company.
NEVADA
Esmeralda County
The Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co. reports as follows for
november, 1913:
Ore treated, tons 28,947
Net profit $170,779
Costs
per ton.
Stoping and development $3.26
Shipping expense n.19
Dump moving n.04
Transportation n.09
Milling 1.7s
Marketing n.05
General expense o.36
Bullion tax n.15
Construction 0.01
Flood damage o.Ol
Total costs $5.94
Miscellaneous earnings 0.06
Net costs $5.88
At a cost of $4.4S per foot 2675 ft. of development was done.
January 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
121
CHUBCHILL Col MY
During November the Nevada Hills Company treated 4210
tons of ore yielding $33,271 or $9.09 per ton. The net profit
was $8069. Cash on hand and in banks is $98,550, which, with
supplies, concentrate, bullion, etc., makes total resources
of $181,416. A number of inquiries have been received re-
garding the monthly charge of $5000. for depreciation,
shown in the full reports to newspapers. This is merely a
matter of bookkeeping, being depreciation allowed in com-
puting returns subject to tax and does not effect the actual
monthly earnings, hence is not included in these monthly con-
densed reports. The cash on hand and in banks has not in-
creased proportionately with the monthly earnings the last
two months because of some large purchases of store supplies.
Eureka County
The new Buckhorn mill started work on December 30. and
OLIVER FILTERS AT THE BUCKHOBS MILL.
is running well. It is hoped to keep mining and milling costs
down to $2.50 per ton.
Humboldt County
The Mexican Gold & Silver Mining Co., operating on the
Comstock lode, has decided to invest $145,000 at Rochester. The
Rochester Mining and Rochester Weaver companies' mines
will be acquired, and a large mill is to be erected, these com-
panies supplying 100 tons per day at an agreed charge for
treatment. Work has been started at the property of the
Highland National Mining Co., in the Tobin district, 37 miles
from Battle Mountain. In one claim a shaft has opened ore
assaying 29 oz. silver and 17% lead.
Lincoln County
Instead of timbering stoped ground in the Prince Consoli-
dated, a caving system has been introduced, costing a total of
$1.20 per ton, including ore transport. A new schedule of
railroad rates has just gone into effect.
Mineral County
The first clean-up from the Black Eagle Cold Mining Co.'s
new 20-stamp mill at Rawhide has been made. The plant has
a daily capacity of 100 tons. The mine has been opened to
300 ft., and reserves total 30,000 tons of $15 ore. Twenty-five
men are employed. Work at the Aurora mill continues in
spite of bad weather. The 6000-ft. adit has opened better ore
than expected. The marble deposits west of Mina are being
reworked. According to a report from Reno, the Iron-
dyke property, near Mina, is opening well. A mill of ten
1250-lb. stamps and cyanide plant has been erected at the
Irondyke-Bley mine by the Trent Engineering Works of Reno.
A large tonnage of $20 ore has been mined. The Oneota dis-
trict is showing a fair amount of activity of late. It is oVi
miles from Sunland on the railroad.
Nye County
(Special Correspondence.) — Ten stamps are being added to
the War Eagle mill. The gold and silver production of the
Manhattan district in 1913 is figured at $560,000 according to
the Chamber of Mines. Of this amount the mines produced
$442,262, from 54,260 tons, an average of $8.15 per ton. The
placer workings yielded $117,738 from 29,435 yards of gravel
sluiced, an average value of $4 per yard. The tonnage treated,
and gross value of the ore milled during the year by the var-
ious mills of the camp, as nearly as can be obtained is as fol-
lows:
Mill. Tons. Gross value.
Associated 3,082 $ 52,209
Manhattan 13,647 130,386
Big Four 18,294 79,668
East Side 103 1,770
War Eagle (estimated) 18.442 140,000
Shipped by White Caps company 692 38,229
Total 54,260 $442,262
Manhattan, January 3.
Storey County
The water in the Con. Virginia winze is 120 ft. below the
2500-ft. level.
White Pine County
At the Steptoe Valley Smelting & Mining Co.'s plant, Ely,
Nevada, 22 Dorr thickeners are in operation, dewatering the
slime, several of these machines being 50 ft. in diameter.
NEW MEXICO
Grant County
During 1913 the copper output of the state was about 53,-
671,000 lb., against 29,377,966 lb. in 1912. The most of this
came from the Chino Copper Co.'s mine and mill at Santa
Rita and Hurley, respectively. It is stated in New York that
the Chino mill will be increased in capacity from 5000 to
10,000 tons of ore per day. Water supply has hitherto been
an obstacle, but that from the Lampbright creek is expected
to serve all requirements. The Lordsburg and Burro Moun-
tain districts shipped a good deal of ore.
Socorro County
This county showed an increase of $100,000 in gold and
270,000 oz. of silver during the past year over 1912. Zinc pro-
duction from the Magdalena district, which is the most im-
portant in the state, increased. The total yield from all dis-
tricts was 32,189 tons of 39.9% zinc ore and concentrate.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Lawrence County
Operations at the Wasp mine were resumed on December 28
after several weeks of idleness, the result of a temporary
shortage of the water supply. The water problem was solved
by sinking a well deeper. The Homestake Mining Co. will
install a new hoist at Lead during the current year, and also
an electric distributing plant for the Company's buildings in
the town.
UTAH
Boxelder County
Near Brigham City the British-American Petroleum Co. is
drilling for oil and gas. Two rigs are in use, a Standard and
a Keystone. One well is now down 1300 ft., and will be drilled
to 3000 feet. Sufficient gas has been tapped to supply the
town. M. C. Hagan is in charge.
Juab County
About 200 tons of 8% copper ore is being shipped from the
600 and 700-ft. levels of the Iron Blossom at Tintic. Iron ore
122
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10. 1914
is not being mined at the Dragon as the United States com-
pany's smelter has plenty on hand. Lead-silver ore will be
shipped as usual.
Salt Lake County
After examining the Utah Apex mine, the sheriffs found no
trace of the Mexican outlaw Lopez, who was supposed to have
been killed by fume sent into the workings. In November the
Ohio Copper Co.'s mill at Lark treated 66,424 tons of ore
averaging 1.105% copper. Recoveries have improved lately.
Costs were, mining, 28.78c; transport, 16.04c; and milling,
51.52c, a total of 96.32c. per ton. The month's profit was
$20,000.
Summit County
On December 28 the mill, hoisting plant, assay office, and
other equipment at the Daly-West mine, Park City, was de-
stoyed by fire. This started in the boiler room, but could not
be checked. The loss is $200,000, insurance covering $120,000.
A new plant will be erected in the spring. The Thompson-
Quincy mine, which is worked through the Daly-West, will
be shut down for the present. Over 200 men will be out of
employment.
WASHINGTON
Perry County
(Special Correspondence.) — Involuntary bankruptcy peti-
tions have been filed by the Washington Northern Telephone
& Telegraph Co. against the Republic Mines Corporation,
which owes the former $3502. The mining company owes a
total of $80,000, of which $50,000 is unsecured. A receiver
has charge of the property. The 200-ft. level of the Ben Hur
mine is opening well, and 5 ft. of $17 gold ore was recently
developed. Other levels are showing good ore.
Republic, January 2.
Pierce County
Working hours at the Tacoma smelter were increased from
9 to 10 hours on December 30, at the old rate of $2.25. About
250 men went out on strike, but the officials state that their
places are being filled.
Stevens County
Results of small trials in smelting ore at the Copper King,
at Chewelah, have been satisfactory, and the Company is con-
sidering the erection of a smelter costing between $35,000 and
$50,000. Further tests will be made, when coke will be used
instead of charcoal. A concentrating plant may also be
erected. Development has been started at the Security and
Amazon claims in this district.
CANADA
British Columbia
Camp Hedley had an active year, according to the Hedley
Gazette. This was mainly due to the Nickel Plate mine. The
Dickson incline shaft, which is to serve as the main outlet
for ores from the property, was sunk 700 ft. It is 8 by 16
ft. in the clear, and is provided with double tracks and a
manway. Diamond-drilling covered 1300 ft. during 1913.
The mill treated about 70,700 tons of ore, averaging $12 per
ton in gold, with 94% recovery. The total gold output to
date is $5,413,700. A considerable amount of construction
was accomplished. Development was continued at the Clifton
and Oregon mines.
Ontario
The last quarterly report of the Beaver Consolidated states
that development covered 1526 ft. and stoping 1164 sq. yd.
There is 30,000 tons of broken ore in the stopes. Work
has been temporarily stopped on the 700 and 800-ft. levels,
and one drill is operating at 600 ft. This is on account of
the limited capacity of the hoist. A new engine, capable
of lifting 8000 lb. from a depth of 2000 ft. at a speed of
1200 to 1800 ft. per minute, will be running by February 1.
The 600-ft. level has opened well. At 460 ft. depth, the
shoot is 600 ft. long. The 6-ft. Hardinge mill installed in
the plant has increased the tonnage treated. The available
balance is $134,335. During the year ended October 31, 1913,
the Coniagas company produced 3,572,399 oz. of silver from
611 tons of high grade and 54,890 tons of low-grade ore.
Permission has been granted to the Cobalt Lake Mining Co.
to drain Cobalt lake. Work will be started at an early date.
In November the Buffalo mill yielded 100,454 oz. silver from
6174 tons of ore. The sum of $30,000 has been appropriated
for developing the Buffalo property, outside of that already
opened. The mill tailing is being resampled. T. R. Jones
is superintendent.
At Porcupine, the Mclntyre mill, in November, treated 3965
tons of ore yielding $30,278 in gold, with 94.3% extraction.
Costs were: development, $1.72; mining, $2.17; milling, $1.69;
and general, $0.66; a total of $6.24 per ton. A new tube
and Hardinge mill are being installed. On the 200-ft. level
of the Tough-Oakes mine, at Kirkland lake, a shoot 18 in.
wide containing 65.68 oz. of gold per ton has been cut.
Yukon
The Canadian Klondyke Co.'s three dredges produced 1538
oz. gold during the last week in November. After many
years of prospecting, the conglomerates opposite Quartz creek,
along the Indian river, are to be opened. About 95 claims
have been optioned to an American company, which will start
core-drills as soon as navigation is open this spring. T. A.
Fifth, of Dawson, has been acting for the owners of the
claims. Telephone connection is now obtainable with Daw-
son from the Quartz creek district. Temperatures at Dawson
on December 5 were: maximum, 5°F. below; minimum, 15°F.
below zero.
KOREA
The Seoul Mining Co., operating the Suan Concession, in
Whang Hai province, Korea, reports the following results for
November 1913:
Stamps working .' 40
Time, days 26%
Ore crushed, tons 6,337
Total recovery $60,758
Operating expenses 25,000
Net earnings 35,758
The Oriental Consolidated Mining Co.'s mills treated 25,602
tons of ore in November, yielding $140,059. The weather was
dry and cold, and the Tabowie mill was short of water for
a while. Retimbering the Tabowie mine shaft was com-
pleted.
MEXICO
Jalisco
Two hundred and fifty tons of concentrate was recently
shipped by the Amparo Mining Co., in the Etzatlan district,
to the Selby smelter, San Francisco. The product formerly
went to the Torreon smelter. The annual report of El Favor
Mining Co., the Makeever property in the Hostotipaquillo
district, gives the following:
Ore shipped to smelters, tons 3,896
Value 1*485,465
Ore milled, tons 9,213
Yield 1*140,818
Sales by Company's store 112,500
Profit from store 17,827
Profit from all operations 359,100
Dividends in 1913 $140,000
Ore containing 700 gm. of silver and some gold amounts to
(i'j years' supply at 100 tons per day, with a large tonnage
of low-grade ore. Concentrates are being sent to the Aguas-
calientes smelters. During the year the Southern Pacific rail-
road built 9 kilometres of line for the transport of ore and
supplies to and from the mines.
Jannarv 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
123
The Geological Society of America held its twenty-sixths
annual meeting at Princeton, New Jersey, on December 30.
The president gave an address entitled 'Some Pioneers in
Gulf Coastal Plain Geology and their Contributions to Geo-
logical Literature.' This was delivered in the house of the
Nassau Club. A smoker, offered by Princeton University and
resident fellows of the society, was held after the lecture.
The Mixing and Metallurgical Society of Amebic a is hold-
ing its annual meeting in New York on January 13. In order
to transact business there must be 80 members present in per-
son or by proxy. An informal dinner is to be held at the
Engineers' Club. At this meeting the gold medal of the
Society will be awarded to Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Hoover. Ar-
rangements for the formal presentation at some subsequent
date will be duly announced. The El Paso. Texas, School of
Mines project is assured of success and will be opened during
next fall.
The last meeting of the New York section of the American
Electrochemical Society was a joint one with the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers and the New York section of
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, on January
10, in the auditorium of the Engineering Societies building.
New York City. C. O. Mailloux presided. After the meeting
members were the guests of the A. I. E. E. at a smoker held
in the rooms of the Institute. The subject for the evening
was 'The Power Problem in the Electrolytic Deposition of
Metals,' and the program was as follows: 'The Limitations
of the Problem,' by Lawrence Addicks, of the United States
Metals Refining Co. This was a brief statement of the con-
ditions imposed by practice in the electrolytic refining of cop-
per as a typical process. 'The Mechanical Side of the Problem.'
by H. E. Longwell, of the Westinghouse Machine Co. This
was on the application of gas and steam for driving gener-
ators of the type required. 'The Electrical Side of the Prob-
lem,' by F. D. Newbury, of the Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Co.; a discussion of the application of various direct
current and alternating current-direct current apparatus to
furnish current of the required dimensions.
The University of California register for 1912-13, contains
the following announcements for 1913-14: In the chemistry
courses there are 12 professors and 14 assistants. The labor-
atory is well equipped for research work, and is open to
properly qualified graduate students, not only throughout the
college year, but also during the summer vacation. For every
laboratory course in chemistry, the charge will be $5 each
half-year per credit unit of laboratory work. A student,
'aking only upper division courses, will not be charged for
more than four units, that is, the maximum fee in such cases,
exclusive of deposits covering breakages, will be $20. There
are 13 on the staff of civil engineering courses. Engineering
students who wish to study irrigation, can do so in connection
with the College of Civil Engineering. For mechanical and
electrical engineering classes there are 11 teachers. In this
department, laboratory fees are at the rate of %', per half-year
for each laboratory or mechanical practice exercise a week.
The courses cover everything connected with these subjects.
Mining and metallurgy classes cover mine surveying, mining,
excavation, the mining laboratory, summer class in practical
work, structural metal and fuels, ore crushing, sampling, as-
saying, metallurgy of gold, silver, quicksilver, lead, copper,
and mill work. Graduate courses cover 17 units of work per
week during the first half-year, and 15 units in the second
half-year: including lecture and laboratory work on ore dress-
ing, treatment, iron and steel metallurgy, mine machinery,
mill design, and mining law. In all the colleges there are 7695
students of all grades.
C. E. Bunker is in San Francisco.
Edmund Juessen has gone to Colorado.
A. C. Boyle was in New York last week.
H. Foster Bain is at Jackson, California.
E. B. Bbaden has left for New York and the East.
A. E. Drucker is on his way from Korea to London.
W. Tovote has completed his work at Globe and returned
to Bisbee.
John H. Eggers was down from East Rochester, Nevada for
the holidays.
E. A. Lobing has been appointed manager of the Phoenix
mine, Cornwall.
Thomas F. Cole, of Duluth, president of North Butte Mining
Co., has been on a visit to Butte.
Thomas T. Read attended the meeting of the Geological
Society of America at Princeton last week.
James Wood has resigned as superintendent of the Calumet
& Arizona smelter to retire from active work.
F. B. Forbes left last Saturday for Nicaragua, to accept a
position at the Escandalo mine, with F. A. Pellas & Company.
A. P. Bussy, Jr., general manager for the Penn Mining Co.,
of Campo Seco, has been making a visit to the Arizona cop-
per districts.
D. W. Oiikrn has resigned as director of the Geological
Survey of Oklahoma, and C. W. Shannon has been appointed
to the position.
Frederick G. Lasier will be at Crescent City, Florida
during January and February, returning to Detroit", Michigan!
early in March.
S. F. Shaw, superintendent for the American Smelting &
Refining Co., at Charcas, San Luis Potosi, is spending the
holidays at San Antonio.
H. A. Guess has been made consulting engineer for the
American Smelting & Refining Co., and will hereafter be at
165 Broadway, New York City.
William F. Jahn is superintendent of the new mill and
cyanide plant of the New York & Honduras Rosario Mining
Co., at San Juancinto, Honduras, Central America.
William Maloney has been appointed Territorial Mine In-
spector for Alaska. He will work in cooperation with Sum-
ner S. Smith, of the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
D'Arcy Weatheriie has been appointed consulting engineer
for the Casey Cobalt. Cobalt Townsite. and other Canadian
mines controlled by a financial group in London.
L. Maurice Cockerel, from Guanajuato, W. S. Harrison, of
the San Francisco del Oro, and J. Leslie Mennfxl, from
Mexico City, are among the arrivals in London from Mexico.
U. A. Garred, superintendent of construction at the Washoe
Reduction Works, Anaconda, has resigned and will go to the
Mount Morgan Gold Mining Co., Queensland. W. N. Tanner
will succeed Mr. Garred at Anaconda.
H. M. Woi.ffin. one of the engineers of the United States
Bureau of Mines, has been detailed for work in. California in
connection with the Industrial Accidents Commission. His
work will be directed to increasing safety in the mines.
Obituary
John j. Crawford, former State Mineralogist or California,
died suddenly of heart failure at the Key Route station, at
South Berkeley, January 7.
M. A. M'Call, for a number of years managing director of
the St. John del Rey Mining Co., Ltd.. died in London on
December 6.
124
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10. 1014
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco, January 8.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15% — 15%c
Pig lead 4.40 — 5.35
Quicksilver (tlask) $39.50
Tin 41 — 42%c
Spelter 6% — 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7% to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, January 7. — The copper market is weak and
there is but little demand being evidenced; lead remains dull,
and spelter is weak. The stock transactions on the New York
Stock Exchange for the year 1913 amounted to only 83,362,639
shares, which is the smallest reported since the year 1897, when
the sales totaled 77,177,132 shares. January copper is offered
at 14.37 V£ ; February, March, and April, at 14.30; and electrolytic
at 14.62 %c. The tin market is easy with spot and January at
36.50 to 36.70. Antimony is dull, with Cookson's quoted at
7.45 to 7.60.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Jan.
1 Holiday
2
s! "
.12
.50
4 Sunday
")7.50
".7.37
58.00
Average week ending.
Nov. 25 58.20
Dec. 3 57.22
" 10 58.23
" 17 57.79
" 24 57.77
" 31 57.52
Jan. 7 57.50
Monthly averages.
1912. 1913.
Jan 56.25 63.01
Feb 59.06 61.25
Mch 58.37 57.87
Apr 59.20 59.26
Mav 60.88 60.21
June 61.29 59.03
1912.
July 60.67
Aug 61.32
Sept 62.95
Oct 63.16
Nov 62.73
Dec. 63.38
1913.
58.70
59.32
60.53
60.88
58.76
57.73
Lead is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds, New York delivery.
Date.
Jan. 1 Holiday
4 Sunday
4.15
6
4.15
Average week ending
Nov. 25 4.13
Dec. 3 4.15
" 10 4.00
" 17 3.90
" 24 , 4.02
" 31 4.15
Jan. 7 4.15
Monthly averages.
Jan
Feb.
Mch
Apr
May
June 4.40
1912.
. 4.43
. 4.03
. 4.07
4.20
4.20
1913.
4.28 Julv
4.33 Aug
4.32 Sept
4.36 Oct
4.34 Nov
4.33 [ Dec 4.20
1912.
. 4.71
. 4.54
. 5.00
. 5.08
4.91
1913.
4.35
4.60
4.70
4.37
4.16
4.02
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan
1 Holiday
1 4.5(1
i Sunday
14.35
14.33
14.33
Nov.
Dec.
Jan
Monthly averages.
Average week ending
25. .
14 62
3
14 41
17
14 17
24
14 2S
31
14 56
1 1.39
1912. 1913.
Jan 14.09 16.54
Feb 14.08 14.93
Mch 14.68 14.72
Apr 15.74 15.22
Mav 16.03 15.42
June 17.23 14.71
1912.
Julv 17.19
Aug 17.49
Sept 17.56
Oct 17.32
Nov 17.31
Dec 17.37
1913.
14.21
15.42
16.23
16.31
15.08
14.25
Owing In the 'hang-over' of the advance during Christmas
week, tlii- nipper market was firm at the beginning of last
week and good sales were made. It was reported that several
of the large sellers had no more January copper on hand.
There is a large amount of February copper still to sell, how-
ivi r. Tin- list of tin' week the market was inactive, waiting
fin- the fortnightly statistics from abroad and the Producers'
figures. Exports for December were 30.503 tons, as compared
witli 29,274 in 1912. The foreign statistics to December 30
showed an increase in stocks and the visible supply. As the
Producers' figures are expected to show an increase in the
stocks here, there is not likely to be much buying until after
they appear.
O.CICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this^column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, In dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
li
1 1 .
is.
Week ending
Dec. 2t
' 31
Jan. S
Monthly averages
.40.00
.40.00
.40.00
.4II.0U
.39.50
1912.
Jan 43.75
Feb 4 6.00
Mch 46.00
Apr 42.25
May 41.75
June 41.30
1913.
39.37
41.00
40.20
41.00
40.25
41.00
1912.
July 43.00
Aug 42.50
Sept 42.12
Oct 41.50
Nov 41.50
Dec 39.75
1913.
41.00
40.50
39.70
39.37
39.40
40.00
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Average week ending
Nov. 25 5.08
Dec. 3 5.00
" 10 5.0"
;; 17 5.00
24 5.15
' 31 5.J3
Jan. i 5.02
Dat
Jan.
e.
1
9
Hoi
day
..525
. 5 25
,,
4
Sunday
. 5 20
6
. 5 20
. 5 20
M
1912.
6.42
6.50
. 6.57
6.63
6.68
6.88
onthly
1913.
6 88
Feb.
6 13
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
5.94
5.52
5.00
1912.
July 7.12
Aug 6.96
Sept 7.45
Oct 7.36
Nov 7.32
Dec 7.09
1913.
5.11
5.51
5.55
5.22
5.09
5.07
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin. since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, In cents per pound;
Monthly averages.
1912.
Jan 42.53
Feb 42.96
Mch 42.58
Apr 43.92
May 46.05
June 45.76
1913.
50.45
49.07
46.95
49.00
49.10
45.10
1912. 1918
July 44.25 40.70
Aug 45.80 41.75
Sept 48.64 42.45
Oct 50.01 40.61
Nov 49.92 S9.77
Dec 49.80 37.57
COPPER PRODICEHS' ASSOCIATION REPORT
Tin- Copper Producers' Association statement, J
shows an increase in production and stocks on hand,
tails are as follows:
Stinks of marketable copper of all kinds on hand at
all points in the U/nited States. December 1. 1913 . .
Production of marketable copper in the United States
from all domestic and foreign sources during
I iecember
Deliveries for consumption, December
I teliveries for export. December
Stock of marketable copper of all kinds on hand and
at all points in the IT. S., January 1
Recent changes in surplus have been as follows, in
Increase.
lie, ember 1912 19.14S.523
January 1913 17.S85.770
I-Yliruary
March
April
May
.In tie
.Inly 690.330
A ugust
September
October 2.773.2SS
November 15.363.047
December 43,509.43s
anuary 8.
The de-
Pounds.
47.929,429
138.990,421
21,938.570
13.542.413
91,438.867
pounds:
Decrease.
S96.134
18,032,928
28,720,162
S.074.ss;:
1 4,569,619
15.280,908
S. 531. 04::
January 10. 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
The Stock Markets
I.O
(By cable, through
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONUS
January 7.
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil as 8 —
E. I.du Pont pfd 81
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 6s —
Listed. Hid
Amalgamated Oil 75
Associated OH 41}
Giant —
Pac. Cat Borax, pfd 65
Pacific Crude OIL —
Sterling O. & D_ —
Union OH 56
Ask
99)
83
STl )
Ask
76
87)
35C
11
Unlisted.
General Petroleum 6s
Natomas Dew 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s..
Santa Cruz Cement 6s
"KS
Unlisted.
Noble Electric steel...
Natomas Consol
Riverside Cement
Santa Cruz Cement...
Stand. Port. Cement ..
Hid
178
991
81
U
50
43
20)
Ask
3
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stork Exchange.)
San Francisco, January 8.
Atlanta * -19
Belcher 83
Belmont. 7.60
Big Four. 07
Cash Boy -07
Florence .28
GoldfieldCon Ill
Ooldrteld Oro .08
Halifax 1-25
Jim Butler 7J
Jumbo Extension 15
MacNamara 09
Mexican l 16
Midway 38
Mlzpah Extension S .31
Montana-Tonopah 1.12
Nevada Hills 31
North Star .38
Ophir .10
Pittsburg 811ver Peak 32
Round Mountain .45
Sierra Nevada 0!)
Tonopah Extension 1.75
Tonopah Merger 52
Tonopah of Nevada 6.50
Victor 30
West End 1.32
Yellow Jacket 30
COPPER
(By courtesy of J
Bid
Allouez 8 34
Arts. Commercial 4(
Butte & Superior 31]
Calumet <x Arizona... K3J
Calumet A Hecla 4-20
Copper Range 38)
Daly West 2]
Bast Butte II]
Franklin 3
Granby 73]
Greene Cananea :*'|
Isle-Royale 19
Mass Copper 2
SHARKS — HOST4>\
C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
January 8.
Ask Bid
31) Nevada Con t I4j
4) | North Butte 27)
32 Old Dominion 50
63) Osceola 75]
— Qulncy fio
3t>] Shannon 61
2J Superior 4 Boston 2}
11] ' Tamarack 28
Hi U. S. Smelting, com... 39]
71 Utah Con 9
30) J Winona 2]
19] Wolverine 42
•-'I
HEW w.lllv CURB ftlOTATIOXS
(By courtesy of K. F. Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
January 8.
Ask
Bid.
Braden Copper.. 6%
Braden 6s 112
11. C. Copper. ... 2
Con. Cop. Mini's 2 •»
Davis-Daly ... 2
Dolores 2
El Rayo 3
Ely Con 1
First Nat ::
Qiroux H
Iron Blossom ... 1 '•*
Kerr Lake 4 Vfe
La Rose 1 %
14S
2V4
2 ',2
2%
4
I'.
3 %
1
IVi
4%
1%
Mason Valley.
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am .
Nipisslng
Ohio Copper . .
San Toy
Sioux Con
Stand. Oil of (';
Tri Bullion . .
Tuolumne . . .
United Copper
Wettlaufer . . .
Yukon Cold . .
Bid.
3%
1
1%
%
15
1
'<>
'/«
SEW YORK STOCK KXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
Kid
Amalgamated 71)
Anaconda S3]
A.S. 4 R (HI
Calif. Pet 23)
Chlno :i")
Guggenheim Ex 41
Inspiration 151
Mexican Pet -V]
January 8.
Ask
71!
31
ill
21 i
38J
41)
15]
50 1
Miami
Nevada I 'on
Quicksilver, coin..
Ray Con
Tcnn. Copper
U. S. Steel, pl'd ....
U. S. Steel, com...
Utah Copper
Bid
.. 22J
. Hi
..? >1
.. 18
.. 32]
.. 107)
.. 58|
.. 49]
Ask
II*
27]
50]
7 1
62
6i
M
291
40
91
2]
44
Ask.
3%
Hi
2%
8
20
2
92
%
8
2>4
Ask
221
141
2
181
37
107]
68]
501
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell...
Alaska United
Arizona
California Amalg. ...
California Oilfields.
Camp Bird
El Oro..
Esperanza
Granville
British Broken Hill ..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shoe...
Great Boulder Prop..
Ivanhoe
Kalgurli
NDON QUOTATIONS
the courtesy of Catlin &• Powell C.
New York.)
January 8.
d.
Kern River Oilfields
Mexico Mines
Messina
Oroville
Pacific Oilfields
RioTinto
Santa Gertrudis
0 I Stratton's
9 Tanganyika
0 ' Tomboy
AUSTRALASIAN
January 8.
s. d
Mount Boppy
Mount Elliott
Mount Lyell
Mount Morgan
Walhl 2
Walhi Grand June 1
0 15
0 18
0 10
1
15
0
1
15
0
2
13
9
0
15
0
2
16
9
1
15
0
£
0
5
1
0
0
liS
0
0
1
IRON ORE FROM MINNESOTA MINES
During the past year, shipments amounted to 36,195.183 ions.
and with the output of other ranges the total was 50,056,247
tons, according to The Iron Trade Review. The following
table shows the production of some of the principal mines on
the Mesabi and Vermillion ranges of Minnesota:
Mine. Tons. Mine. Tons.
Hull-Rust 3.457,608 i Leonard 905,606
Mahoning 2,000,000
Alpena 1,409,124
Fayal 1.257,430
South Uno 1,202,454
Susquehanna 1,100,000
Genoa-Sparta 1.141,796
Canisteo 1,099,748
Adams 1,021,290
Shenango 1 ,000,000
Commodore 1,000,000
Hill 846,663
Chisholm 641,854
Burt-Pool 622,951
Dale 621,540
Stevenson 600,000
Hawkins 562,746
Leonidas 558,826
Spruce 544,887
Pioneer 520,000
Kinney 500.000
MINERAL OUTPUT OF JAPAN
According to statistics compiled by the Department of Agri-
culture and Commerce, the output during the last fiscal year
was valued at $65,120,667, an increase of $12,155,909 com-
pared with the previous year. The principal minerals were
as follows:
Mineral. Quantity. Value.
Coal, tons 19,659.755 $30,705,918
Copper, pounds 1:18,711,322 20,126,045
Gold, ounces 165,952 3,399,524
Iron, short tons 76,301 1,535,151
Petroleum, barrels 1,388,853 4,188,536
Silver, ounces 4,832,850 2,948,042
Sulphur, tons .' 60.615 686.421
Zinc ore, tons 39,364 549,063
I.OI.I) 1)1 I I'll' lit WESTERN AUSTRALIA
During October 1913. the mines of the state produced 1 1 1 .-
508 fine ounces, the following being some of the principal
yields:
Mine. Tons. Yield. Profit.
Associated 11.368 $ 68.000 $ 7,500
Associated Northern 1,216 21,000 4, son
Bullfinch 6,175 72,000 41,000
Great Boulder 18,006 233,000 117.000
Great Fingall 5,595 43,000
Kalgurli 1 0,875 102,000 43,000
Ivanhoe 20,71 2 1 85,000 68,000
Lake View and Star 18,982 103.000 16,000
Mountain Queen 3,775 21,000 6,800
Perseverance 21,012 102,000 7,700
South Kalgurli 9,780 49,000 24
Victorious 7,866 37.000 5.300
126
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10, 1914
Current Prices for Ores and Minerals
(Corrected monthly by Atkins. Kroll & Co.)
The prices are approximate, subject to fluctuation, and to
variation according to quantity, quality, and delivery re-
quired. They are quoted, except as noted, f.o.b. San Fran-
cisco. Buying prices marked ♦.
Mln.
Antimony ore, 50*, ft ton 118.00
Arsenic, white, refined, ft lb 0.024
Arsenic, red, refined, ft lb 0.08
Asbestos, chrysotlle 100.00
Asbestos, amphlbole 5-00
Asphaltum, refined, ft ton H-M
Barium carbonate, precipitated, ft ton 40.00
Barium chloride, commercial, ft ton 40.00
Barium sulphate (barytes), prepared, ft ton 20.00
Bismuth ore, 15* * ton •260.00
Chrome ore, according to quality, ft ton 10.00
China clay, English, levigated, ft ton 15.00
Cobalt metal, refined, f. o. b. London, ft lb 2.50
Coke, foundry, ft 2240 lb 15.00
Diamonds: „. „ „
Borts, according to size and quality, ft carat 2.00
Carbons, according to size and quality, ft carat .... 55.00
Feldspar, ft ton 5-°°
Firebrick: ,_, „
Bauxite, ft M l'B-00
Magnesltc. ft M i^0-00
Silica, ft M B0-00
Flint pebbles for tube-mills, ft 2240 lb 21-00
10.00
Max.
820.00
0.03J
0.08J
350.00
15.00
20.00
45.00
42.50
30.00
upward
12.50
20.00
20.00
15.00
80.00
25.00
275.00
66.00
22.60
16.00
30.00
40.00
0.01 i
0.04
7.60
Fluorspar, ft ton
Fullers earth, according to quality, ft ton 20.00
Gilsonite, ft ton S5-00
Graphite:
Amorphous, ft lb
Crystalline, * lb
Gypsum, ft ton _
Infusorial earth, * ton 10.00
Iridium B6-0D
Magneslte, crude, ft ton 5.00
Magnesite, dead calcined, ft ton 20.00
Magneslte, brick (see firebrick).
Manganese ore, oxide, crude, ft ton 10.00
Manganese, prepared, according to quality, ft ton 30.00
Mica, according to size and quality, ft lb 0.05
Molybdenite, 95* MoS2, ft ton 400.00
Monazitesand (5*thorla), ft ton 160.00
Nickel metal, refined, * lb 0.46
Ochre, extra strength, levigated, ft 100 lb 2.00
Osmirldlum, ft oz S-00
Platinum, native, crude, ft oz 30.00
Silex lining for tube-mills ft 2240 lb 35.50
Sulphur, crude, ft ton 20.00
Sulphur, powdered, V ton 30.00
Sulphur, 80*, ft ton iB-50
Talc, prepared, according to quality, ft ton 20.00
Tin ore, 60*, ft ton 5)°.°°
Tungsten ore, 66* 425-°°
Uranium ore, 10* mln 26.00 per unit
Vanadium ore, 15*V„05, ft ton 150.00 180.W
Wolframite (see tungsten ore).
Zinc ore,.50 * up, ft ton
0.02)
0.13
10.00
16.00
7.50
26.00
25.00
70.00
0.30
460.00
200.00
0.60
2.50
45.00
37.50
26.00
35.00
18. 0
50.00
560.00
450.00
•15.00
Borax glass, gd. 30 mesh, cases, tfn lined, ft 100 lb 10.50 13.50
Bone ash, 60 to 80 mesh, bbl., ft 100 lb 5^0 6.50
Bromine, 1-lb. bottle, ft lb 0.58 0.66
Candles, adamantine, 14 oz., 40 sets, ft case. 4.60 4.80
Candles, adamantine, 14 oz., 60 sets, ft case 5.26 5.46
Candles, Stearic, 14 oz., 40 Bets, ft case 5.00 5.20
Candles, Stearic, 14 oz., 60 sets, * case 6.70 5.90
Clay, domestic fire, sack, ft 100 lb 1.50 2.00
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 100-lb. case, ft lb 0.18 0.22
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 200-lb. case, ft lb 0.18 0.22
Cyanide, 129*, 100-lb. case, ft lb . 0.22 0.254;
Cyanide, 129*, 200-lb. case, ft lb 0.22 0.26
Lead acetate, brown, broken casks, ft 100 lb _ 9.00 10.60
Lead acetate, white, broken casks, ft 100 lb 10.50 10.75
Lead acetate, white, crystals, ft 100 lb 12.50 13.25
Lead, C. P., test., gran., ft 100 lb 13.00 15.00
Lead, C. P., sheet, f> 100 lb _15.00 18.00
Litharge, C. P., silver free, ft 100 lb 11.50 13.50
Litharge, com'l, ft 100 lb. 8.00 9.60
Manganese ox., blk., dom. in bags, f> ton 20.00 25.00
Manganese ox., blk., Caucasian, in casks, ft ton 39.00 50.00
(85* Mn02— j* Fe)
Nitre, double refd, small cryst., bbl., ft 100 lb 7.00 8.00
Nitre, double refd, granular, bbl., ft 100 lb 6.50 7.50
Nitre, double refd, powdered, bbl., ft 100 lb 7.25 8.00
Potassium bicarbonate, cryst., ft 100 lb 12.00 15.00
Potassium carbonate, calcined, ft 100 lb 7.50 9.08
Potassium permanganate, drum, ft lb 0.10} 0.13
Silica, powdered, bags, ft lb _ 0.03 0.05
Soda, carbonate (ash), bbl., ft 100 lb _ 1.50 I.7fi
Soda, bicarbonate, bbl., ft 1001b 2.00 2.60
Soda, caustic, ground, 98*, bbl., ft 100 lb _ 3.00 3.26
Soda, caustic, solid, 98*, drums, ft 100 lb _... 2.50 2.75
Zinc shavings, 850 fine, bbl., ft 100 lb 12.00 13.00
Zinc sheet, No. 9—18 by 84, drum, ft 100 lb 10.20 11.00
Current Prices for Chemicals
(Corrected monthly by Braun-Knecht-Heimann Co.)
Prices quoted are for ordinary quantities in packages as
specified. For round lots lower prices may be expected.
while in smaller quantities advanced prices are ordinarily
charged. Prices named are f.o.b. San Francisco and subject
to fluctuation. Other conditions govern Mexican and foreign
business.
Min. Max.
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66°, drums, ft 100 1b 80.85 81.10
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66", carboy, ft 100 lb 1.25 1.75
Acid, sulphuric, C. P., 9-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.13 0.18
Acid, sulphuric, C. P., bulk, carboy, * lb 0.09J 0.12
Acid, muriatic, com'l, carboy, ft 1001b 1.85 3.00
Acid, muriatic, C. P., 6-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.15 0.20
Acid, muriatic, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb 0.104 0.15
\cid, nitric, com'l, carboy, ft 100 lb 6.00 6.50
Add, nitric, C. P., 7-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.16 0.22
Acid, nitric, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb.» 0.12* 0.15
Argols, ground, bbl., ft lb 0.10 0.20
Borax, cryst. and cone, bags, ft 100 lb 3.00 4.35
Borax, powdered, bbl., ft 100 lb 3.38 4.50
LENA GOLDFIELDS, LIMITED
This Company controls large placer deposits in Siberia, and
the report covers the year ended September 30, 1913. During
the year revenue amounted to £672,499, made up of £81,270
cash balance from the previous term, £378,664 from Lenskoie
Gold Mines Co.'s shares sold, £178,629 from Lenskoie dividend,
and £33,936 from interest and royalties. The Lena Goldfields
paid £266,648 in dividends, etc., and has a cash balance at
September 30 of £405,851. The Company holds 61.20% of
the Lenskoie company's stock. The Lenskoie, the operating
company,- mined 820,189 cu. yd. of gravel, yielding 335,348
oz. gold, against 549,244 cu. yd. and 260,505 oz. gold in the
previous year. The total production of the different groups
of claims since the commencement of operations is 4,746,511
oz. gold, as given in the report of Charles M. Rolker. Out
of 950 drill-holes, 69 average over 7 dwt. per yard. Probable
reserves are as follows: stream length, 30,275 ft.; gravel con-
tent, 2,438,424 cu. yd.: total gold content, 946,230 oz.; net
profit, 1S7.003 oz. Doubtful reserves have a stream length
of 15,687 ft., containing 682,722 cu. yd. of gravel and 180,714
oz. gold, on which there would be a loss of 24,266 ounces.
*Kxtra chaiije for packing nitric acid for shipment to conform
to regulations.
YUANMI GOLD MINES, LIMITED
This Company operates the Yuanmi and Oroya Black Range
mines, in the East Murchison goldfield, Western Australia.
Operations during the year ended .Tune 30, 1913 were as fol-
lows:
Yuanmi mine:
Ore reserves, tons 71,391
Ore milled, tons 64,530
Cold recovered $528,000
Profit 307,000
Oroya Black Range mine:
Ore reserves, tons 45.377
Ore milled, tons 59,680
Gold recovered $525,000
Profit 307,000
Dividends 212,000
January 10. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
127
Cabnotite. By Thos. F. V. Curran. Curia n & Hudson, New
York, 1913. P. 26. 111.
The Production of Iron and Steel in Canada during 1912.
By John McLeish. Department of Mines. Ottawa, 1913. P. 39.
Report of Topographic and Geologic Survey Commission
of Pennsylvania. P. 182. 111., index. Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania, 1912.
Considerations sur la Composition Cuimique et Mineb-
alogique des Roches Ebupttves. By E. C. Abendanon. P. 34.
The Hague, 1913.
Psychological Aspects of the Problem of Atmospheric
Smoke Pollution. By J. E. Wallace Wallin. P. 46. Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh, 1913.
Hudson Bay Exploring Expedition, 1912. By J. B. Tyrrell.
Reprinted from the 22nd Report of the Ontario Bureau of
.Mines. P. 51. 111., maps.
* The Red Iron Ores of East Tennessee. By Ernest F.
Burchard. State Geological Survey of Tennessee, Bulletin
No. 16. P. 173. 111., maps, index.
The General Principles Underlying Met amorphic Proc-
esses. By John Johnston and Paul Niggli. Reprinted from
the Journal of Geology, 1913. P. 71.
Normal Faulting in the Cambrian of Northern Piedmont,
Virginia. By T. L. Watson and J. H. Cline. Bulletin of the
Philosophical Society, University of Virginia, May 1913. P. 7.
III.
The Phenomena of Equilibria between Silica and the
Alkali Carbonates. By Paul Niggli. Reprinted from the
Journal of the American Chemical Society, November 1913.
P. 34.
Drainage Changes in the Shenandoah Valley Region of
Virginia. By T. L. Watson and J. H. Cline. Bulletin of the
Philosophical Society, University of Virginia. July 1913. P.
14. 111.
The Hydrotiiermai. Formation ok Silicates, a Review. By
George W. Morey and Paul Niggli. Reprinted from the
Journal of the American Chemical Society, September 1913.
P. 44. Biblography.
Petrology of a Series of Igneous Dikes in Central West-
ern Virginia. By T. L. Watson and J. H. Cline. Reprinted
from the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, June
1913. P. 33. 111.
On the Behavior of Cold Acid Sulphate Solutions of Cop-
per, Silver, and Gold with Alkaline Extracts of Metallic
Sulphides. By Frank F. Grout. Reprinted from Economic
Geology, August 1913. P. 26. An investigation by labora-
tory experiments, simulating natural conditions, of the con-
ditions by which secondary sulphides may be deposited. The
author finds that metallic gold, silver, and copper may be
precipitated from acid sulphate solutions, but rarely the sul-
phides of the metals. From his experiments he concludes
that the secondary sulphides of these metals may be precipi-
tated from descending acid solutions in a zone where alkaline
solutions predominate and the two mingle.
United States Bureau of Mines publications:
Preliminary Report on Uranium, Radium, and Vanadium.
By Richard B. Moore and Karl L. Kithll. Bulletin No. 70.
P. 101. 111., index.
U. S. Geological Survey publications:
Advance chapters from 'Mineral Resources of the United
States, 1912.' Washington, 1913:
Production of Zinc and Cadmium in 1912. By C. E. Sie-
benthal. P. 53.
Production of Lead in 1912. By C. E. Siebenthal. P. 42.
The 8tone Industry of 1912. By Ernest F. Burchard. P.
112. Maps.
Official Year-Book of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Compiled by G. H. Knibbs. No. 6, 1913. P. 1236. 111., maps,
charts, index. Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statis-
tics, Melbourne, Victoria. This is a valuable publication, con-
taining authoritative statistics for the period 1901 to 1912,
inclusive, and corrected figures for the period 17S8 to 1900.
It is not merely a record of statistics in tabulated form,
but contains a considerable amount of interesting details
of everything connected with the work of 4,800,000 people
on an area of 2,974,581 square miles, mining being well cov-
ered. The price of this book, including postage and duty, is
about $1.75.
Decisions Relating to Mining
On. Lease — No Forfeiture Clause
An oil and gas lease binding the lessee to drill a well on
the leased premises within a certain period, or in lieu thereof
make periodical payments of rental or delay money, and
containing no clause of forfeiture, is not forfeitable merely
by non-payment of the rental. It can be terminated only
by surrender, abandonment, or expiration of the lease.
Reserve Gas Co. v. Carbon Black Mfg. Co. (West Virginia),
79 Southeastern, 1002. September 30, 1913.
Oil Lands — Injunction Denied
Where in an action to enjoin defendants from operating
for oil on land, it appeared that they had been in undisputed
possession for a number of years, had drilled a number of
wells, built tanks, established pipe-lines, and produced large
quantities of oil, a preliminary injunction was properly dis-
solved.
Ingram v. Bream (Pennsylvania), 88 Atlantic, SS0. June
27, 1913.
Coal Lands — Suit for Rescission of Sale
The grantee of coal in place under a deed conveying all
the coal in a tract of land cannot rescind the sale merely
because the coal area in the land is not as large as he had
expected to obtain or because a particular vein which he
had expected to find there was missing, but he may retain
a repayment of so much of the purchase price as equals the
value of any shortage in the acreage contracted for.
Light v. Grant & Co. (West Virginia), 79 Southeastern, 1011.
Soapstone Ledge' — No Adverse Possession
A grant to 'G and his assigns' of the right to mine min-
erals created only a life 'estate in the grantee. One accept-
ing possession of land under a deed reserving the mineral
rights above granted could not establish adverse possession
to the soapstone ledge involved by merely building a fence
around the entire tract, as such act was not in itself adverse
to the mineral grantee.
White v. Shippee (Massachusetts), 102 Northwestern. 948.
October 22, 1913.
Damages for Unlawful Removal of Coal
The measure of damages for a surface tenant's unauthor-
ized mining of coal is the value of the coal in place, where
there is evidence to show such value, and not its value at
the pit's mouth. Where the mine is immediately available
for operation and there is a present market, such value is
the royalty value, otherwise value in its natural state. Treble
damages should not be awarded where the coal was removed
by mistake, honestly or unintentionally made.
Trustees v. Lehigh Valley Coal Co. (Pennsylvania), 88 At-
lantic, 768. June 27, 1913.
To the same effect see:
Stark v. Pennsylvania Coal Co. (Pennsylvania), 88 Atlantic,
770. June 27, 1913.
128
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 10. 1!U4
Belt Conveyors
Commercial Paragraphs
The use of these is extending in every branch of mining
and metallurgy. These include the handling of ore under-
ground, from crushers to ore-bins, from bins to various types
of grinding machines, disposing of mill residue on high dumps,
stacking dredge tailing, and handling coal and any material
necessary, where other conveying machinery is not suitable.
The wear and tear on belts in some works is extremely heavy,
and only the best rubber construction will stand it.
The accompanying photograph shows a 'Longlife' conveyor-
belt built by the B. F. Goodrich Co., at Akron, Ohio. This
belt, which is to be used in handling coal, is 1322% ft. long
and 36 in. wide. It is of 7-ply construction, with a 3/16-in.
top rubber cover, and weighs over 14,000 lb. net. In order
to handle it during shipment, it was necessary to divide it
into two parts, but it will be used on one conveyor. The
Goodrich factory is the largest of its kind in the world, and
its belt room is likewise the greatest in size and capacity.
Transmission, elevator, and conveyor-belts, ranging from the
a 14,000-i.n. BELT.
smallest transmission to 72-in. conveyors, can be turned out
at the rate of approximately four miles per day. This great
production .has enabled the Goodrich factory to effect many
manufacturing economies, and to offer service which has been
the subject of much favorable comment. Shipments are being
made constantly to all parts of the world, and Goodrich belts,
especially 'Longlife' conveyor, are to be found in mines and
plants everywhere.
Mine-Rescue Telephones
One of the important additions to the work which is being
conducted to bring about safety for mine workers has been
the perfection of a mine rescue telephone equipment. Rescue
crews, although equipped with oxygen helmets and various
safety appliances, have heretofore been considerably ham-
pered in their work by the lack of means of communication
with the outside of the mine. The mine rescue telephone
equipment manufactured by the Western Electric Co. con-
sists of a transmitter which is arranged to fit the throat of
the helmet man, thus permitting of the transmission of the
sound waves through the walls of the throat, as the mouth is
needed for breathing the oxygen. A head receiver is also
furnished, the combination of receiver and transmitter being
held in place by a light but serviceable leather harness. The
helmet man also carries one or more coils of wire, which con-
nect to the telephone at the mouth of the mine. This wire
pays out as the rescue gang advances. The advent of mine-
rescue telephones in safety work is an important step forward
and a much larger use is anticipated in the future.
The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. has un-
dertaken a number of contracts during the past year for
hydro-electric development in Alaska. The most important of
these is the new generating unit for the Alaska Treadwell
Gold Mining Co. to be installed in the Nugget Creek Develop-
ment. This unit will consist of a 2350-kva. water-wheel gener-
ator driven by a Pelton water-wheel running at 300 revolutions
per minute, and will give the mining company about 3000 addi-
tional horse-power. A 50-kw. motor generator exciter set with
special shaft so that the unit may be driven by water-wheel
when desired, is also included. A contract has also been re-
cently closed for a 300-kva. water-wheel generator to be in-
stalled by the Chichagoff Mining Co. near Sitka. This generator
will be used to supplement the Company's present installation,
which is 127% kw. With the generator in question there were
also ordered the necessary step-up and step-down transformers
for transmitting the energy at high voltage from the power
plant to the mines. During the summer the Kennecott Mines
Co., operating one of the highest grade copper mines in the
world, in the Copper River district, purchased a 200 kva.
water-wheel generator, together with all the necessary switch-
board and accessories. This water power-plant will supple-
ment a steam driven power-plant now being operated by the
Company. A considerable number of electric motors for min-
ing and milling operations were purchased with the above
generators. In addition to the above, the Alaska Juneau Gold
Mining Co. of Juneau, Alaska, recently purchased from the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. a 1012-kva. water-
wheel generator to be driven by a Pelton wheel, the energy
from which will be used to supplement that of a 937-kva.
steam turbine.
Catalogues Received
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co.. Chicago. Illinois.
No. 149. 'Chicago Portable Mine Hoist.' 8 pages,
inches. Illustrated.
Bulletin
6 by 9
Ai.bergeb Pump ami Condenses Co.. Newburgh, New York.
Bulletin No. 18. 'Alberger Spirofio Surface Condensers.' 32
pages. 6 by 9 inches. Illustrated. This deals with the
'Spirofio' condenser, rotative dry air pumps, 'hydroflo' pumps
circulating pumps, and cooling towers.
Inoersoix-Rand Co., New York. Form 672. 'Story of the
Imperial.' 9 by 12 inches. Illustrated. This attractive publi-
cation describes the main points in design and construction
in the 'Imperial' air-compressors. Those using, or about to
use compressors should study this valuable book.
Dodge Manufacturing Co.. Mishawaka, Indiana. Catalogue
106-A 14. 'Power Transmission Machinery.' 98 pages. 6 by 9
inches. Illustrated. This is an interesting publication, cover-
ing such information as horse-power of shafting, key seating,
inconsiderable detail, flange couplings, hangers and bearings,
ring-oiling pillow blocks, tigteners. friction clutches, Dodge
wood-split pulleys, iron-split pulleys, gears, ropes, and belts.
Prices are also given for each article mentioned.
New York Engineering Co., New York. Catalogue 'G.' 'Em-
pire Prospecting Drill.' 46 pages. 7 by 10 inches. Illustrated.
Increased attention is being paid to gravel deposits containing
gold and tin in remote parts of the world, and a handy pros-
pecting drill is a prime necessity. This handsome publication.
besides giving details of the machine, illustrates their use in
Canada, Korea, Colombia, Cornwall, Brazil, Siberia, Man-
churia, Russia, and the Philippines. There are also descrip-
tions of the pulling level, casing pulling jack, drilling winch,
casing, cleaning bedrock, and a clean-up and assay o«tflt. A
lew pages are devoted to dredges and mechanical elevators.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.'
Whole No. 2791 ^V,08
San Francisco, January 17, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
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SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
hiKI M : Page.
1 91
Notes . . . *
California Miners and Workingmen's ( 'ump. nsation . . . . 130
ARTICLES!
What Is the Matter With Prospecting? A Symposium— II
H. Oilman Brown, L. S. Cates. John Wellington Finch.
<;. W. Metcalfe, E. II. Nutter, E. G. Spilsbury 132
Montana Metal Production .■.;•,',• }li
Deep Mine Pumping and Alr-I.ifts \. I. ' hodzko 136
The Lake Superior Cupper District in 1913............
Thawing Frozen Ground for Placer Mining ....
Arthur Gibson 143
Rhodesian Crushing Plants 146
Detection of the Platinum Metals In Ciipellation Reads. 146
Evolution of Suction-lias Power in W. stern Australia.
J. (. Auldjo 147
Copper Production 160
Petroleum Production J[>»
oil Situation in 1913 }«
Mint output in 1913 J»*
Gold Production in 1912 lb4
DISCISSION!
Tin Mining in Tasmania M. <:. I-'. S.ihnleln 118
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 119
British Colombia London
Butte. Montana New "i ork
Johannesburg. Transvaal Platteville. Wisconsin
(.1 NKHAI. MINING NEWS 154
DEPARTMENTS I
Personal }§?
Schools and Societies J*?
The Metal Markets lj>i
The Stock Markets 1 6-!
EDITORIAL
TN spite of the statement made by the President some
-*- time ago to the effect that no movement would be
made by the army or navy which would convey the
impression that preparation was being made for hos-
tilities in Mexico, and regardless of the fact that the
permission granted by the Mexican government for
American warships to remain in Mexican waters ex-
pired some time ago, there are fifteen warships off the
Mexican coast and a fair sized army encamped along
the Rio Grande.
O AFETY first has found a new expression in Nevada
*-' through the passage of a law. which went into
effect the first of the year, prohibiting the employment
of men in and about mines who cannot speak or under-
stand the English language. An industrial safety con-
ference has also been organized for promoting the safety
first movement, which will convene at Reno on January
26 and 27. The Governor, Mr. Tasker L. Oddie. will
preside at the conference and a number of papers have
been prepared which will treat the various phases <>f
the movement.
A NXOUNCEMENT is made of the appointment of
■**- .Mr. R. W. Brock to the position of Deputy .Min-
ister of Mines for Canada, a position in which lie suc-
ceeds Mr. A. I'. Low, for whom he has been hc! hi" some
years. This is an eminently fitting recognition of good
work not only in geology but administration, and Can-
adian mining men are to he congratulated on having
so able and sympathetic a representative in this high
position, ruder the form of government obtaining in
Canada the Deputy .Minister is a non-political per-
manent officer. As such he becomes the technical ad-
viser of each succeeding Minister. Mr. Brock will have
charge of both the Geological Survey, of which lie is
director, and the Mines Branch of the Department of
Mines.
A KRIVAI, of the steamship, or more properly the
-*■*• motor ship. Siinn in San Francisco recently mark's
the advent of a new type of marine boat in these
waters. Ivpiipped with modern Diesel type engines,
this 13,000-ton freighter, using 2(1 tons of oil per day
in its internal-combustion engines, and with a sailing
radius of two months, has demons! rated the wide
adaptability of crude oil fuel to marine purposes. The
sixteen cylinders of the Siam power-plant develop .'52(H)
horse-power at a fuel cost of about two cents per horse-
130
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
power day, which is in marked contrast with the eight
and ten-cent costs of the boiler and steam engine type
of ships. The cargo capacity is also increased by 15 to
20 per cent because of the space saved in boiler rooms
and coal bunkers, and this is reflected in lower operat-
ing charges.
DETAILS of the world's production of gold and
silver for the calendar year 1912, as compiled by
Mr. George E. Roberts, director of the Mint at Wash-
ington, are presented on another page of the current
issue. In the production of gold the Transvaal, as
usual, takes first place with a production valued at
$188,293,100; the United States ranks second with a
production of $93,451,500 ; and Australasia third with a
production of $54,509,400. In the production of silver,
Mexico stands first, regardless of the handicap under
which mining has been conducted, the output being
74,640,300 ounces. The United States is second with a
production of 63,766,800 ounces, and Canada third with
a production of 31,625,451 ounces. The world's pro-
duction of gold was valued at $466,136,100, while the
silver output amounted to 224,310,654 ounces.
A RGUMENT in the Kennedy Extension-Argonaut
■**■ case was heard at Jackson, California, last week,
and upon completion of the record by the stenographer,
will be formally submitted to the court for judgment.
Interesting as the case is, we forbear comment at this
time, the matter being still before the court. We may
say, however, that the differences of opinion, as re-
flected in the arguments of Messrs. G. O. Perry and
Prank Zelinsky for the plaintiff and C. H. Lindley for
the defendant, relate mainly to the facts. There was
practically no controversy as to the law, and only one
point of general interest, that is the presumptions al-
lowable from patent issued under the law of 1871 in
cases where the location itself was long anterior and
allegations in the patent brief. As to the facts, the
differences related to the integrity of the apices of the
Pioneer and the Jackson veins and their continuity and
identity in depth. The question of most general inter-
est to geologists is whether the Mother Lode represents,
as previously held by Mr. F. L. Ransome, and as main-
tained by Messrs. A. C. Lawson, Walter Wiley, and
Fred Searls, a thrust fault, or whether Messrs. J. W.
Finch and R. D. George are correct in inferring a large
normal fault. Of this we shall speak later.
GAS and oil engines as economic sources of power
are becoming more universally recognized and
their various applications, from turning the farmer's
grindstone to the propeller shaft of 10.000-ton freight-
ers, evidence their wide range of adaptability. In
Montana the economy of hydro-electric power and the
futility of steam-power competition when hydro-electric
is available has been proved by experience, and the
electrification of a number of the railroads and most of
the mines is now under way. Our Butte correspondent
points out the tendency toward the development of
electric power from gas engine power-plants at the
coal mines. Under some conditions electricity is
cheaper to transport than coal, and the thermal effi-
ciency of the internal-combustion engine is far greater
than that of the coal-fired boiler and steam engine.
There can be little doubt that a large field exists for
central power stations in the coalfields, though the
proper limits for such practice are not yet determined.
It is even possible that the prediction that the Miocene
lignites of western Montana will supply power through-
out the state may some day be fulfilled, though this is
not probable at present. The use of producer gas in
Western Australia is recorded in the current edition,
and in other parts of the world its success has been
amply attested.
California Miners and Workingmen's Compensation
Workingmen's compensation acts have been recently
passed in a number of states and, along with the
financial adjustment now under way throughout the
world, employers are being called upon to reorganize
their business upon a new basis with difficulties as
great as a general increase in wages. However much
we may approve the general principle that each in-
dustry should amply provide for its own killed and
injured, and the Mining and Scientific Press does heart-
ily approve that principle, no one can blink the fact
that an increased expenditure equivalent to 27% cents
per day per worker and amounting yearly to 12% per
cent of the capital of the employing company, these
being figures from an actual case, calls for serious ques-
tion. It is possible that this heavy tax on industry is
necessary, and that corresponding benefits will be re-
alized, but we are frank to say that we doubt it, and
in any event it will require a complete recasting of
wage scales and other elements of cost, with such re-
adjustment of prices as may be possible. The particu-
lar illustration taken is that of a gold mine in Cali-
fornia. In another case a company which is not yet
'out of the woods' in the payment for its property,
must face an immediate increase of payroll of about
$400 per month. Such figures warrant one in pausing
to inquire whether our sympathies have by chance out-
run our business sense, or whether our employers are
being unfairly treated by the insurance companies.
The English compensation act has long been held up
as a general model. Figures carefully compiled by a
competent commission in Illinois showed that for a
term of years all workmen injured in that state might
have received compensation under the terms of the
law, and yet the total paid would have been no greater
than the cost of the old indemnity insurance. Under
this condition it was manifestly good sense and good
business to pay the money to the workmen rather than
" expend it on agents' fees and litigation. In the various
Australian states there are stringent compensation
laws. They must be satisfactory to the laboring men,
as they were enacted by labor governments ; yet at one
large mine in New South Wales, where figures are avail-
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
131
able, the cost of insurance is only l1/-? per cent of the
payroll. In Nevada, where a new law is in operation,
the basal rate in mining is 2% and the maximum is
3 per cent. In California the basal rate is 7.86 and
in certain kinds of mines 9.80. The lowest mining rate
scheduled in California, that for prospecting, is 6.75.
It is true that private insurance companies have, in
some cases, allowed separate classification of surface
men in such manner as to bring the average down to
5 per cent, but even this is out of all proportion to
rates paid elsewhere. In other schedules than mining
there are similar rates which on their face seem ab-
surdly high, and which will require much argument to
justify. The schedules are inconsistent ; for example,
why should iron mining take a rate of 9.80 and copper
mining 7.86? Both are too high, but why are they
different ¥
When the California law was enacted it was part of
the plan to insure reasonable rates by having the state
itself undertake to carry insurance at cost. In practice
something seems to have gone wrong. The total
amount of the insurance fund placed at the disposal of
the Industrial Accident Commission, which must ad-
minister this law, was $100,000. Premiums to the
amount of $200,000 were reported to have been col-
lected in the first ten days, but clearly an insurance
company working on so small a capital is not a serious
factor in the situation and its effect on rates is not yet
apparent. At first the state refused to accept any in-
dividual mining risk of more than $15,000. Later it
was cut to $10,000. Insurance to that amount is not
much comfort to a manager who must face unlimited
liability. Few companies would be forced into bank-
ruptcy by a loss of $10,000 or $15,000, but many Cali-
fornia companies might well be put out of business by
a single accident, even after having paid the state
premiums upon the total amount of the insurance that
the latter will accept. In other words, the mining
companies are forced at present to deal with private
insurance companies regardless of cost. Only a con-
cern with a large surplus can afford to carry its own
risk. We do not believe that this condition can or will
last. The harvest of agents' commissions in the past
few weeks has attracted attention throughout the in-
surance world and there will undoubtedly be increased
competition for the California business. We know al-
ready of one large London company which is investi-
gating the field.
The reason urged for the high rates in California is
that the liability is unlimited. A man totally injured
is to receive a pension for life, and in similar details
there is a large and unmeasured risk not met under
the laws of other states. There should be some way to
meet this situation. It is always possible to commute
an annuity, and a way will doubtless be found to con-
vert into lump sum settlements these contingent risks.
In Nevada the maximum individual payment is $5000,
and we see no reason why more should be paid in
California. If the workman wants more insurance he
can buy it at current rates for himself. California in-
dustries do not stand alone. In gold mining the selling
price cannot be raised, and in cement making and other
competitive industries it is equally impossible for the
operators in one state to raise their prices generally.
All that can be done by the manager facing such a
situation is to raise the price to the limit in his non-
competitive territory, which is that nearest his own
works. If the rates now quoted are really the best
warranted under the law, the latter should be promptly
modified, since protection ample elsewhere is certainly
sufficient in California.
In New York there has recently been enacted a law
which is haled by Mr. Samuel Gompers as the best yet
put on the statute book. It also meets the approval of
so sturdy a champion of capital as the New York Sun,
and those who are responsible for it seem to have ac-
complished the difficult task of pleasing both sides.
It is possible that the pleasure may be more one-sided
after the law has been subjected to a test in the courts.
The measure provides for the usual commission, but
gives it the unusual power of bringing suit, at state ex-
pense, against any employer who does not pay the com-
pensation due. The employee is debarred from bring-
ing suit. The employer may insure himself with the
state, or some company, may join in forming a mutual
association, or may, where his resources are ample, carry
his own risk. An injured employee, after a waiting
period of two weeks, receives two-thirds wages. In
the case of permanent partial disability he receives two-
thirds the amount in wages lost as a result of the
injury. The widow of a man killed receives 30 per
cent of his wages during her widowhood, with 10 per
cent additional for each child under 18 years of age.
the total not to exceed 66% per cent. This law is cited
to indicate that the California plan is not necessarily
the only satisfactory one.
In commenting on the situation faced by California
mine managers, we would not be understood as criti-
cising the commission charged with the administration
of the law. As business men its members cannot as-
sume risks beyond those warranted by the capital ad-
vanced by the state, and we have no doubt that they
will use every proper effort to secure as low rates as
may be possible. We commend unreservedly their
action in organizing the safety department. A de-
termined effort has been made to get the best men
available, and for the mining work, the United States
Bureau of Mines has, by request, detailed Mr. II. M.
Wolflin, a capable and experienced mining engineer.
This is the more commendable since in certain other
branches of the state's activities politics has been per-
mitted to dictate appointments as our readers know.
Also the exemption of farmers from the provisions of
so general and so sweeping a compensation act as that
of California, is a transparent appeal to political favor.
We are entirely unable to see why a man is less dead
when killed by falling off a haystack than down a
winze, or how his widow is less of a problem.
132
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
What is the Matter With Prospecting?— II
A SYMPOSIUM
In the annual review number we published a number
of letters received in response to the inquiry sent to
many of our friends prominent in mining circles, re-
garding the evident lack of interest in prospects and
the apparent dearth of funds available for prospecting
purposes. We find the mining fraternity is greatly
interested in this subject and take pleasure in present-
ing this series of extracts from the numerous letters
which have been received.
R. Gilman Brown: — I cannot speak for conditions in
the United States, but so far as London goes there are
several venture companies here who devote a good deal
of expense to developing prospects. As to finding
prospects, that is a difficult matter for a company to
embark in ; at the same time I know of more than one
London syndicate that has sent out men into promising
regions. Looking at this from another angle, there are
several companies in England owning large tracts of
country abroad, supposed to be mineralized, that have
been successful in carrying on organized and scientific
prospecting within their areas, maintaining specifically
a geological and prospecting staff for this purpose. I
can cite the Ashanti Goldfields as one of these com-
panies, whose prospecting work, under the scientific
management of Mr. Justice, has already resulted in the
discovery of Justice's Find. The Kyshtim Corpora-
tion, under American geologists has been doing the
same work successfully in the Middle Urals, Russia:
and the Tanalyk Corporation has been working on
similar lines in the Southern Urals. All of the above
companies, and I think most companies of this class,
have had as a basis, discovered mines which they were
either developing or operating. I rather tend to the
belief that in order to justify the risking of capital'in
prospecting work, the general control of it should be
under a trained geologist. This does not eliminate
the prospector, but merely puts a man over him. I do
not believe in direct government aid for anything : in-
direct aid could perhaps be supplied by opportunities
to take up prospecting licenses in certain areas on lib-
eral terms as to the ground that can be acquired under
them, and with suitable provisions to prevent large
areas of ground being held and not prospected. I am
strongly of opinion that prospecting methods can be
vastly improved, waste work eliminated, and fewer
good opportunities lost, by expert geological control.
If by "undeveloped mineral lands" you mean lands on
which promising surface indications have been found,
but little more than trenching done, I woidd say that
here again the practical geologist comes in, and so far
as my own companies go we have not hesitated to
spend money in investigations when our geologist in
charge has given favorable reports. In general, it
seems to me evident, that as the more easilv recogniza-
ble and more accessible deposits are found, prospecting
work is bound to become more expensive, involving
shaft-sinking, drilling, etc., and that consequently the
scope for the 'grubstake prospector' is being limited.
L. S. Cates: — During recent years two conditions
have arisen which I think will answer practically all
of your questions : The first is, the change in the class
of men who are following the mining business. The
old time prospector, such as was in existence twenty
years ago, is almost a thing of the past. There are very
few men who have the disposition which will allow
them to isolate themselves from civilization and endure
the hardships which are necessary to those who enter
unexplored portions of our mining territory. This
may be caused by the change in the early education
of the present generation, or from the fact that- employ-
ment is so easily obtained by those who desire to fol-
low the mining profession. At the present time there
are so many large camps developed that a man can
usually obtain employment very easily, whereas, in
the past when there were only a few camps it became
profitable and necessary during certain portions of the
year for a man to devote a portion of his time in
prospecting. Personally, I do not think there is any
ground for the statement that there is no money
available for grub-stake. The real trouble lies, as has
been mentioned before, in the fact that it is hard to
find men who will conscientiously and intelligently
spend time and money in looking for new mines. The
second condition, which has arisen during recent times,
is the appearance of the unscrupulous mine-promoter.
There is hardly a city or town in the United States
which has not been visited by this character. In a
great many instances, he knows nothing regarding
mining and spends a major portion of his time traveling
from one town to another selling cheap mining stocks
and putting ridiculous advertisements in the papers,
in an attempt to further their unworthy endeavors.
This has been going on for such a long time, and so
many people have been fraudulently deceived into plac-
ing their earnings in these wild-cat adventures, that
the public at large is being gradually educated and
looks askance when one mentions the subject of min-
ing investments. I must admit that a great many
excellent properties have been developed from pros-
pects to productive mines in this manner, but the
majority of the money raised has been ruthlessly
squandered. Another reason why undeveloped claims
are not attractive is because the larger interests prefer
to pay a large sum for a developed property than to
take a prospect and endeavor to make a mine from it.
However, I think eventually this policy will have to be
changed. Owing to the old prospector being a thing
of the past and the small investor refusing to assist in
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
133
the development of the minor properties, it will be-
come necessary for the larger interests to organize
and maintain exploration departments, but just how
long it will be before this condition will materialize is
problematical.
John Wellington Finch:— I do not find it true that
money is no longer available for developing prospects.
I am at the present time engaged in the supervision of
the development of a number of prospects which are
being opened up under lease and bond arrangements
by experienced mining people. It is true, however, that
none of the operators with whom I am associated con-
sider it wise to expend money for finding prospects.
Perhaps they are guided to some extent by my advice
in this matter. Additional money for such purposes is
becoming available automatically, because there is an
increasing number of owners of prospects who are will-
ing to share the chances of exploitation with the pur-
chaser by offering their properties under reasonable
terms as to time and payments. I do believe in Gov-
ernment aid to prospecting and prospectors. I think
this aid can best be given by allowing them the free-
dom of the public domain for their explorations and
by eliminating all unreasonable obstructions. Pros-
pecting methods are, in my opinion, all right as they
are. The natural person to discover new mineral de-
posits is the man who can subsist simply and who has
the physical endurance and patience to wander for
long periods of time in remote places. Such a man is
usually a miner and not an engineer. He is bound to
locate valueless deposits along with the occasional de-
posits of prospective merit, but he does sufficient work
upon the latter so that the man of higher training and
more fastidious physical requirements may find a
sufficient basis eventually to interest the capital which
he represents. At the present time very little actual
prospecting is being done because the prospecting
miner has been so mystified by the restrictions placed
upon him by some of the governmental bureaus that he
is reluctant to expend his efforts in searching for that
which he afterward may find he is not allowed to
possess as he did in former times, when he was per-
mitted to explore upon all lands owned by the Gov-
ernment. The chief trouble with the restrictions and
supervision now imposed by the Government is, it
seems to me. not so much that the supervision is im-
proper but that it is not uniform, nor is it clearly
defined. Prospecting would.. I believe, be gradually
resumed if the prospector could clearly comprehend
the regulations under which he must act and could
feel sure that mineral locations would not be taken
from him by the whim of individual Government
agents not technically qualified to pass upon the merits
of the location. I consider the market for undeveloped
mineral lands to be good, on the whole. The develop-
ment of new coal areas is, of course, not likely to be
undertaken until capital can be satisfied that it will
be allowed to work tracts of sufficient size to give the
enterprise long enough life to make it attractive. Nor
will new coal lands be worked under the leasing sys-
tem until the commercial possibilities in it, from the
point of view of the lessee, can be clearly calculated.
In metal mining, I feel quite optimistic concerning the
proper future development of promising prospects.
The great mining corporations and syndicates are con-
centrating their attention upon thoroughly developed
properties. The promoter, who was once the interme-
diary between the prospector and capital, is not now
able successfully to present prospects to these con-
cerns. Moreover, the prosecutions by the Department
of Justice have curtailed the activities of the un-
scrupulous promoter in the use of the mails. This
form of promotion has been the chief cause of exorbit-
ant prices for prospects. In several instances with
which I have been familiar in the past year, enterpris-
ing small mining companies have been able to acquire
prospects on businesslike terms whereby the original
owner and the purchaser became joint owners in such
a way that a successful outcome of development would
inure to the benefit of both.
G. W. Metcalfe: — In my opinion, the money available
for finding and developing prospects is strictly propor-
tionate to the probability of making a profit from
such investment. This particular district. Shasta
county, California, is largely a copper district. Even
when a promising copper prospect is found, it takes a
large amount of money to develop it to the point at
which it is possible to determine its value. In addi-
tion to the ordinary risk in prospecting, the prospector
also has to consider that if he finds a copper mine of
sufficient magnitude to justify the construction of a
smelter, the present attitude of the Legislature and of
many agriculturists is decidedly inimical toward
allowing him to operate such a smelter if the slightest
indication can be found of any effect from his smelter
fumes on vegetation, even although such effect does
not amount to material damage. This consideration
has been extremely discouraging to copper prospect-
ing in this district. Another difficulty in this district
is the fact that a large quantity of land in the copper
belt is the property of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The prospector is likely to find, in case he discovers a
mine, that it is on railroad land and that there is no
way in which he can obtain any advantage from his
discovery. In general. I think the only way that more
money can be made available for prospecting is for
conditions to change so that the probable returns from
such investment would be larger than at present. I do
not believe in government aid to prospecting and
prospectors in any very radically different way from
that in which such aid is now being supplied: that is
to say, the government has made and is making a
geological survey of the country, which survey, when
completed, will give much information as to where it
is reasonable to look for mineral deposits. The state
government of this and other states maintains mining
schools in which embryo mining engineers are given
the training which should enable them most readily to
134
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
take advantage of the further lessons they will receive
from experience. These and similar activities on the
part of the government are perfectly proper and very
valuable. The available funds for prospecting appear
to be adequate ; that is to say, the inducement at pres-
ent for prospecting appears to be great enough, so
that sufficient supplies of the valuable metals are dis-
covered to supply the world's needs. If the possible
metal famine actually comes to pass, the price of
metals will naturally rise to the point at which greater
returns can reasonably be expected from an invest-
ment in prospecting or mining. When this occurs,
there will be a greater inducement than at present for
the investing of time or money in prospecting work,
with the natural effect that more mines will be found
and developed and the metal famine will be a thing
of the past.
E. H. Nutter: — The nomadic prospector, with his
shovel, pick, pan, and a sack of grub, on a burro, is
largely of the past. Can he be revived, and is it
worth doing? I think not. This old-time prospector,
who found most, if not all, of the productive districts,
was, I think, always animated by the hope of 'strik-
ing it rich'; that is, he was on the lookout for rich
surface ores of gold, silver, lead, or copper that would
pay for burro-back transportation, or reduction by the
sluice, arrastre, or other primitive device, hoping, as
well, to find something that he might sell at a good
price. Spurred by this hope, he did a great deal of
burrowing or gophering in likely looking places. A
large part of his effort was wasted ; the rest opened up
or drew attention to the mines or districts that have
become productive, and which attracted capital or
produced their own capital. The Klondike excitement
drew off a large part of this type of prospector from
the older districts and started the condition in them
to which your letter draws attention. Except perhaps
in British Columbia and other parts of Canada, the
continent has been pretty well prospected, and the
chances for a prospector of the old type to find rich
surface ore or alluvial gold are slimmer than they ever
were. In consequence, he is disappearing for lack of
subsistence ; he cannot make even his modest living,
rent-free and tax-free though it its, and a 'grubstake'
is not so easy to get now, and fails to satisfy as it
once did. So far as my experience with the capitalist
goes, he is willing to put up money when there is a
good chance of seeing it come back again leading
some more with it. He relies more and more on his
engineer's advice, if he is not himself an engineer. In
general, probably more is lost than gained from put-
ting money into the exploration and development of
mere prospects; also, the owner thereof usually asks
more than they are worth. There are certain classes
of investors, however, who look to mining or collat-
eral branches for investment possibilities rather than
to other industries, and any dearth of conservative
opportunities along this line will undoubtedly make
available more funds for exploration and develop-
ment. It seems probable, however, that these funds
in the future will be spent more and more by men
working on salary for others. Their prospecting, too,
will be guided more and more by geological consider-
ations. It will be more sanely done, and probably will
yield a higher average of profitable returns than did
the aggregate work of the old-timer. As to govern-
ment aid, I do not believe in it for prospecting any
more than for manufacturing. While some mineral
deposits might be developed earlier thereby than in
the natural course of events, I think that on balance
there would be greater economic loss than gain. Let
the government give us just and adequate laws, con-
tinue its geological and police work, and leave the
mining industry to work out its own problems.
E. G. Spilsbury: — Unquestionably, the spirit of ven-
ture which formerly exhibited itself in the outfitting
and staking of the old time prospector and sent him
into unknown and unexplored territory has practically
died with the incentive. Such terra-incognita no longer
exists. On the other hand, money is still to be obtained
for the development of claims, when sufficient induce-
ment is offered by the owner of these undeveloped
claims. The only way increased capital is likely to be
attracted to undeveloped properties, woidd be by
means of a well organized propaganda, publishing re-
liable and accurate information regarding successful
ventures along this line. I do not believe in govern-
ment direct aid to prospecting for minerals any more
than I would advocate that the settler on public lands
be subsidized by the government to clear and prepare
his land and determine what crops it was good for. On
the other hand, increased efforts by the U. S. Geologi-
cal Survey to give accurate information regarding the
geology and mineralization of territory not already
thoroughly prospected would, when published, furnish
an incentive to careful prospecting by trained men
sent out by capital for the purpose. The Survey ought
to be the pioneer and not the trailer on behind. For
unprospected mineral lands there is no market; and
there cannot well be one, as there is nothing tangible
to offer to capital — not even a title. On the other hand,
after mineral has been discovered, the given claims
located, and the locator has something to offer, there
is always capital available to carry on the development
to a point where commercial success can be predicated
provided the original discoverer or prospector is will-
ing to share with capital not only the eventual profits,
but also the risks which may attend the attaining of
these profits. For instance, supposing a prospector has
spent a year in a given field and has discovered mineral
which he thinks is worth developing. His expenses
during the year have been say $1000: his outfit may
have cost him $500: his time calculated liberally at $4
a day would amount to say $1500 more : his investment
therefore would be in all $3000. Now if the investor
comes in and furnishes the same amount, he ought to
do so only on becoming a partner to the extent of a
half interest. When that amount has been spent on
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
135
development a re-appraisement of values should be
made, and if further capital is required it should be
offered the same proportionate advantages. If some
such general plan of eo-operation were made public
and thoroughly understood I think it would prove a
great incentive to the development of simple prospects.
The reason why capital is apparently so difficult to
obtain by prospectors lies in the fact that the owner
of the prospect generally wants to realize an unearned
profit before he is willing to accept capital on the
same basis as his own investment.
Vice President of a large exploration company writes
as follows: — A large amount of money is being used
continually for finding and developing prospects. As
to the adequacy of the amount it is extremely difficult
to judge. The facts seem to warrant the belief that
the surface deposits and the more easily found rich
mines have been discovered: and that, therefore, pros-
pecting for and finding new mines costs materially
greater sums than in the past and also necessitates a
somewhat wider vision, as the big new mines that have
recently been found are mines in which, what is now
(through the advance of mining and metallurgical
skill) highly profitable ore. was not so very long ago
uncommercial mineral. I do not believe in direct gov-
ernment aid to prospecting or prospectors. The aid
that the government can give to this class of work is:
(1) Passing understandable and adequate mining laws,
so insuring the title of claims legally acquired; simpli-
fying the rulings of the Land Office and prohibiting
the passage of retroactive legislation and Land Office
rulings. (2) In furthering education in the art of
recognizing valuable minerals and mineral products.
Prospecting, economically conducted, is bound to be
a matter for individuals. Xo corporation can require
from its employees the endurance of the hardships
which are cheerfully undertaken by the prospector
when the gain to be made is his own or to be shared
with a few individuals, all of whom are known to him.
It depends on how much the individual prospector can
be improved in knowledge of commercial mineral pro-
ducts, their occurrence, and the wise expenditure of
money, as to whether the available funds will prove
adequate to the finding of new mineral deposits or not.
My experience tends to show that 95% of the owners
of undeveloped mineral properties put an entirely pro-
hibitive price upon their possessions. The value of un-
developed mineral lands is one of the most difficult
values to determine, and consequently the imagination
and cupidity of their owners have free rein, and the
price that they fix for an entirely indefinite value bears
no sort of relation to the risk that has to be run. The
direction in which I see a chance for an improved
market is the realization by the owners of undeveloped
mineral land that if they are not willing to take part
of the risk, they should ask the people who are willing
to put up the capital to develop their property at a
price commensurate with the money that has been
spent on locating the property.
Montana Metal Production
The total value of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc
produced by deep and placer mines in Montana in
1913 was somewhat over $59,000,000, a decrease from
$64,754,615 in 1912, over 8%, according to preliminary
estimates of V. C. Heikes, of the United States Geo-
logical Survey. Metal prices were slighly less than
those of 1912. There was also a large decrease in
copper yield and consequently in gold. These were in
part offset by a record increase in ziuc production and
silver output from zinc ores.
The gold yield decreased nearly 12%, the mine
figures being $3,625,235 in 1912 and $3,194,000 in 1913.
There was no great change in the placer output, but
a decrease is noted in gold from copper ores and from
silicious ores.
An increase of nearly 4% was made in the silver
output of the state, the mine figures being 12,731,638
oz. in 1912 and 13,203,000 oz. in 1913. A decrease of
about 10% in silver output from Butte copper ores
was largely balanced by an unusual increase in silver
from lead concentrate and zinc residues from the Butte
& Superior mine, which made a notable record tin? last
half of the year. Over 13% of the total value of the
state output was that of silver.
The copper output declined about 9%, from 309,738,-
873 lb., according to mine reports, in 1912, to 280,658,-
000 lb. in 1913. This last was about 30% less than the
output of Arizona, the leading copper producer in
1913.
The lead output increased from 7,446,749 lb. in 1912,
according to mine figures, to 8,547,000 lb. in 1913. or
nearly 15%. This increase was largely due to ship-
ments of lead concentrates and residues from zinc
concentrates from the Butte & Superior mine at Butte.
A record production of recoverable spelter was made
from zinc concentrates shipped from Montana mines
in 1913. From 26.918,881 lb. of spelter in 1912, the
output increased to 85,449,297 lb. in 1913, or 217%.
This was largely due to results at the Butte & Superior
mine.
Extensive deposits of platinum have been discovered
at Wenden. in Westphalia. Germany. Drilling has
been done over 500 acres, and 9 holes gave from 0.9
to 1.9 oz. per cubic yard. Over 100 analyses have
been made. Plans are being made to begin extract-
ing the metal from the ores. Unlike the platinum
found in Russia and other countries, the German de-
posits are said to contain the metal in the form of
an alloy.
Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa, and
owned by France, produced 2,119.571 gm. of gold in
1912. a decrease of 730.473 gm. compared with 1911.
The output of graphite is increasing. There are 942
workings, and in 1912 the yield was 5000 tons. This
country will soon be a serious competitor of Ceylon
in this mineral.
136
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
Deep Mine Pumping and Air Lifts
By A. E. Chodzko
The end of the last century was marked by a decided
advance in the art of treatment of metallic ores, and
profitable returns have nowadays become available
from immense accumulations of low-grade materials,
both in natural and artificial shape, hitherto left un-
productive owing to the limited paying percentage ob-
tainable through time honored metallurgical processes.
The measure of their commercial returns is the pro-
duct of two factors, quality and quantity, and the im-
mediate consequence of the new discoveries was the
necessity of operating on vast amounts of materials.
Leaving aside the mountains of discarded tailing that
form a familiar foreground at large mining plants, an
unprecedented activity became in order in opening
up new underground levels at constantly increasing
depths : the methods of exploitation had to keep pace
with that increment of production, and among them,
the problem of pumping is unquestionably one of the
most momentous. It again involves two factors, vol-
ume and head, the graphical product of which shows a
rapid upward trend.
Percolation of water through the freshly opened
ground is generally, for natural reasons, enhanced by
the depth, and its growing volume must be disposed
of against a likewise increasing height of lift, so much
so, indeed, that the machinery built for that purpose
has gradually become subjected to requirements of
unusual severity as to strength, capacity, and endur-
ance. The chances of breakdowns are more numerous,
their results are more serious, the repairs are more
difficult and expensive, and when one stops to consider
that the lives of the underground force, as well as the
commercial success of the entire undertaking are es-
sentially dependent upon the continuous and efficient
action of pumps, it is soon realized that the importance
of this question could not be overestimated.
Any pretense at a description of the modern types
of deep mining pumps is beyond the object and the per-
missible extent of these pages ; it could not. moreover,
but be a compilation of a number of valuable con-
tributions on the subject, beginning with the highly
instructive review prepared by II. C. Behr for the
State Mining Bureau in 1896. All of these machines
fall, moreover, within the scope of a few remarks of
a general nature. No mining reader is likely to con-
test the statement that a reliable high lift pumping
outfit should meet, at least, two requirements : it must
be as free as possible, by its design and by its con-
struction, from causes of accidental stoppage ; but
should this happen, the pump must be able and ready
to start up again under all conceivable conditions,
namely, when immersed into any depth of water, and
however long it has remained inoperative. The flood-
ing of an underground pumping station at the lower
levels must not be considered a problematic accident,
but an ever possible and impending occurrence, unless
each plant is built in duplicate, and even if it is.
Broadly speaking, the former desideratum applies to
all classes of mining, and even other machinery. The
latter is more decisive; it forthwith eliminates all
pumps driven by steam or by electricity, under the cus-
tomary methods of installation, that is, the pump and
its motor being in free communication with the shaft.
As a rule, any station pump adjacent to its motor and
placed below the highest water-level liable to be
reached in a flooded mine, should be encased in a
water-tight reduct or casemate of reinforced concrete,
capable of resisting collapse under the maximum head
of water. Very exceptionally will it be practicable to
maintain a permanent access from the surface to that
submarine engine room; this would be an essential
requisite to the use of steam, which is. otherwise, un-
acceptable. But even for want of it, the machinery
would at least remain in working condition during
the period of inactivity, while protracted immersion
spells ruin of an electric motor. Cornish sets and
multi-stage centrifugals driven from above would not
require that protective fortification. A piston pump,
operated by compressed air, may work under water,
provided that the exhaust pipe is carried beyond its
upper level.
Duplex Direct Acting Pump
As an instance of personal experience, I may quote
a duplex direct-acting pump, installed at the 200-ft.
level of an inclined shaft, with its exhaust pipe reach-
ing the 100-ft. level for ventilation purposes. The air-
compressor at the collar of the shaft was driven by a
Pelton wheel, the supply for which was interrupted
during a winter night, by the wholesale freezing of
the feeding flume. The pump naturally stopped, the
water began to rise in the shaft, and before long had
reached the 100-ft. level, and so things remained till
the following spring, when the compressor was started
again ; a few moments later, water issuing from the
delivery pipe showed that the pump had instantly re-
sponded. This, however, was due, first to the unusual
extension of the air-exhaust pipe, which is very ex-
ceptional in a pump of that kind, and also to the fact
that the rapid inrush of water at the time of stopping
had caused the attendant to take a bee line toward
upper quarters, leaving the throttle at the pump wide
open.
It is safe to contend that machinery in motion under
water charged with foreign substances, beyond pos-
sible control, oiling, etc., is apt to get out of order at
any time, and cannot be depended on for steady work.
Another drawback common to all high-lift pumps is
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
137
that due to the violent vibration of a long column of
water in motion under heavy pressure, with conse-
quent leakage and breakdowns. So that, leaving aside
the inconvenience of immense moving weights and of a
cumbersome and expensive outfit, it is true to say that
the old types of pumps driven from the surface were
offering better guarantees of permanent action in a
deep mine than the more improved underground in-
stallations of today.
There is, however, one class of modern pumps en-
joying a marked immunity from all the previous
objections, and in which compressed air is in immedi-
ate contact with the water to be raised. Their prin-
ciple of action is elementary.
If we have an inverted siphon with two equal
branches, one (A) open at its upper end, and the
other (B) connected to a supply of water and likewise
open, the latter will fill the two branches and occupy
the same level in both, placing them in perfect balance.
Now. if in any manner we alter the weight of water
in one of the branches.
I!
ft
u
<: *.;
-Jft
Fio. 1.
leaving the other in-
tact, a flow will take
.. ..„ place from the heavier
__ — _ branch toward the
lighter, and therefore
if we place a weight
at the surface of the
water in branch (B)
(or which amounts to
the same, if we close
that branch and ad-
mit air under pressure
on top of the water)
the latter will be
forced down in (B)
and escape at the top
of (A), compressed air replacing in (B) the expelled
water. This type of pump is known as a 'displacer. '
When branch (B) is full of compressed air, the latter
is shut off, and allowed to escape; then a fresh charge
of water takes its place, and is again driven out, and so
on. The action of the displacer is therefore essentially
intermittent, branch (B) being alternately emptied and
refilled, and the successive admissions and exhausts of
compressed air being regulated by an automatic timing
device.
Let us now revert to the original siphon, in its bal-
anced condition, and without touching branch (B),
which is open to the water supply, let us admit com-
pressed air by a pipe (c) at the foot of branch (A).
This air will rise up that branch by reason of its lesser
density, eject part of the water from the pipe by its
expansion, and form, with the remaining contents of
A a mixture lighter than the water alone. The con-
tents of (B) are therefore lighter than those of (A)
and a flow will set in. and persist as long as air arrives
at (c), the water in (A) being constantly replaced by
the supply. This class of pump is the 'Air Lift ' proper.
4
T,-„
iSP
Fir,.
1IISPI.ACKR.
and it is evident that its action is continuous, without
the necessity of any timing device.
In practice, the dis-
placer (B) is a closed
vessel, communicating
with the water supply
through an inlet valve
which opens automat-
ically when the air
has escaped, and with
the delivery pipe (A)
by a discharge valve,
which closes at the
same time. In the air
lift the branch (B) is
represented by the
well supplying the
water, which enters
the delivery pipe (A)
at its lower end, where
it meets the air pipe.
Both kinds of pumps
have been widely
used. The displacer is
better adapted to min-
ing work because it is
more compact and not
subject to the condi-
tion of acceptable
efficiency, of having a
submergence practi-
cally equal to the ac-
tual lift which in a
deep shaft would re-
quire an abnormally
deep sump. On the
other hand, the use of
a volume of com-
pressed air equal to
that of the water
raised, and allowed to
escape without doing
expansive work, re-
duces considerably the
efficiency of the dis-
placer. However, its
simplicity and posi-
tiveness of action may
recommend its adop-
tion in a number of
cases for temporary
work.
This low efficiency
has been improved up-
on by a combination of
the two classes of air-
pumps, the submerg-
ence head of the air-
lift being replaced by
an equivalent air pres-
A.t
Fig. 3.
138
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
sure acting by displacement, and the delivery column
being made lighter by a separate injection of com-
pressed air. Such is the Starrett pump, which uses an
air pressure much lower than would be required in a
single displacer, where it must balance the hydrostatic
pressure of the discharge column. This pump, which
has been tentatively used at the Ward shaft of the Corn-
stock, requires a free exhaust and a timing gear, and
its action is consequently intermittent. It escapes to a
great extent the main objections to the motor-driven
pump, and can operate under water ; and while there is
no record of its use for a large capacity, it stands at the
present time as the only air-lift pump having so far
been practically applied to deep mining work.
Air-lifts seem, therefore, to point out a logical di-
rection toward the economical and safe solution of
the deep mine pumping problem. A study of this
question, extending over several years, and based on
former experience with other kinds of air pumps, has
led to interesting results which are hereafter briefly
presented.
Whatever be the exact behavior of compressed air
in raising water up a delivery pipe, it will have yielded
all of its useful effect if, in course of the process, it
expands from its initial to its final, that is, to atmos-
pheric pressure. Now. if (P,) is the absolute air pres-
sure (that is, the gauge pressure plus atmospheric)
and (P0) the atmospheric, it is easily found that at
any particular place, if the compressed air enters the
pump at the same temperature as it entered the com-
pressor, the efficiency (E) — that is, the ratio of the
work done by the expansion of the compressed air to
the work absorbed in compressing it — is expressed by
2?=Jf(g)0-^
when (M) is a numerical factor involving the alti-
tude, and the mechanical efficiencies of compressor and
pump.
The conclusion is that a low-pressure air plant is
more efficient than a high-pressure one. or. in this par-
ticular case, that a low lift is more efficient than a high
lift. And, therefore, if water is to be raised to a
great height, the idea naturally occurs of cutting this
up into a number of shorter divisions, each supplying
water to the next one above. This has been suggested
as a means of adapting the air-lift to mining work,
each division being made longer than the one below,
and a great height could thus be reached with a lim-
ited number of successive steps, the air pressure in-
creasing from one to another.
A more satisfactory result is obtained by making the
subdivisions of equal lengths. The pump column is
then formed of a series of equal sections, or units,
placed end to end, the air main running alongside of
them, and a numerical illustration will give a clear
idea of that arrangement and of its results. It will
only be mentioned at this time that all the elements
of an air-lift of that type can be determined with
the same degree of accuracy as the details of an elab-
orate plunger or
centrifugal
pump. The fig-
ures here given
are purposely
approximate.
We will as-
sume that 2000
gal. of water is
to be raised per
minute to a ver-
tical height of
1424 ft. Were
wre to pump wa-
ter against 1424-
i't. head the pres-
sure per square
inch at the foot
of the delivery
pipe would be
about 640 lb.: a
displacer would
have to use com-
pressed air at
that pressure
and even some-
what higher. The
total lift of 1424
ft. will be divid-
ed into 100 equal
units. Each unit
consists of a
tank, open at its
upper end. and
which may be of
rectangular
cross-section.
A vertical educ-
tion pipe is sus-
pended in that
tank with its
open lower end
a few inches
above the bot-
ton. Directly
under it is the
compressed -air
nozzle, connected
by a branch pipe
to the air main.
The lower unit is
connected with
the water-sup-
ply, which main-
tains into it a
depth of 11.1 ft.
The eduction
pipe passes
through the bot-
tom of the sec-
Vtv<
spa
SttSE
At'lMa,',
®
Fig. 4. low-prksscre air lift.
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
139
ond unit, and has its open upper end 11.1 ft.
above that bottom ; it is therefore a plain straight pipe
open at both ends. The same arrangement is repeated
in each unit; that is, each has a separate air jet and
an eduction pipe rising to the top of the next. Each
unit therefore consists of a rectangular tank, open at
the top, and containing two parallel eduction pipes,
one for its supply, the other for the discharge.
This being understood, the pump is ready to start,
and air is turned on in the lower unit. As the head
of water is 11.1 ft., a pressure of 5 lb. per square
inch is sufficient. The emulsion of air and water rises
up the eduction pipe and overflows into the second
tank; the air, completely expanded, escapes in the
shaft, while the water fills the space in the second tank
not occupied by the education pipes. This water is
picked up by air jet Xo. 2 and sent into the third
unit, and so on, the same process being repeated
through all the successive units to the top. An initial
submergence of 11.1 ft. and an air pressure of 5 lb.
gauge are all the requisites of the total lift: in the
same locality, and with the same type of outfit, they
would* answer equally well for any other value of that
lift.
Low Pressure Air Lift
The annexed diagram, Fig. 4, shows the general ar-
rangement of the pump. Especial attention is called
to the following points:
1. Since the units are all of equal length, this 'low-
pressure' arrangement consists in splitting up the
entire lift into a series of shorter ones with a theoretic
submergence of 50%. the total efficiency being obvi-
ously the same as in each independent unit, regard-
less of their number. Whatever the total lift is. the
submergence need not be more than the depth of the
water in the first unit of the series.
2. The low air-pressure can readily be obtained
from centrifugal blowers: this menus a great reduc-
tion in first cost and maintenance of air-compressing
outfit.
3. Whatever be the total lift in the same locality,
at no portion of it are the air or water pipes to re-
sist more than 5 lb. pressure to the square inch. Wood
stave pipes or rectangular ducts are therefore quite
acceptable, so that the pump can be built on the spot
and kept in repair with local resources.
4. Each eduction pipe is cut off between two suc-
cessive units, and a slip joint is used for connection.
Any unit can therefore be detached from or attached
to the line without disturbing the rest. These units,
being identical, may be kept in readiness: any one of
them may be placed at any point alone: the line.
5. In any specific case, the unit intended to form
the pump column (and which is quite comparable to
a link in a chain) is designed to perform a certain
duty; that is, to raise a certain volume of water, at
a certain altitude and mean temperature, and with
a certain air-pressure. The volumetric ratio of free
air to water is thus determined, and such a unit will
fit a 60-ft. lift or a 6000-ft. lift equally well, be it in
a mine shaft or in crossing a range of mountains.
A change in one of the above elements in the design
of the unit influences the others to an extent that can
be determined. The simplicity and cheapness of con-
struction make alterations in shape easily practicable.
6. At starting time, all the units are empty except
the lower one, and each one is connected to the air
main, so that, when air is turned on, it would blow
off and be wasted all along the line. It is therefore
necessary to provide each unit with an air valve au-
tomatically closed and thrown open when water reaches
the submergence level in that unit. These valves are
all identical and interchangeable, they are of simple
design, entirely automatic, and they can be removed
and replaced in a moment.
7. The pump requires no foundation, being sus-
pended by cables during the unwatering period, and
each unit is supported by the shaft timbers when sta-
tionary. The details of its handling deserve and have
received special attention.
8. At an assumed altitude of 4650 ft., each unit
in the case at hand consumes 500 eu. ft. of free air
per minute, making the capacity of the air-compress-
ing plant 50,000 cu. ft. per minute, a figure by no
means abnormal with centrifugal blowers. Here ap-
pears a unique feature of this type of pump, inasmuch
as these 50,000 cu. ft. of air are discharged every
minute into the shaft, where they create a powerful
draft: this can readily be utilized for ventilation,
either by suction up the shaft or by establishing a
down draft, and this duty is performed at no addi-
tional expense. This twofold service of the air for
drainage and ventilation, with the motive power placed
in safety, introduces in the equipment of a mine a
unique and additional element of economy. The
pump will, of course, operate under water, in spite of
the low air-pressure, because the first 'active' unit is
always the one nearest the surface, those below it (as
they might in case of sudden Hooding of the shaft)
are 'dead' and inoperative, so that the work of the
air-compressors is always measured by the actual lift.
These remarks, it is hoped, may suffice to draw at-
tention to a system of mine pumping which escapes
most of the objections mentioned against the familiar
types of station plants. It does not involve any but
simple, well known, and tried principles of action, and
yet, it presents some practical and economical advan-
tages of its own. It is not claimed, nor is it true, that
the low-pressure lift should in all cases supersede any
other types of pump ; it has been worked out, and it
is specifically intended for high lifts and large vol-
umes of water; and when unwatering and draining a
deep mine, it can accomplish some work which a pump
of the usual design cannot do economically. It is
very much cheaper in first cost than its equivalent in
capacity, and it can be repaired with local resources
and labor, without resorting to a well equipped and
too often distant machine-shop.
140
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
The Lake Superior Copper District in 1913
By R. H. Maurek
The copper mines of the Lake Superior copper dis- A table of productions showing the outputs of the
trict of Michigan during 1913 produced approximately several mines as nearly as may be calculated at this
145,000,000 lb. fine copper, a poor showing compared time, actual figures in many instances not being avail-
with other years. The normal output of the three ble for some months to come, is appended:
counties comprising the copper district is roughly Fine copper 6 mo Fine copper
220,000,000 lb. per year. The decrease this year is di- Company. ending June 30. total for 1913.
rectly traceable to unfavorable labor conditions gen- Lb. Lb.
erally, and in particular to the great labor strike which Ahmeek 7,893,340 9,100.000
began July 23 and continued in force to the end of *u°nez 3.510,000 4,200.000
., \, , , , , .. ., fl . . Balt>c 7,042,000 8,688.000
the year, though much weakened after the first two Calumet & Hecla 29,780,000 53,420.000
months of the conflict. The year opened with 19 pro- Centennial 1,135,000 1,400,000
ducing companies operating almost at capacity, despite Champion 9,600,000 11,448,000
a perceptible shortage of labor, a condition that in Franklin 1,000,000 1,040,000
recent years has become almost chronic in its persist- Jslf Rovale 3,338,000 4,680,000
t. . , , , . » ,, Lake 900,000 1,000,000
ence. It promised to equal, if not surpass, the pre- Mass 1,400,000 1,500,000
ceding year in point of production and dividends Mohawk 4,817,400 5,369000
earned and disbursed, but as the year grew older, labor Osceola 9,070,000 11,686,000
became more and more scarce, with a consequent de- Quincy 8,374,800 10,894,800
crease in production, particularly noticeable in the SuPerlor 1,705,000 3.078,000
„ ., ,j j j ' mu i v. Tamarack 3,666,000 4.142,000
outputs of the older and deeper mines. The labor war Trin]ountain 4,000,000 4,888.000
during the last six months of the year effectually victoria 600 000 1500 000
stopped production at a number of important mines. Winona 1,350,000 1,550,000
and closed practically all of the newer mines, among Wolverine 4,033,600 4,488,000
which production is merely incidental to development
, , . , * vi 4-- ■ *u * Totals 103,215,100 144,069,800
work, but of respectable proportions m the aggregate.
The average price received for the finished metal
was just under 15.5 cents per pound, giving the out-
Production during the first six months of the year put of the district a gross value of approximately $22.-
was just under 105,000,000 lb. copper, or at the rate 500.000 and making available for dividends the sum
of 210,000,000 lb. per year, which compares with 218.- of $8,344,788, which amount was distributed by nine
138,408 lb. copper produced in 1912; 219,840,201 lb. in companies during the twelve months. The market price
1911; 221,462,984 lb. in 1910; and 231,870,496 lb. in of Lake copper ruled fully one cent under the average
1909. These figures are for copper actually mined of the previous year. The average cost per pound of
during these periods and not smelter returns, which copper produced was approximately 13 cents for all
always include more or less copper mined in previous companies, compared with 10.25 cents in 1912.
years, and which in 1912 is reported to have been Considering the unusually small production, the divi-
231.112.228 lb. fine copper. The smelter output will dend showing is most gratifying though it may be
again be greater than the output of the mines, but the added that several of the companies were of necessity
difference will be small. There is at the end of this forced to draw on surplus accumulations of other years,
year very little unsmelted copper mineral on hand. and the year's disbursements therefore do not truly
The production of silver is comparatively light. Con- represent the earning abilities of the several companies
siderable silver is found associated with the copper during the year just closed.
in the mines opened on the Calumet conglomerate and The mines, or those workings that may properly be
Pewabic lodes, all obtained as a by-product in the termed as such, are with few exceptions in excellent
process of electrolytic refining to which much of the physical condition, and only two are threatened with
copper is subjected, but the quantity is never snffi- early exhaustion, namely, the South Kearsarge mine
ciently large to give the district a standing of impor- and the Wolverine mine, the former with about four
tance among the recognized silver-producing states. years' life remaining and the latter with an estimated
The normal production of silver is about 500,000 oz. life of about eight years on the Kearsarge lode. Less
per year. As the quantity of silver produced is en- than one-fourth of the known mineral area of the dis-
tirely dependent upon the amount of copper taken trict has been touched, practically the entire western
from these certain beds, the output this year will nee- horizon along the western sandstone remaining mi-
essarily be small, and is not likely to exceed 200.000 explored, and though many of the mines are now very
ounces. deep and approaching the limits of workable depth, this
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
141
generation will not witness the exhaustion of these
mines excepting those noted and possibly the mines on
the Calumet conglomerate, which so far has been found
workable only in that part which is owned by the Calu-
met & Hecla and Tamarack companies. This forma-
tion will probably be worked out within the next
twenty years. The Osceola mines and the newer mines
of the Copper Range company have an assured life of
upward of forty years and the 'Old Reliable' Quincy
is not expected to turn the corner inside of the next
seventy years. An annual production of 200.000.000
lb. copper will probably be maintained for at least
twenty years to come. The output may even exceed
this figure, and a smaller average annual ouput is cer-
tainly not indicated.
There have been no important new discoveries of
copper deposits in this district within the past ten or
twelve years, excepting those in the Lake district and
on the Mayflower lode, both apparently of limited ex-
tent, only partly proved, and of no considerable pro-
portions. As the total copper production of the United
States is constantly increasing through the develop-
ment of other fields, a further decline in the percentage
column, if not in actual production, may be expected.
The district has been quite thoroughly prospected with-
in certain well defined areas, yet only about one-quarter
of the known mineral belt has been explored. The
western rim, along the great sandstone contact, mark-
ing the presumed limits of the mineral area, for a dis-
tance of more than one hundred miles, remains practi-
cally untouched. What this horizon may yield or dis-
close under proper exploitation is problematical. Cer-
tainly no man can know positively that the production
of copper in this district will cease with the exhaustion
of the present mines, many of which undoubtedly will
be worked out within the next generation or two, but
its position as the premier copper producer, which it
rightfully held so many years, is unquestionably lost
forever.
The present trouble with the Lake Superior copper
district is solely one of labor. Viewed from the stand-
point of the mine operator. labor conditions are very
unsatisfactory, principally because labor is scarce and
partly because the labor strike which began in July has
driven, and for more than a year previous did drive,
efficient labor away in great numbers to other fields.
This condition had to be met by drawing on the un-
skilled labor market, and unskilled and inexperienced
workers are dear at any price. Hut this is only a
temporary condition which must eventually change for
the better. In the sixth month of the strike a material
improvement is already noticeable. By no means all
of the old employees are in sympathy with the strike
and the majority have again returned to work in the
mines after a short period of idleness. The position of
the Western Federation of Miners is greatly weakened,
and the strike which was forced by this organization
against the wishes of the majority of the mine workers
of this field, as has since been ascertained, appears all
but ended and certainlv is not so formidable as it was
only three or four months ago. The difficulties between
the mine operators and this labor union, which at the
beginning embraced a minimum wage scale of $3 per
day, a shorter work-day. and recognition of the union,
has simmered down to recognition only. The demand
for an eight hour day has been granted. An average
wage of better than, $3 per day for all workers has
been in existence for several years. There remains
only the question of recognition of the union. This
the operators are unwilling to give and will not give,
and the position of the Western Federation of Miners
in this district is thus made clear. The sentiment of
the general public is against this organization; and the
people residing in this district, forming an organiza-
tion known as the Citizens' Alliance, with 40,000 mem-
bers (the population of the district is about 85,000),
have demanded the expulsion of the paid labor agitator
with a polite request that the Western Federation also
withdraw.
Late in December the union officials were seriously
considering the advisability of continuing the strike
and a vote of the strikers will probably be taken. The
striking mine workers are beginning to see the hope-
lessness of their fight after about five months of useless
efforts, and the rank and file may now be expected to
vote for a return to work.
A brief review of the several companies in the order
of their importance by counties follows :
Houghton County
The important producing mines of the Lake Superior
copper district are with few exceptions within
the confines of Houghton county, and this county also
holds the most promising undeveloped copper deposit
discovered in recent years. Its copper mines give em-
ployment to upward of 15,000 men. The Calumet &
Hecla stands high among the largest copper producers
of the world. It is the premier dividend payer among
the metal mines of the globe, with a total disbursement
of $123,250,000 to date. The total amount of copper
taken from its mines now stands in excess of 2,500,000
tons. Depth and declining copper content have had
their effect, however, and this great mine will prob-
ably be entirely worked out within the next twenty
years. The mines on the Osceola and Kearsarge beds
can never compensate for the loss in production from
the richer conglomerate lode, but may be expected to
yield respectable profits over a long period of years
to come, and these profits will be greatly augmented
by profits derived from the treatment of the millions
of tons of mill tailing wasted in earlier operations and
now made available through the introduction of
greatly improved milling methods.
The Copper Range group of mines is in excellent
physical condition with the exception of the old
Atlantic mine, which has been idle since 1906. The
Baltic has grown somewhat leaner with depth and
shows occasional signs of decay, but once again gives
promise of increased production. The Trimountain
shows continued improvement, and is gradually round-
142
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
ing into shape for heavy production. Champion also
carries a noticeable betterment in the lower reaches of
the mine and again in the newer openings to the south-
ward. The active mines of this combination yielded
25,000,000 lb. copper during 1913, despite unfavorable
labor conditions, and the productive capacity does not
appear to have been reached.
The Quincy is an old and very deep mine. About
one-quarter of the copper bed on which the mine is
opened has been entirely worked out. Its holdings,
however, are so extensive, and so much unmined ground
remains that the life of this Company is estimated at
not less than seventy years. The copper content holds
steady at about 15 lb. copper per ton. Osceola will
within the next few years suffer the loss of a valuable
asset in the South Kearsarge mine, which is rapidly
nearing exhaustion. This loss will in good measure be
offset by a growing betterment noted in the work-
ings of the North Kearsarge mine. The Osceola Branch
mine is of no particular promise, but may be worked
with profit for a great many years to come. The
Wolverine had an exceedingly bad year. Mining
operations are confined to the Kearsarge lode. Explora-
tory operations in the horizon of the Osceola and Old
Colony lodes proved unpromising and this work has
been suspended. Production also has steadily declined,
and the mine will likely suffer exhaustion within the
decade. The Tamarack mine is deep and unprofitable.
Operations on the conglomerate lode are unsatisfactory,
and the Osceola lode shows but little encouragement.
The mine is in a hopeless condition, with small chances
for profitable operations, except under most favorable
labor conditions and a high metal market.
The Isle Royale has been a great many years in the
making and has finally attained success. The first divi-
dend disbursement by this Company was made in
March. 1913. The mine is expanding wonderfully and
promises to reach a productive capacity of at least
15.000,000 lb. within a few years. The Superior has
succeeded in developing a valuable copper deposit in
two beds in the horizon of the Baltic lode, and is mak-
ing a creditable showing in copper production, but,
unfortunately, without much profit for the sharehold-
ers. The Hancock seems to have opened workable
copper deposits in several formations and is preparing
to begin production on a commercial scale early in the
new year. The Winona has all but proved to be a
losing venture. Much time and effort was spent during
the year in extending underground openings and in
providing an efficient concentrating mill that should re-
sult in a closer saving of the exceedingly fine copper
occurring in this formation. The future of this Com-
pany depends upon the successful outcome of experi-
ments involving the use of a new concentrating pro-
cess, which the Company was giving a trial late in the
year.
Keweenaw County
The copper mines of Keweenaw county include a
number of important producers which have a com-
bined output of 18,500.000 lb., or approximately
13% of the district's total copper output. This county
was of first importance in the early days when mining
was confined exclusively to the fissure veins. These
were found exceedingly profitable but no deposits of
this character are being worked today. About 1500
men find employment in the mines of the district.
The Ahmeek, one of the very richest copper mines
of the entire district, has made material advancement
in the development of its mine, and the property is now
easily capable of yielding 20,000,000 lb. fine copper
yearly. It has an assured future of at least 45 years.
The Mohawk mine, opened on the northerly extension
of the Kearsarge amygdaloid, on which the Ahmeek also
is opened, is given a new lease of life by reason of the
exceptionally favorable developments in the south area.
Development work during the year revealed copper
ground of excellent quality at a number of points. The
Allouez .mine is slowly developing into a producer of
importance. Ore reserves have been materially in-
creased, and an era of profitable operations is assured.
The Ojibway mine, opened on the extreme north end
of the Kearsarge amygdaloid, was forced to suspend
operations during the year owing to lack of working
capital. Development work gave rather indifferent
results, and this is largely responsible for the failure
of the Company to secure funds. The Keweenaw Cop-
per Co. passed the entire year in exploratory
work and in this obtained fair showings of copper at
various points along the strike of the Ashbed lode. The
past efforts of this Company to find copper deposits of
commercial value were uniformly unsuccessful, and it
is therefore gratifying to note that a turn for the bet-
ter has come. The showings on the Ashbed merit
development.
Ontonagon County
Ontonagon county, third and last of the triumvirate
of counties comprising the Lake Superior copper dis-
trict, numbers among its mines the Lake. Mass. and
Victoria, ranking in importance in about the order
named. There are also numerous prospects, including
the White Pine. South Lake. Indiana. North Lake,
Algomah, Bohemia, Onondaga, and Adventure. These
enterprises give employment to about 1000 men.
The producing mines. Lake. Mass. and Victoria,
yielded approximately 4.000.000 lb. fine copper, which
was less than 3% of the total output of the Lake Super-
ior district. These mines are not expected to yield in
greater proportion for several years, though each can
with further development easily double the present
rate of production. None of them promises to develop
into mines of the first magnitude, and it is by no means
certain that any will reach the dividend stage within
the decade. Among the prospects, White Pine and
South Lake stand well to the front. Both are develop-
ing workable copper deposits, and profitable operations
in the White Pine are practically assured. The lesser
prospects, particularly Indiana, North Lake, and
Bohemia have an even chance for success.
January 17. 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
143
Thawing Frozen Ground for Placer Mining
Bv Abtiiuk Gibson
The term 'frozen ground' refers to ground perpetu-
ally frozen, or in other words, ground that never thaws
by nature. Such 'frozen ground' is encountered in
the extreme northern portion of the American conti-
nent, in Alaska, and Canada, and is also found in
Siberia.
The process of artificially thawing frozen ground
considerably in the same locality and within short dis-
tances. The principal factors governing the cost of
thawing are as follows: (1) amount of ice contained
per cubic yard, (2) cost of fuel, (3) cost of labor,
(4) amount of condensation due to long and poorly
insulated pipes. (5) amount of condensation due to
low temperatures during the winter, (6) method of
I'l.ACER DRIFT MIXIXO AT XOJIK. THAWING FROZEN I1ROIXD.
can be accomplished by various methods, either by di-
rect or indirect heating. In direct heating, burning
or banked tires are built against the face to be thawed.
Indirect heating is accomplished by heating a medium
or secondary element, which performs the work of
thawing. The secondary elements mostly used are:
(1) heated rocks, (2) hot water, or (3) steam. Both
experience and practice have proved steam to he the
most effective and efficient medium.
The following efficiency and cost data are collected
from actual placer-mining operations in the Cape Nome
Mining district. Seward Peninsula, Alaska, but will
apply to other localities of like nature by proper ad-
justment of the cost of fuel, labor, board, and local
conditions. One frequently hears thai it costs so many
cents per cubic yard to thaw frozen ground in a cer-
tain locality. These statements, although in many in-
stances true and derived from actual operations, are
misleading, in that the cost per cubic yard may not
onlv vary with different localities, but may even vary
mining or application, and (7) the scale upon which
operations are conducted.
Heat Required to Thaw Frozen Ground
The temperature of perpetually frozen ground on
Seward Peninsula, so far as known, remains nearly
constant around 28° above zero Fahrenheit, or 4° be-
low the freezing point, excepting close to the surface
where the temperature is affected by the atmospheric
heat or cold during the summer and winter seasons,
or in the immediate proximity of subterranean water
channels or thawed ground. I will assume that the
frozen gravel deposit contains 2850 lb. of solids and
2(i0 lb. of ice per cubic yard, and it is desired to heat
this deposit from 28° above to 36°, or to a tempera-
ture 4° above the freezing point. How much heat is
then required, expressed in H.t.u.'s. per cubic yard?
The coefficient of thermal capacity (specific heat)
for solids is 0.2, that for ice is 0.5. and that for water
is 1.0. The latent heat of fusion of ice is taken at 142
144
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17. 1914
COMPARATIVE DATA ON EFFICIENCY AND COST OF THAWING FROZEN GROUND WITH STEAM FOR PLACER
MINING IN CAPE NOME MINING DISTRICT, ALASKA
sag
" a
S°
ere .
o
as —
CO cr.
• ft
.►«.
^°
2 •
p -.
• f6
39 •
as
to p
a*
*r
3 5.
a
5 o
J90
si
2-
3.
4.
53 ft.
2.5 ft.
1.5 ft.
4 ft.
Operated during winter
Class of placer mining ,
Depth below surface
Thickness of pay-dirt
Thickness of waste
Total depth of stope
Material, dirt and clay
Material, gravel 4 ft.
Swelling of loose dirt 26.8%
Number of boilers 1
Total boiler horse-power 45
Steam-points, length 7 ft.
Steam-points, number 40
Steam-points working hor'l.
Steaming time, hours 9
Horse-power per steam-point 1.125
Depth thawed 8 ft.
Left to absorb heat, days 1
Ground thawed per day, cu. yd. loose dirt '. 128
Ground thawed per day, cu. yd. dirt in place 100.94
Duty per point per day, cu. yd. loose dirt 3.2
Duty per point per day, cu. yd. dirt in place 2.5235
Duty per foot per hour, cu. yd. loose dirt 0.051
Duty per foot per hour, cu. yd. dirt in place 0.04
Crude oil consumed per day, barrels 4
Crude oil consumed per day, gallons 168
Crude oil consumed per point per thaw or day, gallons 4.2
Crude oil consumed per point per hour, gallons 0.467
Crude oil consumed per cu. yd. loose dirt thawed, gallons... 1.3125
Crude oil consumed per cu. yd. dirt in place thawed, gallons. 1.6644
B.t.u. consumed per cu. yd. loose dirt 186,921
B.t.u. consumed per cu. yd. dirt in place 237,037
Duty per barrel of oil in cu. yd. loose dirt 32
Duty per barrel of oil in cu. yd. dirt in place 25.235
Number of men employed per day for thawing 4
Duty per man per day, cu. yd. loose dirt thawing 32
Duty per man per day in cu. yd. dirt in place 25.235
Cost of crude oil per barrel delivered $2.97
summer summer summer summer
Underground driving and stoping. ■,
81 ft. 81 ft. 45 ft. 50 ft.
2.5 ft. 2.5 ft. 3.5 ft. 2 ft. 2 in.
2 ft. 2 ft. 1.5 ft. 2 ft. 4 in.
4.5 ft. 4.5 ft. 5 ft. 4.5 ft.
4.5 ft.
2
70
7 ft.
90
hor'l.
12
0.777
7 ft.
2
205
' 2.278
0.02712
4
168
1.867
0.15558
0.81951
116,711
' 51.25
4
51.25
$3.30
4.5 ft.
"2
70
7 ft.
90
hor'l.
12
0.777
9 ft.
2
257
2.855
0.033994
4
168
1.867
0.15558
0.6537
93,097
' 64.25
5
51.4
5 ft.
1
35
6 ft.
25
hor'l.
8
1.4
7.5 ft.
128.57
5.1428
0.10714
2
84
3.36
0.42
0.65334
$3.30
93,046
' 64.28
3
42.85
$2.90
4.5 ft.
1
50
7 ft.
46
hor'l.
11
1.08
7.5 ft.
2.5
327.13
7.1115
0.092326
5
210
4.567
0.4152
0.64195
91,424
65.426
3
109.04
' $2.71
6.
summer
Dredging.
9 to 20 ft.
7 ft.
7.5 ft.
'25%
2
85
9 to 20 ft.
40
vert.
48
2.125
14.5ft. av.
20 to 30
'567.25
453.8
'14.18125
11.325
"0.040751
0.032543
20.95
880
22.00
0.9167
■1.55134
1.93918
'220.936
276,170
■27.076
21.66
*3.5
■162.07
129.66
$2.52
Average Total Cost Peb Day
Crude or fuel oil $11.88
Labor and board 20.50
Repairs and renewals 7.50
Rent, 50-hp. boiler
Total operating cost $39.88
$13.20
27.82
7.50
$48.52
$13.20
34.90
7.50
$55.60
$ 5.80
20.45
2.50
$28.75
$13.55
21.05
7.50
$52.79
25.73
3.89
1.67
$42.10 $84.08
Average Cost Per Cubic Yard Loose Dirt
Crude or fuel oil, cents
Labor and board, cents
Repairs and renewals, cents
Rent, 50-hp. boiler, cents . . .
9.28
6.44
5.13
4.51
4.14
9.31
16.01
13.57
13.58
15.91
6.44
4.54
5.86
3.66
2.92
1.94
2.29
0.68
0.29
Total operating cost per cu. yd. loose dirt, cents 31.15
Total operating cost per cu. yd. in place, cents 39.51
23.67
21.63
22.36
12.87
■14.82
18.53
'Assumed values based on excavated dirt swelling 25% over dirt in place.
2Number of men employed per day thawing ahead of the dredge is given as 3.5. This is thus explained: the night
pointman also acts as oiler on the dredge during the night a nd his time is thereby divided into one-half for the thawing
and one-half for the dredge.
Columns No. 1, 2, and 3 refer to the Linda Association claim on Center creek; No. 4, Bench 1, Center Creek;
the Tundra Association; and No. 6, the Otter creek property.
No.
January 17, 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 145
B.t.u. per pound. Then : according to the number of men employed.
B.t.u. The table presented contains only the actual operat-
2850 lb. of solids raised 8°, from 28° to 36°, m„ expenses, no charges for management, interest on
2850 X 8 X 0.2 4,560 . . , , . . „,, . , . ..
investment, or depreciation of the outht being consid-
260 lb. ice raised 4°, from 28° to 32°, 260 X 4 , . ' , , * , ± . . , . ,° .
05 520 ered or included. No. 1 to o. inclusive, are the figures
260 lb. ice at 32° to water at 32°, 260 x 142... 36,920 for underground stope-mining where the steam points
260 lb. water raised 4°, from 32° to 36°, 260 x are used in a horizontal position. No. 6 contains the
4 x 1.0 1,040 data with regard to thawing ahead of a dredge where
the steam points are used in a vertical position.
Total heat required for the ice 3S.480 38,480 m, , , , • ,, „ ,, , ,, ....
M The tuel used in all of the above cases is California
_, . , . . . , » . ,„ „,„ crude oil. averaging 17.5°B., weight 7.912 lb. per iral-
Total heat required per cu. yd. of ground. 43,040 .
Ion, and containing 18.000 B.t.u. per pound or 142,41 ti
This plainly illustrates the rapid increase of heat B.t.u. per gallon.
required for only a small increase of ice per cubic The foregoing data are compiled from the common
yard, and it shows further that under these conditions practice among some of the best miners on Seward
the ice requires 92.5 times as much heat as the solids. Peninsula. Alaska, but which could no doubt be im-
With crude oil of a fuel value of 18.000 B.t.u. per proved under scientific management. Judging from
pound or 142,416 B.t.u. per gallon : or with coal of a the fuel consumption, it is evident that it requires
SETTING A 20-FT. STEAM POINT.
ARRANGEMENT FOR THAWING AHEAD OF DREDGE.
fuel value of 12,000 B.t.u. per pound ; and assuming
the efficiency of boiler and distributing plant at 50%,
there will be required in the above example to thaw
one cubic yard of frozen ground :
43,040
= 4.782 lb. of crude oil, or
9000
43,040
71,208
43,040
6000
ss 0.604 gal. of crude oil, or
= 7.173 lb. of coal.
The variation in the cost of fuel noted in the ac-
companying data is due partly to the fact that in gen-
eral the prices have been raised during the last year,
although some unexpired contracts maintain the for-
mer and lower prices; and partly to the different
freight rates, which are proportional to the various
distances between the supply station at Nome and the
mines, being lower during the winter than the sum-
mer season.
The cost of labor for this particular work, firemen
and pointmen, is $3.50 and $4, respectively, during
the winter, and $5.50 and $6. respectively, during the
summer season. Board, including fuel and cooks'
wages, ranges from $1.08 to $1.35 per man per day.
from 80 to 100% more fuel during the winter than
during the summer for underground drift-mining. Fuel
for thawing ahead of a dredge appears very high. This
is principally due in this case to the ground, which
contains between 60 and 85% ice. Labor, duty per
man per day for thawing, varies to a great extent,
as it depends largely on the composition of the de-
posit, whether it is sand, light or coarse gravel, or
ground containing large rocks which render the driv-
ing of the steam points difficult.
Miners frequently overlook some of the most vital
factors relative to the most efficient and economical
means of thawing, such as : ascertaining and gauging
the proper distance between the steam points ; the
correct time of steaming: the proper time for the dirt
to lie idle between thawing and excavation to evenly
absorb and equalize the heat transmitted. The suc-
cess of the venture depends greatly on the proper ad-
justment of these factors. The thawing of deep ground
for dredging purposes has so far proved more or less
unsuccessful, due principally to the steam condensing
and losing its greatest heating value before reaching
the end of the steam point. This, however, is only a
matter of application and can be adjusted under a
proper system.
146
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
Rhodesian Crushing Plants
The varying characteristics of Rhodesian ores in the
different mining lields of Matabeleland and Mashona-
land have resulted in the employment of various types
of reduction and treatment plants at the different
mines. With the exception of the battery of Nissen
stamps running in the City Deep mill, all the reduc-
tion plants of the Witwatersrand are of practically
uniform pattern, and consist of ordinary gravitation
stamps and tube-mills. The stamps are of varying
weights in different mills, and there are two or three
sizes of tube-mills employed; otherwise the reduction
plants at work from one end of the Reef to the other
are of the same type and design. The Transvaal Cham-
ber of Mines output sheet is thus a very different
schedule from that issued by the Rhodesian Chamber
of mines, in so far as details of crushing plant are con-
cerned. The Rhodesian statement, apart from the nu-
merous small 'dolly' plants in operation, shows that,
in addition to stamps, the following types of crushing
plant are in use : Chilean mills, Gates rolls, Hunting-
ton mills, grinding pans, pneumatic mills, Eureka
crushers, and internal rollers. The list is as follows:
Matabeleland
Agincourt: 5 stamps and 1 grinding pan.
Bushtick: 24 stamps and 3 tube-mills.
'C: 10 stamps and 1 Chilean mill.
Carry : 1 Huntington mill.
Colleen Bawn : 6 stamps and 1 grinding pan.
Lonely Reef: 20 stamps and 3 tube-mills.
Nelly : 2 Huntington mills.
Old Nic : 15 stamps and 4 grinding pans.
AVinifred : 1 internal roller.
Cinderella: 1 Eureka crusher.
Collingwood: ball-mill.
Gaika: 5 stamps and 1 Chilean mill.
Globe & Phoenix: 40 stamps and 10 grinding pans.
Gothic: 15 stamps and 2 grinding pans.
Red Hill: 1 Chilean mill.
Selukwe Columbia: 1 Chilean mill and 3 grinding
pans.
Wanderer: 4 Gates rolls.
Mashonaland
Battlefields: 2 Chilean mills.
Brilliant: 7 stamps and 1 grinding pan.
Concession: 5 stamps. 1 Chilean mill, ami 2 grind-
ing pans.
Dowry : 1 pneumatic mill.
Dreadnought: 1 Chilean mill.
Giant: 30 stamps and 2 tube-mills.
Pickstone: 10 stamps and 1 Chilean mill.
Shepherds: 5 stamps and 1 tube-mill.
Thistle-Etna : 1 Chilean mill.
Eldorado Banket: 20 stamps. 2 Chilean mills, and
8 grinding pans.
Kimberley Mashonaland : 6 stamps and 2 tube-mills.
Louise Grand: 1 Huntington mill.
It will be evident from the above that there is con-
siderable scope existing in Rhodesia for the various
makes of crushing appliances, other than gravitation
stamps. Any new type of crushing or fine-grinding
machinery, provided it does effective and economical
work, appears to be assured of a fair trial ; and suc-
cess, once established, is likely to induce other prop-
erties to take the device up. — South African Mining
Joxirnal.
Detection oi the Platinum Metals in
Cupellation Beads
sIt has long been known that the presence of small
amounts of platinum in cupellation beads causes a
surface crystallization visible to the naked eye, and
according to experiments by C. O. Bannister and G.
Patchin, the following conclusions are arrived at:
(1) In the silver-gold beads the crystallization of sil-
ver and of gold is distinctly traced in the structure.
The visual appearance of beads composed of equal
amounts of gold and silver is shown to be similar to
that of beads containing over 1.6% of platinum.
(2) It is shown to be possible by a simple micro-
scopic examination to detect platinum in cupellation
beads when present below 1.6% ; that is to say, when
present below the amount necessary to cause crystal-
lization visible to the naked eye. (3) The presence
of iridium in small quantities may be detected in sil-
ver beads by the strained appearance of the crystals
caused by internal stresses. (4) The presence of
traces of rhodium may be detected by a crystallization
of the beads in which the facets of the crystals are
distinctly visible. When over 0.037f of rhodium is
present, this is indicated by a bluish gray color and
a large amount of spitting. (5) Ruthenium is indi-
cated in cupellation beads by a black crystalline de-
posit firmly attached to the bottom edge of the beads,
and in the experiments carried out was always asso-
ciated with a herringbone-like structure when exam-
ined by the microscope. (6) Palladium causes a struc-
ture similar to that found in the presence of platinum,
but yields satisfactory evidence of its presence by
the coloration of the parting acid. (7) No specific
indications are afforded, by the tests carried out, of
the presence of osmium. (8) The indications obtained
of the presence of iridium are found to apply equally
well to osmiridium.
Milling plants on the Comstock lode in 1875, accord-
ing to the Virginia Chronicle of December 1913, con-
tained the following equipment :
Mills 41 Agitators 20
Stamps 890
Pans 352
Settlers • • • • 156
Clean-up pans 29
Capacity of mills, tons
per day 1400
Several of these mills were treating tailing only.
♦Abstract from Bulletin No. Ill of the Institution of Min-
ing and Metallurgy.
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
147
Evolution of Suction-Gas Power
in Western Australia
By J. C. Auldjo
The first suetion-gas plant at Kalgoorlie was installed
on the Great Boulder mine in 1907 for firing roasting
furnaces. The experiment proved a failure, as it was
found that there was not sufficient heat in gas generated
from charcoal when it came to forced work, and the
management reverted to the wood-fired furnaces to
get the required output from them. In 1908 a suction-
gas plant was installed on the Great Boulder No. 1
Co.'s St. George mine at Mt. Magnet, but proved a
source of annoyance for a time until it was under-
stood. About the same time Messrs. Moss Bros, in-
stalled a small plant at their treatment works at Kal-
goorlie. In 1909 two suction-gas engines of 50 hp. each
were installed in Kanowna to drive custom stamp-mills,
and, in the same year, six suction-gas engines varying
from 30 up to 80 hp. were installed in small treatment
plants around Kalgoorlie. Although giving general
satisfaction and requiring little attention, even from
laymen, there was a constant liability to intermittent
trouble from the sudden over-heating of the cylinder.
which no one could explain. At this time Mr. Truman,
a custom mill operator, installed an 80-hp. engine on
the Mt. Ferrum mine, and discovered that the cause
of the trouble was the opening of the air valve too
wide, and excessive heat resulting from an excess
of hydrogen in the burning gas. Mr. Truman gen-
erously made his discovery known, and, since then, no
complaints regarding suction-gas plants have been
heard, as it was proved that any excess of heat could
be immediately checked by regulating the air-valve.
Since then the number of these engines has largely in-
creased, and is still increasing. At all the outside
centres, such as Ora Banda. Leonora, Mt. Morgans,
Black Range. Meekatharra. and Bullfinch, suction-gas
power has quite superseded steam for operating treat-
ment plants. In spite of the economy which can be
effected by their adoption, gas engines are unlikely to
supersede steam on the large mines at Kalgoorlie, as
large electric plants have been installed. The great
advantage of suction-gas plants is that they require
little attention and practically no technical knowledge.
So far as Western Australia is concerned all the plants
were operated by charcoal-gas generators well into
1912, when the Cambridge generator, previously tried
in New Zealand, was introduced. This generator has a
down instead of an up draft, and can be fired with
wood, shavings, or sawdust, in addition to coal, lignite,
coke, or charcoal. In January. 191:5. Messrs. Jordan
and Degenhart, two engineers on the staff of Bewick,
Moreing & Co.. devised the Commonwealth generator,
also a wood consumer. By tests with a 200-hp. Cross-
ley generator, using charcoal costing $14.16 per ton
against a Commonwealth generator using wood costing
$3.84 per ton, they found that the cost of power could
be reduced from 30 to 20 cents per ton of ore treated,
the reduction being 7.5c. in fuel and 2.5c. in upkeep.
The proportion of charcoal consumed to wood being
100 to 172. The test was made with a 200-hp. Crossley
engine, single cylinder, 24-in. diameter by 32-in. stroke
and working at 166 revolutions per minute. This
drove a 20-stamp-mill of 1250-lb. stamps, Krupp tube-
mill and vacuum-filter, treating 185 tons of ore per day.
The comparative cost of fuel per brake horse-power
hour tested at Kalgoorlie is as follows: steam, with
wood costing $3.12 per ton, 0.70c. ; suction gas. with
charcoal costing $14.16 per ton, 0.64c; and Common-
wealth gas generator, with wood costing $3.12 per ton.
0.30 cents. There are now three down-draught wood-
gas generators on the market, the Cambridge, Com-
monwealth, and Akroyd, for all of which points of
superiority are claimed. The Commonwealth is easily
getting ahead of its rivals, and is being installed on
A 250-HP. COMMONWEALTH GENERATOR USING WOOD IN 6-FT.
LENGTHS. THIS SUPPLIES GAS FOR A 220-HP. TANDEM GAS
ENGINE DEVELOPING 183 I. HP. CONSTANT. AT THE QUEEN OF
THE HILLS MINE, MEEKATHARRA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
many of the mines, managed by the firm of Bewick
Moreing & Co. Three of these generators of 380 lip.
each, and consuming 6-ft. lengths of wood, are shortly
to be installed on the Sons of Gwalia mine at Leonora,
to operate a 660-hp. 4-cylinder Kynock gas engine, and
two Crossley engines of 400 and 167-hp., respectively.
Similar generators of 200-hp. have been installed on
the Yuanmi and Queen of the Hills mines. Ex-
cept on the larger mines these suction-gas plants are
in charge of laymen with other duties to attend to, as
no engineer's certificate is equired. no technical
knowledge appears to be essential, and firing has only
to be done twice a shift.
148
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
Tin Mining in Tasmania
The Editor:
Sir — The successful exploitation of very low-grade
mines always calls forth the admiration of mining men
in parts of the globe where, on account of expensive
transport and inefficient labor, the working of such
mines is an impossibility. Therefore, everyone en-
gaged in tin mining in this country will have read with
interest the account of the Anchor mine in Tasmania,
in the Mining and Scientific Press of October 18, 1913.
At this property ore containing as low as 2.38 lb. of
tin per ton is treated by stamp-milling and concen-
trating.
Any tin miner in Bolivia, and probably in other
parts of the world, excepting Australia, would con-
sider himself to have attained perfection in tin dress-
ing, if he could succeed in making an average mill
tailing of 2.3, or even 3 lb. of tin per ton. Assays of
tailing at the leading mines of Cornwall are given as
3 to 6 lb. metallic tin per ton for sand, and 7 to 9.5 lb.
for slime, according to The Mining Magazine of April
and June 1913. In Bolivia, where the minimum tin
content of ore milled is 2 to 3%, and might average
8%, losses are much higher, even in modern and well
equipped plants. As an example, I will mention that
the lowest tailing assays, which I have ever obtained
from a fine grained 6% ore was 0.32% for the sand,
and 0.65% for the slime, corresponding to 7.2 and
14.6 lb. metallic tin per long ton, respectively. Tailing
assays from other mills here are difficult to obtain
because the tailing is not automatically sampled.
It is to be regretted that no particulars are given
about the methods of concentrating the low-grade ma-
terial at the Anchor mine. From the published data
I tried to figure the extraction of tin in the milling
process, but found a strange discrepancy. This was
that the tin in the concentrate amounted to 302.003.07
lb., which had been recovered from 104.732 tons of ore
containing 2.38 Tb. per ton. According to this, the
quantity of metallic tin in the millheads was only
249,262.6 lb., from which 302.003 lb. was obtained, if
the concentrate is calculated in long tons, and 269.-
645.6 lb., if the short ton is used. These figures call
for extractions of 120 and 108%, respectively. How-
ever perfect the method of dressing may be at the
Anchor mine, it is obvious that these results are im-
possible, and some mistake must have been made in
the data, probably in the tin content of the ore. On
such low-grade material an extraction of 50% would be
very food work, as is proved by the results of the
Cornwall Tailings Co.. England, which, in spite of all
efforts, cannot raise its extraction above 40%. This
Company is treating material of 19 lb. metallic tin
per ton, seven times richer than the ore at the Anchor
mine is supposed to be. On the other hand, Tasmanian
tin ores have a reputation of being very pure, and it
might be possible to get a better recovery than in
Cornwall, although the ore is so much poorer. 1 hope
it will not hurt the feelings of the engineer in charge
of this Tasmanian tin mine if an extraction of 50%
is assumed. A tin content of 5.76 or 5.15 lb. per ton
is arrived at, depending whether the long or short ton
has been used for the weight of the concentrate. These
figures look more reasonable, and agree better with
results from another Tasmanian mine, namely, that of
the Mount Bischoff Tin Mining Co., which recovers
about 7 lb. metallic tin per ton of ore.
It is easy to prove that ore with 2.38 lb. tin per ton
could not be profitably treated with a working cost of
$0.84. If the average price of tin during 1912 averaged
£205, the value of one ton of concentrate of 71.6%
was £146 15s., less smelting charges of about £6, ac-
cording to The Mining Magazine of March 1912. This
leaves a value of about £140 15s., equal to $680 per
ton of concentrate, or $0,425 per pound of tin. There-
fore an extraction of 1.97 lb. tin per ton would be
required to pay expenses, corresponding with an ex-
traction of over 82% on 2.38-lb. ore. Such an ex-
traction is impossible with a ratio of concentrating of
nearly 700 to 1, and rock of this grade does not de-
serve the name of ore. Anyhow, it is remarkable
enough, that material of 5 to 6 lb. tin per ton can be
worked at a profit, and I am certain that it would be
greatly appreciated by the tin mining community,
here and elsewhere, if Tasmanian engineers would give
a detailed description in the technical press of the
mining and treatment methods of an ore which would
be considered waste in most other countries.
M. G. F. Sohxlkix.
Maehacamarca. via Oruro, Bolivia, November 23.
[ The last report of the Anchor Tin Mining Co.
showed a loss of $8500 on the year's operations, show-
ing that Mr. Sohnlein is correct as to the property
being worked at a loss, yet not, nearly so much as his
figures would indicate. The Anchor tin mine is known
as being the lowest grade in the world, and every-
thing is in its favor for cheap work. Mt. Bischoff
costs total $1.15 per ton, using similar methods of
treatment. It might interest Mr. Sohnlein to know
that in New South Wales, dredges are handling gravel
containing 1 lb. and under of tin per cubic yard, at a
profit. Of course dredging is considerably cheaper
than open-cut mining and stamp-milling, yet these re-
sults are obtained. Tasmania produces 3700 long tons
of black tin. 65% metallic, per annum, and this comes
from low-grade mines where the tin ore is either
treated by hydraulicking. or simple mining and mill-
ing methods. Most of the black tin produced in Tas-
mania is treated by the Mt. Bischoff smelter at Launces-
ton, and metallic tin is exported. — Editor.]
January 17, 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
14!)
Special Correspondence
BUTTE, MONTANA
Review of the Mineral Industry, 1913.
No new mines of importance were opened in Montana
coalfields during the year. The three principal producing
fields are Red Lodge in Carbon county, Roundup in Mussel-
shell county, and the Belt field in Cascade county, supplying
respectively the Northern Pacific, the Milwaukee, and the
Great Northern railway systems. Statistics issued by the
state coal mine inspector estimate the 1913 production at
3,365,000 tons. Except for railway use the increase of pro-
duction from Montana coalfields was not important. Wyo-
ming on the south, and Alberta on the north furnish better
coal for retail consumption, while the coke industry in Mon-
tana is dead. The clean hard coke now used at Montana
smelters comes from Colorado and Canada. The strike of
the coal miners in the Trinidad fields of Colorado is having
an indirect effect on the Montana coal trade. Much of the
coal used in southwestern Montana comes from the Wyoming
fields, but the coal scarcity in Colorado has made a better
market there for the Wyoming coal, so that Montana cus-
tomers have been neglected. This has undoubtedly increased
the sales of Montana coal at home. In western Montana, some
attempt has been made to mine and market the Miocene lig-
nites. Their poor storage qualities, high ash, and low heating
power restrict their use to limited markets near the mine.
The immediate future of the coal industry in Montana looks
none too bright. Beside the better coal which comes in from
neighboring states, it now appears that the railways and other
power consumers are to use hydro-electric power in place of
coal. The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has taken the initia-
tive and displaced nearly all its steam plants with electricity
from water-power. In like manner electric locomotives have
displaced steam traction almost entirely on the Butte, Ana-
conda & Pacific railway. Now comes the Chicago. Milwaukee
& St. Paul railway with plans matured and equipment in part
ordered for the electrification of 450 miles of its main line
from Harlowton, Montana, to Avery. Idaho. No definite an-
nouncements have been made so far by the other transconti-
nental roads; but the prediction can be safely made that they
will all be electrified within the next few years. Not that
water-power can supply them all. but wis engines in power-
plants at the coal mines will displace the present wasteful
system of separate power units with each train load.
There was no production of oil and gas in Montana in 1913.
but mention is made of it here because of the several serious
attempts which have been made during the year to find com-
mercial fields. Across the state from north to south, east of
the Rocky Mountains, more or less drilling has been done, but
so far without success. The zinc-mining industry in Montana
is particularly interested in the possible development of
natural gas. The heaviest burdens which the zinc mines of
this state have to bear are the freight rates to. and treatment
charges of. the zinc smelters in the Mississippi Valley.
The one operating cement plant in Montana, at Trident, on
the Mississippi river, has had a successful year, and is said
to have been operated nearly to capacity, which is 1500 bbl.
per day. South of Livingston, near Gardiner, another cement
plant is in course of erection.
No phosphate rock is mined in Montana as yet. but the U. S.
Geological Survey has done a lot of prospecting for it, and has
reserved a number of areas where it has been found. The
smelters have so far taken no active steps toward the use of
sulphuric acid in the manufacture of fertilizer.
The sapphire mines at Yogo. in Fergus county, are reported
to have had a prosperous year.
The important gold-producing counties are Madison, Silver-
bow, Broadwater, Fergus, Blain, and Lewis and Clark. The
source of the gold varies widely. In Madison county the four
dredges of the Conrey Mining Co. are the chief producers.
In Silverbow county the gold is a by-product of the copper
ore, and does not amount to much. It takes 5,000,000 tons of
ore to yield 30,000 oz. of gold, which means about 12c. per ton.
The milling ores are found in Fergus and Blain counties, both
of which contain several cyanide plants. Many other coun-
ties of the state yield various amounts of gold, but are not
comparable in importance with those above mentioned.
Silverbow county so far excels all other counties of the
state in silver production that the others need hardly be men-
tioned. It should produce close to 11,000,000 oz. again, while
the rest of the state may total 1,500,000 oz. The silver from
Butte, in Silverbow county, is chiefly a by-product of the
copper ore, averaging about two ounces per ton of ore mined.
Jefferson and Granite counties are the others which each pro-
duce several hundred thousand ounces of silver. The ore is
mostly shipped to smelters for treatment, and is not milled
MAP OF WESTERN MONTANA.
in local plants. Beaverhead county will show an increased
silver production for 1913, because of the reopening of the
Hecla district.
Copper production is of course the most valuable mineral
industry of Montana. The other copper districts of the state
are hardly worth mentioning. Their sponsors keep heralding
them as 'second Buttes,' but there are only three other
counties that will pass the 100,000 lb. mark for the year.
These are Beaverhead, Broadmate, and Granite counties.
The Coeur d'Alene produces more lead in a day than Mon-
tana does in a month. Montana has no important lead mines.
The lead which Montana produced in 1913, came from ores
mined chiefly for their precious metal content. Many counties
in the state ship some lead ore. but most of it conies from
Jefferson, Silverbow, Beaverhead. Cascade, and Lewis and
Clark counties. If electric smelting of complex sulphides
proves practicable, there are many idle mines in Montana
which will be able to ship a lead product.
Zinc mining is becoming an important industry at Butte.
For 1913, Montana will be credited with about 85,000,000 lb.
of zinc, nearly all from the Butte & Superior mine at Butte.
For Butte, the zinc outlook is bright, and it is probable that
other mines will become zinc producers within the next few
years. In other districts the zinc mines have not shown much
progress. The zinc generally occurs with other sulphides
150
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17. 1914
which prevent satisfactory wet concentration. If the hydro
or electro-metallurgists bring forth something practical the
situation will be changed, but under present conditions there
is no promise of important zinc production in any other part
of Montana but Butte.
Tungsten has been found in several localities in Montana,
but apparently not under commercial conditions as yet, for no
production is reported for 1913. There has been some talk of
the molybdenum in Emigrant canon, Park county, but no ship-
ments have been made, to my knowledge.
No railroads have been built in Montana during the past
year primarily to open up mining country, but some have been
built which benefit mineral districts. The Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul has built branches in Fergus county, improving
transportation conditions to several mining districts. Both
the Milwaukee and the Great Northern have been building
through parts of eastern Montana, which may contain com-
mercial coalfields and possibly oil and gas. A railroad used
principally for ore transportation is the first in Montana to
adopt electric locomotives. The Butte, Anaconda & Pacific
railway is now using electric haulage on both its passenger
and freight trains. The electric power comes from Great
Falls, 130 miles distant.
The mining industry is considerably interested in hydro-
electric developments in Montana. Power is made cheaper,
cleaner, more dependable, and less expensive to install; and
for the hydro-electric processes it is indispensable. Most of
the developed water-power in the state is on the Missouri
river and its headwaters in various places. In addition, how-
ever, the Clarke fork of the Columbia at Thompson Falls is
being harnessed, and power from that source will soon be
available. At present the hydro-electric plants in Montana can
furnish 72,000 horse-power.
No unexpected developments of importance were made in the
Butte mines in 1913. No new mines of importance have come
to the front. The disseminated copper of the Butte & Duluth
mine has been proved by drilling to be more extensive than
was anticipated. The Butte & Superior Copper Co. has its
zinc mine on a better producing basis. The Anaconda company
has begun prospecting for zinc in the old Nettie mine west of
Big Butte, and will sink a deep shaft there. The Rainbow
Lode Development Co. is prospecting for zinc east of the.
Butte & Superior: its shaft is nearly 1000 ft. deep now.
The Southern Cross mine in the Georgetown district has
been shipping steadily to the Anaconda smelter. Its present
rate of production is 250 tons per day. The Barnes-King
Mining & Development Co. has had the most successful year of
its existence. It bought the North Moccasin mine in Fergus
county and paid for it out of profits from the mine. The
Company is also prospecting the Piegan-Gloster mine at Marys-
ville. The mines in the Little Rockies, in Blaine county, were
not particularly active in 1913. The Ruby Gulch Co. was run-
ning until the mill burned down last fall. The Keating mine
and the Ohio mine in the Radersburg district were producing
during the year, but no new developments of importance were
made in Radersburg.
PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN
Review of the Wisconsin Zinc Industry, 1913.
In all respects save one, 1913 was the greatest year that the
Wisconsin zinc-lead fields ever experienced. There was as
much exploration of ore ranges in the centre of active mining
operations and virgin ground as during the boom period of
190fi. While there were only a few new power, mining, and
concentrating plants built during the year, it was one of the
best years considered from the viewpoint of building opera-
tions. The high prices for metal which started with the year
were reflected in exceedingly good prices for ore, and mining
companies all over the field, acting on the presumption that
another such year as 1912 would be enjoyed in the field, ex-
erted extra efforts to secure a maximum production. A steady
decline in prices for spelter set in about the middle of Febru-
ary, which continued throughout the remainder of the year,
and the cheerful conditions prevailing soon after the first of
the year gave way to discouragement, a curtailed production,
in some quarters reduction of working forces, and in others
a complete shut-down indefinitely. From the standpoint of
profits, the past year gave little to the producer compared
with 1912. One thing especially noteworthy, and to the great
credit of the operators, is the fact that wages were maintained
all the year in spite of declining markets. Another feature,
equally noticeable, proved conducive to the fine production re-
ported, was in the competition between ore buyers, particu-
larly the lower grades, in which the Mineral Point Zinc Co.
almost eclipsed the other smelters. The increased offerings
enabled many low-grade producers to keep operating who
otherwise might have been compelled to suspend operations
altogether.
The principal producers in the field during the year were
the New Jersey Zinc Co.; the Wisconsin Zinc Co., a subsidiary
organization of the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co., under
NATIONAL ZINC CO. S SEPARATING PLANT.
the personal management of Homer S. Snow: the Vinegar Hill
Zinc Co.; the Cleveland Mining Co.; and the Frontier Mining
Co. A conservative estimate of purchases made in the field
by the New Jersey Zinc Co. was about $1,000,000. The Wis-
consin Zinc Co. purchased the East End and Federal mines,
and 500 acres of mining lands in the New Diggings district.
The Vinegar Hill Zinc Co. operated seven mines scattered over
the field, in addition to a large ore-separating plant at Cuba.
The Frontier Mining Co. developed and equipped six mines,
built an electrostatic separating plant of the Huff type at
Linden, and made a large output of ore. Milwaukee capital-
ists were active in five of the fifteen mining camps of the
field. The Cleveland Mining Co. installed two new modern
mining equipments, besides performing considerable useful
prospect work, and developing two new zinc ore producers.
Reviewing the field by districts the following more important
events transpired: The New Jersey Zinc C«. purchased the
Highland, Franklin, and Minter mines at Highland, at a cost
of $250,000. All were more or less equipped. The central
power-plant of the Kennedy mine was enlarged and remodeled
at great cost, two new mines were developed, and a pump shaft
with complete equipment at a cost of $10,000. The O. P. David
mine at Montfort. the only producer in this district, de-
veloped new orebodies and completed a new shaft, also pumps
and a Lawson aerial tram. The Linden district boasted six
active producing mines, the Ross Bros.. Glanville. Optimos No.
1 and 2; Hinkle. and Saxe-Pollard. Big finds of zinc ore were
made in all except the Hinkle. Mineral Point showed little
mining activity. The Mineral Point Public Service Co. in-
creased its capacity to furnish electric power for the northern
half of the field. Heavy consignments of carbonate of zinc ores
were delivered to the New Jersey Zinc Co., from Colorado. New
January 17. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
151
Mexico, and Arizona. The Mifflin district reported shipments
of zinc ore from three stations, Harker, Rewey. and Living
ston. From Livingston came the ores of the Coker mine,
owned by the New Jersey Zinc Co. Also the ores from the
Rundell & Ellsworth mines, the property of the Vinegar Hill
Zinc Co. The Peni Mining Co., of Milwaukee, shipped from
Rewey and Harker. The Grunow, Peacock, B. M. & B. and
Lucky Six mines, active all year, delivered ore to Harker.
The Biddick mine, a new property, was developed and
equipped. Heavy purchases were made in this district by the
New Jersey Zinc Co. TheJSlaek mine passed out of existence
and the equipment offered for sale. Platteville saw a very
large decline in output, due to a long list of unexpected
events. The great Empire mine, for eight years a steadv pro-
ducer, paid $250,000 in dividends, and was worked out. Also
the Homestead was exhausted. The Klar-Piquette mine, the
heaviest dividend payer of this field, closed down the last week
in December on account of prices. The only active producer
during the year was the East End mine. The Empire roast-
ers ran double shift on ores from the Wisconsin Zinc Co.'s
mines. These two gave to Platteville the showing it made
for the year. Cuba City witnessed much prospecting and the
amalgamation of the Midway, Board of Trade, .larrett, and
Little Dick mines into one parent organization to be known
as the Little Dick Mining Co. The Wicklow was abandoned.
At Elmo near at hand the Vinegar Hill developed the Mas-
bruch mine. A double complement of lS-in. cross-head lift
pumps, the heaviest in the field, were installed here. The
Benton district took the lead over all its competitors for the
year with a production of over 46.000.000 lb. of zinc ore.
Six new mines were developed, equipped, and placed in oper-
ation, the Martin, Bull Moose, San Souci, Hird, North Blende
£ Ewing. The Frontier Fox, Crawhall. Indian Mound, Ewing.
and Lawyer & Temple mines gave to this district its splendid
output. About 20 low-grade producers with equipment were
put out of commission during the year. New Diggings fur-
nished the sensations of the year. Here, two new ore ranges
were proved by drills, exceeding in extent anything ever
before discovered in this field. The first was found on the
Thompson land adjoining the Crawhall mine on the east. An
east and west deposit was determined to be over 1100 ft. long,
from 40 to 65 ft. thick, and about 200 ft. wide. Shullsburg
experienced an 'off' year. Hazel Green prospered through the
operations of the Kennedy and Cleveland mines, both of
which averaged four cars of ore per week, all delivered to
Mineral Point. Two new mines were developed by the Cleve-
land Mining Co., the Lawrence and Scrabble Creek. Both
were supplied with independent plants operated by electricity.
The Wltherbee estate was purchased and will be mined from
the Cleveland side. Four-ton electric motors are being used
here for tramming ore to mill.
The production of ores for the year 1913, for the Wisconsin
zinc-lead field, by districts, is shown below:
Camp. Zinc, lb.
Benton 46,010,000
Haael Green 31,276.000
Platteville 30,132,000
Galena 26,458.000
Livingston 24,722,000
Linden 20.47H.000
Cuba 18.571.000
Shullsburg 18,396.000
Harker 6,836.000
Highland 2,886,000
Montfort 2.648,000
Mineral Point 2.365.000
Rewey 1,382,000
Dodgeville 608,000
Petosi 308,000
Total
233,074,000
Lead. 11).
Sulphur, lb
1,048.600
39,331,650
776.900
82,000
.",611.170
4.130,500
1.004.390
2,385,500
140.000
606.830
3,274,880
1,029,680
6,924,690
949,820
119.270
100,000
161 610
59,200
70,000
40,000
6,666.r, in
56,127.220
The above figures show actual deliveries from producing
mines, but included in same is the refined ore from separat-
ing plants. The Mineral Point Zinc Co. shipped during the
year to the smelters 430 cars of roasted zinc ore. equal to
31,520,000 lb. Among smelter representatives, the output was
divided as follows: Mineral Point Zinc Co., 51,521 tons: Gras-
selli Chemical Co., 21,459 tons; National Separating Co.. 11,313
tons; Illinois Zinc Co., 8495 tons; Empire Roasters, S360 tons;
M. & H. Zinc Co., 6636 tons; Linden Zinc Co., 2799 tons;
.loplin Separator Works, 2824 tons; American Zinc Co.. 2550
tons; Wisconsin Separating Co.. 550 tons; Sandoval Zinc Co.,
30 tons; total, 116,537 tons. There was left in storage at
various places in the field between 4000 and 5000 tons of
concentrate.
H. S. Snow, general manager for the Wisconsin Zinc Co..
when interviewed on the prospects for the current year, said:
"I am optimistic and think things will be better. I don't
look for anything big, but for a fair market." With condi-
tions fairly normal, Wisconsin should be able to produce not
less than 150,000 tons of zinc ore during the present year.
No appreciable gain in the production of lead ore need be
anticipated. Sulphur production will be less than that shown
for the year just past.
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
Native Labor. — White Miners and Strikes. — Gold Output.
The outlook for the Rand gold-mining industry is not very
bright. The darkest cloud is the chronic scarcity of native
labor; in fact, it may be stated that there is less available
for the mines today than has been the case for many years.
During the winter months, May to September, there is always
a shrinkage, but this year the scarcity of natives was much
accentuated by the ill advised strike in July. This drove
many of the more intelligent natives home to their kraals
at the first available opportunity. The result was that, in
July and August alone, the labor supply was depleted to
the extent of 20,000 natives at the gold mines alone. Fortu-
nately, the shrinkage of natives has decreased mouth by
month, until by the beginning of the year it is anticipated
that a slight gain may be shown in the returns. 1'p to July
1913 the output of gold on the Rand was showing the usual
steady increase, the May figures creating a highly creditable
record; but the strike and the attendant riots so upset the
industry that the growth of the first six months has been
converted into a loss. The total gold output for the year
will for the first time in the history of the Rand record a
decline. Several thousand Europeans have been dispensed
with from the mines, work is almost impossible to obtain.
and the closing down of several deep and low-grade mines
has not tended to improve matters. The strike brought no
material advantages to the men, simply because they had no
substantial grievances, but it has created a bad feeling be-
tween themselves and their employers, and a condition of
affairs not altogether pleasant to contemplate. The agitators
and socialists have made the best of their opportunity to
create ill feeling between the men and their employers.
On December 11 Sir Lionel Phillips, one of the leading
managers of the Eckstein group, was shot in the street while
proceeding from the Corner House to the Rand Club for lunch.
He was highly respected by everyone, and this dastardly
attempt on his life has given rise to the expression of much
indignation. Fortunately the shots did not prove fatal, and
the victim is progressing favorably.
The Chamber of Mines reports a serious decline in the
gold output lor November when compared with October. The
decrease for the whole of the Transvaal was no less than
44.945 07... of which the Rand alone is responsible for 43,195
oz. The shorter month is to some extent responsible for
this, but usually the output materially Improves, during the
last two months of the year. This year the continued shrink-
152
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January IT, 1914
age of native labor has made such an improvement impos-
sible. The total Transvaal output for November was 673,486
oz.. valued at £2,860,78S, of which 644,320 oz., worth £2,736,-
897, came from the Witwatersrand. It was confidently ex-
pected that the November output would at least reach a
total of £3,000,000, and it is clear that the total gold output
for 1913 will fall short of that recorded for the preceding
year. The Rand, however, still possesses some recuperative
power in reserve, and with an amelioration in the native
labor position, progressive outputs will again become the
order of the day.
NEW YORK
Bradf.n Mink. — First National Copper. — Cheap Siiakks.
Braden showed some improvement in output during Decem-
ber, presumably as a result of the 'all-star' staff now in
charge of technical operations, Pope Yeatman and Walter
Broadbridge having been on the ground for some time. It
is somewhat difficult to judge the state of affairs at Braden
by output figures, since the production during July was little
more than one-half that in June, and the October output
was double that for September. During December, the new
mill at the Braden treated 93,600 tons of 2.15'/, ore, but only
made a 70'/ recovery of the copper. The old mill treated
10,359 tons of 1.99% ore, with an average recovery of SO'/,.
It is evident that the new mill is being used to keep up
the output while the old one is being readjusted to obtain
better results. When both mills are tuned up, and if the
mine can furnish enough ore, which is perhaps open to doubt
at present, the monthly output of the Braden should show
a big increase.
New York is much interested in the reports from the
First National, at Coram, and while it is, of course, prema-
ture to suppose that all problems have been overcome be-
cause the results during the first two days seem good, they
are at least decidedly encouraging. Before getting excited
over First National, it is well to remember that the Cali-
fornia mine and the holding company are two different things.
The mine is owned by the Balaklala Consolidated Copper
Co., capitalized at $10,000,000, and was reported to have
about 2,000,000 tons of 2.6'/ copper ore and large reserves
of lower-grade material, so it has a future as a producer
if it can operate at a profit. The jubilation over solving the
sulphur difficulty ought not to obscure the fact that the
ore contains almost as much zinc as it does copper, and noth-
ing has been said as to what effect this is likely to have
on the processes for recovering the copper. If. by any chance,
the zinc could be recovered as well as the copper, the mine
ought to be very profitable. However, the $10,000,000 stock
of the Balaklala company is held by the First National Cop-
per Co. with a capital of $3,000,000. The shares of this con-
cern are $5 par, $3.75 having been paid on them, and were
boosted up as high as $S at one time by Lawson's well known
methods. Recently they were up to nearly $4, lint declined
to $3 as a result of market operations. First National has
been traded in a good deal on the Curb, but is not one of
the favorites of the outside market, where Tonopah Merger,
Canadian G. & S„ Big Four, West End. Braden. Giroux, and
various Cobalt companies lead in the number of sales re-
corded.
Speaking of the Curb, it is interesting to note that the
so-called assets of J. Thomas Reinhardt were sold at auc-
tion last week at an average rate of little better than two
shares for a cent. What they were like is indicated by the
fact that no purchaser appeared for large blocks of Porcupine
Northern. Central, and Southern, while North Carolina state
bonds of a face value of $108,000 sold for $165.
And in talking of making the best of a bad thing, it is
evident that the Assets Realization Co. is having heavy
going. This is a company which makes a business of re-
suscitating moribund organizations, and not long ago it took
over the Heinze ventures in addition to a long list of others.
Now it seems to be in need of assistance itself, for share-
holders are being solicited to subscribe to an issue of $1,000,-
000 in 6% notes. This organization holds about 450,000 shares
of Stewart, and that stock has been declining, perhaps in
the fear that it will be found necessary to put this on the
market.
LONDON
Affairs of iiie Great Cobar Copi'ER Company.
The directors of the Great Cobar Copper Co. have had an
anxious time during the past year, and their worries culmi-
nated this week when the election of two of their number
was challenged by the 'insurgents and dissentients.' The re-
sult of the poll was a near thing, and the vote of censure
was only defeated by a narrow margin. As readers of the
Mining and Scientific Press are aware, the Company owns
the Cobar copper mine, situated inland in New South Wales.
For many years the zone of secondary enrichment yielded
immense profits to the Australian owners. These men, being
sagacious in their day, knew that orebodies do not persist
in depth forever. If they were not fully aware of the prin-
ciple of the impoverishment of the mineral deposit in depth,
they knew that profitableness did not extend downward In-
definitely. As they were interested in Cobar commercially
rather than geologically, they wisely decided to realize future
expectations in ready cash, and complacently received the
suggestions of their friends to find buyers in London. After
one or two futile attempts, the deal was effected in 1906 on
an unusually grand scale even for London. The vendors re-
ceived £800,000 in cash and £206,000 in shares. Large sums
of money were raised for the reorganization of the develop-
ment scheme, and for the building of a modern metallurgical
plant. The share capital amounts to £932.710 and there are
£667.300 debentures. The engineers on whose reports the
Company was formed were C. M. Rolker. J. D. Kendall, and
W. J. Barnett. Strangely enough, their estimates as regards
copper content have not been verified in practice, for the re-
covery is nearer 2'/ than the 3.5'/ mentioned. Moreover the
gold and silver have not provided as useful an addition to
revenue as was expected. The Company also purchased the
Chesney copper mine, and coal properties near Lithgow. The
Cobar ore was highly basic and considerable silicious flux
had to be purchased. Subsequently an amalgamation was ef-
fected with the Cobar gold mine which contains silicious gold
ore with a small amount of copper. The two ores made an
efficient smelting mixture. There were many mistakes in con-
nection with the smelter. To begin with, the American firm
that secured the contract through its English representative,
repudiated the terms on which the contract was based, and
the work of estimating and distributing orders for the plant
had to be done a second time. Then when the plant was ready
all sorts of mishaps occurred, and the directors made a scape-
goat of the manager. They exhibited perspicacity when they
invited H. C. Bellinger to come from Montana to straighten
out the smelter. He did so well that they appointed him gen-
eral manager. This venture, however, did not bring prosperity,
and they and others are now blaming Mr. Bellinger, when
they should probably more justly be blaming the contrariness
of the ore deposit. He has resigned and the management has
been placed in the hands of Bewick. Moreing & Co.. whose
Australian representative, G. C. Klug. is to be in charge. As
far as can be ascertained, Mr. Klug is not to be continuously
resident, and is only to make periodical visits, still re-
taining control of the many interests of his firm. People in
London think this a peculiar arrangement, and argue that
if Mr. Bellinger could not attend to administration, mining.
and metallurgy, when the whole of his time was devoted to
the Company's work, how can .Mr. Klug be effective when only
putting in one-sixth of his time. The explanation surely must
Jauuary 17. 191-1
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
153
be that separate sub-managers are to be appointed for the
mine and the smelter, as has already been done in connection
with the concentrator, where G. A, Laird has recently been
put in control. This reminds me that the concentration plant
erected at the Chesney mine gave trouble owing to no qualified
man being on the spot. The Chesney ore is silicious and not
high in copper and gold. Consequently it has to be concen-
trated. The ore is amenable in jigs, hut the losses on tables
are serious, so that the Minerals Separation notation process
has been adopted. The jig department has not been at all
satisfactory, but on the other hand, the notation plant, by re-
covering 11'/, of the metallic content of the tailing and of the
reground jig-middling, has done extremely well. No doubt
Mr. Laird will soon put things on a more satisfactory foot-
ing. The worst feature of the position at Cobar. however, is
the present condition of the orebodies. The northern ore-
body, which was lost below No. 10 level, has not yet been
found, though the workings are now down to No. 14 level.
The central orebody shows a diminution in area, and a creep
in the southern and central orebodies has rendered 150,000
tons unavailable for stoping. at any rate for the present. It
- is convenient here to give some figures relating to present
output and reserve, the figures being for the year ended June
30, last. During this time 222,377 tons of Great Cobar ore
was smelted, together with 45,779 tons from the Cobar gold
mine. S738 tons of concentrate from Chesney, and some pur-
chased ore, making a total of 2S8.172 tons. This yielded 5811
tons of copper. 27,13fi oz. gold, and 127,543 oz. silver. The
average copper content recovered equaled 2.017' ', of the ore
treated. According to Mr. Bellinger, the ore reserve was 1,-
468,749 tons averaging 2.5'; copper. At the Cobar gold mine,
the reserve is estimated at 308,545 tons averaging 1.7'; cop-
per and 6.8 dwt. gold. At the Chesney. the orebody is nar-
rowing with depth and the ore reserve is estimated at 612,986
tons averaging 2.58';, copper. The accounts for the year show
a working profit of £81,925. and £34.355 was brought in from
the previous year. Out of the balance, £40,009 went to de-
benture interest, and £57,500 to the purchase of debentures,
while £48.414 was written off the account for reorganizing the
metallurgical department, an expense incurred a few years
ago. The seriousness of the situation may be gauged by the
fact that W. Pellew-Harvey, a director who joined the board
on the absorption of the Cobar gold mine, felt it his duty to
take action and to visit the mine, at the same time studying
similar practice to be found alsewhere in Australia. His re-
port has been issued by the directors, and it will be found that
in many cases he is unable to agree with Mr. Bellinger's esti-
mates. Mr. Pellew-Harvey is known in the west of America,
and he is eminently a reliable man. Another inspection was
made during the past year, this time by C. S. Herzig who
went on behalf of a London group financially interested in
the Company. His report was much more optimistic. Be-
cause his more hopeful prognostigations have not been fulfilled,
this group commenced the agitation to which I referred at
the beginning of this letter. A meeting of dissentients was
called a month ago, when Rowland Feilding. a mining engineer.
and F. Kimber Bull, a lawyer, made an at lack on the present
board of directors. When the regular yearly meeting of share-
holders was held last week, the re-election of the chairman.
Andrew Haes, and of W. .1. Barnett, a director, was opposed,
and the names of Messrs. Feilding and Bull were put forward
as alternatives. The polling showed that a large amount of
genuine dissatisfaction exists among shareholders, for the old
hands were re-elected by a not very substantial majority.
The Cobar mine was expected to produce 10.000 tons of
copper per year, double the amount that has been possible.
The profits were expected to be sufficient to redeem £100,000
debentures every year and provide also handsome dividends
to the shareholders. The debenture holders have received their
interest, but an insignificant amount of the debentures has
hppn roHppmpfl The nresent nosition is far from satisfactorw
BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Britannia Mink and Operations. — The Indian River
District.
During the past year, the Britannia Mining & Smelting Co.,
that owns the Britannia mine, on Howe sound, acquired nearly
all of the mineral claims adjacent to and along the strike of
the mineralized zone, thereby securing a solid block of ground
nearly five miles east and west by about a mile wide north
and south. The amount of mineralization in the area has
always been recognized as of great extent, and the Company
has proved by working openings in one portion of the prop-
erty, known as the Fairview zone, that the mineralization
extends to a depth of over 2000 ft. below the summit of the
ridge, that it has a length of upward of 1200 ft. along the
strike of the zone, and a minimum width of approximately
500 feet. The Britannia mine is on the coast range, which is
built up principally of granitoid rocks, mostly coarse quartz
diorites or grano-diorites. and the mineralized zone of this
property occurs in an inclusion consisting largely of slate
alternating with a dark intrusive, probably a diorite-porphyry.
usually crushed and altered into a greenish chloritic schist.
In treating the low-grade ore, concentration is used, and
the most successful process so far attempted has been by
the Minerals Separation flotation process. The concentra-
tion is in the ratio of about 4 to 1. The production from
this property during 1913 was 212,000 tons of ore contain-
ing about 1.5'i copper, 40c. in gold, and from 0.5 to 1 oz.
silver per ton. The equipment is to be enlarged shortly by
the installation of a new concentrating mill with a daily
capacity of 2000 tons. The system of transportation of the
ores from the mine to the beach is being improved by the
construction of a double-track gravity tramway, one mile long,
with an average grade of 15%; also a switchback' track,
five miles long, with a Z'f, grade, on which gasoline locomo-
tives will be used; a 9 by 12-ft. tunnel 3600 ft. long, and a
1200-ft. vertical chute connecting the tunnel with the upper
mine workings.
The Indian river rises in the mountains about 8 miles to
the southeast of the head of Howe sound, and flows south,
emptying into the north arm of Burrard inlet, some distance
east from the city of Vancouver. The headwaters of this river
are situated about 6 miles east from the main workings of
the Britannia mine. Although trails have been covered by
Indians and trappers in this country for many years past,
it is only within the last three years that any mineral dis-
coveries have been reported in the neighborhood of the head-
waters of the Indian river. The prospectors who made these
discoveries for a long time considered that the mineralized
zone was an extension of the Britannia country, but an
examination which was made last summer showed that the
general geology is practically the same in both localities, yet
the wide zone of schists in which the Britannia orebodies
occur is lacking on this portion of the Indian river, so far
as at present known. Outcrops of chalcopyrite are. however,
found in a zone some 500 ft. wide, with a northwest and
southeast strike, and so far as at present known having a
length of about 10.0oii ft. and appearing 10 be rather paral-
leling the Britannia zone than as an extension. Because of
the heavy growth of underbrush, prospecting has been diffi-
cult. Although about 12 mineral claims, each 1500 ft. long
by 1500 ft. wide, have so far been located along this zone,
yet it is impossible until more work has been done 10 con-
nect up the various outcrops along the line of strike. it
would appear, however, as though there were a large num-
ber of lenticular deposits of copper ore in a quartzose gangue
rather than a well defined continuous lead. Some of the
outcrops have a width of from 10 to 25 ft., as proved by
stripping and open-cut work, but in no case could be found
sufficient work done to establish the length of any one outcrop
bevond 100 feet.
154
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
General Mining News
ALASKA
It is estimated that 35 dredges were operated in Alaska
in 1913, and that these produced gold to the value of about
$2,650,000, as against $2,200,000 in 1912. There were also 6
or 8 dredges which, for one reason or another, were not
operated in 1913. A number of others are under construction
or planned for, according to Alfred H. Brooks of the U. S.
Geological Survey.
Eight copper mines were operated on a productive basis
in 1913. It is estimated that about 42,000 tons of ore yielded
19,700,000 lb. of copper valued at $3,014,000, $160,000 of gold,
and $150,000 of silver. The decrease of over 9,000,000 lb.
in copper production compared with the previous year is due
to the fact that the largest producer was practically closed
down for about four months.
The Katalla oilfield continues to be the only place of any
importance in the petroleum industry in Alaska. Another
well was drilled in 1913 to a depth of about 800 ft. This,
and some of the old wells, by pumping furnished petroleum
for a small refinery. The gasoline, which is of high grade,
finds a ready market at the settlements on Prince William
sound and Cook inlet.
About 15 placer mines were operated in the Kenai penin-
sula during 1913, but work was hampered by low-water con-
ditions. Most of these were only very small operations, but
one relatively large hydraulic plant was at work on Resur-
rection creek, and two smaller ones on Bear creek. Pros-
pecting dredging ground on Kenai river was continued. The
hydraulic plant on Crow creek, north of Turnagain arm, was
operated throughout the open season.
Cordova
(Special Correspondence.) — The last payment, on the total
of $146,000, on the option of the Smith-Monahan properties
on Valdez creek, has been paid by the Valdez Creek Placer
Mines Co. One mile of 36-in. pipe was ordered from the
Joshua Hendy Iron Works of San Francisco, and this has
been shipped to the property. By July 1, 1914, it should be
complete. The daily capacity will be about 4000 cu. yd. of
gravel.
Cordova, December 25.
Fairbanks
About 150 placer mines were operated in the Fairbanks dis-
trict for a whole or a part of 1913. These gave employment
to about 1000 men in winter and 3000 in summer. Prelim-
inary estimates indicate that the value of the placer gold
production was about $3,450,000.
Iditarod-Innoko
As in the other Yukon camps, the shortage of water greatly
hampered mining operations. This condition, together with
the fact that certain claims were not worked because they
were being combined into large holdings for the purpose of
exploiting in a large way, led to a great curtailment of
gold output compared with the previous year. Preliminary
estimates indicate that the value of the gold production from
the Iditarod-Innoko districts was about $2,000,000, of which
about $200,000 is to be credited to the latter area. There
was some prospecting of lode claims, but the cost of mining
is so great that few have been attracted to quartz develop-
ment, according to Alfred H. Brooks of the U. S. Geological
Survey. In the Iditarod region the largest production came
from the mines on Otter and Flat creeks, but mining was
also done on Happy, Willow, Moore, and Chicken creeks and
in Glen gulch. The dredge on Flat creek was operated through-
out the summer, and plans have been made to install a boat
on Otter creek. The chief activity in the Innoko district in
1913 was on Little creek, where a considerable area of rich
new placer ground was discovered. Work was continued on
Spruce and Ganes creeks. Ophir creek is worked out and
practically abandoned. Yankee creek ground has been ac-
quired by a dredging company, and mining is at a standstill
pending the construction of a dredge.
Nome
Trade at Nome during the season of 1913 was as follows:
Vessels arrived, 43, of 79,143 tons register; general merchan-
dise from United States, 15,534 tons; fuel oil, 6719 tons; coal,
13,841 tons; lumber, 1,386,937 board feet; placer tin exported,
100 tons; and gold, 135,313 oz. Passenger arrivals were 1795,
and departures 2943.
Thirty-one dredges were operated for a part or the whole
of the summer, on the Seward Peninsula, according to Alfred
H. Brooks of the U. S. Geological Survey, with an estimated
gold recovery of a value of $1,800,000. These dredges had
COUNCIL, ALASKA.
a combined daily capacity of 33,300 cu. yd. Four new dredges
were erected in 1913, and several others were in course of
construction. Others are contemplated. In addition to 31
operated, there were 6 dredges idle in 1913. Of the dredges
engaged in productive mining, 11 were in the Nome, 11 in
the Solomon, 5 in the Council. 1 in the Kougarok, and 4 in
the Fairhaven, and 1 in Port Clarence district. Of other than
dredge mining there was very little.
Ruby
According to H. M. Eakin, placer mining in the Ruby dis-
trict, as a whole, has shown considerable advancement over
the previous year in spite of certain unfavorable circum-
stances. The distribution of profitable placers has proved
more irregular than was expected, so that after working out
limited areas many plants have had to take up prospecting
for new deposits rich enough to be worked instead of con-
tinuing actual mining. The season of 1913 was exceptionally
dry, so that only the plants equipped with pumping apparatus
could work at full capacity. All told, there were 41 plants
engaged in actual mining in the Ruby district, operating 38
claims on 14 different creeks and employing a total of about
230 men. There were also a number of prospecting out-
fits working on these and neighboring creeks. Of the 41
plants, 33 are equipped with steam machinery, aggregating
over 750 hp. The other S plants use manual methods.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
A fire occurred on the 200-ft. level of the Czar mine . on
December 31, but the helmet crew put it out after 24 hours'
fighting. Surveyors are working on the site in the Warren
district chosen by the Copper Queen company for its new
concentrating plant. This will treat the low-grade ores proved
on Sacramento hill.
Gila County
(Telegraphic Correspondence.) — The Inspiration flotation
plant has started work, and high recoveries are being made.
Miami, January 13.
(Special Correspondence.) — During December the Miami
mill treated 102,000 tons of ore yielding 3,300 lb. of copper.
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
155
Development of the Captain orebody is being actively car-
ried on. The 420-ft. or main tramming level is 75% com-
pleted, and work on the sub-levels is under way. An electric
pump of 2000 gal. per minute capacity has been installed on
the McLean ranch, near Burch, where the Company recently
sunk a 24-in. well, 120 ft. deep. It is capable of furnishing
a large amount of water, and is to be used as a reserve, in
addition to the Old Dominion supply.
The Inspiration 600-ton notation test-mill is in operation.
It will probably be worked three shifts per day with 25 men.
Rudolph Gahl will be metallurgist; C. E. Singer, of Los An-
geles, chemist; G. E. Hunt will be in direct charge of the
mill, and J. G. Flynn and C. G. Dressel will act as shift
bosses under him. J. L. Greninger will represent the Min-
erals Separation Co. locally. Construction work at the con-
centrating plant is proceeding satisfactorily. The ore-storage
bins and sampling mill will soon be ready for the corrugated-
iron covering. Another part of the incline conveyor housing
between the bins and coarse-crushing plant was completed
during the week. The American Bridge Co. has this work
in hand. Concrete is being poured for the air-compressor
foundations at the main east and west shafts. About 50
carpenters and helpers have been laid off, as the form work
here is finished. Concrete for the retaining walls at the
concentrator site is still in progress, but is nearly completed.
In December there was 4200 ft. of development covered in
the Inspiration mine. Further raises are being driven under
the Joe Bush ore dump.
Work at the Old Dominion mine in 19irs showed good results
generally, especially on the lower levels. It is intended to
install two 1200-gal. electric pumps at 1800 ft. when the 'A'
shaft is completed to that point. Skips replaced cages in
September last, and the new crushing and sampling system
was brought into use. Two 100,000-cu. ft. per minute fans
were started at the Kingdon and 'C shafts respectively. The
United Globe end of the mine showed satisfactory results.
A large quantity of machinery was erected at the 'A' shaft
and mill. The copper output in 1913 was about 30.000.000
pounds.
Globe, January 9.
Greenlee County
On New Year's day the old smelter of the Arizona Copper
Co. was shut down for good. It has been in operation for
about 35 years. The new plant is on the San Francisco river
below South Clifton. To a depth of 5 ft. around the old
plant, the ground is being excavated for treatment.
PtNAt. Cointv
The annual report of the Iron Cap Copper Co. states that
development in 1913 covered 1610 feet. At 650 ft. the stope is
485 ft., and at 800 ft. it is 47 ft. long. Ore shipments totaled
4899 tons yielding 763.822 lb. of copper. The year's profit
was $38,460.
Yavapai County
The Crosby mine is down 300 ft.. $4 ore has been opened,
and at 200 ft. another shoot has been recently cut. There is
a 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant on the property.
CALIFORNIA
Amaiiok Cointv
The Kennedy Company is being sued by Lingi Tonelli for
$10,000 damages, for personal injuries sustained in the mine
early in December. The case will be heard in San Francisco.
The contract for building the Plymouth mill is to be
awarded before the end of the month by Burch, Caetani &
Hershey at San Francisco.
The first of the four tailing wheels built by the Kennedy
M. & M. Co. was tested last Saturday and found to work
satisfactorily by the officers of the Company. Argument in
the Kennedy Exte»Bion-Argonaut case was concluded the
same day.
Eldorado County
Freight rates on ores between San Francisco, Sacramento,
and points on the Placerville branch of the Southern Pacific
railway have been reduced as follows:
Value of ore per ton. Present rate. New rate.
$50 to $75 $2.75
$60 $2.10
$70 2.25
$80 2.40
$100 2.50
Nevada County
The annual meeting of the Le Due Mining Co. was recently
held in San Francisco. B. A. Penhall is general manager
and vice-president. The long raise to the surface at the
mine is finished, and several veins were cut. At the Golden
Center mine, Grass Valley, the water is being removed by
an air-lift pump, after which an electric pump will be low-
ered. The Idaho-Maryland mine has been shut down tem-
porarily. Local miners have leased the Rose Hill at Grass
Valley.
Plumas County
Gravel mining in the southern part of the county is likely
to see a revival. A bond and lease has been taken on the
Claybanks mine by W. H. Loftus of Los Angeles. The prop-
erty is said to te an extension of the drift from the Feather
Fork mine.
Sierra County
At the Tightner the new shaft is down over 100 ft., the
vein being followed. It is 7 ft. wide at this point. The
stamp-mill is working full time.
Siskiyou County
A silver-copper property is being developed on Rail creek
by the Isabella Copper Mining Co., composed of Oakland
people. The vein is an extension of that in the Dewey mine,
near Gazelle. The McKeen mine, near Callahan, has been
bonded to J. S. Bagg and associates.
Shasta County
The Field process plant at Redding is now being tested.
Tuolumne County
The Springfield Tunnel & Development Co., at Sonora, has
driven its new S by 8-ft. drainage tunnel 100 ft. It is at
sufficient depth to drain the gravel deposit. The Company's
capital has been increased from $200,000 to $500,000. Marys-
ville men are developing claims near the App mine.
The Providence mine has opened rich ore on the 300 and
500-ft. levels, and the stamp-mill is working. J. F. Bluett is
superintendent. Work has been started at the New Albany.
The Draper is being unwatered. The owners of the Golden
Dawn are sanguine as to its prospects. Twenty men are em-
ployed at the Garfield. Eastern capitalists are arranging to
open the Seminole and Mayflower claims. The Black Oak
shaft is being deepened 200 ft. below the 1700-ft. point. Shaft
sinking will also be done at the Starr King. In the Syndicate
mine driving is in progress on the 200-ft. level.
COLORADO
Lake County (Leadvillk)
The ore and metal output of Leadville during 1913 was as
follows, according to The Herald Democrat:
Ores:
Lead carbonate, tons 16,984
Iron, tons 83,275
Sulphide, tons 121,676
Zinc sulphide, tons 52,689
Zinc carbonate, tons 157,286
Silicious, tons 21,450
Total 453,360
156
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
Metals:
Gold, ounces 49,261
Silver, ounces 3,315,270
Lead, pounds 23,498,390
Copper, pounds 2,059,911
Spelter, pounds 84,751,468
The total value was $9,040,359, against $11,182,616 in 1912.
Leadville's total mineral output to date is valued at $406,451,-
061. In the same journal, James M. Knight reviews the year's
work and present situation of the Leadville district. He con-
siders that the current year will be one of progress. The un-
watering of the 'down town' properties will be started at an
early date. From Carbonate hill the greatest tonnage of ores
was mined, the Western Mining Co. being the principal pro-
ducer. Carbonate of zinc came from the Wolf tone, and lead
ore from the Henriette claims. The Company's daily output
was 400 tons of ore from 700 ft. depth, and 200 men were em-
ployed. From the Star Consolidated Mines Co.'s lessees about
350 to 400 tons of carbonate of zinc, argentiferous iron and
lead ores were produced daily. About 100 men are employed.
The Castle View produces 75 tons of ore, while the Yankee
Doodle and Little Giant were actively operated. At Iron Hill,
the Iron-Silver Mining Co. shipped large quantities of iron,
lead, copper, and zinc ores, employing about 250 men. A num-
ber of lessees are working. The Louisville has been equipped
MAI' OF COLORADO
with a new hoist, and 75 tons of iron sulphide was shipped
daily. Ore worth $50 per ton has been opened in the Belgian.
About 150 tons of zinc sulphides per day was extracted from
the Colonel Sellers. The A. Y. & Minnie shipped zinc carbon-
ates part of the time, but only iron ore has been hoisted. At
Adelaide Park the old Adelaide property has been worked right
along by the owners and lessees. The Fairplay produced
about 20,000 tons of ore. A cyanide plant is to be erected to
treat low-grade ore. Breece hill is the centre of the gold-
bearing area. The Ibex is the largest gold producer in Lake
county. Six shafts are worked under lease, and 50,000 tons
of gold, silver, lead, copper, and zinc ores were mined. Very
rich shoots are occasionally cut. Proposed development by
the Dividend Mining Co. at the Big Four claims is important.
The main shaft is to be sunk to 1000 feet. Fair tonnages of
ore have been extracted from the St. Louis, Garbutt, Fanny
Rawlings, Bobby Burns, Penn Leasing Co., and others. Twenty-
two sets of lessees are working in the Monarch Mining Co.'s
claims at South Evans. At the Walker claim the Mosquito
Range Co. let a contract to drive an adit until ore was cut,
about 400 feet. At Big Evans gulch a considerable amount
of work was done. At Birdseye the Cosmopolitan adit was
driven 900 ft., cutting promising stringers of gold ore. The
usual quantity of work was done at the mines on Fryer hill,
Canteibury hill, Yankee hill, Rock hill, California gulch. Ball
mountain, Empire gulch, Iowa gulch, and other parts of the
district. The Philadelphia Leasing & Development Co. has
opened 20,000 tons of ore on Yankee hill. The Yak tunnel
was advanced into the Diamond and Vega ground near the
head of Big Evans gulch. An interior shaft was sunk 110 ft.
from near the heading, and at 100 ft. drifts driven to the ore-
bodies. Thirty leases are being worked, and the tunnel is
in good order. Half Moon and Lackawanna gulches received
great attention during the year, on account of the good show-
ing in the Mt. Champion mines. In the Dick Turpin claim
the ore is found near a fault in the granite formation. The
trend is north and south with a southeast dip. The shoot is
350 ft. long. Rich gold and copper ore is found on the hang-
ing wall of the lode, while low-grade ore is mined next to it.
The average value is $12 per ton. The mill is treating 100 tons
daily. All equipment is driven by electricity. The main adit
of the Lackawanna Belle Mining Co. is in 500 ft., equal to 350
ft. depth. Three raises are in ore 6 ft. wide averaging $20 per
ton. Great results are expected from this district in 1914.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
The gold production of Cripple Creek during 1913 was valued
at $14,435,520, against $14,006,741 in 1912, making a grand total
of $324,786,741, according to The Cripple Creek Times. At the
local mills, at Colorado City, and the smelters, a total of
966,906 tons of ore was treated. The treatment of low-grade
ore at the local plants is of interest as shown by the follow-
ing table:
Average Gross
Plant. Tons. value. value.
Portland, Battle mountain 179,918 $2.97 $ 532,866
Stratton's Independence, Battle
mountain 131,026 2.67 349,887
Colburn-Ajax, Battle mountain.. 54,994 3.27 179,905
Gay lord- Dante, Bull hill 17,700 2.95 52,315
Wild Horse, Bull hill 13,865 3.38 46,910
Kavanagh-Jo Dandy, Raven hill. 19,315 2.10 40,600
Isabella mines, Bull hill 9,290 2.13 20,760
Rex M. & M. Co.. Ironclad hill. . . 2,700 1.68 4,400
Total 428,808 $2.86 $1,227,643
The men engaged in treating this class of ore are: Thomas
B. Crowe of the Portland, Arthur H. Finn of the Wild Horse.
Philip H. Argall of Stratton's Independence. E. H. Colburn, Jr.
of the Ajax, Thomas Kavanaugh of Rex-Jo Dandy mills. Ed-
win Gaylord of the Gaylord mill, and J. B. Neville of the Free
Coinage mill.
Dividends during 1913 were as follows:
Golden Cycle Mining Co $ 405,000
Cresson Con. G. M. & M. Co.. estimated 300.000
Portland Gold Mining Co 300,000
Elkton Consolidated Mining & Milling Co 200,000
Vindicator Consolidated Gold Mining Co 180,000
Stratton's Independence, Ltd.. estimated 120,000
Strong Gold Mining Co., estimated 150,000
Mary McKinney Mining Co 104,740
El Paso Con. Gold Mining Co 61,280
Stratton's C. CM. & D. Co 60,000
Gold King Mining Co 10.000
Total $ 1,891,020
Profits of leasing companies and lessees, estimated. 350,000
Grand total $ 2,241,020
Dividends prior to 1913 38,128,584
Total to 1914 $42,260,624
January 17. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
157
On January 20 the Portland company will pay 2c. per
share, equal to $60,000. The Vindicator Consolidated will pay
3c. per share on January 25, equal to $45,000.
Ouray County
Mineral production of the county in 1913 was valued at
$1,558,825, made up by crude ore and concentrates, $1,088,950:
bullion, $459,875; and coal, $10,000. Thirty-two properties
contributed to the output. The local smelter received 4000
tons of mine and mill products.
Sax Juan County
The San Juan region of Dolores, La Plata, Ouray, San Juan,
and San Miguel counties produced in 1913 $4,116,000 in gold.
2,847,000 oz. of silver, 21,165,000 lb. of lead. 3.630,000 lb. of
copper, and approximately 8.000.000 lb. of zinc, compared
with $4,115,345 in gold, 2,562,096 oz. of silver. 20,752,156 lb. of
lead, 3,000,173 lb. of copper, and 6,375,073 lb. of zinc in 1912.
There was an increase for gold of $7000 in Dolores. $163,000 in
La Plata, $115,000 In San Juan: and a decrease of $61,000 in
Ouray and of $224,000 in San Miguel county. There was an
increase for silver of 105,000 oz. in Dolores, 200,000 in San
Juan, and 71,000 in La Plata, while there was a decrease of
93,000 oz. in San Miguel county. Dolores county (Rico) made
a large increase in the yield of copper, lead, and zinc, but
the production of lead fell off heavily in San Miguel and
Ouray counties. The yield of gold bullion in Boulder county
decreased one-half and there was also a decrease of 2000 oz.
of gold in ores smelted, but the silver output increased 100,000
oz. and the lead 470,000 pounds.
The American Smelting & Refining Co. reports the follow-
ing yield from San Juan county ores smelted at its works:
Gold, $413,069; silver, $493,796; lead, 7.556.391 lb.; and co]>-
per, 1,022,988 pounds.
The Frisco Tunnel Co., at Animas Forks, is starting a 100-
ton mill. Emil Hensen is manager.
IDAHO
Figures prepared by the State mine inspector. Robert N.
Bell, show the following output of Idaho in 1913:
Lead, pounds 325.000,000
Zinc, pounds 30,100,000
Copper, pounds 8,887,000
Gold, ounces 65.00(1
Silver, ounces 10,107,000
Value for state $24,360,000
Value for Shoshone county (Coeur d'Alene) 21,924.000
An average of 40 cars of ore or concentrate per day is
shipped from the latter district.
Shoshone County
On the 1000-ft. level of the Success mine, a shoot of good
zinc ore has been opened. At 860 ft. a shoot has been driven
on for 265 ft., being still In ore. The mill is being Improved
by the addition of a magnetic separator, a 3 by 30-ft. drying
tube for concentrate, and a process for reducing metal losses
in slime. H. F. Samuels controls this property, and C. C.
Samuels Is in charge of the mill. At the Paragon, near
Murray, the shaft is being sunk to nearly 300 ft. depth. From
the upper workings of the mine, lead and zinc ores are
shipped. The Amazon-Manhattan adit, to connect with the
Interstate-Callahan, Is In 1400 ft. The Marsh mine, at Burke,
Is producing 150 tons of silver-lead ore per day. Development
on No. 5 level Is highly encouraging. On January 3 the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan paid dividend No. 196, amounting to
$81,750.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
(Special Correspondence, i — Every time a United States
Government official comes to Houghton, the labor agitators
ascribe his visit to the probability of the Government taking
control of the mines, and giving them to the strikers. In
this way the ignorant miners are deluded. Men are returning
to work every day, and new men are coming in to the dis-
trict. The Copper Range is adding 8 to 12 men daily, and
the Quincy is importing Germans, quite desirable citizens.
The Calumet & Hecla continues normal operations, so does
the Superior, and the Osceola is approaching that point. At
the Keweenaw mines, progress is not as rapid. But the atti-
tude of all of the men is antagonistic to the Western Federa-
tion of Miners.
Houghton. January 8.
NEVADA
Lander County
The Kimberly United Mines Co.'s property, near Hilltop,
has been examined by A. L. Moore of San Francisco. He
states that the area is well mineralized, and recommends ex-
tending the Joker adit, also erecting a 20-ton mill for testing
purposes. The main vein runs through three claims, and
has been opened in the Joker adit for 97 feet. The Gold
Star adit is in 250 ft., and a large tonnage of $15 to $20 gold
ore has been opened. The Oro shaft, 70 ft. deep, is in a good
shoot of ore.
Lyon County
The two new converters at the Mason Valley company's
smelter started work on January 3. They have a capacity of
4,000,000 lb. of copper per month, and will save the expense
of shipping matte. At the Empire-Nevada, the Miami com-
pany has completed one drill-hole and has moved the rig to
another position. Smelter returns for the first six days of
December 1913 show that Nevada- Douglas shipped 759 dry
tons of ore with an average copper content of 8.09 per cent.
Nye County
The Carrava Mining & Milling Leasing Syndicate is to
erect three six-roller Chilean type of mills at its property at
Carrava. High-grade gold-bearing ore has been shipped, and
there is a large tonnage of milling ore on dumps and in the
leases.
Tonopah mines produced 10,538 tons of ore worth $257,150
during the week ended January 10. A large shoot of $12 ore
has been opened on the 500-ft. level of the West End mine.
The Montana mill is making a recovery of 92.6%, and the
bullion output is increasing each month. The Halifax vein
has been opened in trachyte at 1100 ft., about 280 ft. south-
east of the Halifax shaft. Dividend No. IS, of 25c. per share,
has been paid by the Belmont company. During the quarter
ended November 30, revenue amounted to $924,523, and net
profit was $531,716. The surplus was $1,430,969.
Storey County
Two Byron-Jackson pumps in the joint incline of the Crown
Point and Belcher have lowered the water below the 1500-ft.
level. The station is in good order, but the level has caved
in places.
White Pine County
Two more Star churn-drills, of 1400-ft. capacity each, have
been ordered by the Consolidated Copper Mines Company. The
Company has purchased 50 dump cars from the Nevada Con-
solidated for handling the overburden to be moved from the
first steam-shovel pit at Riepetown. The Giroux company has
three drills working on the Ora cliam.
NEW MEXICO
Luna County
Rich gold and silver ore has been opened in the Bi-Metallic
Mining & Milling Co.'s mine near Deming in the Sierra
Blanca range.
OREGON
Josephine County
The Afterthought mine on Thompson creek has been sold
to Michigan and Illinois men for $12,000. A good deal of ore
has been opened by adits, and assays give high returns in gold.
158
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
SOUTH DAKOTA
Potter Co u sty
Drilling at Gettysburg has passed through several inches
of oil sand, also a seam of coal 15 ft. thick.
UTAH
Piute County
Nine miles southwest of Marysville is a large deposit of
pink rock which contains 11% of potash salts and 37% of
aluminum oxide. The Florence Mining & Milling Co., which
owns a large part of the deposit, is about to erect a plant
costing $50,000 for preparing the material for market. De-
velopment has proved several million tons of mineral accord-
ing to J. F. Gibbs In The Salt Lake Tribune.
Summit County
A contract has been awarded to J. A. Mcllwee for the com-
pletion of the Snake Creek tunnel near Park City. This
heading is in 6700 ft., 1200 ft. below the surface and in lime-
stone. The total length of the tunnel will be 14,350 feet.
About 4000 gal. of water is flowing from the workings.
Tooele County
Sixty miles south of Wendover. on the Western Pacific rail-
way, in the Willow Springs district, high-grade copper and
lead ore has been opened by the Western Pacific Copper Com-
pany. This ore was cut near the bottom of a 250-ft. incline
shaft.
CANADA
British Columbia
(Special Correspondence.)— Diamond-drilling will be done
at the San Diego group of claims, on the Kitsault river, about
six miles from the head of Alice arm. A good deal of work
has already been done on the property, and a considerable
tonnage of ore averaging 3.2% copper, and $2 in gold and
silver, has been proved. A horse trail has been made from
the head of the arm. S. J. Eubank and D. F. Jones control
these claims.
Prince Rupert, January 3.
The electric power-plant, smelter, and other equipment of
the Granby company at Anyox is complete, and should be
in proper running order by February 1.
Equipment worth about $30,000 was purchased recently in
Spokane, Washington, for the Silver Hoard mine, near Ains-
worth. This will be installed in the spring. The machinery
includes a 3400-ft. Riblett aerial tramway. A hydro-electric
plant is to be installed for light and power purposes in the
mine, consisting of a Westinghouse generator and Cassel
water-wheel. The hoist will be electrically driven. An In-
gersoll air-compressor has been delivered. High-grade silver-
lead ore has been opened at 200 ft., and ore reserves total
100,000 tons. So far 1394 tons of good ore has been shipped.
W. S. Hawley is general manager.
Ontario
During the period ended December 2 the Hollinger mill
treated 13,140 tons of ore averaging $15.17 per ton. The re-
covery was 96.16% at a cost of $1.40 per ton for treatment.
The profit was $118,090. Porcupine mines in 1913 are esti-
mated to have produced gold worth $4,330,000.
During 1913 Da Rose Consolidated made a profit of $951,000.
During December the Nipissing high and low-grade mills
treated 161 and 6268 tons of ore, respectively, and the refin-
ery produced 674,984 oz. silver. Hydraulic prospecting was
stopped on December 8. A 2-in. vein was cut in the Keewatin
country assaying 500 oz. per ton. Important developments
took place in the R. L. 400 lot. The draining of Cobalt lake
has been started.
CHILE
During December the Braden mine produced 2,122,000 lb
of copper, the largest output in the company's history. The
old mill treated 10,359 tons of ore averaging 1.99%, and the
new mill treated 93,612 tons averaging 2.15% copper, with
80.88'/, and 69.78% recoveries, respectively.
COLOMBIA
The Pato dredge recovered gold worth $13,400 from 18,000
cu. yd. of gravel during the week ended December 23. Clayey
water interfered with washing during the period. Results of
operations have given rise to a good deal of correspondence
in certain financial papers in London.
The Oroville Dredging Co., Ltd., has purchased the San
Francisco gravel property, of 400 acres, which adjoins the
Pato property on the Nichi river. The price paid is reported
to be $51,000. The results of five drill-holes on California
hill, Pato concession, gave an average of 12c. per cubic yard.
MEXICO
Jalisco
The treatment plant for the Cinco Minas Co., in the Hostoti-
paquillo district, is now in operation. Louis Baird, an Eng-
lish mining man, who was captured by bandits at the Espada
camp during the second week in December, has been released
on payment of f*500. The ransom asked was P3000.
Hidalgo
(Special Correspondence.) — The new San Francisco shaft
at the Santa Gertrudis is lined with steel through its whole
depth. It was sunk 30 ft. south of the old San Francisco
shaft. A fine head-frame has been erected over the new shaft
and is connected with the mill bins by a belt-conveyor. The
San Guillermo shaft has been giving trouble for some time
past.
Pachuca, December 4.
Mexico
(Special Correspondence.) — The Rincon mine has been oper-
ated during the year, shipping 100 tons of high-grade ore per
month to the smelter until recently. Twenty stamps are
working, producing bullion and concentrate. Power has been
short, and another 1000-hp. power-plant is being erected below
the one at Pedregal. This will supply power for the rest
of the mill, and electric pumps on No. 6 level of the mine.
These have been 'drowned' for a year. Shaft-sinking has been
stopped on account of water, but as work has been done below
the shaft bottom, raising will be adopted to deepen the shaft.
The Real de Arriba Mining Co. is employing a number of
men.
Temascaltepec, December 4.
So NORA
Mineral exports from Sonora through the port of Agua
Prieta show a slight decline in value and tonnage during
December. A total of 344 cars was shipped, equal to 13,630
tons. Twelve properties were on the shipping list. El Tigre
company shipped 77 bars of silver-gold bullion weighing 12,518
lb. The estimated value of exports in Mexican currency were:
copper, $1,676,800; silver, $434,000: gold, $197,500; total, $2,308,-
300.
The Cananea Consolidated mines, mill, and smelter are
operating at about 66% capacity. James S. Douglas, general
manager, estimated that 24,000 tons of ore would be milled
and 35,000 tons smelted in December. Development under-
ground amounts to 5000 ft. per month. The mill at El Piano
mine, 90 miles southwest of Sassabe, is to be restarted at
an early date. Two companies are working in the Boludo
portion of the Altar placer district. In the Magdalena dis-
trict. La Mina de Plata stamp-mill is to be enlarged. The
Sublima mine, 10 miles from Nacozari, is shipping ore aver-
aging 10 oz. silver and 10% copper. Ore from the Cobre Verde.
6 miles from Cobullona. returns 8 oz. silver and 20% copper.
Shipments of ore assaying 20 oz. silver. $1 gold, and 40%
lead are going to El Paso from the Nacozari Consolidated
mine. A mill is being erected.
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
159
A School of Mines is to be started at Haileybury, Ontario,
in conjunction with the present High School.
The mining engineering department of the University of
Illinois is adding further rock-drilling equipment to its
plant.
The Idaho Mixing Association will meet at Boise on Janu-
ary 20, and important subjects will be discussed. Harry L.
Day is president of this society.
The Canadian Mining Institute will hold its sixteenth an-
nual meeting at Montreal on March 4, 5, and ti. Seventeen
valuable papers are promised for discussion.
The Southern California section of the American Institute
of Mining Engineers met at Los Angeles on January 15. The
subject discussed was 'Geology Applied to Mining.'
The University of Illinois is to establish miners' and me-
chanics' institutes, under the direction of the Department of
Mining Engineering. These branches are to prepare men to
pass the tests required by the state before they can hold offi-
cial positions about the mines.
The Cleveland Engineering Society held its regular meet-
ing on January 13, an inspection trip two days later, and a
special meeting is to be held on January 20. A week later
the semi-monthly meeting will be held, when J. C Gillette
will present an illustrated paper on 'Natural Gas.'
Healu'.n Engineering School, of San Francisco, graduates
have recently received appointments through the U. S. Civil
Service Commission. One is with the topographical drafting
office of the Department of War; another is in a similar office
of the Department of Agriculture; while the third is in the
engineering department of the Department of War.
At the University of Nevada, Reno, an Industrial Safety
Conference will be held on January 26 and 27. This will in-
clude a number of discussions on the safety first' movement,
demonstrations, motion pictures suitable for the occasion, first-
aid work, and other kindred subjects. There will be an in-
fluential and representative gathering of power and mining
companies, state officials, and workers in the field.
San Francisco members of the American Institute of Min-
ing Engineers completed the organization of a local section,
January 12, by the adoption of by-laws and the election of
the following officers: Chairman. S. B. Christy; vice-chair-
man, H. C. Hoover; secretary-treasurer, Abbott Hanks; addi-
tional members of the executive committee, C. W. Merrill and
F. W. Bradley. The meeting followed an enjoyable dinner
at the Engineers' Club, at which 34 were present.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, has
issued its Bulletin of 534 pages, covering the officers and
students, statement of requirements for admission, and a de-
scription of the courses of instruction. Students must be 17
years of age. and qualified to study the subjects chosen.
Courses may be taken in all mining and engineering subjects.
Instruction is given in aviation and warship construction.
Many scholarships and fellowships are offered to certain
graduates.
The Massachusetts Institute of Tf.chnoi.ogy is receiving
students from all countries, the latest being two from Russia.
From this country they are generally sent by the Russian gov-
ernment, although occasionally they come of their own In-
itiative. An increasing number of students are coming from
foreign countries. Additions to the laboratory consist of a
Hyde flotation unit, an Elmore flotation test plant, a hindered
settling, open-spigot classifier, a Sturtevant crusher and ac-
cessories, and a McCully crusher. A Halberger electric fur-
nace of S-lb. copper capacity is to be installed.
C. R. Corning is in Paris.
J. V. N. Dorr has gone to Cobalt.
R. M. Nye has been in San Francisco.
E. C. Hutchinson was at Jackson last week.
Homer L. Carr has returned from Colombia.
Ross B. Hoffmann left yesterday for London.
A. E. Dbuckeb is in Egypt, returning to London.
Arthur C. Nahl, of Triunfo, Baja California, is at Berkeley.
W. H. Storms is in Amador county on professional business.
R. G. Casey, Jr., sailed for Sydney on the Sonoma this week.
S. F. Shaw is temporarily at the Horn Silver mine, Frisco,
Utah.
A. C. Boyle has returned to Laramie, Wyoming, from New
York.
C. G. Gunthkr has returned to New York from the island of
Cypress.
C. S. Herzig has removed his offices to 1 London Wall build-
ings, London.
Sidney L. Wise is now associated with the Mines Manage-
ment Company.
L. C. Graton is spending several weeks in geological studies
at Globe, Arizona.
D. L. C. Hoover is now with the Cia. Metalurgiea National,
Matahuala, S. L. P.
Loyal W. Trumbull is now state geologist of Wyoming,
succeeding C. E. Jamison.
Karl Eilers is in the West, expecting to return to New
York by the middle of February.
T. Walter Beam, of Denver, was in San Francisco this week,
after an inspection along the Mother Lode.
L. G. Hi ntley has returned to the Tampico oilfields in
Mexico, after spending the holidays at Pittsburgh.
Lloyd B. Smith has returned from the West Indies, where
he has been making examinations of oil properties, and is now
in Oklahoma.
C. P. NiEi.i., former Commissioner of Labor, is now a director
of the American Smelting & Refining Co.. in charge of safety
and sanitation work.
N. H. Darton made an address on 'Mine Gases' before the
A. I. M. E. on January 16, giving an account of extensive in-
vestigation of this subject made under the auspices of the
Bureau of Mines.
The properties and departments of the Consolidated Mining
& Smelting Co., of Canada, have been in charge of the follow-
ing gentlemen during the past 15 months, according to the
report of R. H. Stewart, the general manager: S. G. Blaylock,
assistant general manager; T. W. Bingay. comptroller; James
Buchanan, superintendent of smelter; M. H. Sullivan, assistant
superintendent of smelter; J. F. Miller, superintendent of re-
finery: M. E. Purcell, superintendent of Centre Star group of
mines; E. G. Montgomery, assistant superintendent; F. S.
Peters, superintendent Le Roi mine: C. H. McDougall, St.
Eugene and Sullivan mines; K. B. Carruthers, Molly Gibson
mine; W. A. Cameron, Slocan Lake properties: and W. M.
Archibald, J. M. Turnbull, and A. W. Davis, mining engineers.
Obituary
H. T. Crooksiiank. an Englishman working in the cyanide
department of the Real del Monte mill at Pachuca, was
electrocuted recently while throwing a switch.
W. S. Copeland was killed at Cripple Creek. Colorado, De-
cember 19, by falling down the Jo Dandy shaft. Mr. Cope-
land was well known as a mine manager and owner of sam-
pling works in the district.
160
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
Monthly Copper Production
AHMEBK COPPER MINING CO., Kearsargj, Michigan.
$1,250,000 In $25 shares; 24,796 shares owned by Calumet &
Hecla; 1800-ton mill at Hubbell; concentrate smelted by
Calumet & Hecla smelter. Total in 1913, 9,100,000 pounds.
ALLOUEZ MINING CO., Allouez, Michigan. $2,500,000 in
$25 shares; controlled by the Calumet & Hecla, which owns
43,000 shares and $250,000 in notes of the Company; ore is
milled by the Lake Milling, Smelting & Refining Co., in
which the Allouez owns half. Total in 1913, 4,200,000 pounds.
ANACONDA COPPER MINING CO., Butte, Montana. $108,-
312,500 in $25 shares; controlled through Amalgamated Cop-
per Co. by Thos. F. Cole, J. D. Ryan, and Standard Oil in-
terests; 10,000-ton concentrator and smelter at Anaconda;
5000-ton concentrator .and smelter at Great Falls, Mont.;
also 70-ton electrolytic refining plant at Great Falls. Pro-
duction figures include copper from all companies which
ship custom ore to Anaconda smelters.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 21,500,000 October 18,400,000
July 21,181,000 November 25,250,000
August 22,500,000 December 25,100,000
September 22,600,000
ARIZONA COPPER CO., LTD., Morenci, Arizona. £379,974
in 5s. shares; controlled by Edinburgh investors; mill at
Morenci is being enlarged to 3000-ton capacity and a new
1200-ton smelter near Clifton has just been started.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,000,000 October 3,550,000
July 2,600,000 November 2,800,000
August 1,800,000 December 2.920,000
September 1,800,000
BRADEN COPPER CO., La Junta, Chile. $2,332,030 in $10
shares and $4,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; entire stock
held by Braden Copper Mines Co.; $12,000,000 in $5 shares;
$5,000,000 in convertible bonds; controlled by Guggenheim
interests; two mills at La Junta; 3000-ton capacity smelter
at Raucagua.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1,808,000 October 2,600,000
July 1,046,000 November 1,592,000
August 1,572,000 December 2,122,000
September 1,322,000
BRITISH COLUMBIA COPPER CO., LTD., Greenwood, B.
C. $2,958,545 in $5 shares; controlled by Newman Erb; 600-
ton sampling plant and 2500-ton smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 634,238 September 626,761
July 618,379 October 688.000
August 700,000 November 682,383
CALUMET « ARIZONA MINING CO., Warren. Arizona.
$6,285,710 in $10 shares; has absorbed the Superior & Pitts-
burg Copper Co. by stock exchange; controlled by Hoatson
and other Lake Superior interests; 3000-ton smelter at Doug-
las.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,000,000 October 4,500,000
July 3,800,000 November 1,600,000
August 4,500,000 December 6.300.000
CALUMET « HECLA MINING CO., Calumet, Michigan.
$2,500,000 in $25 shares; controls the Ahmeek, Allouez, Cen-
tennial, Isle Royale, La Salle, Osceola, Tamarack, and Su-
perior copper mining companies as well as a number that
are non-productive; controlled by Agassiz and Shaw inter-
ests; 2 mills on Lake Linden, capacity 15,000 tons; smelter
Hubbell, Mich.; electrolytic refinery and smelter at Buffalo,
N. Y.; figures include output of subsidiaries. Total in 1913,
53,420,000 pounds.
CANANEA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO. S. A., Cananea,
Sonora, Mexico. Capital 1*20,000 in shares of P100; entire
stock owned by Greene Consolidated Copper Co.; $10,000,000
in $10 shares; 945,320 shares are held by Greene-Cananea
Copper Co.; $50,000,000 in $100 shares, which is controlled
by Thos. F. Cole and J. D. Ryan; 2 mills and smelter at
Cananea, 3000-ton capacity.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 2,908,000 October 3,160,000
July 3,328,000 November 3,150,000
August 3,186,000 December 3.000,000
September 3,148,000
Output of Lake Superior mines estimated.
CENTENNIAL COPPER MINING CO., Calumet, Michigan
$2,250,000 in $25 shares; 44,350 shares are held by Calumet
& Hecla Mining Co.; ore milled by Lake Milling, Smelting
& Refining Co. Total in 1913, 1,400,000 pounds.
CERRO de PASCO MINING CO., Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
$10,000,000; entire stock held by Cerro de Pasco Copper Co.;
$60,000,000 in $1 shares which is owned by Cerro de Pasco
Investment Co., which Is controlled by J. B. Haggin, and
Morgan estate; 3000-ton smelter at La Fundicion; monthly
production figures not given out; output In 1912 was 45,000.-
000 lb. copper.
CHINO COPPER CO., Santa Rita, New Mexico. $3,500,000
in $5 shares; 121,200 shares are held by Guggenheim Explor-
ation Co.; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M. MacNeill;
5000-ton mill at Hurley, N. M.; concentrate smelted at El
Paso.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,904.300 October 4,914,944
July 4,831,200 November 4,402,90*
August 6.050,867 December 4,275,000
September 4,435.873
CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES CO., Ely, Nev. $8,000,-
000 in $5 shares; $3,000,000 in convertible bonds; is a recent
merger of the Giroux, Butte & Ely, Chainman, and Copper-
mines companies, controlled by Thos. F. Cole, Wm. B. Thomp-
son, Charles F. Rand, and .las. Phillips. Jr.; reduction plant
not yet built; production so far derived solely from Giroux;
ore treated at Nevada Con. smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 616,742 September 204,307
July 607,779 October 160,911
August 541,189 November 136,539
COPPER QUEEN CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Blsbee.
Arizona. $2,000,000 in $10 shares; owns 100,000 shares of
Greene-Cananea; almost all its stock is held by Phelps,
Dodge & Co., Inc.; $44,995,000 In $100 shares: 4000-ton smelt-
ing plant at Douglas, Ariz. Total In 1913. 85.3S9.630 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 6.292.480 October 7,653,153
July 7,439.864 November 8,473,792
August 7,590,994 December 8,182,452
September 7,775,560
COPPER RANGE CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Paine-
ilale, Michigan. $39,369,200, in $100 shares; owns 99,659
shares of Baltic M. Co., 99.699 shares Copper Range M. Co..
09.345 shares of Tri-mountain M. Co., half interest in Cham-
pion Copper Co., 16,392 shares of Copper Range R. R. Co..
and $870,000 in Copper Range R. R. bonds; controlled by
Wm. A. Paine; production is derived from the Baltic, Cham-
pion, and Trimountaln companies, each of which mills Its
ore; concentrate is smelted by Michigan Smelting Co., Hough-
ton, which is owned by mining companies. Total in 1913,
24,996,000 pounds.
DETROIT COPPER MINING CO., Morenci, Ariz. $1,000.-
000 In $25 shares; owned by Phelps. Dodge & Co.; 1300-ton
mill and 350-ton smelter. Total in 1913, 22.352,299 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1,750,601 October 1,861,178
July 1,549,224 November 1,922,352
August 2,187,223 December 2,021,034
September 2,102,818
EAST BUTTE COPPER MIXING CO., Butte, Mont. $3,000.-
000 in $10 shares; owns 83% of the stock and all bonds of
the Pittsmont Copper Co., which holds 90% of the stock and
all bonds of Pittsburgh & Montana Copper Co.; controlled
by W. A. Paine; 350-ton mill and 1000-ton custom smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June ' 1,020,613 September 1,233,018
July 1,060,257 October 1,040,977
August 1,162,006 November 1,002,190
FRANKLIN MINING CO., Demmon, Mich. $4,166,650 in
$25 shares; controlled by R. M. Edwards and the U. S. S. R.
* M. Co.; 1000-ton mill. Total in 1913, 1,040,000 pounds.
GRANBY CONSOLIDATED MINING, SMELTING & POWER
CO., LTD., Phoenix and Hidden Creek, British Columbia.
$14,849,565 In $100 shares; controlled by General Chemical
Co. interests; 4400-ton smelter at Grand Forks and 2000-ton
smelter at Anyox.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1.789,000 September 1.824.560
July 1,654,000 October 1,779,55!
August 1,827.300 November 1.8S8.767
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
lfil
ISLE ROYALG COPPER CO., Houghton. Mich. $3, 750, 000
in $25 shares; owns a $50,000 Interest in the Lake Superior
Smelting Co., owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2200-ton mill
on Portage lake. Total in 1913. 4,680,000 pounds.
MASON VALLEY MINES CO.. Yerington, Nev. $770,000
in $5 shares; $1,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled
by W. B. Thompson; 1000-ton smelter at Thompson, Nev.,
also smelts ore of Nevada-Douglas Copper Co. and custom
ore; smelter production;
Month. Pounds.
October 1,052,000
November 1,174,000
December 1.372,000
Month. Pounds.
June 1,132,000
July 990,000
August 966,000
September .". . 918,000
MIAMI COPPEK CO., Miami. Ariz. $3,319,690 in $5 shares;
$1,433,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled by General
Development Co. (Lewisohn interests); 3000-ton mill at
Miami; concentrate smelted at Cananea. Total in 1913,
33,944,795 pounds.
Month. Pounds.
June 2,612,650
July 2,890,000
August 3,097,500
September 2,688,600
MOCTEZUMA COPPER CO., Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico.
$2,000,000; entire stock owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 2000-
Month. Pounds.
October 2,862,050
November 3,517,800
December 3.301,316
by Copper Queen. Total in
Month. Pounds.
October 3,178,136
November 3,517,800
December 3,139,613
ton mill; concentrate smelted
1913, 36,694,013 pounds.
Month. Pounds.
June 3,438,793
July 2.693,006
August 3,542.047
September 3,024,121
MOHAWK MINING CO.. Mohawk. Mich. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; controlled by Stanton interests; 3000-ton mill, Trav-
erse Bay; concentrate smelted by Michigan Smelting Co,
Total in 1913, 5,369,000 pounds.
NEVADA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ely, Nevada.
$10,000,000 In $5 shares; has absorbed the Cumberland-Ely
Copper Co., controlled by American Smelter Securities Co.
through the Utah Copper Co.. which owns half of the Ne-
vada Con. stock; the Nevada company owns the St'eptoe Val-
ley Mining & Smelting Co., $10,000,000; 16.000-ton mill and
1500-ton smelter at McGill, Nevada.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 6,344,863 October 5,898,330
July 5.403,919 November r>.443,047
August 5,989,973 Deiei r 5,500,000
September 4,441,671
NEVADA DOUGLAS COPPER CO.. Mason, Nev. $4,054,800
In $5 shares, $276,900 in 6"r convertible bonds; also $158,200
6% refunding bonds: controlled by A. J. Orem; ore smelted
at Mason Valley smelter.
Month. Pounds.
June 392.288
July 399,451
August 354,760
Month. Pounds.
September 426,070
( Ictober 583.330
November 678,120
OHIO COPPER CO.. Bingham. Utah. $12,292,700 In $10
shares. $1,326,000 In 6% convertible bonds; 3500-ton mill at
Lark, Utah; concentrate smelted at Garfield.
Month. Pounds.
June 579,400
July 601,700
August 689.400
OLD DOMINION COPPER
Globe. Ariz. $4,050,000 In $
Month. Pounds.
September 685,900
October 720,000
November 796.000
MINING A SMELTING CO.,
:5 shares; 155.245 shares are
owned by the Old Dominion Co., which is owned by Phelps,
Dodge & Co.; 300-ton mill, 2400-ton smelter. Production
figures Include custom ore smelted. Total in 1913, 30.810.000
pounds.
Month. Pounds.
June 2,511,000
July 2,526,000
August 2,524,000
September 2,679,000
OSCEOLA CONSOLIDATED
Month. Pounds.
October 2,037,000
November 2,150,000
December 2,613,000
MINING CO., Osceola, Mich.
$2,403,750 in $25 shares: owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills,
4000-ton capacity, at Torch Lake. Total In 1913, 11,686,000
pounds.
PHELPS, DODGE * CO., Inc. $44,995,000 in $100 shares;
controlled by C. H. Dodge, James Douglas, and others; owns
the Copper Queen, Moctezuma, Detroit, and Burro Mountain
Copper companies, Stag Canon Fuel Co.; indirectly controls
Old Dominion. United Globe, and Commercial Copper Mining
Output of Lake Superior mines estimated.
Co.; members of the firm control the El Paso & Southwest-
ern railway, and have large interests in the Rock Island
and Great Northern railways. Production figures include
all properties under its control and copper derived from
custom ore, the latter ranging from 750,000 to 1,000,000 lb.
per month. Total in 1913. 154.454.444 pounds.
QUINCY MINING CO., Hancock, Mich. $2,750,000 in $25
shares; controlled by W. R. Todd; 4500-ton mill at Mason;
340-ton smelter at Ripley.
RAY CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ray, Ariz. $11,975,740
in $10 shares; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M.
MacNeill; 8000-ton mill at Hayden, Ariz.; concentrate smelt-
ed in A. S. & R. smelter adjoining.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 4.392,612 September 4,470,551
July 4,097,177 October 4,871,516
August 4,401,000 November 4,753,000
SHANNON COPPER CO., Metcalf, Ariz. $3,000,000 in $10
shares: controlled by N. L. Amster: 500-ton mill and 1000-
ton smelter at Clifton. Total in 1913, 13,640.000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 924.000 October 1,216,000
July 880,000 November 1,110,000
August 1,248,000 December 1,078,000
September 1,232,000
Total in 1913. 13.640.000 pounds.
SHATTUCK ARIZONA COPPER CO., Bisbee, Ariz. $3,500.-
000 in $10 shares; controlled by Duluth investors; ore smelt-
ed at Calumet & Arizona smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1.059,625 September 1,163.237
July 1,019,388 October 993,224
August 1,001,624 November 995,429
SOUTH UTAH MINES A SMELTERS, Njwhouse, Utah.
$4,300,000 in $5 shares, $1,300,000 in 6% convertible bonds;
controlled by Samuel Newhouse; 1000-ton mill; concentrate
smelted at Tooele, Utah.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 142.817 September 249,323
July 195,254 October 239.453
August 230,410 November 232,033
SUPERIOR COPPER CO., Calumet, Mich. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla. Total in 1913, 3,078.000
pounds.
TAMARACK MINING CO., Calumet, Mich. $1,500,000 In
$25 shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills, 3500-ton
capacity, at Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 4,142,000 pounds.
TENNESSEE COPPER CO., Copperhlll, Tenn. $5,000,000 In
$25 shares; $1,500,000 in 6^ convertible bonds; controlled by
Jas. Phillips, Jr.. and Lewisohn interests.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1,379,220 October 1,392,162
July 1,295,804 November 1,688.000
August 1.143.019 December 1,700,000
September 1.309.985
UNITED STATES SMELTING. REFINING * MIXING CO
$44,871,150 in $50 shares; copper production chiefiy derived
from its subsidiary, The Mammoth Copper Mining Co., Ken-
nett, California.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
September 1,750,000 November 1,700,000
October 1,658.436
UNITED VERDE COPPER CO., Jerome, Ariz. $3,000,000
In $10 shares; owned by W. A. Clark; 1000 to 1200-ton smelter
at Clarkdale; monthly figures not given out, estimated at
about 3.000.000 lb. Total in 1913, 37.750,000 pounds.
UTAH CONSOLIDATED MINES CO., Bingham, Utah.
$1,500,000 in $5 shares; owns the Highland Boy Gold Mining
Co. and 5000 shares of International Smelting & Refining Co.
stock; ore smelted at Tooele.
UTAH COPPER CO., Bingham, Utah. $15,625,990 In $10
shares; owns half of Nevada Consolidated; controlled by
A. a & R. Co., Sherwood Aldrich, C. M. MacNeill, and W.
B. Thompson; 2 mills. 20,000-ton capacity, at Garfield; con-
centrate smelted at Garfield plant of A. S. & R. Company.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 11,637,949 October 10.236,575
July 9.849.043 November 10,787,426
August 10,900,000 December 10,450,000
September 11,992,780
WOLVERINE COPPER MINING CO., Kearsarge, Mich.
$1,500,000 In $25 shares; owns $80,000 interest in Michigan
Smelting Co.; controlled by J. R. Stanton; mill on Traverse
bay treated 388,500 tons during last fiscal year. Total In
1913, 4.488,000 pounds.
162
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 17, 1914
The Metal Markets
LOCAL, METAL PRICES
San Francisco, January 15.
Antimony
9
9%c
Electrolytic copper 15% — 15%c
Pig lead 4.35— 5.30
quicksilver (flask) $39.50
Tin 41 — »2^c
Spelter 6%— 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7% to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, January 14. — The copper market is weak and
there is little demand for the metal. Lead market is easy,
with quotations ranging from 4.05 to 4.10. Spelter is steady
with quotations at 5.20 to 5.30. Tin is firm with spot and Janu-
ary quoted at 36.85 to 37.10, March 36.85 to 37.15, and April 37
to 37.37. Antimony is dull, with Cookson's quotation at 7.45
to 7.60. The National Lead Co. reports a normal business for
this season of the year, and a dividend has been declared by
the Amalgamated Copper Co. Mining stocks in general are
up and a greater interest is being manifested.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Average week ending.
,c 3 57.22
" 10 58.23
'■ 17 57.79
" 24 57.77
" 31
Jan.
9
10
11 Sunday
12
13
14
.58.00
.57.50
.57.75
...57.75
. . .57.75
. . .57.75
14.
Monthly averages.
1913.
63.01
61.25
57.87
59.26
60.21
59.03
1912.
July 60.67
Aug 61.32
Sept 62.95
Oct 63.16
Nov 62.73
Dec 63.38
..57.52
.57.50
.57.75
1913.
58.70
59.32
60.53
60.88
58.76
57.73
1912.
Jan 56.25
Feb 59.06
Mch 58.37
Xpr 59.20
Mav 60.88
Jurie 61.29
The San Francisco mint bought 451,916.34 oz. of silver in the
open market in December. The prices in 100,000-oz. lots ranged
from 57.98 to 58.62c. per ounce. A shipment of silver worth
$168,000 was sent from San Francisco to Hongkong in De-
cember. The holdings of silver in Shanghai on December 24
amounted to $26,1S4,000 in currency, and $1,460,000 in bars.
Lead
pounds,
Date.
Jan. 8
9
10
• 11
.. 12
•• 13
" 14
LEAD
is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
New York delivery.
Average week ending
4.13 Dec. 3 4.15
4.10 " 10 4.00
4.10 " 17 3.90
' Si'indav " 24 4.02
bUnda> 4.10 " 31 4.15
4.10 Jan. 7 4.15
". 4.10 " 14 4.10
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1912.
. 4.43
. 4.03
. 4.07
. 4.20
. 4.20
. 4.40
1913.
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
4.34
4.33
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
912.
1913.
4.71
4.35
4.54
4.60
5.00
4.70
5.08
4.37
4.91
4.16
4.20
4.02
COPPER
There was little of interest to record in the New York copper
market for last week. Before January 8 everybody was wait-
ing to see what the Copper Producers' figures would be, and
after these were published they continued to wait for some-
thing to turn up. At the end of the week, 30-day copper was
available at 14%c. from the big dealers and at 14%c. from
small sellers. Exports of copper for the week ended January
8 totaled 12,689 tons, against 6147 tons a year ago. At this
rate the month will show about 100,000,000 pounds. Some of
the large consumers venture the statement that a good deal
of this metal is merely being sent on consignment, and will
soon show itself in increased foreign stocks.
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date. , . , c
T.1T, o 14.1o Dec.
.. g" " 14.08
., 10. ...'.'. 14.00
" 11 Sunday
" 12 13.90
.. ]3 13.85 Jan-
.. 14; ] ; 13.85
Monthly averages
Average week ending
3 14.41
10 14.13
17 14.17
24 14. 2S
31 14.56
7 14.311
14 13.H7
1912. 1913.
Jan 14.09 16.54
Feb 14.08 14.93
Mch 14.68 14.72
Apr 15.74 15.22
Mav 16.03 15.42
Jurie 17.23 14.71
1912. 1913.
July 17.19 14.21
Aug 17.49 15.42
Sept 17.56 16.23
Oct 17.32 16.31
Nov 17.31 15.08
Dec 17.37 14.25
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed In the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column, Is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Dec. 31 40.00
Jan. 8 39.50
" 15 39.50
Week ending
Dec. 18 40.00
" 24 40.00
Monthly averages.
1912.
Jan 43.75
Feb 46.00
Mch 46.00
Apr 42.25
May 41.75
June 41.30
1913.
39.37
41.00
40.20
41.00
40.25
41.00
1912.
July 43.00
Aug 42.60
Sept 42.12
Oct, 41.50
Nov 41.50
Dec 39.75
1913.
41.00
40.50
39.70
39.37
39.40
40.00
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan.
8
9
10
11 Sunday
12
13. ..^
14
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 6.8
1912.
. 6.42
. 6.50
. 6.57
. 6.63
6.68
. 5.08
. 5.08
. 5.08
. 5.08
. 5.08
. 5.08
inthly
1913.
6.88
6.13
5/94
5.52
5.23
5.00
Average
Dec. 3
" 10
" 17
" 24
week endln
g
. 5.00
. 5.00
. 5.00
" 31
" 14
verages.
July
1912.
.... 7.12
1913.
5 11
.... 6.96
5 51
Oct
.... 7.36
5.55
5 22
.... 7 32
5.09
5.07
Dec
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin, since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1912. 1913.
Jan 42.53 50.45
Feb 42.96 49.07
Mch 42.58 46.95
Apr 43.92 49.00
May 46.05 49.10
June 45.76 45.10
1912. 1913.
July 44.25 40.70
Aug 45.80 41.75
Sept 48.64 42.45
Oct 50.01 40.61
Nov 49.92 39.77
Dec 49.80 37.57
During the past year tin has maintained its reputation as
giving one of the most erratic and fluctuating markets in the
world. Price changes were, as follows: The year opened at
New York with 50.45c. per lb.; the highest price was 50.875c;
lowest, 36.725c; the term closing at 37c, making an average
of 43.6544c. per pound. Supplies were 62,533 tons from the
Straits, 3175 from Australia, 14,800 from Banca, and 2200 from
Billiton, with 9953 tons standard in United States and England,
a total of 92,661 tons. This is an increase of 1914 tons on the
previous year. Deliveries were 17,897 tons in London, 15,522
in Holland, 10,283 on the Continent, 43,900 at U. a Atlantic
ports, and 2000 at U. S. Pacific ports, making a total of 89,602
tons, a decrease of 6372 tons. To compute the grand totals of
supplies and deliveries, about 25,000 tons should be added to
the preceding figures. The visible supply at all points and
afloat at December 31, 1913, was 13,893 tons. This year's in-
crease in the visible supply is due chiefly to the smaller de-
liveries in America, amounting to 5600 tons. L Vogelstein
& Co. state that estimtaes of the Straits production in 1914 do
not show as large an output as in 1913. The last season was
the best there for 20 years. All told, the prospects are good
for starting a reversal of the statistical position, and even
without such reversal, and assuming that all the adverse
factors with which the market has contended during the past
year were to continue, the visible would only be back to
figures at end of 1911 and prices are lower now than then.
January 17, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
16:,
The Stock Markets
LO
(By cable, through
SA-N FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
January 14.
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s S 97}
E. I. du Pont pfd 84
Unlisted.
Ass. OU 6s 80
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated OU 80}
Associated Oil 48}
Giant 81|
Pac Cat Borax, pfd 66}
Pacific Crude Oil. —
Sterling O. 4 D —
Union OU 66
Ask Unlisted.
99 General Petroleum 6s
Natomas Consol. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 8s..
Santa Cruz Cement 8s
STOCKS
Bid
99j
84
Ask
83
88)
35c
It
Unlisted.
Noble Electric Steel...
Natomas Consol
Riverside Cement
Santa Cruz Cement...
Stand. Port. Cement..
Bid
Ask
49
30*
ABk
3
1\
20}
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
San Francisco, January 15.
Atlanta f .16
Belcher 62
Belmont. 7.85
Big Four. .12
Cash Boy 07
Florence 30
Goldneld Con 1.M
Ooldfleid Oro .08
Halifax 1.26
Jim Bntler .81
Jumbo Extension 16
MacNamara 09
Mexican 1.17
Midway .39
Mizpah Extension $ .32
Montana-Tonopab 1.12
Nevada Hills .36
North Star .39
Ophlr .16
Pittsburg Silver Peak 35
Round Mountain .43
Sierra Nevada .07
Tonopah Extension 1.97
Tonopah Merger .52
Tonopah of Nevada 6.25
Victor 26
West Knd 1.25
Yellow Jacket 32
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of
J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
January 16.
Bid
Ask
Bid
Ask
...8 36
37
Mohawk
...» 43}
45
... «l
... 33*
33}
.... 15
15}
Butte 4 Superior .. .
North Butte
.... 28*
28}
Calumet 4 Arizona
... 64}
85
Old Dominion
.... 50}
—
Calumet 4 Hecla. .
... 420
430
Osceola
.. 77
78
... 37}
38
(iulncy
.... 61
63
Daly West
... 2}
21
Shannon
.... 6}
6}
East Butte
... Hi
12
3}
Superior A Boston
Tamarack
.... 2|
.... 30
-1
... 3
31
Granby
... 76}
76J
U. S. Smelting, com... 39)
40
... 31}
32
21}
Utah Con
Winona
.... 9}
.... 2J
91
Isle-Royale
... -'1
3
Mass Copper
. 2}
n
Wolverine
.... 451
46
NEW YORK CITI
IB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy
of E.
F. Hut
ton & Co.. Kohl Building.
)
Janua
ry 15.
Bid.
Ask.
Bid.
Ask.
Braden Copper. .
6%
7
Mason Valley. . .
3%
3%
Rraden 6s 145
147
McKlnley-Dar. .
1
IK
B. C. Copper. . . .
*>
2%
Mines Co. Am. . .
2
2%
Con. Cop. Mines.
2T4
3%
Nipissing
7%
1%
Davis-Daly
*>
2%
Ohio Copper ....
%
V4
Dolores
%
K
San Toy
15
20
El Rayo
1
2
Sioux Con
1
2
Ely Con
?,
5
Stand. Oil of Cal.
288
292
First Nat
3
3'^
Tri Bullion
%
hi.
Glroux ...:....
1%
1%
U
%
Iron Blossom...
1%
1>4
United Copper..
'A
%.
Kerr Lake
4*
*%
Wettlaufer
1
8
La Rose
J%
i%
Yukon C.olil ....
2
2U
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
January 15.
Bid Ask
Amalgamated 8 74} 74J
Anaconda 31] 34J
A.M. 4 It 66} 66}
Call*. Pet 27} 27|
Chlno 39) 39|
Guggenheim Kx 46 46}
Inspiration 15j 15j
Mexican Pet '>7( an
Bid
Miami » 23}
Nevada con 15
(iulcksllver.com 1}
Ray Con
Tenn. Copper
U. S. steel, pfd...
U. S. Steel, com.
Utah Copper
18}
31}
'109}
62}
51}
Ask
23}
16}
2
18|
34)
109}
63
51 1
XDON QUOTATIONS
the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co..
New York.)
January 15.
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell...
Alaska United
Arizona
California Amalg
California Oilfields.
Camp Bird
El Oro
Esperanza
Granville
£ s. d. I £
1 7 6 i Kern River Oilfields 0
8 0 0 Mexico Mines 5
3 7 6 Messina 1
1 17 6 Oroville 0
0 1 3 Pacific Oilfields 0
6 0 0, RloTinto 68
0 11 3 Santa Gertrudis 0
0 13 9 I Stratton's 0
0 17 6 Tanganyika 1
0 10 0 Tomboy 1
British Broken Hill ..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shoe...
Great Boulder Prop.
Ivanhoe
Kalgurll
\USTRALASIAN
January 15.
: s. d.
16
9
15
0
18
9
in
0
16
9
IG
0
£
Mount Boppy 0
Mount Elliott 4
Mount Lyell 1
Mount Morgan 3
Waihi 2
Walhl Grand June 1
s. d.
15 0
0 0
5 0
3 9
12 fi
5 0
Petroleum Production
The following table, compiled by the U. S.
vey, shows the estimated output during the
State. 1913, bbl.
California 98,000,000
Oklahoma 62,500,000
Illinois 22,000,000
Texas 14.000.000
Louisiana 12,000,000
West Virginia 11,000.000
Ohio 8.000,000
Pennsylvania 7,000,000
Wyoming 3,000,000
Kansas 2,000,000
Indiana 900.000
New York 800.000
Kentucky 500,000
Colorado 200.000
Other states 100.000
Total 242,000,000
Geological Sur-
past year :
1912. bbl.
86,450,767
51,427.071
28,601,308
11,735,057
9,263,439
12,128,962
8,969.007
7,837.948
1,572,306
1,592,796
970,009
874.128
484.368
206,052
222,113.218
Coinage at Mints
The Bureau of the Mint reports the coinage executed at the
mints of the United States during the year 1913 was as follows:
Denomination. Pieces. Value.
Double eagles 596,338 $11,926,760.00
Kagles 508,071 5,080,710.00
Half eagles 1,324,099 6,620,495.00
Quarter eagles 722,165 1,805,412.50
Total gold 3,150,673 $25,433,377.50
Half dollars 1.326,627 663,313.50
Quarter dollars 1,975.413 493,853.25
Dimes 20,270,622 2,027,062.20
Total silver 23,572,662 $3,184.228.9."
Five cents 73,659,239 3,682,961.95
One cent 98,437,352 984.373-52
Total minor 172,096.591 $4,667,335.47
Total coinage 198,819,926 33,284,941.92
For Philippine Islands government: Value.
20 centavos ( 948,565 pieces) 1*189,713.00
10 centavos (1.360,693 pieces) 136,069.40
1 centavos I 5.000.000 pieces) 5,000.00
Bank clearings in the United States in 1913 totaled $169.-
551,826.803. against $173,952,914,911 in 1912.
164
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
The Oil Situation in 1913
January 17, 1914
According to David T. Day, of the U. S. Geological Survey,
operation in other countries in 1913 may be summarized as
follows: Prospecting extended to remote regions of South
Africa, southern Chile, Patagonia, many islands of the Pacific,
China, Japan, and the East Indies. The work of most interest
to the United States was that In the West Indies, Central
America, and South America, on account of the approaching
completion of the Panama canal. In Venezuela, American cap-
italists were actively prospecting in many regions, chiefly
along the northern border. More than 20 field parties were
engaged in exploration.
In Colombia. English, American, and Canadian oil interests
were concerned with concessions for the development of large
areas where, though no large oil wells have been developed,
the seepages of oil and asphalt are so significant as to lead
to the hope of a large addition to the supply of fuel oil. The
Cowdray interests withdrew from Colombia in the latter part
of the year.
Delay has been experienced in developing the oilfields of
Argentina, owing apparently to the desire of the government
to retain the oil as a national monopoly. In Chile a govern-
mental commission examined the oil and gas indications in
the Magellan region and made a favorable report. In Ecuador
the Cowdray and other interests carried on a vigorous cam-
paign for the acquirement and development of areas showing
oil indications in the Interior, as well as in the region of
the old wells near the coast. Interest was shown in the pos-
sibility of finding oil in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and
Honduras, but there has not yet been time for a significant
result. In the islands of the West Indies prospecting for
petroleum was active in Haiti, where a small oil well was
drilled near Azua. In Cuba drilling for oil was resumed near
Havana, Cardenas, and Motembo. Explorations for oil were
also active in Barbados.
In Mexico development work was remarkably active consid-
ering the unsettled condition of the country, and it resulted
in the development of several large wells in the neighborhood
of the great gusher at Potrero del Llano. Another large gusher
was obtained at Los Naranjos, on the shore of Tamiahua
lagoon, which indicated a considerable addition to the total
oil supply. The Sin. pipe-line of the Mexican Kagle Oil Co.
was completed from Potrero del Llano to Tampico. The re-
finery of this Company between La Barra and Tampico is near-
ing completion. Among many other interesting developments
in Mexico was the continued interest in the Topila oilfield,
near Tampico. where, in spite of many wells going to salt
water, the unusually large gushers occasionally obtained have
stimulated continual drilling operations.
A feature of importance for the United States was the de-
velopment of a large (feet of tank steamers for coastwise and
trans-Atlantic trade. Imports of Mexican oil were extended
to several refining centres of the United States.
The general interest in the development of new oilfields
which characterized the year 1913 extended to Alberta and
Saskatchewan, in Canada. Although explorations in Saskatche-
wan gave either natural gas or else entirely negative results,
a well 27 miles southwest of Calgary, in Alberta, struck oil
of very light gravity, causing much excitement, and a large
territory in that region was taken up by prospectors for oil.
This oil excitement extended to the region north of Edmon-
ton, in Alberta, where on Athabaska river and its tributaries
large bodies of so-called 'tar sands' have been known for
many years. Work has continued in the developing of the
natural gas, petroleum, and oil-bearing shales of New Bruns-
wick.
In Russia the production of oil declined significantly in
the larger fields, but meanwhile the Ural-Caspian field was
actively exploited. This field is reached by steamers to the
north shore of the Caspian sea. Exploration in the Ural-
Caspian field north of the present oil wells has been extended
over many miles and has shown that the area, while spotted,
gives promise of further development. Exploration in this
field is impracticable in winter.
In Galicia deep boring is tending to check the decline in
the oil supply, and the exploitation has been actively carried
forward in all regions where indications have been noted in
the past. It is probable that.the government of Hungary will
develop the gas wells in the region of Kisarmas. In Rumania
oil production continued active in spite of the severe Are
in the Moreni field. The chief contribution to the industry
by the government was the development of a pipe-line system
from the producing fields to Constanza, on the Black sea. In
Japan production was greatly helped by the introduction of
the rotary system of drilling.
World's Production of Gold and Silver,
Mint Estimate for 1912
2,043,200
1,812,100
78,100
27,800
11,000
Gold.
Countries. Value.
North America
United States $ 93.451,500
Canada 12,648,800
Mexico • 24,500,000
Africa
Transvaal 188,293,100
West Coast 7,286,000
French Colonies 2,044,600
Rhodesia 14,226,900
Australasia 54,509,400
Europe
Austria-Hungary
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Italy
Norway
Portugal 2,300
Russia 22,199.000
Servia 251.100
Spain ^
Sweden 20.300
Turkey 500
South America
Argentina 107.300
Bolivia and Chile 175,000
Brazil 3,570,600
Colombia 2.971,700
Ecuador 406.500
Peru 492.200
Uruguay 111,000
Venezuela 623,500
Guiana (British) 879,800
Guiana ( Dutch ) 407,300
Guiana (French) 3,050,600
Central America 3,030,400
Asia
British India . 11,055,700
China 3,658,900
East Indies (British) 1,352,000
East Indies (Dutch ) 3,387.100
Indo-China 74,700
Japan 4,467,000
Korea 2,852,600
Siam ..." 56.500
Silver.
Ounces (fine I.
63,766,800
31,625,451
74,640.300
984,672
73.28C
158,572
14,737,944
1,840,297
429,831
4,984,677
113,769
803.750
447.761
247,988
205,822
200.094
24.132
5,152.626
32.202
1.509.133
81,996
4,049,856
40.610
587,683
22,642
8,351,563
122,303
724,235
2,845,954
93,649
465,980
4.932,852
12,224
Total $466,136,100
224.310,654
'Science has no enemy save the ignorant.:
Whole No. 2792 ™8?
San Francisco, January 24, 1914
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL: Page.
Notes }li
Oroville Dredging, Limit. d. .■ nuie 166
ARTICLES!
What is the Ma I . '■ ■ !■ m-
■ •■
!■" I. •"
Engineer, *\ . Lindgri n. it. ■'>,'•■ Vl »"■
i leel liobei tson, \> . i u ■ ' urner,
Horace V. Winchell J2°
Gold in the Canal Zone ' '
Electric Furnaces for Steel l'r. ■ 1 ' 1
Recent Advances In the Stud: !>• I-.i i-ichment.
i '. 1-'. I ulman. J i*. 1 i3
Metal Production bl ■ ■'■ .•■,■•• \lt
The Cerro de Pasco Smelting I'l ., .Spencer Bishop hi
Development* in the Sliui ' Wann liJ
I g Lake Power Developnn !■■ !'• Kennedy 180
The Slater Leaching Process '-;■■:' (ires.....
II \\ . Morse 181
The Ethics of Mine Pron ■ ■•'■ i'nrke Channing 182
Gold Dredging Abroad in HU:i Charles Janin 183
Mining Costs In thi Coi Ah 'in District J8o
Gravel Mining in Alask.i and Siln na . . . ISd
Horizontal Duplex Power Pumps ol High I.tiieiency 201
DISCISSION i
Ore in Sight ' 'assius E. Gillette 186
The Use of Powder Underground K. Noblett 18fi
Qre <;. Aubrey Gow 186
Professional' Ethics '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' !■ M. Lilligren 187
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 189
GEM'-.KAL MINING NEWS 193
DEPARTMENTS:
Concentrates J°°
Schools and Societies ;JJn
Personal 200
The Metal Markets ^J
The Stock Markets 202
Company Reports jjjv
Catalogues Received -u4
EDITORIAL
"TVlSCOVERY that the hot waters at Idaho Springs,
■*-^ Colorado, contain 25 times the amount of radium
in the springs at Joachimsthal, accounts for the
optimism long radiated from 'Idaho,' as the initiated
call that one of Colorado's best loved minor cities.
A .NEW editor has been chosen for 'The Mineral In-
■**• dustry, ' the highly useful annual established in
1892 by R. P. Rothwell. Mr. G. A. Roush. who takes
up the work this year, is assistant professor of metal-
lurgy at Lehigh University and one of the active mem-
bers of the Electrochemical Society. Thai he is excel-
lently qualified for his new duties wiil be cone led by
all who read his review of electrometallurgy in 1913
which we printed January 3. Incidentally, we were
in error in stating that lie was associate editor of
Metallurgical and Chemical Enyineerimj.
"CONCESSIVE use of powder underground is to a con-
-*-J siderable extent the result of unthinking habit, as
is suggested elsewhere by Mr. R. Noblett. We recall
an instance where the miners were firm in the faith
thai four sticks were needed to break- each hole. Quiet
tests by the engineer and the foreman showed that
three would do the work. Thereupon a carload of
powder was bought made in a special size so that four
slicks contained the same amount of explosive as had
formerly been put in three. The miners continued to
use the four s-tieks. the rock broke as weil as ever, and
powder costs fell.!.) per cent. Other eases mighl be
cited.
CHEAP hydro-electric power has been responsible
for the growth of large and varied electrochem-
ical industries in Norway and Sweden, and our I
analogy between Alaska and Scandinavia is suggested
by the article by Mr. E. 1'. Kennedy on the Long bake
power project thai we print this week. We published
December 2, 1911, some interesting notes on the situ-
ation in Norway and Sweden. Mr. Kennedy proposes
to develop power at a cost of $3.43 per horse-power
year, which compares favorably with costs in Norway
of *4 to +7 and in Sweden of ^7 to $11. In a subsequent
article Mr. W. P. Lass will point out the possible uses
of this power. In the meantime, Mr. Kennedy's esti-
mates of construction costs may be received with en-
tire confidence, as they are based upon long personal
experience in directing work in the region.
166
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
TDELIEVING that an ounce of prevention may be
■LJ better than a pound of damage suits, the Anaconda
Copper Mining Company has recently adopted a plan
which, it is hoped, will greatly reduce the number of
accidents in its mines. The Company offers a prize
of $1000 to the foreman in whose jurisdiction there
are the smallest number of accidents during the year,
and a second prize of $250 to the foreman reporting
the next lowest number. Surelj' $1250 a year could
not be spent to better advantage, for the promotion
of a keen rivalry between the foremen should result
in the instillation of a spirit of carefulness into the
miners which will be more valuable than insurance,
both to the Company and the workmen themselves.
Oroville Dredging Limited and Its Future
HP HE annual meeting of the Mining and Metallurgical
■*■ m Society, held in New York, January 14, was a par-
ticularly pleasant affair. Following the usual dinner,
informal talks were given by Messrs. Sidney Jennings,
Parke Channing, Allen Rogers, and others, and the dis-
cussion of the latest things in mining ranged from
Alaska to Chile. Mr. J. F. Kemp, the newly elected
president of the Society, discussed in his best manner
a new method for getting metals out of the ground
without mining, and Mr. D. M. Riordan told of early
experiences in the Southwest. It was announced that
Mr. J. R. Finlay had been elected vice-president, Mr.
W. R. Ingalls, secretary-treasurer, and Messrs. J. Parke
Channing, Hennen Jennings, P. N. Moore, and H. Foster
Bain, councillors.
TY7ASHINGT0N dispatches indicate that a lively
** interest is being taken in the bill now before
Congress that proposes to give to the President power
to withdraw radium lands from entry and to the Sec-
retary of the Interior to lease these lands or other-
wise provide for mining the ores so as to secure needed
radium for government hospitals. A vigorous protest
against any further land withdrawals has been made
on behalf of Colorado, in which state the known lands
occur. We printed January 3 an authentic •account
of the arrangement existing between the Bureau of
Mines and the National Radium Institute, which, by
the way. draws its ores from lands already in private
ownership, and we have also published full details re-
garding the pitchblende deposits of Gilpin county. In
a matter of so much potential importance to human
life and health, it is surely better that the technological
developments should be public and free to all. as is
provided in the present plans of the Radium Institute
and the Bureau of Mines. It would also seem good
sense, if the Government owns radium-bearing ground
and has the necessary technical information, as it pre-
sumably will have as a result of the arrangement with
the Radium Institute, to reserve a supply of ore
for its own hospitals. There are large sources of sup-
ply now in private ownership, and the power that it
is proposed to give the President would by no means
convert Colorado into the howling wilderness that a
few of our more excitable friends seem to vision.
The resumption of dividends by the Oroville Dredg-
ing Company, Limited, and the recent announcement
of the purchase of a tract of rich gold gravel land ad-
joining the Pato property in Colombia, brings this
Company into the limelight. The dividend of six pence
per share, payable March 1, will gladden the hearts of
the many shareholders who have patiently waited for
four years to receive some returns on their seemingly
unfortunate investment ; and a continuation of divi-
dends is to be hoped for, as a result of the satisfactory
earnings now being made from the dredge on the Pato
property. The California properties of this Company
are nearing exhaustion, most of the dredges have had
to be abandoned or dismantled, and of the three boats
still in commission, there are only two which can be
expected to last until the ground can be exhausted.
According to a report by Mr. Theodore J. Hoover,
dated May 16, 1913, the remaining ground at Oroville
will be dredged in five years with a total net yield
of approximately $500,000. Mr. Hoover states that
"there is no prospective value in the Oroville business,
and * * * the limits of our income and profits are very
definitely fixed." Inasmuch as the annual profits after
1913 from Oroville are not expected to exceed $68,000.
it is evident that the shareholders will have to rely
largely upon the operations in Colombia for their div-
idends and the return of capital invested. The rev-
enue from the properties in California since they were
acquired in 1905 has been far from satisfactory. Div-
idends amounting to $1,383,000 have been paid, and
a further sum of about $500,000 is expected from the
yield in 1913 and that of the next five years, when
the properties will be exhausted. The total yield,
therefore, will fall short of the capitalization of the
Company by about a million and a half dollars. The
discontinuance of dividends was considered necessary
in order to acquire another property from which the
inevitable loss on the California properties might be
recouped. In 1909, therefore, the Pato property in
Colombia was secured, and the earnings from the Cali-
fornia dredges for the past four years have been used
in equipping the new property.
The Pato concession contains over 20.000 acres, but
of this vast area only 310 acres has been proved to
contain gold gravel having a satisfactory average
value. Mr. C. H. Munro made a thorough examination
of this ground and sampled it, reporting the average
gold content to be 31 cents per cubic yard. The total
net value of the tested area was stated to be approx-
imately $1,750,000, which amount was expected to be
realized in seven years, working with one dredge. Un-
fortunately, the expenditures have been double the
amount anticipated when the property was examined,
with the inevitable result that the expected profit from
the Pato property will be materially reduced unless
further prospecting shall reveal new areas of pay-
gravel. Pato has proved to be a most expensive ac-
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
167
quisition. On July 31, 1913, according to the Com-
pany's published reports, the Pato company's indebt-
edness amounted to about a million and a half dol-
lars, consisting of the 8 per cent income notes, and
interest thereon, due the Oroville Dredging Com-
pany $1,266,000) : further cash advances by the
Oroville Company ($118,000) ; and a loan from the
Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, with inter-
est ($151,000). The Oroville company had advanced
to the Pato from its own surplus and reserves, and
from money which it had borrowed, over $1,000,000
for the purpose of equipping the latter property. In-
asmuch as the Oroville Dredging. Limited, owns 75 per
cent of the stock of the Pato company, it is evident
that if the profitable ground of the latter should prove
to be confined to the 'tested area,' having an average
recoverable value as previously determined by the en-
gineers, the Oroville company's share of the profits will
come to about $1,300,000 — an amount only slightly in
excess of the cash actually advanced. On this basis
we find that the total amount of dividends previously
paid, together with revenues expected from the prop-
erties in California and Colombia, comes to approxi-
mately $3,200,000, as against the Oroville company's
capitalization of $3,500,000. Inasmuch as no disburse-
ments to shareholders can be considered as dividends
unless the return of the entire amount of the capital
is assured, it is apparent that the payment of actual
dividends upon Oroville stock must depend upon the
discovery of additional profitable ground in the Com-
pany's property in Colombia.
With regard to results at the Pato property, it
is interesting to note that actual dredging was not
commenced until about February 1. 1913, but the re-
sults since then have greatly exceeded expectations.
During the six months ended July 31. 1913, about
450,000 cubic yards was dredged with a yield of 14.79
cents per yard at a working cost of 12.49 cents. The
latter figure, it is to be noted, is based upon six months
only. The ground dredged was below the tested area,
and supposedly barren, so the results were unexpect-
edly encouraging. After August 1. when the tested
area was reached, 458.000 cubic yards was excavated,
which contained an average of 74.15 cents in gold per
cubic yard. The yield was more than double the aver-
age value calculated from the results of drilling the
310 acres in question previous to the purchase of the
property, and from this fact some have been inclined
to infer that the original estimates of the engineers
were far too low. Such an assumption is unfair both
to the engineers and to the shareholders, for it is well
known that the richer gold gravels are usually found
in well defined channels or in certain areas of limited
extent, and the gravel now being dredged may well
be in a channel where the gold content is higher than
the average of the whole tract. Mr. Munro, after a
thorough examination of the ground, calculated an
average value of 31.31 cents per cubic yard. From
our knowledge of the accuracy with which gold grav-
els can be tested, and the undoubted ability of Mr.
Munro. we believe that the dredging of the entire 310
acres will prove Mr. Munro 's figure to be very nearly
correct. The dredging of ten or fifteen acres of 74-
cent gravel at this time merely means that the recov-
ery from the rest of the gravel area may be consider-
ably less than 31 cents per yard. It is evident that the
dredge is now digging some of the best ground the
Company owns. The fact that the few acres already
dredged contained twice as much gold as the average
calculated by the engineers most assuredly does not
prove that the higher value per yard will be found
throughout the entire extent of the tested area.
With respect to the prospects of finding additional
areas of dredgable gravel on the Pato concession, Mr.
W. A. Prichard is reported to have cabled that the con-
cession is now found to include nearly 40,000 acres;
that California hill is of small area, and the gravel
there averages 12 cents per yard; and that there are
other placer deposits on the Pato property which are
"well worthy of investigation." It is extremely grati-
fying to know that the territory is so vast, and it is
to be hoped that it may be found to contain many-
good placer deposits, but the fact remains that the
Pato property is merely an undeveloped prospect ex-
cept for the tested area and California hill. At the
latter place the drilling has not proved gravel contain-
ing a very satisfactory amount of gold, for it is not
probable that a limited area of 12-cent gravel can be
worked at a reasonable profit. The value of the con-
cession, beyond the tested area, therefore, is entirely
prospective and speculative. It is quite possible that
systematic prospecting and drilling may reveal valu-
able gold gravel deposits in other parts of this enor-
mous property, and we sincerely hope that this may
be the case, but at the present time there seems to be
little definite information upon which to base the rather
optimistic reports which are now being circulated.
The most recent announcement contains news which
is surely intended to fill the hearts of the shareholders
with hope, and to advance the price of the stock. It
is stated that the San Francisco property of 400 acres,
adjoining the Pato on the other side of the Nichi river,
has been purchased for the trifling sum of $51,000. and
that from the results obtained by drilling. Mr. Prichard
has proved 90 acres of pay gravel, averaging 70 cents
per cubic yard, with a depth of 48 feet. Mr. Hoover
calculates that, if these results are confirmed., the area
should yield a profit of about $3,500,000. after allow-
ing 10 cents per yard for operating costs, and about
$500,000 for equipment. It must have startled the
Oroville directors to learn that a veritable bonanza
had lain almost at their doors for four year's, perhaps
quite unsuspected; and that this could now be pur-
chased for a song! However, they bestirred themselves
sufficiently to keep the cables hot until the money was
transferred before the option had expired. We con-
gratulate the Company, and trust that the 7-eports may
in due time be fullv confirmed.
168
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
What is the Matter With Prospecting?— Ill
A SYMPOSIUM*
Charles A. Chase: — I think that money is available
in reasonable amounts for finding and developing
prospects. One comes across many groups of people
in this state (Colorado) who are doing some explora-
tion and some development. I think that additional
money will be found when prevailing conditions are
better. Government aid does not seem to be neces-
sary at this time. It seems to me that the answer
to the questions regarding prospecting conditions is
suggested in your first paragraph, in which you say
that we will come to a metal famine. If we do approach
a metal famine, I am sure that with rising prices
large amounts of new money will be available for
new work. It seems to me that this is the logical
answer to your whole letter.
Coal Engineer: — I should say that, leaving aside
current monetary conditions occasioned by national
legislation and uncertainties, "money is readily avail-
able in adequate amounts for finding and developing
prospects," though capital expects the major portion
of the profits through majority of stock ownership.
The man who wants all cash for his prospects and
retains all the stock ownership of the resultant suc-
cessful exploitation is not welcome at the feast! It
is, of course, difficult to get money readily in any con-
siderable quantity because of the highly speculative
nature of most of the undertakings; but money is
available, I believe, for legitimate mining enterprises,
endorsed by reputable engineers. I think it might be
made more available if actual conditions, risks and
returns, could be plainly shown and truthfully mani-
fested. I do not believe in government aid to pros-
pectors, except through the publications and maps of
the Geological Survey. Prospecting methods have nec-
essarily been improved as the more conspicuous de-
posits have been discovered and already mined: but
the expense of prospecting has correspondingly in-
creased. A better market for undeveloped mineral
lands might possibly be created by educating capital
toward securing really competent specialists to report
on undeveloped mineral lands, not merely from the
technical standpoint of the government geologist, but
from that of the commercial engineer to whom capital
looks for its safeguards and returns. This would tend
to reduce risks and create better public sentiment.
*[ln presenting this third of the series on 'What i« the
Matter with Prospecting,' the first of which appeared in the
'Annual Review Number,' we would state for the benefit of
those who did not see the first of the series, that the content
of this symposium has been abstracted from letters received
from some of the best informed members of the profession.
Upon this subject of importance to the mining fraternity, we
take pleasure in thus presenting their individual viewpoints. —
Editor.]
Starry A. Easton:— I believe that there is just as
much money now available for finding and develop-
ing mining prospects as ever before. In fact, I am
inclined to think that there is a good deal more money
available. I do not believe in government aid to
prospecting and prospectors — that is, direct financial
assistance. The art of prospecting can be encouraged
by the Government by giving the prospector a free
hand and assuring good treatment to the prospector
and those backing him in their first search, and in the
work following upon a discovery. Further prospect-
ing must be accompanied by a great deal more develop-
ment work than heretofore. The big, prominent,
rich outcroppings have all been found in every coun-
try that has even been partly explored. What is re-
quired now is prospecting by development work, either
by churn-drilling, sluicing by ditch or pressure, or
shaft, or tunnel development, and in connection with
the most careful study of the areal geology. In order
to justify such expense and labor, the loeator and
his associates must know they will not be disturbed
in possession of the ground they are investigating and
must feel that if they succeed in disclosing mineral
of value, they will be able to get title from the Gov-
ernment to enough area to protect them from litigious
neighbors. The principal requirement above public
interest, financial backing, or other factor, is the pro-
tection of the prospector and his associates in their
possession and development of the land, by providing
some method by which title to undeveloped and partly
developed mineral land, or land which is sufficiently
promising in mineral possibilities to justify serious
investigaton, can be safely and surely secured. While
it is true that no new districts are being advertised
at tiiis time, still it will be found that around such
big mining centres as Butte or the Coeur d'Alene.
new mineral bodies are being continually opened, not
only in new properties, but in the extensions of the
workings of the older mines. These new developments
add vastly to the mineral resources of the country.
but are not advertised; nor, in fact, is anything known
of them except to those directly connected with the
work.
F. Lynwood Garrison: — It is certainly not true that
money is no longer available for finding and develop-
ing prospects ; quite the contrary, in fact, for in my
opinion there is more money to be had for this pur-
pose than ever before, and will continue to be as
long as the gambling spirit is in human nature. The
thing is to take advantage of this trait and see that
it is wisely and effectually directed. This money can
be made available by proper representations regarding
the prospect, claim, or mine, as the case may be. But
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
1G9
this information should be obtained by a skillful and
trustworthy mining engineer, or by one whom he knows
to be competent and reliable. It is preferable, how-
ever, that the engineer himself should have examined
the property. The only way the Government is likely-
to be able to help prospecting and prospectors is by
having better mining laws. It has done, and is still
doing, much through the Geological Survey in the way
of providing reliable maps and other data. Prospect-
ing methods and conditions certainly can be improved.
and naturally such betterment would be most quickly
effected if the work were in the hands of a competent
mining engineer. A better market for undeveloped
mineral lands can be created by a stronger public
sentiment against fake promotions and charlatan en-
gineers and geologists. The postal laws can always
be invoiced to check this kind of fraud, if people
would take the trouble to go to the proper authorities
with well assured facts. In my opinion, fraudulent
promotion in metal mining has been a great deterrent
to the legitimate development of the country. Of
course, dishonest promoters would go out of existence
if there were not so many foolish and avaricious peo-
ple with money ready to pu1 in their schemes. We
cannot hope to eliminate the fools, but we could make
it very hot for the promoters, thai use the mails.
Andrew C. Lawson: — It is my impression that the
ancient and honorable profession of prospecting is suf-
fering from atrophy. It is my further impression that
the reason for this is that the prospector does not
get his proper share of the value of his prospect when
it proves to be valuable. It requires capital to make
a mine out of a prospect, or even to develop it to
that stage at which the probability of its having the
makings of a mine becomes apparent. Money is as a
rule spent freely on prospects only where these have
high-grade ore. or where, if the grade is low, a vast
tonnage is in evidence at the surface. The only way
of securing money for the develo] menl of a large pro-
portion of these prospects is the organization of pros-
pecting and development con ; nii-s to engage in the
business of mining venture, as distinguished from buy-
ing a sure thing. It is my belief that if such com-
panies were to act on competi tit advice, so as to min-
imize the chances against them, their winnings in the
long run would be large; and these should be shared
with the prospectors who make the lueky finds. I do
not believe in government aid to prospecting and pros-
pectors. T believe the time has come when prospect-
ing may be done on geological principles, to a very
considerable extent, along lines that are impossible
for the ordinary prospector; but the highest geological
skill will be required for the direction of such work,
and many blanks will be drawn for one prize. A bet-
ter market for undeveloped mineral lands would be
secured: (1) by the suppression of fake mining com-
panies which undermine the public confidence in min-
ing ventures; (2) by disposing of mineral lands by
lease only; (3) by systematic exploration of such lands
by prospecting and development companies so that
their value may become known; (4) by improving
transportation facilities in new districts; (5) by en-
couraging the development of agricultural and other
industries in mining districts to the end that they be-
come stable instead of ephemeral communities; (6) by
doing away with the apex law so that costly litiga-
tion may be minimized and greater security of tenure
obtained: (7) by the extension of geological surveys
in greater detail than has hitherto been customary.
Mining Engineer:— As far as the writer's observa-
tion extends, it is true that money is no longer avail-
able in adequate amounts for finding and developing
prospects as regards the outside public, but this does
not apply to the majority of those actively and con-
tinuously interested in mining affairs. There seems
no possible way of renewing interest which shall show
itself in a readiness to furnish additional money for
such purposes save by either (a) a largely increased
price in metals, which shall make profitable many
small mines now unworked, or (b) a recurrence of
that psychological condition known as a 'mining
boom.' Under no conditions is aid to prospectors a
function of the Government. Such an attempt would
result in abuses of the worst form with no satisfactory
returns. There are thousands of prospects throughout
the United States which would find development if
the owners did not demand outrageous prices for them.
The actual chances for the old-fashioned prospector
are by no means what they were in the days of the
earlier mining booms. The time has come for capital,
wisely directed, to assume some of the risks of pros-
pecting and development: but, naturally, capital does
not stand ready to do this if in addition to the in-
evitable prospecting risks it must pay unreasonable
prices or assume unreasonable contracts on undevel-
oped properties. After all, possibly a good dose of
hard times may be the best cure for all this mining
woe. A cure of this soil is even now in progress in
the Joplin district, when, a familiar process is being
repeated. That district is well dubbed the 'Poor
Man's District.* "Whenever the price of zinc ore
reaches a level unprofitable for the low-grade mines.
so that wage-work is scarce, the miners turn to pros-
pecting by leasing, reasonably sure that the chances
for finding some mineral are worth taking. New dis-
coveries are being made from week to week- in that
district, and when the price of zinc ore again advances.
it is a reasonable expectation that there will be a
number of new large producers as the result of the
present stress. In a general way this same condition
may follow throughout the whole country.
W. Lindgren: — I emphatically do not believe in gov-
ernment aid to prospecting and prospectors except in
the line of improving communications in the wilder
and more distant regions.
• R. A. F. Penrose, Jr.: — I believe there is plenty of
available capital for developing mining prospects when
170
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
it is to be used legitimately and is not to be handi-
capped by too much legislative interference. It was
the encouragement given by our Government to the
honest effort of individuals, that originally developed
and fostered the mining industry of the West. If we
attempt to interfere with this by too many restric-
tions, I think we will find that prospecting and the
development of mines will lose much of their old activ-
ity. I believe that the federal and state governments
can do much good for the miner in making geological
surveys and topographical maps, but I do not think
that they ought to exercise too much paternalism over
the individual who is legitimately trying to succeed
by his own efforts. I do not believe that the West-
ern miner wants to be patronized in this manner. Give
him his freedom of action in his honest efforts and
he will generally make good without having to be
taken care of.
Wm. Fleet Robertson: — The question as to whether
new mines are being found as rapidly as is necessary
to keep pace with the demand for the metals is, it
seems to me, best answered by the prices of the metals
on the markets; and as there is no great upward
tendency over any extended period, the answer seems
to be in the affirmative. The following answers to
your stated questions can only be assumed to be of
local application to British Columbia. In my opinion
it is not true in a general sense that adequate amounts
of money are not available for prospecting. Such an
investment is naturally a 'speculation' and in re-
cent years the great increment in land and timber
values has absorbed the larger part of the speculative
money here, with resulting diminution of speculative
money for prospecting and developing of prospects.
A reaction is now automatically setting in, and min-
eral property will soon again receive its legitimate
amount of speculative money. The picturesque pros-
pector of the street or saloon has been largely replaced
by a much less noisy, better-equipped individual who
has his business associates, before whom he lays his
prospects. It is simply a change of method, which
you may call the effect of civilization, or civilization, as
you choose. Many big companies and financial syndi-
cates maintain a staff of junior engineers and mine
examiners ready to examine anything reasonable. The
large companies in British Columbia will send an en-
gineer to make at least a cursory examination of al-
most any sort of a prospect presented by a prospector.
Government aid cannot be given as financial aid to
individuals or properties, as this would be open to
the suspicion of government favoritism, and also be-
cause such aid would in many cases be abused. Gov-
ernment aid may properly consist of: (a) making trails
and roads to facilitate access to districts, including
bridging of streams and arranging for ferries; (b)
facilitating the easy acquirement by prospectors of
claims at nominal cost, with security of titles. In
British Columbia a prospector may stake and record
a claim 1500 by 1500 ft. (about 52 acres) for $2.50.
This record holds the land for one year, and if during
that year $100 worth of work is done on the claim
and recorded, for a fee of $2.50 the title is renewed
for another year, and so on from year to year. When
$400 worth of work has been done, and a survey by
a land surveyor has been recorded, a Crown grant
(equivalent to a patent in the United States) can be
obtained for $25. This title is unassailable, excepting by
the Government on a charge of fraud. If the property
is worked to the extent of $200 a year it is exempt
from all taxation, (c) By having vertical boundaries
to mineral claims, and no extralateral rights to tempt
litigation to freeze the poor man out. (d) Exploratory
work in new district with published reports on the
same to indicate likely areas for the prospector to
investigate, (e) Free qualitative determinations of
all minerals sent in, and advice as to the advisability
of making exact tests on the same, (f) Advice in the
office and field to all wishing information in mining
matters. These aids are all given in British Columbia.
A better market for undeveloped mineral claims can be
created by restoring confidence in the veracity and abil-
ity of the prospecting class, sadly shaken in past years.
The public has found by bitter experience that mining
is used as a cloak to cover a multitude of swindles,
and in consequence people are getting very cautious.
The unscrupulous middleman is more to blame in this
respect than the prospector. The prospector should
be educated as to the true value of a prospect, so that
the price asked therefor would not be prohibitory to
any sane man intending to develop it. This can be
done only by making him realize fully the risks of
loss that are undertaken by the purchaser.
W. H. Shockley: — My experience is that none of the
larger exploration companies, or important mining
companies who are looking for mines, will furnish any
money for prospecting. This is also true of the indi-
vidual capitalists with whom I am acquainted. And
I might as well have said at once that I do not know
any source from which a prospector can get money
for developing a prospect. I do not know any way in
which money can be made available, except by raising
it by taxation. I see no special need of giving pros-
pectors government aid at present. I do not think it
possible to improve prospecting methods or conditions
to make the available funds adequate. I see no way in
which a better market for undeveloped mineral lands
ean be created.
Henry W. Turner: — In my opinion it is a fact that
money is no longer available in adequate amounts for
finding and developing prospects. No doubt addi-
tional money could best be made available by showing
directors and heavy investors that it costs less to get
good mines by trying and developing promising pros-
pects than it does by paying large prices for devel-
oped orebodies, with the attendant heavy expenses for
examination. Only by developing will the present
large companies of the world be able to keep up the
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
171
metal production. I do not think that government aid
to prospecting and prospectors is at all necessary. A
better market for undeveloped mineral properties could
be created if the Government would give a special con-
cession of time, say six months, to companies or indivi-
duals for prospecting mineral lands, as is done in
Mexico. If the prospector were assured possession of
his ground for prospecting purposes for a reasonable
period of time, no doubt more prospecting would be
done.
Horace V. Winchell: — It is true that funds are no
longer available for prospecting and developing mining
properties. Additional money is not likely to be avail-
able until the law is changed so as to give exclusive
possessory title to the locator and prospector during
the time in which he is trying to make a discovery. I
do not believe in government aid to prospectors. Pros-
pecting methods and conditions can be so improved as
to make available funds adequate. Undeveloped min-
eral lands will be in greater demand just as soon as
there is such a change in the definition of what con-
stitutes mineral lands as to make it possible to hold
them in advance of the actual discovery of ore. While
the fundamental defect lies in the law, which at present
requires a discovery before completing a location, and
therefore before exclusive possession is acquired, still
I believe that another fact detrimental to prospecting
is found in the creation of so-called 'development com-
panies.' As a rule, these companies are not 'develop-
ment' companies in any sense, but more properly 're-
tardation' companies. Before their organization there
were numerous individuals of means who were open to
propositions from prospectors and the owners of min-
ing properties and who would investigate, through the
agency of some mining engineer, propositions which
appealed to them individually. There was thus a rather
widespread and numerous clientele or purchasing power
scattered throughout the land. Each 'development
company' gathered a group of these individuals into
its fold and made one purchasing entity instead of
many. Each 'development company' further employs
a consulting engineer or manager to decide upon the
purchase or rejection of properties offered to it. These
supervising officials feel it necessary to be doubly
cautious in accepting properties, and, acting in respons-
ible capacities, will actually not take the chances on
behalf of their employers which they would be per-
fectly willing to take as individuals. They are con-
stantly looking for bargains, and no proposition ever
comes to them in an entirely satisfactory form. In
order to earn their salaries they must make better terms
upon every property brought to their attention. They
even go further and actually, although quite probably
without realizing it, constitute a little monopoly upon
the purchasing side — so much so that if one of these
companies learns that another has examined a certain
property and failed to purchase the same, the other
almost invariably promptly rejects it without any con-
sideration.
Gold in the Canal Zone
A number of placer claims located along the Gatun
river and its tributaries, some of them within and
some of them without the Zone, have been examined
by D. F. MacDonald, the official geologist. The fol-
lowing is a summary of the investigation, as pub-
lished in The Canal Record of November 26 :
Cost ot
Number Gold per working
of pans cu. yd., gravel, per
Location. washed. cents. cu. yd.
Guineal creek 17 trace $1.00 +
Palenque creek 30 2.1 1.00 +
Cuatro Calles creek 20 0.7 1.00 +
Quebrada Pato 22 0.6 1.00 +
Quebrada Mollejones 12 2.0 0.12 +
Agua Clara 52 2.0 0.12 +
Main Gatun river 46 1.0 0.12 +
Bar near mouth of Agua Sucia
creek 6 7.5 0.12 +
Another part of same bar 6 1.2 0.12 +
Agua Sucia creek 47 0.0 0.60+
Main Gatun, below mouth of
Agua Sucia 28 1.3 0.12 +
Quebrada Lopez 14 2.7 0.60 +
Mr. MacDonald is of the opinion that the territory
has practically no value for mining purposes.
Electric Furnaces for Steel Production
A Pennsylvania concern has recently ordered from
Siemens & Ilalske. of Berlin, two 20-ton induction
furnaces of an improved type that has been developed
from the combined patents of Kjellin. Rochling-Roden-
hauser, and Frick. These furnaces, which are now in
course of construction, will be of the double-ring form
and will be supplied with power from separate single-
phase alternators. The generators will supply a cur-
rent of 5000 volts. The normal power consumption of
the furnaces will be 1800 kw. each, and they will be
employed for the refining of molten open-hearth steel,
which will be used chiefly for the production of rail_
material. The output of each furnace will be about
160 tons per day of 24 hours, depending upon the
grade of steel produced. The importance of this order
will be more thoroughly understood when it is con-
sidered that up to this time the largest furnace of
this type had a capacity of only 12 tons per day. The
confidence of the builders is such that they are now
offering furnaces of 40 tons capacity, built upon the
same lines. — Daily Consular Report.
Working with one furnace for 298, and a second fur-
nace for 90 days of the first 11 months of 1913, there
was smelted at Katanga, Africa. 48.500 tons of ore
averaf,'inir 15 to 167f> copper and yielding 14.124.000
lb. of copper, at a cost of 9.7e. per pound.
Two reservoirs are being constructed in the state
of Hyderabad, India, which will have a total capacity
of 13,7:59,000.000 cubic feet.
172
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24. 1914
Recent Advances in the Study of Sulphide Enrichment
By C. F. Tolmax, Jr.
Almost simultaneously, Van Hise, Weed, and S. F.
Emmons1 announced the theory of 'secondary sulphide
enrichment,' and explained the processes and described
the details so accurately and fully, both Weed and
Emmons giving illuminating examples from mines
with which they were familiar, that the active study
of the succeeding twelve years proved to be largely
confirmatory and added but little to the deductions
of these men. The principle was so clearly announced,
easily understood, and well fortified by indisputable
examples, and fitted in so well with Van Hise's ideas
of the predominant role played by the ordinary mete-
oric circulation in the formation of ores, that it came
to be given recklessly as the explanation of all rich
sulphide ores found near the surface.
Studies by Spurr at Tonopah, of Lindgren and Ran-
some at Cripple Creek, and others, proved that bonanza
silver ore in combination with sulphur, arsenic, and
antimony, and rich telluride ores, often show no notable
downward enrichment, and emphasized the fact that
field and mineralogical studies were necessary in order
to determine the importance of this process. This
need induced Ransome to summarize the criteria avail-
able for the recognition of 'downward sulphide en-
richment', and while the paper, and the discussion
which followed, were disappointing in that they did
not result in important contributions to our knowl-
edge of the subject, they were of great value in sum-
marizing and coordinating the data at hand. A sum-
mary of the process written at the close of 1912. would
have read about as follows:
The descending solutions are strongly acid from the
oxidation of the pyrite. They contain the sulphates
of those metals that appear in the original ore. those
of silver and copper producing the most important en-
richments. When these solutions reach the water-level
they deposit simple and nearly pure sulphides in the
reverse order of their solubilities, silver sulphide first,
copper sulphide, chalcocite. next, with subordinate
amounts of bornite and chalcopyrite in some few eases.
Covellite is considered as an oxidation product of chal-
cocite, or possibly, in a few cases, precipitates directly
as a secondary sulphide, at the top of the enriched
zone. It is recognized that complex sulpho-salts of
silver are often secondary, but the reactions by which
they are formed are not understood, and no microscop-
ical study of the opaque sulphides has been made, and
therefore the criteria for distinguishing primary from
secondary ores are not developed.
At the time the above summary is supposed to have
iFor literature on sulphide enrichment, see Tolman, C. F.,
Mining and Scientific Press, Vol. 106, pp. 179-180 (1913);
Emmons., W. H., Bull. 529, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1913.
been written, most investigators thought chalcocite to
be formed only by secondary enrichment processes.
For example, Ransome stated in his article on the cri-
teria of downward sulphide enrichment: "I believe
that we are justified in regarding chalcocite very
rarely, if ever, iormed except under conditions of
downward sulphide enrichment or by vadose sulphate
solutions." Although Tolman, in 1907, had explained
that there was a rapid neutralization of the acid solu-
tions, and suggested neutral or even alkaline solutions
as agents causing the secondary transport of copper,
the possibilities along these lines were not recognized.
Bard, for example, suggested that calcite gangue tend-
ed strongly to inhibit enrichment by the neutraliza-
tion of the acid and precipitation of the metals as car-
bonates.
Chemical Research
Although much valuable chemical research was un-
dertaken previous to 1913, about all that was estab-
lished was that secondary sulphides had been pro-
duced by several methods in the laboratory. It could
not be said which of these methods, if any, repre-
sented the reactions in nature, and the equations gov-
erning them were guessed at, rather than known. In
fact, the experiments, as reported, were distinctly
misleading in suggesting that we had to do with the
precipitation of a single stable sulphide, and not. as
will be indicated later, a mixture of unstable com-
pounds, changing from one mineral to another, the in-
termediate and final products being determined, prob-
ably, by the composition, and the concentration of
the solution, and the temperature and pressure under
which the reactions took place.
Before considering the advances in our knowledge
of this subject during the past year, it seems advisable
to call attention to two things that have proved to
be a distinct hindrance to the study of the subject.
The first is in regard to nomenclature. It would be
difficult to invent a more inappropriate and inaccurate
name for the process than 'secondary sulphide enrich-
ment.' Sulphide enrichment alone is probably too nar-
row a term, for recent experiments and observations
show that native silver and possibly native copper may
be precipitated in the sulphide zone, and therefore are
not merely products formed from the direct oxidation
of the sulphides. There are two processes that are
contrasted and which need separate terms: (1) down-
ward enrichment caused by descending surface waters;
(~2) upward enrichment caused by a renewal of the
ascending thermal solutions. Secondary is a term used
by mineralogists to designate a mineral or minerals
formed by the breaking down, replacement, or substi-
tution of an earlier formed mineral. Downward en-
January 24. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
173
riehment is by no means always secondary, for chal-
coeite has been described as filling veinlets in the orig-
inal ore, and in the country rock. Ascending enrich-
ment is not necessarily primary. A. P. Rogers will
describe a well established ease of ascending secondary
enrichment, in a forthcoming number of Economic
Otology, and the microscopic study of polished sections
of many varieties of ores leads me to believe that
there is a break-down in certain primary ores, not
caused by descending solutions.
That ascending solutions may react on earlier formed
sulphides to form secondary sulphides is not recog-
nized by Graton.- who states: "In this paper, miner-
als called primary are regarded as products of orig-
inal deposition from solutions probably ascending,
heated, and of alkaline character; secondary sulphide
minerals are those produced from other sulphides by
the action of descending, cold, acid (or possibly neu-
tral) solutions." This has led him to postulate as a
general occurrence a single period of formation of
primary ores, and to attribute all secondary changes
in these ores to the results of descending vadose solu-
tions: a conclusion which I suspect will be modified
by his further studies.
'Upward' and 'Downward' Enrichment
The terms 'upward' and 'downward' enrichment
may be applied, then, whenever the origin of the solu-
tions is in mind, and the adjective primary or sec-
ondary can be added to either of these terms only
when it is wished to emphasize the mode of precipi-
tation, that -is, whether the minerals are deposited as
a filling of a fissure, or as a replacement of the older
sulphides. The terms hypngene and supergene would
be satisfactory to the scientist, but these derivatives
^of a dead language are hardly virile enough to stand
rough usage in mining camps.
A. F. Rogers will discuss (his matter in a forthcom-
ing number of Economic Groh,:iii. ITe will suggest the
terms 'upward secondary sulphide enrichment.' 'up-
ward primary sulphide enrichment.' and 'downward
secondary enrichment', 'these terms may seem cum-
bersome, but it seems to me thai if we use the terms
'upward sulphide' and 'downward sulphide' enrich-
ment to designate the source of the solutions, this will
help to divorce the genetieal meaning from the term
'secondary sulphide enrichment' and we will gradually
come to use this expression in its mineralogical sense.
It would probably not often be necessary to use the
complete term 'downward secondary sulphide enrich-
ment.'
The second point that seems to me to deserve crit-
icism is the assumption that has been adopted in much
of the recent experimental work, that the composi-
tion of the ore-forming solutions, both ascending and
descending, can be approximated from the analyses
of mine waters.
Any extensive set of mine workings opens up large
2Bu/I. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., 77, p. 741.
masses of sulphide ore to the direct attack of moist-
ure plus oxygen. This attack is so intense that mine
fires are developed at times. Stopes filled with broken
low-grade ore expose immense areas of ore to this
attack. On the other hand, the underground circu-
lation, given constant head by pumping or tunnel
drainage, is made many thousand times more active.
The first effect is to manufacture acid, and much later
to take the metallic salts in solution. It seems prob-
able, therefore, that the descending solutions that
caused enrichment are, in general, much less acid than
the present mine waters. The fact that great volumes
of water are developed by pumping does not prove
that a rapid or copious downward circulation existed
before the workings were driven. These earlier down-
ward-creeping solutions, although less acid than those
of the mine, may have had a much higher metallic
content.
If caution must be used in making our deductions
as to the composition of the descending ore solutions
from analyses of mine waters, much greater difficul-
ties are encountered in attempting to determine the
nature of ascending ore solutions from such analyses.
The original ores are probably formed in a brief period
of intense mineral activity, and later ascending waters
may not give an idea of the composition of the ore-
forming waters. Again, most ores are deposited from
solutions al considerable depth, and the latter must
be different in composition and concentration from
the later superficial spring water. This cannot be dis-
cussed in detail here, but it may be noted that exten-
sive sets of analyses of mine and spring waters are
being collected "with a view of ascertaining the gen-
eral nature and composition of the waters that have
been assumed to be agents in the deposition of lode
ores, in order that chemical experiments designed to
illustrate the natural processes might, be accomplished,
as far as practical, under natural conditions.""'
The development of the extensive disseminated chal-
coeite deposits of the .Southwest, the evidenl relation
of enrichment to permeability of rock-, to fracturing,
to present and past topographies, to the rate of ero-
sion, etc. ami the fact that specks of iron oxides on
the surface may indicate disseminated sulphides at
depth, encouraged the application of geological field
and microscopical methods of examination to these
deposits. One of the advances that may be credited
to l!)l:j is tin' recognition of the paramount impor-
tance of these relations. Early in 19] 3 I published
a brief summary of secondary enrichment.' emphasiz-
ing these relations, and giving examples of practical
problems that had been encountered in this work.
Shortly afterward. W. II. Emmons' comprehensive
treatment of the subject appeared, in which these
relations were considered, but the emphasis was
-Emmons and Harrington, 'A Comparison of Waters of
Mines and of Hot Springs,' Econ. Geol., Vol. VIII, p. 653 (1913.)
■•Bibliography and summaries of the papers mentioned will
he found at the end of this paper.
174
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
placed upon the mineralogical composition of the orig-
inal ores, and its effect upon enrichment.
Important advances were made in the knowledge
of the chemistry of downward enrichment in 1913.
Palmer and Bastin determined quantitatively the re-
action between silver sulphate solutions and niccolite,
throwing much light on the formation of native silver
by descending solutions. Palmer and Bastin, and also
Cooke and Grout, showed that native silver, and pos-
sibly native copper, are precipitated by descending
solutions, especially in presence of ferrous sulphate,
and we may conclude that the native copper, so often
formed toward the top of the sulphide zone, may be
deposited directly from descending solutions.
Up to 1913 it was assumed rather generally that
the descending solutions causing enrichment were
acid, and that the secondary sulphides therefore were
precipitated in an acid environment. Grout, however,
found difficulty in precipitating sulphides on other
sulphides in acid solutions, but obtained rapid precip-
itation when he mixed solutions containing metallic
salts with solutions of alkaline carbonates and hydrox-
ide, that had been in contact with pyrite. He con-
cluded that secondary sulphides are formed by de-
scending acid solutions meeting alkaline solutions.
This generalization is, however, somewhat doubtful.
It seems probable that in fractured lodes, where a
relatively strong descending circulation is developed,
an acid condition will obtain. The development of
alunite and kaolin by the action of the descending
solutions that precipitate the secondary sulphides is
evidence to this effect. Moreover, the sulphides gen-
erally develop at the underground water-level, and
an immediate neutralization at that point does not
seem probable. In experiments now being carried on
in the chemical laboratories of Leland Stanford Junior
Universit\r, Mr. Clark has succeeded in obtaining rel-
atively rapid sulphide precipitation when the sulphides
are ground fine. However, the neutralization of the
solutions is probably an important factor in the pre-
cipitation of the later sulphides, and there is a pos-
sibility of a rather deep downward migration of the
metals in alkaline solutions. We need further experi-
mental work on these problems.
The suggestion of Bard5 that calcite gangue tends
to inhibit downward enrichment does not find con-
firmation in the experimental work of Bastin and
Palmer. Moreover, many eases of sidphide enrichment
of copper ores in limestone are known. On the other
hand, lenses of rich oxidized copper ores in limestone
occur, which show no leaching of the copper. The
reasons for these differences have not received full
explanation.
The discovery of the occurrence of important bodies
of 'primary' (formed by ascending solutions^ chalco-
eite did not occur in 1913, but the completed proof
from structural and field relations was made avail-
"Bard, D. C, Econ. Geol., Vol. V, pp. 59-61 (1910) ; Welsh
and Stewart, Econ. Geol, Vol. VII, pp. 785-788 (1912).
able in this year in the valuable contribution of Sales.
The most important development of the study of
sulphide enrichment of last year was the demonstra-
tion of the value of microscopic study of polished
opaque sections of the ores. This study has been car-
ried on for some time at several American universities,
but Graton and Murdock have been the first to make
public their results in regard to sulphide enrichment.6
They show that any of the copper sulphides may be
primary or secondary (in the mineralogical meaning),
and that secondary changes show a tendency to trans-
form the iron-rich copper sulphides through the inter-
mediate sulphides into the copper-rich sulphide chal-
cocite. This break-down has been proved experimen-
tally in the valuable contribution of Spencer. As
criteria for primary chalcocite, Murdock and Graton
suggest cleavage, and graphic intergrowth of bornite
and chalcocite. I believe, however, that the criteria
in regard to cleavage need verification ; that the so-
called graphic intergrowth of chalcocite and bornite
is certainly in some cases a break-down of some cop-
per sulphide mineral into chalcocite and bornite, and
in other cases a replacement of bornite by chalcocite
according to a regular pattern.
In the experiments mentioned above, Mr. Clark has
been able to prove that the copper sulphides formed
in a number of his experiments consisted of a mix-
ture of cuprous sulphide, cupric sulphide, and sulphur.
Mixtures of the two sulphides occur in nature, and
have been described under the names diginite, carmen-
ite, and harrisite. It seems proable that not only the
composition of the original precipitates, but also of the
sets of minerals that are developed by the crystalliza-
tion of this product, are determined by the composition
of the solutions and precipitates, and the conditions of
temperature and pressure under which they are formed.
It is likely, therefore, that the final solution of many of
these problems will be accomplished by physical chem-
istry. We may hope for valuable information shortly
from the physical chemists now investigating these
subjects.
Bibliography
Bastin, Edson S. 'Metasomatism in Downward Sulphide En-
richment.' Econ. Geol.. Vol. VIII, pp. 51-63 (1913).
A summary of the results of the study of polished sec-
tions of secondary silver ores. Polybasite, proustite, and
stephanite are commonly developed by the processes of sec-
ondary enrichment. Drawings are given illustrating the
•This study is in its infancy, but we may now expect its
rapid development. It starts where the examination by trans-
mitted light stops, and shows, in a beautiful way, the rela-
tions of intergrowth, replacement, and order of formation of
the opaque ores. More attention has not been given this work,
perhaps, because of the general idea that the process of pol-
ishing is a delicate and tedious one. We have found in our
laboratories at Stanford University that the polished surface
can be prepared rapidly and easily. A little care will pre-
vent scratching of the surface by coarse powder or fragments
of the ores, and a brilliant burnish is quickly obtained by
polishing with tin oxide on felt. A section can be prepared
in about 15 minutes.
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
175
development of these sulphides by replacement of the orig-
inal sulphide minerals, and also deposited as fillings of
later fissures.
Bbokaw, A. D. The Precipitation of Gold by Manganous
Salts,' Jour. Ind. <k Eng. Chem., July 1913. The Sec-
ondary Precipitation of Gold in Orebodies,' Jour. Geol..
Vol. XXI, pp. 251-268 (1913).
Reports of the results of further suggestive experiments
on this important subject.
Clikkork, James 0. 'Formation and Growth of Disseminated
Copper Deposits.' Mines and Methods. June 1913.
©ookk, H. C. 'The Secondary Enrichment of Silver Ores.'
Jour. Geol., Vol. XXI, pp. 1-29 (1913).
Cooke oxidizes, dissolves, and precipitates silver minerals
in an instructive series of experiments. He concludes that
ferric sulphate is the agent that oxidizes and dissolves the
silver, and by reversible reaction ferrous sulphate re-pre-
cipitates the native silver. When hydrogen sulphide is
present (from the action of sulphuric acid on primary sul-
phides) this is acted upon by the ferrous sulphate, and
sulphur is produced, which unites with the silver to form
sulphides. Although not mentioned by Cooke, it is prob-
able that the sulphur necessary for the formation of silver
sulphides is also furnished when the solutions attack the
di-sulphide of iron, pyrite. Cooke concludes that only in
pyritic lodes will enrichment of silver be important. Bas-
tin, however, believes that scarcity of pyrite and abund-
ance of calcite are factors favoring the development of sec-
ondary silver sulphide. Cooke also investigates the solu-
bility of silver chloride in salt solutions. The solubility
is small in dilute salt solutions, but increases rapidly in
concentrated solutions, from which the silver chloride
(cerargyrite) precipitates on dilution. This explains the
erratic occurrence of bunches of superficial silver chloride
in arid regions, for very concentrated salt solutions may
develop at or near the surface in desert regions.
Ekitorials. Mining and Scientific Press. Vol. 107, p. 920, dis-
cussion of Ransome's new terms hypogene and super-
gene: 'Precipitation of Gold in Orebodies,' ibid., pp.
309-310. Eng. <{ Min. Jour.. Vol. 95, p. 463, secondary
enrichment and polished sections.
Elm.no, Morris T. 'Relation of Outcrops to Ore at Cananea."
Eng. rf Min. Jour.. Vol. 95. pp. 357-369 (19131.
A study of outcrops and their relation to enrichment.
More definite results might have been obtained with assist-
ance of microscopic study of ores and rocks.
Emmonk, W. H. 'The Enrichment of Sulphide Ores.' U. S.
Geol. Surv., Bull. 529 (1913).
The most important and only exhaustive treatment of the
subject that has as yet appeared. The treatment of the
relation pf enrichment to erosion, physiography, and climate,
is less complete than could be desired, when one remembers
the control these factors exercise over the processes of down-
ward enrichment. The chemistry of the process is well sum-
marized, and the composition of mine waters is elaborately
discussed. One of the most important contributions appear-
ing in this volume is the proof that the vertical range of
the secondary sulphide zone shows a relation to the min-
eral composition of the ore. He states "that ores contain-
ing abundant pyrrhotite are not enriched to depths so
great as those containing pyrite and chalcopyrite." The
author discusses in some detail the mineralogy and para-
genesis of the oxidized ore minerals and the secondary sul-
phides. Unfortunately, he did not have at hand the recent
data obtained from the study of polished ores. He gives
short descriptions of a number of copper, silver, and gold
deposits, and summarizes the conclusions that may be drawn
from them in 48 paragraphs. These conclusions constitute
an important contribution to the science of ore deposits.
Fawks. J. C. 'The Precipitation of Copper from the Mine
Waters of the Butte District.' Bull. Amer. Inst. Min.
Eng., 79, pp. 1267-1285 (1913).
It is stated that the waters pumped from the mines in
the early years of the district contained little copper, and
that the metal appeared in the mine waters after the deeper
workings were filled with copper-bearing waste.
Gkaton, L. C. 'Investigation of Copper Enrichment.' Eng.
.(- Min. Jour.. Vol. 96, pp. S86-SS7.
Scope of the investigations of the Secondary Sulphide
Commission.'
Gkaton and Mcrdock. 'The Sulphide Ores of Copper. Some
Results of Microscopic Study.' Bull. Amer. Inst. Min.
Eng., 77, pp. 741-786 (1913).
The most important paper that has as yet appeared on
the microscopic study of polished sections of copper ores.
Photomicrographs show the complex development of success-
ive copper sulphides, and rarely a simple precipitation of
chalcocite. The following order is recognized in a number
of ores: (1) Secondary chalcopyrite into (2) bornite. into
(3) covellite, into (4) chalcocite. Pyrrhotite, however, goes
directly into chalcocite without intermediate products. All
the copper sulphides observed, occur both as primary and
secondary minerals. Criteria suggested (in part provisional)
as indicating a primary origin for chalcocite are: (at pri-
mary "intergrewth" of chalcocite and bornite; (b) cleavage.
"Sooty chalcocite" is not necessarily secondary, but is the
result of the disintegration of the ores near the top of the
sulphide zone.
Grout, F. F. On the Behavior of Cold Acid Sulphate Solu-
tions of Copper, Silver, and Gold, with Alkaline Ex-
tracts of Metallic Sulphides.' Econ. Geol.. Vol. VIII, pp.
407-433 (1913).
Mr. Grout was rather unsuccessful in his attempts to form
secondary sulphides from acid solution, of a strength cor-
responding to analyses of mine waters, and acting on sul-
phides from which the fine material was sifted out by means
of a 200-mesh sieve. When the finest materia] was used he
was more successful, although the action is slow. Whenever
■much precipitation occurred, the free metals were promi-
nent. He doubts, therefore, if secondary sulphides are
formed by the reaction of acid solutions on primary sul-
phides. He investigated the question whether or not the
precipitation is caused by H.S formed by the attack of
H...SO, on pyrrhotite and alabandite, the two minerals that
have been proved to develop this gas copiously, under the
attack of dilute H,SOH. He showed that pyrrhotite does
not evolve H2S when copper sulphate is added to the solu-
tion containing H3SO, and that the relatively rare alaban-
dite is the only sulphide that precipitates copper "notably"
as a sulphide, from an acid solution. Upon treating pyrite
with a solution of alkaline carbonates or hydrates, and
adding the extract to the acid sulphate solution of copper, lie
obtained prompt and complete precipitation of the metallic
sulphides, and suggests, therefore, the secondary sulphides
are formed in nature at a point where the descending acid"
solutions mingle with deeper alkaline solutions.
Guillemain, C. 'Zur Kentnis der Lagerstatten in der Provinz
Katanga,' etc. Zeit. fiir Prak. Geol. XXI, 320-338 ( 1913).
He shows that the copper contents of the great Katanga
mines. Congo Free State, are concentrated by the process
of laterization, that is, weathering under tropical conditions,
the resulting minerals being oxides and native copper.
Kemp, .1. F. Influence of Depth on Metalliferous Deposits.'
Min. <( Eng. World. Vol. XXXIX, pp. 394-591 119131.
Discusses changes with depth caused by downward en-
richment :is well as those that take place in the primary
ores.
Kursi ii. P. Primary and Secondary Ores Considered with
Especial Reference to the Gel and the Rich Metal Ores.'
Mining and Scientific Press. Vol. 107, p. 418-423 (1913).
176
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
Discusses the role of colloidal solutions formed by oxida-
tion.
Lindobex, Waldemab. 'Mineral Deposits,' chapter XXIX, pp.
780-844 (1913).
Palmer and Bastin. Metallic Minerals as Precipitants of Sil-
ver and Gold.' Econ. Geol., Vol. VIII, pp. 140-171 (1913).
The majority of the common sulphide minerals are shown
to precipitate native silver or a mixture of silver and silver
sulphides from neutral and acid solutions of silver sulphate.
The chemical equation is established, governing . the pre-
cipitation of native silver by the mineral niccolite. This
throws light on the formation of the rich secondary native
silver deposits of Cobalt, Ontario. Other examples showing
secondary enrichment by the deposition of native silver are
given. For example, in the Up-to-date mine, near Caribou,
Boulder county, Colorado, Bastin found secondary chalco-
cite, bornite, silver, and covellite in a calcite gangue. Py-
rite galena and sphalerite are the least active of the com-
mon sulphides in precipitating native silver. All the sul-
phides precipitate native gold.
Ransome, F. L: 'Note on Nomenclature of Secondary Ores.'
Econ. Geol.. Vol. VIII, p. 721 (1913).
Sales, Reno. 'Ore Deposits at Butte, Montana.' Bull. Amer.
Inst. Min. Eng., 80, pp. 1523-1627. Review, Mining and
Scientific Press, Vol. 107, pp. 453-459 (1913).
A splendid structural study of the Butte copper deposits.
The geological evidence presented to show that the deeper
chalcocite was formed by ascending 'primary' solutions seems
conclusive. The conclusions as to genesis also seem well
founded. The suggestion is an interesting one that there
was but one period of mineralization, and that the differ-
ence in the mineralogy of the ore deposits in "the central,
intermediate, and peripheral zones" are due to changes in
the character of the solutions, resulting from the action of
these upon the country rock. We need more mineralogical
and experimental data on this subject. A satisfactory micro-
scopical and chemical study of the Butte ores and accom-
panying rock alterations will furnish us the data yet lack-
ing for the understanding of these complex deposits.
Shannon. Eari. V. 'Secondary Enrichment in the Caledonia
Mine. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.' Econ. Geol. Vol. VIII, pp.
565-571 (1913).
Rich cabinet specimens, from this locality, of native sil-
ver and tetrahedrlte and covellite, are known to mineral
collectors. The author discusses these, and shows that they
are products of secondary enrichment. He suggests that
- .enrichment has taken place in this mine, and not in most
of the other mines of the district, because of the smaller
amount of siderite present in the primary ore of the Cale-
donia mine.
Spencer, A. C. Chalcocite Enrichment.' Econ. Geol.. Vol.
VIII, pp. 621-652 (1913).
This is one of the most suggestive papers that has ap-
peared on the subject. The chemistry is treated more fully
and logically than elsewhere. The author emphasizes for
the first time in print, that the formation of the secondary
copper sulphides is not simply a precipitate of chalcocite
on pyrite or other sulphides, but that the formation runs
through a series of products which he suggests is pyrite
into chalcopyrite into bornite into covellite into chalcocite.
These changes are suggested by changes in colors in his
artificial precipitates. In regard to the moot question of
the effect of calcite gangue, he shows that secondary copper
sulphides are formed in calcite gangue when cupric and
ferrous sulphates are present.
Thompson, A. P. 'The Relations of Pyrrhotite to Chalcopy-
rite and Other Sulphides.' School of Mines Quarterly.
Vol. XXXIV, pp. 385-395 (1913).
From the study of polished sections of pyrrhotitic copper
ores. Mr. Thompson finds that the primary sulphides from
the various mines studied show the same order of develop-
ment, which is: (1) pyrite, (2) blend, (3) pyrrhotite, (4)
chalcopyrite. The later sulphides replace both the earlier
sulphides and the gangue as well.
Toi.max, C. F. 'Secondary Sulphide Enrichment.' Mining and
Scientific Press. Vol. 106, pp. 38-43, 141-145, 178-181.
A general review of the subject. Emphasis is laid on
the field study of the subject, and the author discusses the
problems presented during the study of the disseminated
copper deposits of the southwestern United States.
Wei.i.s, R. G. 'Electro-Chemical Activity Between the Solu-
tions and Ores.' Econ. Geol., Vol. VIII, pp. 571-578 (1913).
Mr. Wells gives a simple method for measuring the cur-
rent and electromotive force developed by the action of
various solutions on sulphides. He concludes that "electro-
chemical action is an almost necessary accompaniment of
chemical action in the alterations going on in ore deposits."
and suggests that there may be natural circuits, formed be-
tween different sulphides of the ores and the ore solutions,
reduction taking place at one place (the cathode) and oxi-
dation at another place (the anode of the circuit).
Whitman, A. R. Vadose Synthesis of Pyrite.' Econ Geol.,
Vol. VIII, pp. 455-467 (1913). Mining and Scientific
Press. Vol. 107. p. 928 (1913).
The author designed apparatus to test the successive proc-
esses of oxidation, solution, and re-precipitation of pyrite.
He succeeded in forming crystalline secondary pyrite, and
discovered the importance of kaolin in assisting precipita-
tion. He also proved that the descending acid products of
oxidation of pyrite are neutralized, and by further percola-
tion become alkaline.
WiN( hell, H. V. 'Persistence of Ore in Depth.' Mining and
Scientific Press. Vol. 107, pp. 332-334 (1913).
Discusses the effect of depth especially on secondary proc-
esses of ore formation.
Metal Production oi Washington in 1913
The total value of the metal mine output of Wash-
ington in 1913 was slightly more than $1,000,000. a
decrease of 6% from the value of 1912, according to
preliminary estimates of'C. X. Gerry, of the U. S. Geo-
logical Survey. This was due in part to decreases in
silver and copper production and in part to some-
what lower metal prices. An increase of 2% gave a
gold output valued at $694,000. About 78% of the
gold output came from crude ore and concentrate
shipped, largely the former, and about 22% from cya-
nide and amalgamation bullion.
There was a decrease in silver yield of about 21%
from 413,538 oz. in 1912 to about 326,000 oz. in 1913.
The silver output was evenly divided between the sili-
cious ores of Republic and the copper ore of Chewelah.
The silver content of the latter decreased.
The copper output decreased about 9%, from 1.086.-
010 lb. in 1912 to about 986,000 lb. in 1913 as a result
of curtailed production from Chewelah district. No
zinc ore was shipped from the state, but shipments of
lead ore were made from Stevens county, giving an
output of nearly 300.000 lb., as against 127.387 lb. in
1912.
The San Francisco mint in 1913 received a total of
2.375,651.75 oz. of gold, valued at $49,109,079.18. as
against 2.522.544.75 oz.. worth $52,145,627.10. in 1912.
•January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
177
The Cerro de Pasco Smelting Plant
Bv Spencer Bishop
The smelter of the Cerro de Pasco company is situ-
ated at La Fundicion, Peru, a town having an ele-
vation of 14,000 ft. Because of the altitude, the Com-
pany has a great many difficulties to fight against
•Sketch Map
CERRO DE PASCO
MINES, SMELTER,
which are not seen or thought of by those who have
not been there. There is snow. hail, or rain almost
every day of the year. The average temperature is
44CF. The great majority of people going to that
altitude are afflicted with sororhe (mountain
sickness), and the few who escape it have
a great deal to he thankful for. The sick-
ness is like a severe case of sea-sickness ac-
companied by sharp pains at the base of the
brain and in the chest, lasting from two days
to two weeks. The attack may occur each
time one goes from a low to a high altitude.
The fear of pneumonia is always present, as
in any high altitude, but nature favors man-
kind, for germ diseases are not contracted
as easily as in lower altitudes.
Callao is the port of entry, and also the
terminus of the Peruvian Central railroad.
Light miles inland is Lima, the largest city
in Peru. From here the ascent of the moun-
tains commences. Leaving Lima at 7 a.m..
the very gradual climb is begun. For an
hour the roadbed is on one side of a valley
which soon contracts to a ravine, just wide enough for
the Himac rive- and the roadbed. Now and again it
widens so that small towns can find room for their
mud huts. At 3 p.m., after winding up the narrow
and deep canon for 98 miles, Ticlio is reached, which
is the highest station on the road, being 15,665 ft.
above sea-level. A few hundred feet beyond the sta-
tion the last tunnel is entered, where the elevation
is 50 ft. higher than at Ticlio. Half way through the
tunnel the grade starts down-hill to Oroya, elevation
12,000 ft. above sea-level, which is reached at 5 p.m.
and is 130 miles from Lima.
There are three long switch-backs, seventeen bridges,
and sixteen tunnels on the road. At Oroya a change
of cars is made for the smelter. This new line is
owned by the Cerro de Pasco Mining Co., and runs
from Oroya to the coal mines at Goyelarisquisga. There
are two branches on the road, one of about six miles
which runs to Cerro de Pasco, and the other about
eleven miles long which runs to the other coal mine
at Quishuarcaucha. The smelter at La Fundicion, 75
miles from Oroya, is reached about 9 p.m. ; and eight
miles beyond the smelter, Cerro de Pasco, where most
of the copper mines are situated, is reached by 9:45
o'clock.
Cerro de Pasco boasts of 25.000 inhabitants. It lies
at an elevation of 14.600 ft., in a saddle of a mountain
range, through which runs an old trail to Lima. The
town is over a hundred years old. Various interpre-
tations have been given to the name. At a glance,
'A Pass in the Mountain' appears correct, but inas-
much as /mxrn in the Indian dialect means 'a night's
camping place,' more guessing is required for the
true meaning. The Indians in the neighborhood seem
CONVERTER ROOM.
to be ignorant of the origin of the name.
Great changes have taken place since the smelter
was started, and problems have been solved that were
at first thought to be impossible. From three 56 by
178
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
180-in. blast-furnaces and six 7-ft. Parrot-type convert-
ers, the plant has grown until it now consists of five
blast-furnaces, two 10 ft. by 25 ft. 10 in. Pierce-
Smith basic-lined converters, two 11-ft. spherical con-
EXTERIOB OF SMELTER.
verters, and two of the old 7-ft. Parrot-type convert-
ers, five 19 by 60-ft. coal-fired reverberatory furnaces,
fourteen 18-ft. six-hearth McDougall roasters, and ten
Dwight-Lloyd sintering machines.
The blast-furnaces, converters, and new dust cham-
ber have been remodeled. The lower parts of three
furnaces have been left unaltered, the old brick tops
were replaced by steel similar to those on
the two completed furnaces, with the ad-
dition of a 9-ft. gooseneck instead of one of
6-ft. diameter. This larger flue proved to
be exceptionally satisfactory. From con-
stant use, these furnaces had opened out
to 72 in. at the tuyeres, making the furnaces
72 by 180 in., although the two new ones
are 48 by 177 in. With a blast of from 32
to 36 oz., these furnaces are smelting about
double what they originally did.
The McDougall roasters have been in-
stalled as they were needed, there being
now fourteen of them. A new flue is
being built to increase the draft, so that
the capacity will be greater than at pres-
ent. Two of these furnaces are used to
dry silica for the basic converters. The
others roast ore for the reverberatories.
Only three of the five reverberatory furnaces are in
constant use. Each furnace smelts 60 tons of charge
with 45 tons of coal. One of these furnaces has waste-
heat boilers attached, and with the three 300-hp. boil-
ers, 400 boiler horse-power is obtained. The steam is
piped to the power-house. With the remodeling of
the furnaces, more converters were necessary, and the
original six Parrot-type were to be replaced by five
11-ft. spherical acid-lined converters. Before these
had been installed, a Pierce-Smith basic converter was
tried, with the result that the present battery com-
prises two 10-ft. by 25 ft. 10-in. Pierce-Smith, two li-
ft, spherical, and two 7-ft. Parrot converters, the
last two being used only occasionally. At present a
battery of ten Dwight-Lloyd sintering ma-
chines is being erected, the trial some
months ago of one of these machines hav-
ing proved their worth. With the large
amount of fine ore the Company must han-
dle, they will make a large saving.
At the power-house most of the engines
are to be electrically driven by the English
system of rope-drive. One blowing engine
for the converters, one blast-furnace en-
gine, and one air-compressor will remain
on steam. These are to take care of the
sudden extra loading that may occur. This
will practically do away with the boiler-
house, as the waste-heat boilers should de-
liver enough steam for this load. The elec-
tricity for this change and for similar work
at the mines is to be obtained by water-
power at Oroya, where 10.000 hp. will be
generated by means of three Allis-Chalmers units
which are being installed. The electricity will be
sent to the smelter, 75 miles away, at 50,000 volts.
There it will be reduced to 10.000 volts for the
mines and 2200 volts for smelter iise. At the mines
250 volts will be used for the motors. The system ef
rope-drive connecting the air-compressors which' is
SMELTING PLANT AND STACK.
used in the smelter power-house will also be used at
the mines. The steam hoists will remain, but will be
operated by air in place of steam.
Quite a few foreigners are to be found among the
employees, but the lower class of labor is picked from
the natives. Unfortunately, these are very ignorant.
small in stature, slow of action, superstitious, and
not muscular. It takes several of them to do the
work that the average white man can do. Most of
the natives come from the agricultural districts and
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
179
have no idea of mechanical work. Any excuse to lav
off from work is welcomed, and the many religious
holidays, together with 'pay-day,' afford the opportu-
nity.
At La Fundicion the Company has a coal-washery.
and seventy 12-ft. beehive coke ovens in which they
make most of their own coke. In addition to the group
of mines at Cerro de Pasco, the Company is operating
mines at Moroeocha, from which large quantities of
high-grade ore is mined. Moroeocha is a few miles
from Ticlio among very high mountains, and here the
most interesting and wonderful geological formations
can be seen.
The Company employs about 5000 men. Of this
number, 3000 are at the smelter and the other 2000
in the different mines. At each camp a hospital for
emergencies is maintained, and there is also a large,
well equipped general hospital at Cerro de Pasco. A
small fee is charged each employee toward the main-
tenance of the hospital.
Developments in the Shushana Goldfields
By E. F. Waxn
The recent discovery of placer gold on tributaries
of the Chisana river, which with the Xebesna river
forms the headwaters of the Tanana. has drawn all of
the old-time prospectors toward that district. The ex-
istence of gold in the country between the White river
nil the south and east and the headwaters of the Tanana
river on the north has been known for several years,
but the cost of getting supplies in from the nearest
towns has been such as to bar prospecting except in
the most desultory manner. However, with the advent
of a sufficient number of prospectors to make the
matter of supplies an object to the transportation com-
panies and merchants, conditions will be much more
satisfactory.
The rocks in the locality of tin- find are mainly slate
and shales, with intrusions of quartz-porphyry. A curi-
ous feature of the gravel deposits is the occurrence
of a great amount of slate and sandstone in alternate
layers, varying from one-sixteenth to three or four
inches in thickness. In other places, through what
appears to be the old glacial channel bearing the aurif-
erous gravel, can be found granite, andesite, and other
rocks that are foreign to this immediate locality. The
course of the old glacial bed seems to be in an east-
west direction, and its width in the vicinity of the
discovery from three to four miles.
The discovery party took out close to $30,000 from
the claim known as No. 1 on Little Eldorado creek,
where the wash was about three to four feet deep, and
the gravel contained as much as $27 per pan, $5 to
$10 worth of gold per pan being common. The bed-
rock at this place was overlain in places with a yel-
lowish clayey deposit, evidently formed from the de-
composed porphyry, which made the saving of the fine
gold, if any were present, impracticable with the means
at hand this season. The scarcity of wood and timber
for lumber in the immediate vicinity and the short-
ness of the season hastened the work so that instead
of using a man in the dump-box for puddling the
clayey matter, it was rushed through, with only two
lengths of boxes below the dump-box, presumably with
the intention of reworking the tailing later.
From claim No. 2, on Little Eldorado creek, I under-
stand there was produced about $30 per day for each
man shoveling in. No sluicing was done on this creek
except on claims No. 1 and 2. The gravel on fraction 3A,
on Bonanza creek, from which claim about $10,000 worth
of gold was taken, was found to contain coarse gold.
The gravel is shallow, and as this part of the creek
is in the canon, all of the gold there will probably be
found to be fairly coarse. Two silver nuggets, one
weighing about 4 oz. and the other l1/^ oz., were found
in the clean-up, .together with galena. Pay-gravel has
been found up to No. 13 on Bonanza creek. No other
sluicing was done on this creek, and the gold was
found to be coarse.
Pay-gravel has also been found on the benches to
the right and left of the Little Eldorado, and on the
benches of Gold Run creeK. a tributary of Glacier
creek. The following creeks are also known to con-
tain pay-gravel: Glacier, Gold Run, Big Eldorado, Wil-
son, Johnson, and Alder Gulch. The total area of the
gravel deposits along all of these creeks combined is
equal to about fifty or sixty square miles. The appear-
ance of the gravel on the benches and the fact that
gold can be panned out of the surface leads one to
believe that there will be bench-diggings. These dig-
gings lie in the centre of a region of extensive gravel
deposits, evidently of glacial origin. The country rock,
where it can be seen in place, looks as if it might
contain metalliferous veins. In fact, two or three veins
containing gold and copper ore have already been
found.
The urgent need of a railroad to open up the rich
mineral belt extending from Haines Mission to the
lower Tanana is every year becoming more apparent.
Ore reserves in the mines operated by the Kyshtim
Corporation, controlling the Russian company, the
Kyshtim Mining Works Co., are estimated by R. Gil-
man Brown as follows, in long tons:
Mine. Assured ore. Probable ore Total.
KoniukhofT 517,000 517,000
Smirnoff 482,000 163,000 645,000
Tissoff 444,000 160,900 604,000
Amerikansky 611,000 74,000 685,000
Total 2,054,000 397,000 2,451,000
Large tonnages, proved by drilling, show from 2 to
3.6% copper. If the reverberatory furnace is com-
pleted next summer, the output of copper in 1914
should be between 9000 and 10,000 tons.
During November the Elmore vacuum plant at the
mines of the Sulitjelma company. Norway, produced
1075 tons of copper concentrate.
180
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24. 1!»14
Long Lake Power Development
By E. P. Kennedy
*Long lake, which lies about 2 miles from the beach
at an elevation of 727 ft., has an area of 3.1 square
miles. It is situated near Speel river, between Ketchi-
kan and Skagway, 35 miles southeast of Juneau,
Alaska. Water measurements for eight months and
an estimate for the remaining four give a yearly run-
off of 21,757 million cubic feet, and as the drainage
area is taken at 32.4 square miles, the above run-off
amounts to 24 ft., or an equalized yearly flow of 689
cu. ft. per second. The initial plant will use 300 sec-ft.,
which is equivalent to a run-off of 10.4 ft. over an
area of 32.4 square miles.
The power-plant is to be situated near Second lake.
2000 ft. from and 535 ft. below Long lake, and about
iy2 miles from the beach. This plant will consist of
two units, each of 5000-kw. capacity and each to be
direct connected to a water turbine utilizing 300 sec-
ond-feet.
To be assured of a continuous flow of 300 sec-ft..
the lake will be drawn on by tapping with a tunnel
or by a siphon to a depth of 12 ft., and the two spill-
ways from the lake closed, thus raising the lake level
25 ft., giving an available storage of 37 ft. The cost
of this power installaton would be :
Power-house with two 5000-kw. units complete $250,000
Pipe-lines, two 60-inch with head-gates 93,594
Closing spillways from lake 10.000
Tapping lake 5,000
Contingencies and incidentals 3,000
Plant for construction 13,882
Total $375,476
Or a capital cost of $37.54 per kilowatt or $27.95 per horse-
power.
The cost of operating the above plant would be. per
year:
General expense $ 6.000
Operating labor 6,000
Supplies, etc 4,000
Total $16,000
Operating cost per year per kilowatt $1.60
Interest and depreciation, 8% on capital cost 3.00
Cost of kilowatt-year 4.60
Cost of horsepower-year 3.43
To be assured of a yearly average of 10,000 kw.,
the generators should be run at 25% above normal
capacity for 6 months of the year while there is a
large excess of water, and thus provide for unforeseen
shut-downs.
The lake area is 3.1 square miles, or 86,423.040 sq.
ft., requiring 20 ft. in depth at this area to provide
for the required storage.
This storage is obtained by raising the lake level 25
ft. and drawing on the lake 12 ft. The increased area
obtained by raising the lake will make up for the de-
creased area by drawing the lake and also provide suf-
*From Western Engineering.
ficient storage below the 2 ft. of ice.
From flow measurements the following figures are
obtained :
Measured flow.
January 324,187,200
February 283,046,400
March 374,976,000
April 352,512,000
May 1,154,390,400
June 2,947,104,000
July 5,340,729,600
August 4,860,492,480
September 4,473,792,000
October 803,520,000
November 518,400,000
December 324,187,200
Required flow
for 300 sec-ft.
803,520,000
725,760,000
803,520,000
777,600,000
803,520,000
777,600,000
803,520,000
803,520,000
777,600,000
803,520,000
777,600,000
803,520,000
From storage.
479,332,800
442,713,600
424,544,000
425,08»,0O0
259,200,000
479,331,800
21,757,337,280 9,460,800,000 2,510,210,200
Detail ok Construction Plant
Horse tram from beach, 11,000 ft., 30-in gage,
20-lb. T-rail, 76 tons at $40 per ton $3,040
7335 ties, 6 by 8 by 48 in., equivalent to 117,328
ft. B.M., at $14 per M 1,642
Labor and tools 3,000
$ 7,682
2,000
6,000
1,400
2 barges at $3000
600
200
1 compressor with water-wheel and pipe for riveting
2,000
1,000
2,000
3,000
Three cottages
Sawmill $600, c
ost absorbed in tram ties and cottages.
Total cost
$25,882
Allowance for
12,000
13.882
Dktail
of Pipe-Line for Long Lake 60-in. I.D.
U.S.
Thickness, Safe Safe Weight
Total
Feet. gauge.
inches. lead, pressure, per ft.
weight.
500 3/16
0.187 139 60 150.25
75.125
166 1/4
0.250 185 80 197.50
32.785
166 5/16
0.312 231 100 244.00
40.504
166 3/8
0.375 277 120 291.25
48,347
166 7/16
0.437 323 140 337.75
56,066
170 1/2
0.500 370 160 385.00
65,450
331 5/8
0.625 462 200 478.75
158.466
355 , 3/4
0.750 555 240 572.50
191,787
Total
666.530
Velocity when carrying 300 sec-ft., 8 ft. per second :
loss per 100 ft.. 0.225. Weight of two lines. 1.337,060
lb.: and estimated cost erected is 7c. per pound.
The steel of which the above pipe is made will have
an ultimate tensile strength of 60,000 lb. per square
inch. Thickness of pipe is figured from the formula :
Diam. in inches X pounds pressure
2 X 10,000
which takes care of the efficiency of joints and allows
a sufficient factor of safety. The weight of above pipe
is obtained from the formula: weight in pounds per
foot (12.5 times diameter in inches times thickness in
inches) plus 10 lb. This weight takes care of laps,
rivets, asphaltum, and paint.
Jaimarv 24. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
181
The Slater Leaching Process for Copper Ores
By II. W. Mouse
Among the new processes for the extraction of cop-
per from its ores in the wet way, there is one of
much interest, chemically as well as technically. This
is the cyclic hypochlorous acid process of II. B. Slater.
of Riverside. California. The chemical reactions in-
volved are simple enough fundamentally, but they are
sufficiently unusual to he worth careful consideration
and some study. Inasmuch as the process is a cyclic
one, it vyill perhaps be best to describe the operations
and reactions in a series of steps. The completeness
of the cycle can then be checked from point to point
of the process.
The Leaching Liquor
The leaching liquor comes from the anode compart-
ment of an electrolytic cell of ordinary type. A 15%
solution of common salt is used here, and in it there
is suspended ferric hydroxide (produced at the third
step), the quantity used depending on the copper con-
tent of the ore to be treated. Electrolyzing, the re-
action is:
Fe(OH)3 + 6C1 = FeCL, + 3H< !10
half of the chlorine going to form ferric chloride and
half to form hypochlorous acid. Electrolysis is con-
tinued until only a small amount of suspended hydrox-
ide is left. This means that there is but very little
free chlorine in the solution ; and it means, in prac-
tice, that very little chlorine escapes into the air. For
.an ore containing 2 to 2.or/c copper, the lixiviant will
contain 5 to 7 gm. per litre of iron as ferric chloride,
and a corresponding amount of hypochlorous acid. In
the cathode compartment there is formed during elec-
trolysis sodium hydroxide, in amount equivalent to
the quantity of chlorine produced. This is used at a
later stage of the process.
Ore ground to 40 mesh is easily treated. If chal-
cocite be assumed to be the chief copper mineral pres-
ent, the leaching reaction, as far as the hypochlorous
acid is concerned, is :
Cu,S + 4HC10 = 2CuCl,, + 2II.O + S02 for, S + CM
as a part of the sulphur is freed in elementary form.
The S02 produced in this reaction reduces part of
the cupric chloride to cuprous chloride:
2CuCl, + 2H20 + SO,, = 2( 'u( '1 + 2IIC1 + ILS04
so that even at this point in the process a consider-
able portion of the extracted copper is present as
cuprous chloride, held in solution in the sodium chlo-
ride solution.
At this point the leaching liquor contains ferric chlo-
ride, ferrous chloride, cupric chloride, and cuprous
chloride, all in salt solution. To it there is added
sufficient of the sodium hydroxide solution, from the
cathode compartment of the cell, to completely pre-
cipitate all of the iron as hydroxide, according to the
reactions :
FeCL + 3NaOH = Fe(OH)3 + 3XaCl and
FeCL + CuCl2 + 3NaOH = Fe(OII), + CuCl + 3NaCl
This last reaction is an interesting one chemically, espe-
cially because cupric chloride acts here as an oxidiz-
ing agent, raising ferrous to ferrc iron. This reversal
of the usual order of things takes place because of
the complete and immediate removal of the ferric iron
as hydroxide as fast as oxidation takes place. A slight
excess of the sodium hydroxide causes no precipita-
tion of copper as hydroxide, for the copper is all
locked up in the complex (perfectly colorless') form
with the sodium chloride, and the concentration of
ferrous iron is so slight that a considerable excess of
hydroxide is required to produce a precipitate.
The combined reduction effect of the ferrous chlo-
ride at this stage and the sulphur dioxide in the
previous one results in the complete reduction of all
the copper to the cuprous form. This is of practical
importance, since it is only necessary to supply a
single equivalent of chlorine for each copper molecule
instead of two equivalents, which would be needed
if the copper were to be extracted as cupric chloride.
As a matter of fact, it is in practice only necessary
to supply a very slight excess of chlorine in the
leach over that calculated for the cuprous chloride
equivalent.
Recovery of Copper
The copper can, of course, be recovered by the
usual methods, or it can be precipitated with the
aid of the sodium hydroxide as cuprous hydroxide.
If this precipitation is made with hot sodium hydrox-
ide solution, air oxidation is rapid and the ordinary
black oxide of copper is formed. Probably the re-
action .- 2CuOH + O = 2CuO -f 11,0 will express this
step. The black oxide so formed might well be cast
into blocks and used as cathodes in the electrolytic
cell giving metallic copper, and resulting in a notice-
able decrease in the working voltage of the cell.
It is evident that the process is completely cyclic
chemically. No chemicals are brought in from out-
side except the salt, which may be lost in the final
wash waters, and this can be reduced to as low a
point as may be desirable in practical operation.
The following points are worthy of special consid-
eration : (1) Ores of low total sulphur content can
be treated. (2) The ore need not be roasted. The
only reason for roasting any part of the ore treated
would be to bring up the iron content of the leach
in order to produce sufficient ferric hydroxide to rer
store the original concentration for the next leach.
182
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
This might be necessary in the ease of an ore con-
taining much lime. (3) If the ore is not roasted,
practically none of its iron is leached out with the
copper. (4) The separation of the iron from the cop-
per is easy and complete. (5) All materials used are
produced in a single operation in a single electrolytic
cell, except the salt lost in the final wash waters.
(6) The sodium hydroxide produced in the cathode
compartment is completely utilized in separating the
iron from the copper and in the subsequent precepita-
tion of the copper. (7) The precipitated ferric hy-
droxide separated in (6) is used in the preparation
of the succeeding lixiviant. (8) Extraction is very
rapid and complete. With agitation, using a 40-mesh
ore. 95% extraction can be had in four to six hours.
(9) Copper produced by this process is extremely
pure. None of the other metals can follow it into
its complex salt with sodium chloride, and they are
almost completely removed with the iron by precipi-
tation as hydroxides. For the 'porphyry ores', so
called, and for non-roasting ores in general, the Slater
process appears to combine nearly the maximum num-
ber of advantageous features with but very few ob-
jectionable ones.
The Ethics of Mine Promotion
By J. Pakke Channixg
*I presume that a great deal of misconception re-
garding mines is a relic of forty or fifty years ago.
when mining was not an industry, but was an adven-
ture. The West was unprospected, and when rich ore
was discovered, the cost of converting it into cash was
relatively low as compared with the product, or. in
fact, was negligible. A mining scheme was something
like the quest' for buried treasure, where success de-
pended not upon the cost of the adventure, but upon
the luck which one had. The successful ventures were
dangled in front of the eyes of business and profes-
sional men by those unscrupulous individuals who
cared nothing for the investor.
In the meantime, mining has become a recognized
industry in which the highest technical skill is em-
ployed in prospecting for orebodies, in developing them,
and in finally equipping and operating them. But the
memory of the unscrupulous promoter still lingers in
the mind of the investor, and he therefore confounds
their operations with those of people who make min-
ing a business.
Probably few people realize today that the United
States Steel Corporation is primarily a mining com-
pany, its main assets being its holdings of favorably
situated iron ore and coking coal lands. The same
thin<r applies to the larger copper-mining companies,
and to many of the gold properties, such, for example,
as those on the Rand, or in southern Alaska.
In modern mining the first and primary desideratum
♦Abstract from The Annalist.
is to get a large body of ore. The question of grade
and the cost of working it determines its ultimate
value. As I have frequently pointed out, there are
really only two primary sources of wealth in the
world, mining and agriculture, and mining is just as
important as agriculture. While the same methods
of analysis may be applied in determining the value
of a mining company as in arriving at the value of
a railroad, still there is one factor in mining which
gives an added value, and that is, the continued chance
of finding either new or richer ore upon a property
which is being exploited. This chance is one which
induces the shrewd investor to go in for mining. Care
should be taken, however, by the investor to discrim-
inate between the searching for and developing of
new properties, and the exploitation of those which
have been found and are already worked or about to
be worked. The searching for new mines is a more
or less hazardous business. One may take ten differ-
ent prospects, spend money in developing them, and
be extremely fortunate if one of them turns out to
be a mine. To do this kind of work requires a large
capital so that the risk may be reduced, and in America
we have such companies as the Guggenheim Explora-
tion, the General Development Co.. and the United
States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co.. that do this
kind of work. If they take up a property which
turns out badly, the expense is charged to profit and
loss, and they trust that later on some successful de-
velopment may recoup them for the loss sustained in
the nine, nineteen, or ninety-nine failures.
It is said that the success of a few St. Louis
business men in unexpectedly developing a large mine
in .Montana a number of years ago has induced so
many people from that city to go into the develop-
ment of prospects that the sum total of expenditures
for this class of work has been far greater than the
dividends poured into that city from the original suc-
cessful mine. On the other hand, those investors who
have gone into the porphyry copper mines, either in
their early days or when the price of copper was low,
have reaped a most satisfactory reward. The tend-
ency nowadays is for good mining companies to give
annually not only figures of cost and production, but
estimates of actual ore developed, and also the opin-
ion of its managers as to its future prospects. With
all these data available, the investor has an opportu-
nity of making up his own mind as to the risks of
profit or loss which he takes -by buying any mining
stock. For many years the principal transactions on
the Boston Stock Exchange have been in mining
shares, and within the last few years the shares of
the better copper companies are dealt in upon the
New York Stock Exchange. The investor should be
careful to invest in shares which are dealt in either
on some well known exchange or on the Curb. Unfor-
tunately, there are many so-called mining stocks which
are very easy to buy, but extremely difficult to sell
at any price.
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
183
Gold Dredging Abroad in 1913
By Charles Janix
Yukon Territory
During the year interesting details regarding the
operations of the Yukon Gold Co. at Dawson and
Iditarod, the latter being in Alaska, were made public.
They were printed in the report by O. B. Perry which
for the first few weeks after the dredge reached the
tested area were in excess of the average value of the
whole area shown from prospecting results. Informa-
tion given to shareholders shows the total from the
'tested area' to date as follows:
DREDGING GROUND ON THE PARACALE RIVKR.
appeared in the Mining and Scientific Press on June 28
and need not be repeated. The following summary will
serve to indicate the extent and cost of the work :
Production Production Costs
Operating
cu. yd. e. per yd.
Dawson dredges ...5,157,280 64. sx
Iditarod dredges . . 172,333 2.34
Hydraulicking 2,967,750 21.22
Miscellaneous
c. per yd. gain.
38.64 $1,765,736.97
45.91 324,926.09
9.37 351,090.53
279,665.56
$2,721,419.15
From the operating profit as shown was deducted;
royalties $692,995.4:}: amortization and deferred
charges, $577,146.27: interest, general expense, and ex-
aminations. $378,685.88: making a total of $1,648,827.58.
Colombia
Considerable interest has been manifested in the
dredging operations of the Pato dredsre. and a boom in
the shares followed the announcement that recoveries
Intimated
Cu. yd. recovery.
To Oct. 21 239,492 $14S,617.02
To Oct. 28 24,100 15,900.00
To Nov. 4 26,370 17,500.00
To Nov. 11 25,250 31.250.00
315,212 $205,267.02
These values represent an average of 65c. per cu. yd.,
and for the last week $1.23 per cu. yd., which are cer-
tainly most encouraging. Previous to reaching the
tested area the dredge dug approximately 473.50(1 cu.
yd. with a recovery of $80,380, and the recovery for the
week ending July 15 was oidy 3.5e. per cu. yd. The low
values caused disappointment and scepticism among
the shareholders, who began to weary of the stereotyped
phrase "when the dredge reaches the tested area."
When, however, the high weekly returns from the
dredge were announced, a reaction took place, and some
little trading was done in shares. The estimated profits
184
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24. 1914
from the Pato are shown from the following extract
from the report by Theodore Hoover: "The Pato has
not been operating for a sufficient length of time to
enable us to make any alteration or correction in the
engineer's original estimates. We can, therefore, only'
introduce into our calculations the estimates which we
made some years ago, and hope that these will be borne
out in actual results. These estimates were to the effect
that the Company had 310 acres of available dredging
ground at Pato which would yield a net profit of £350,-
000. They estimated that this would be returned at the
rate of £50,000 per annum, which indicates a life of
seven years."
An investigation is being made at the present time
of other parts of the Pato property, including ground
on California Hill, which it is expected can be profit;i-
bly worked by hydraulicking.
The Certigue Dredging Co. operated a dredge on the
Certigue river for a short time during 1912, but the
dredge sank in December. The operations were in the
nature of a test during an examination of the property.
The dredge which had been built some time required
considerable work to put in order and many delays
were caused by repeated repairs to the dredge and over
fuel and boiler troubles. The dredge worked intermit-
tently from August 17 to November 11, but was
operated at full capacity for 239 hours only. During
the test the dredge handled 22,700 cu. yd. of gravel.
The total recovery of gold and platinum was a little
over $7000, and it was assumed under proper conditions
the operating costs should not exceed 10c. per cu. yd.
It was expected that a new dredge would be put on this
property. Below the Pato ground is the Pochet prop-
erty on which a 5-ft. Werf Conrad steam dredge has
been working some years. The dredge is open-con-
nected type, has a steel hull, and digs to a depth of 26
ft. below water level and during high water cannot
reach bedrock. "While the yardage handled is small*
and the dredge works only one shift, the amount re-
covered per yard is good, and the dredge has been a
profitable venture to the owner. His familiarity and
consequent success with native labor permits a lower
operating cost than if it was necessary to have an ex-
pensive European crew which, under the same condi-
tions, would require closing the dredge down. A new
dredge to be built in 1914 is that of the American
Goldfields Development Co.. which has been doing con-
siderable prospecting to the south of the San Juan
river, and will build a dredge to recover the platinum
found in some of the ground prospected. Several pros-
pecting parties have been sent to Colombia by different
concerns during the year, and now that the success of
the Pato dredge is assured, no doubt other investiga-
tions will follow. South America is one of the few
fields for dredging possibilities that has not yet been
exhaustively investigated.
British Guiana
The Guiana Gold Dredging Co. operates four dredges
on the Potaro river. It is one of the most profitable
mining enterprises in Guiana. The production from the
dredges has shown a steady increase yearly since the
Company began operations in 1907. The following
table showing production by years and dividends paid
is of interest :
Crude oz. of Dividend
Year, gold recovered. paid.
1907-8 2955 12'/.
1908-9 3737 10
1909-10 4455 10
1910-11 5885 10
1911-12 7511 10
1912-13 9160 10
The «old recovered for the year ending March 31,
1913, was $174,570.40. Expenses were:
Management and operation $88,535.16
Prospecting 4,085.00
Royalty on gold shipped 6,889.10
$ 99,509.26
London and agency expenses depreciation of dredges
written off on claims, etc 33,050.58
Total $132,559.84
Yardage figures are not given and are probably not
kept as the operation of the dredges extends over about
twenty miles of river and any figures of yardage would
only be an approximation at best. With the exception
of an accident which stopped the work of one dredge
for two months, the four dredges of the Company
worked steadily throughout the year.
The Minnehaha Dredging Co. operating on the same
river produced 2472 oz. of gold. The Company pros-
pected some new areas and expects to build a new
dredge in 1914.
Philippine Islands
In the Paracale district, Ambos Camarines, according
to the Manila correspondent of the Press, there are five
dredges at work as follows: (1) the old Risdon dredge
on the Malaguit river; (2) the old Stanley, or Maximilo.
dredge on the headwaters of the Paracale river; (3)
two dredges belonging to the Paracale Bucket Proprie-
tary in the lower part of the river; and (4) the New
York Engineering Co. dredge on the Gumaos river. One
of the new dredges intended for operation on the Para-
cale river sank last May. The machinery is being re-
covered, but it will have to have a new pontoon. The
steel hull and machinery for the new dredge on the
Umirai river has arrived in sections from Australia and
is being set up.
The Yuba Construction Co. has been building a
dredge on the Malaguit river which was to be com-
pleted in November. This boat is equipped with 5-ft.
buckets and will have a modern hull.
Considerable interest has been manifested in the
work of the Gumaos dredge, which was built in 1912
and which is the first American dredge of modern type
to be put in operation in the Islands. The running
time has not been so high as expected, but is fair, con-
sidering the sunken timber encountered, and that the
boat is operated with a Philippine crew. In February.
January 24. 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 185
1913, the dredge dug 57,000 cu. yd. in 436 hours run- Gravel Mining in Alaska and Siberia
ning time, and recovery averaged 31.7c. per yard. The
time lost during the month was due to the necessity The following is from the report of the annual meet-
for turning the dredge at the end of a narrow gorge. mg 0f tne Lena Goldfields. Ltd.. held in London en
During March 42,000 cu. yd. averaging 64c. was December 16, 1013. This Company controls the Len-
handled in 320 hours, the dredge being shut down skoie properties, and C. W. Purington has recently
for 12 days waiting for a new stacker belt. In April examined them. In his preliminary observations. Mr.
130,000 cu. yd. was handled averaging 15c. and for purjngton refers to one important item, namely, tin-
May 105.000 yd. in about 500 hours running time. actUal costs which he can certify on the west coast
This would total 304,000 yd. in four months. While of America in relation to the actual conditions which
the actual operating expenses are not available at this prevail on the Lenskoie. He points out that on the
writing, and over such a short period would virtually permanently frozen benches at Bonanza creek, in the
be nothing more than an indication for future estima- Klondike, about 3,000,000 cu. yd. of gravel that was
tions, it may be of some interest to mention the fuel thawed was handled at a working cost of 9.37c. per
and labor costs. Fuel runs about 1*2000 per month; cubie vard! and he estimated that the future oper-
native labor 1*1700. and white labor, including dredge- ations 0f that Company will not exceed 10c. per cubic
master 1*1750; so, for labor and fuel, the total is 1*5450 yard He gtates that he c1oes not see any reason wny
or $2725 per month. The dredge is a 5M>-cu. ft. steam Lensk0ie operations on a large scale should cost any
dredge, with a wooden hull and was built at a cost of more and wJth the exception of the more rounded
$150,000. The life of the property was estimated at character 0f the gravel, the Klondike conditions are
five years. The dredge was built by the New York morp diffieult than the conditions on the Lenskoie for
Engineering Co., and it was designed to dig 38 ft. only, the f0uowjng reasons: (1) the water-supply is not so
but has repeatedly dug to a depth of 45 ft., and a 25-ft. abuildant . (2) the price of labor and supplies is higher ;
extension has been put on the ladder to dig deeper ^ the expense 0f building ditches is greater than
ground during 1914. This extension is necessary to m the Lena and the eondjtjons for obtaining the nec-
reach the deeper pay ground as recoveries have fallen essary head are not so good; and (4) the permanent
from 2000 oz. to 220 per month. frost js not 0f s0 continuous or widely distributed a
. character in the Lena district as it is at Nome or in
Mining CoStS in the Coeiir d'Alene DlStnCt the Klondike. On the other hand, the season would
probably be shorter, not exceeding 120 days. There-
Detailed mining costs at the Snow-Storm mine are fore? on the tested Lenskoie ground there is from five
presented in the following table. The ore is mined, to seven years' life, there are economies which can
throu-rh adits, from a vein dipping at an angle of 65°. De and ought to be introduced, there is still, accord-
The method employed is a combination square-set and -mg to the Lenskoie report, a great length of the
till Bodaibo stream to be tested, there are hydraulicking
48,897 tons 50.648 tons possibilities, and there are legitimate profits to he
shipping ore. milling ore. ^^ from ^ ^^ whjch ^ yery considerable ,„,,,_
Foremen, bosses, machinists, °»PPer8- ulation on the mines stimulates.
and supply men *U.15L *u.±ou
Timbermen and carpenters 0.216 0.199
Miner8 0.192 0.221 The dewatering problem at the Washoe plant. Ana-
Carmen °130 0132 conda, consists of reducing 20,000,000 gal. of pulp with
Shovelers and laborers 0.340 0.348 ^ down t() aDOut 127c solids. This is finer than 200
Power labor n °25 0.023 ^^ ^ nearjv al] colloidal. Tests showed that a
Hoist engineers ■___ • Dorr continuous thickener 28 ft. diameter and 3 ft .
Total pay-roll expense J1071 $1,100 deep has approximately 85% of the capacity of a
Explosives 007° 0061 tank 28 ft. diameter and 10 ft. deep, so a series ot
Illuminants n015 °015 Dorr thickeners is being installed. The overflow from
Iron and steel Jj-0" °°" them will pass to 20-deck buddies. The concentrate
Miscellaneous supplies .■ »* > ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ fiye 5Q.ft diameter by 12-ft.
P^weT supplied "?. '. '. ' ■ • °-002 °002 deeP Dorr continuous thickeners, where it is distrib-
E°wtric8power " °22 °044 uted. and then to Oliver filters for final removal of
Wood and coal °002 j^jj moisture.
The development of the mining industry in Colom-
Total supplies *0.373 $0,374 ,)ia ig indjcated by the increase in the exports of gold.
TTTZ" which have been as follows in recent years: 1905.
Total cost per ton $!■■»« *14'4 $! 6i6 936 • lf)06 $2,705,465; 1907, $2,877,742; 1008.
Cloths on an Oliver filter at the Black Oak mine, $S,836,8To ; 1909, $2,988,711; 1910, $3 369,954; 1911.
Olotns on an unvei W7-1(l««, „nd iqio *6 634 914 —/>"'/ Consular Ur-
Soulsbyville. California, were recently removed after $3,751,833, and 1.H-. *D,Od*,»±*. j
17 months' work. PorL
136
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January -24, 1914
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression ot
views contrary to his own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by Its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
Ore in Sight
The Editor:
Sir—Is the old reliable standard of 'ore in sight'
when three sides are accessible really trustworthy? In
the Harqua Hala mine in Arizona one block had the
three visible faces in rich ore and a 'horse.' entirely
concealed, occupied everything but the faces. 1 ran
across another case recently in Mexico. Two eminent
American mining engineers made a most careful survey
of 26 'visible' blocks of ore and practically certified
that there was a profit in sight of over $1,300,000 U. S.
currency. The metal content of over half of it has
been extracted at less than the estimated cost per ton.
with an extraction higher than the estimate, yet the
net profit to date has been little less than $55,000, or a
little over 8% of the certified profits. Are mine buy-
ers justified in paying big fees for such guesses, and
can't we devise some better way to guess?
Cassius E. Gii.lf.ttk.
Washington, December 16, 1913.
The Use of Powder Underground
The Editor:
Sir — While so much is being published about ' Safety
First, ' would it not be well to take some notice of the
dangerous and wasteful use of powder in mines? My
own experience has taught me that this is a source
of danger that is not always properly considered. I
will cite one instance that, while it may seem extreme
to most of those who may read this, is not so unusual
or extreme as it may appear at first reading. The
instance referred to was the use of 165 sticks of 40%
powder in a 70-ft. drill-hole. One hundred and sixty-
five sticks of powder 8 in. long, placed end to end,
will make a total length of 111 ft. Now when 111
feet of lVs-in. powder is compressed into 70 linear feet
the diameter will be 1.414 in. ' Some of the holes were
loaded to the collar, and the primers were placed at
about the centre of the load. The fuses were cut to
have the holes go in the proper order. Now suppose
hole No. 6 goes at the proper time and is duly counted,
but. unknown to the miner who is counting the shots.
it blows two feet of the collar from No. 8, without
disturbing the primer. Although there may be no
missed shots, yet we have more or less powder that
has not been exploded scattered through the rock
pile. If this is hard rock, which in this particular
case it was, this powder is Terr dangerous to the
shovelers.
In my own experience I have found at least three-
fourths of the holes are overloaded, and this applies
to soft as well as hard rock. A hole in ordinary rock
should not be loaded over half full of powder. In
very hard rock the load may be increased to fill two-
thirds of the hole, but never more. If this load will
not give good results, then increase the strength of
the powder, or do better drilling. Miners are apt to
increase the load of powder if they have a round of
holes that fails to break as they think it should. It
is seldom that the miner cuts down the load unless he
is compelled to do so by the management or is paying
for the powder himself.
R. Noblett.
Rav. Arizona. December 16. 1913.
Ore
The Editor :
Sir — I notice with pleasure that Mr. Herzig, in your
issue of September 13. 1913. elects to break a lance
with T. A. Rickard in regard to the latter's definition
of 'ore,' and, if I may be allowed to comment on the
engagement, I shall say that the honors are easily with
Mr. Herzig. I have always found much that was ad-
mirable in the writings of Mr. Rickard, and I have a
great respect for his command of the English language,
bul I submit that his definition of 'ore,' and his de-
fence of it as set out in his answer of the date just
quoted, are distinctly lame. It seems to me that Mr.
Rickard, in a matter like this, pays the penalty of his
undoubtedly high qualifications as a writer of English.
in that any lapse is likely to be immediately evident to
his readers, and I feel sure he will understand the
spirit that prompts me to supplement Mr. Herzig 's
criticism.
I am, let us suppose, an artist in oils. I paint a
picture, putting into it my best endeavors : the result,
I know, is not perfect, but it is a sincere attempt at
perfection. An art critic appears, and while admitting
my recognized ability and talent, proceeds to point out
various defects in my work. Now, if I reply, I may
do so in several ways. Let us take two of them. Meet-
ing criticism half-way. I may admit my mistakes, and
determine to avoid them in the future. Or, I may
arise in my wrath and say, "Go and paint a better pic-
ture yourself, and then hear my candid opinion of it."
I think it is obvious that the latter is an answer that
will satisfy no one, but it is precisely such an answer
that Mr. Rickard gives Mr. Herzig. "I challenge Mr.
Herzig to proffer a definition of 'ore'; if he will, I can
promise to make it look sheepish."
I can almost hear a murmur :
"I am monarch of all I define.
My rights. there are few to gainsay:
Ex cathedra I claim that a mine
Is a hole yielding ore that will pay."
As to the promise, I can well admit the possibility
of its fulfilment, after examining Mr. Richard's defini-
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
1ST
tions, and noting how ridiculous he himself makes
them appear. Referring to his lecture, 'The Valuation
of Mines,' published in the Mining and Scientific Press,
May 24, 1913, page 766, I should like to quote verbatim
two or three sentences, in order to explain my point.
The italics are mine.
"Ore is rock containing sufficient metal to be exploited
at a profit. When rock cannot be profitably mined, it is
waste."
Referring to the cost of mining. "10-dwt. (/old ore in
one locality means loss; in another. 5-dwt. ore ensures
a handsome profit. Therefore a definition is required.
Ore is metal-bearing rock, which, at a given time and
place, can be mined at a profit. Ore that is unprofitable
today may yield dividends at a later period * * * ore
previously profitable becoming unprofitable * * *."
Any attempt to insert here the defined equivalent
of ore will result, not only in redundancy, but in con-
tradiction of terms.
Mr. Rickard says it is permissible to be redundant in
the effort to be explicit. He will hardly go as far as
to claim that it is necessary to be contradictory also.
In any case, there is surely a weak spot in a definition
that requires redundant explanations.
Again, Mr. Rickard trips similarly over his definition
of a mine. If a mine is a certain type of hole or ex-
cavation, namely, one that yields profitable ore, an
'unprofitable mine' is a contradiction of terms: it is
difficult to see what purpose is served by making a
definition that involves redundant and contradictory
qualifications.
A point to which Mr. Ilerzig does not refer, is the
use of 'which' in the definition of 'ore' quoted above.
As the sentence stands, with the comma after rock.
'which' is used in a relative, not a defining, sense, so
that we could recast the line thus. "Ore is metal-bear-
ing rock. and. at a given time and place, it can be mined
at a profit." This is obviously not the meaning or-
iginally intended by the author, and his definition
therefore should be written, "Ore is metal-bearing rock
that can. at a given time and place, be mined at a
profit."
The defining relative 'that' is of such assistance in
just such sentences as this, that it should not be ousted
by an ambiguous 'which.'
Even were 'which' retained, the comma after 'rock'
is an error. In the following. "* * * to distinguish a
mine from a hole in the ground which is fit for * * *"
(Mr. Rickard 's reply to Mr. Ilerzig), I think the de-
fining 'that' would have been preferable to 'which.'
And I wonder why Mr. Rickard spells 'to-day' without
a hyphen.
Finally, shall I submit my definition of 'ore'? And
be butchered to make a Roman holiday?
No. sir, it's far easier to be a spectator, though not
a silent one. and — it 's certainly safer!
G. Aubbey Gow.
Lebong Soelit, Benkoelen. Sumatra. Nov. 13. 1913.
Professional Ethics
The Editor:
Sir — In your issue of December 20, Mr. Hills comes
at the 'professional ethics' question from one of its
many angles, and his query as to "the right to sell
information to another where the first employer has
hopelessly failed to pay his bill" certainly raises a
point, the fineness of which depends upon the conditions
associated with each particular case ; this consideration
remains unchanged even where an advance payment
has been made.
Considering Mr. Hills' experience as a fair example
one might presume that, in the vernacular, lie got
'stung.' Many reports have been rendered by a large
number of engineers for which no compensation was
ever received. In this particular case the examination
was made at the request of a client existing as a
partnership of three men, all interested in the purpose
of the examination and equally involved in paying tin-
engineer. The fact that one-third of the fee was paid
and the balance not only not guaranteed but even re-
fused, certainly does not justify one of the three part-
ners in withholding permission to the engineer to use
the information. Obviously if the partners fulfilled
their obligation the information becomes their property,
but when they refuse to do this it is reasonable to as-
sume that they should forfeit their rights to the exclu-
sive use of the report. It is also possible that one-third
of the fee did not cover expenses; wherein might arise
a point for the consideration of equity versus ethics. It
appears to me that the logical conclusion in this ease.
and in others of a similar nature, should be determined
by a sense of what is just to client and engineer, and
under the circumstances Mr. Hills would be justified in
giving his information to the second party.
Ethics always has been and probably will continue
to be a mooted question. No set rules can be laid down
to govern fine points except that of applying good old
common sense. A professional man is usually endowed
with ordinary intelligence, and his conception of what
is just and right will govern his actions to accord wit li
the dictates of his conscience. If all doubtful questions
were looked at from an unbiased viewpoint and judged
according to common sense ideas there would be less
need for rules on ethics.
•J. M. LlLI.IGRKN*.
Buckhorn, Nevada. December 30. 1913.
In Venezuela an extensive oilfield is being proved
by the Shell and Standard Oil companies, which have
acquired extensive interests on the Sea of Maracaibo.
The Guggenheims have a large staff of engineers ex-
amining the district, and Mr. Reynolds, late of the
Anglo-Persian Oil Co., is drilling on behalf of an Eng-
lish and Venezuelan oil company with, it is reported.
excellent results. The field is considered of great im-
portance for European markets, as it will have no need
of the Panama canal.
188
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
Concentrates
Most of these are In reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are Invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
Blasting ore by electricity has given results at least
equal to those obtained with ordinary safety fuse, ac-
cording to W. Cullen, I. Donaldson, and W. Waters,
whose experience covers over four years on the Rand.
Rolling and otherwise working aluminum reduces
its density, this being due to a transformation from
a crystalline to amorphous state, according to F. J.
Brislee in a paper presented to the Faraday Society.
The worked metal was more prone to corrosion because
it was amorphous.
A furnace lining of a refractory nature may be made
from asbestos and water-glass, according to a writer in
the Brass World. It is useful for patching or plug-
ging cracks, as it does not crumble as readily as other
similar composition made from clay. The materials
used are fine asbestos, 40 lb., and water-glass, 60 lb.
The water-glass is the sodium silicate of commerce,
which is soluble in water. The asbestos and water-
glass are mixed to a paste with water so that it can
be worked.
At the present time there are 53 alloys of alumi-
num and copper manufactured. The most important
contains about 92% aluminum and 8% copper. This
particular alloy has a tensile strength of 20,000 lb.
per square inch, but shrinks badly in casting. It
has been found that the addition of 8 to 10% of co-
balt and 1% of tungsten or molybdenum to pure alu-
minum or copper-aluminum alloys, yields a metal
which casts better and is more readily worked and
finished and more non-corrosive than the alloys for-
merly used.
The corrosion of the iron retorts used in distilling
crude petroleum is found to be due to the presence
of free hydrochloric acid in the aqueous portion of
the distillate, according to E. Pyhala. The quantity
of the acid was 0.107, 0.043, and 0.026% in samples of
oil containing 2!). 12. and 7% of water, respectively.
Water, separated from the crude oil, and having a
specific gravity of 1.1426 at 20°C. yielded 0.33% of hy-
drochloric acid when distilled. The acid was not formed
until 86% of the water was distilled over, the tempera-
ture then being 125 to 130°C. The acid is probably
formed by the decomposition of the chlorides held in
solution in the water.
The difficulties in the treatment of the manganifer-
ous ores of El Favor mines of Jalisco, Mexico, while
not yet entirely overcome, have been greatly im-
proved, and definite progress has been made whereby
;i process lias been devised which yields 75% of the
silver as against 50% by cyanidation. Definite im-
provement on the 75% extraction is now practically
assured, and as soon as political conditions will per-
mit, steps will be taken to make these changes, as El
Favor now has the complete use of its entire milling
equipment. There is over a year's supply of ore
broken down in the stopes, ready for milling, and
all costs of this mining are paid for.
Costs at the Kalgurli mine, Kalgoorlie. during the
past fiscal year, when 128,415 tons of ore was treated,
were as follows :
Mining: Cost per ton.
Superintendence $0.04
Breaking ore 0.56
Timbering stopes 0.06
Tramming 0.36
Filling stopes 0.15
Tools repaired 0.03
Tool renewals 0.03
Candles 0.02
Explosives 0.15
Timber 0.03
Assays 0.01
Hoisting and com-
pressed air 0.23
Management and gen-
eral ". . 0.15
Sundries 0.03
Total mining $1.85
Milling: Cost per ton.
Superintendence $0.07
Rock-crusher 0.87
Aerial tramway 0.07
Ball-mills and conveyor 0.46
Roasting 0.70
Separating and settling 0.05
Grinding 0.28
Agitating and filter-
pressing 0.48
Disposal of residue.... 0.12
Water 0.12
Oil and grease 0.02
Precipitation and clean-
up 0.11
Assaying and general . . 0.05
Management and gen-
eral 0.22
Total milling $2.82
Dredges, as a rule, Hoat in a pond surrounded on
three sides by high gravel banks, and on the fourth
or back side by irregular tailing piles. It is. there-
fore, difficult to get the heavy spares on the boats.
This is done in some cases by bringing the boats close
to the banks, or by lowering the parts needed on to
GKAR FOR LIFTING SPARES ON DREDGES.
;i punt or flat-bottom barge floating in the pond. The
accompanying illustration shows a device used on the
Ophir dredge at Oroville. It simply consists of an
I-beam suspended from the bow gantry, and well over
the ground being attacked. A crawl works on the
beam, and buckets or other spares required are easily
placed on the dredge.
January 24. 1!)14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
189
Special Correspondence
PORCUPINE, ONTARIO
Mux Work at the Dome.— Dome Lake. Porcupine Crown,
Pearl Lake. — Northern Ontario and California Explora-
tion Companies. — Kirkland Lake 'Proprietary.'
Milling results at the Dome mine continue to be satisfac-
tory, and the monthly production has shown a steady in-
crease. The production for November, which was the highest
monthly tonnage yet attained in the Porcupine district,
totaled 13,820 tons, an increase of 3957 tons in six months.
An additional 40 stamps are being installed, and when this
is completed the treatment process, which at the present
time is an all-slime treatment, will be somewhat changed.
The product of the tube-mills will be classified into sand
and slime, the former being leached, and a part of the
slime will be treated with the present equipment. Eventually
the slime may be cyanided direct in filter-presses. It is ex-
pected that the addition to the mill will be in operation
next May. This plant has been designed and erected by the
.Merrill Metallurgical Company.
The Dome Lake property is now being operated under the
control of the Hudson Bay Mines Co., of Cobalt. It has
been decided to sink the shaft to a depth of 400 ft., where
it is hoped that the ore-shoots will be longer and more per-
sistent.
The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Porcupine
Crown will be held in Montreal on January 2S. It is stated
that the engineers report will show approximately 50,000
tons of proved ore which averages $40 per ton. The mill,
which has a capacity of ISO tons per day. is operating on
the Dorr continuous cyanide system. This is something new
for Porcupine, and the management states that excellent re-
sults are being obtained. It is expected that at this meeting
the directors will commence dividend payments by the dec-
laration of a Z'/r quarterly dividend.
A special shareholders' meeting of the Pearl Lake Mining
Co. will be called in the near future, in order that the
report of the general manager. Mr. Fisher, may be presented,
and plans for the reorganization of the Company submitted.
It is understood that Mr. Fisher's report will be discouraging
and will come as a shock to a great many shareholders who
have built their hopes on the extravagant statements made
by the previous management. Mr. Fisher, while pessimistic
regarding the ore in the present workings, states that the
situation is not hopeless and that there are indications of
a large body of ore on the 600-ft. level. It will be necessary,
however, to raise more money for development.
A meeting of the shareholders of the Northern Ontario
Exploration Co. has been called for the purpose of consider-
ing proposals for the absorption of this Company by the Cali-
fornia Exploration Co. The former company was originally
organized by Bewick, Moreing & Co. to develop a number
of claims in the Porcupine district, which were purchased
from the Timmins-McMartin syndicate. Considerable money
was spent in the development of these properties, but the
results were disappointing and all work in Ontario was
stopped. Subsequently, Bewick. Moreing & Co. became active
in California and took over the old Plymouth mine, the de-
velopment of which has been satisfactory. The Northern
Ontario Exploration Co. has a considerable interest in this
property, and it is now proposed to absorb the Company,
giving the shareholders stock in the California Exploration
Co. for their Interest. The capital of the California com-
pany will be increased to £120,000. and the shares will be
split to have a par value of 10s. each, shareholders of the
Northern Ontario company receiving a total of 179.137 shares.
The prospectus of the Kirkland Lake Proprietary, Ltd.,
which was recently floated in London, is an exceedingly in-
teresting document, and shows that even in these days of
'tight' money it is still possible to sell 'hot air' at a good
margin of profit. This new Company is capitalized at £200,000
in £1 shares, and the subscription offer was 75,000 shares
at par. It is stated that this amount was largely over-
subscribed, and that the shares are now selling at a pre-
mium on the London market. It is understood that this
Company will operate at Kirkland Lake, the new gold-mining
camp of northern Ontario, and that it expects to take over
the Tough-Oakes, Burnside, Wright, and Robbins properties,
Scale of Miles
Scoh'a\ y ■^
MAI" OK PRINCIPAL MINIM; IIISTRK "IS OK ONTARIO.
in all of which C. A. Foster is interested. The first is
partly developed and seems to have excellent possibilities,
while the others are prospects of uncertain value. The Com-
pany has acquired under a contract the benefit of all the
arrangements now in course of negotiation or which may
be hereafter entered into by Mr. Foster for properties in the
Kirkland Lake district, including the right to take over the
same at cost price and free of any commission or profit to
Mr. Foster. For this understanding. Mr. Foster receives the
sum of £25,000. and for every two shares over and above
the present issue up to a further 50,000 shares, which may
hereafter be allotted, an additional £1 in cash or one fully
paid-up share at the vendor's option. The £25,000 will pre-
sumably be paid out of the proceeds of the issue of 75,000
shares, leaving approximately £50.000 as working capital. The
directors are R. P. Cobbold and H. G. Latilla of London, and
C. A. Foster of Haileybury. So far as can be learned, the
idea is that the Kirkland Lake Proprietary will develop these
190
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
properties and such others as may be acquired, up to a cer-
tain stage, and then float them individually. It would appear
that the £25,000 which Mr. Foster receives will be only the
beginning, this sum being paid for what might be termed
Mr. Foster's good will. Of the four properties mentioned, the
Tough-Oakes is easily the most promising, and development
to date has succeeded in opening a considerable amount of
rich ore. The Company is capitalized at 600,000 shares, par
value $5, of which Mr. Foster and his associates hold 450,000
shares. A short time ago, the Company endeavored to sell
50,000 treasury shares at $4. but the flotation was a failure.
It can be seen, however, that this is placing an exceedingly
high value on this property, which is not warranted by the
limited amount of development. No information has as yet
been given regarding the ultimate disposition of the prop-
erties which will come under the control of the new Com-
pany, but for the sake of the English investor, it is to be
hoped that the different companies will be floated at a cap-
ital that is commensurate with the requirements, and that
the investor may at least 'get a run for his money.' The
possibility is, however, that the promoters will get their
share whether or not anybody else does.
DULUTH, MINNESOTA
Work ox the Mesabi Range. — State Leases. — Washing Ork.
— Tendencies in Equipment. — Weather. — Canton and Al-
berta Mines. — Iron Ork Situation.
The past year has been a prosperous one for the Mesabi
range in general, and the current year promises to be nearly
as good. Indications point to a prosperous season for the
Virginia district in particular. Jones and Loughlin are pre-
paring to strip the Columbia forty. The Oliver Iron Mining
Co. is drilling the Mesabi Mountain ground and it is figured
that this will be stripped. The advantage of opening this is-
that it will give the Company a much better chance to get
at the ore at lower levels in the Lone Jack and Ohio forties.
The Mesabi Mountain property is a state lease, as is also
the Minnewas, which is being opened as a shaft property.
On this property, a concrete shaft is being sunk, and a tem-
porary head-frame and hoisting plant has been erected. Work
on the permanent plant is under way, which includes a steel
shaft-house. The Company is also drilling the Rouchleau
property, and it is expected that this will also be opened as
well as some other ground north of the city.
A. B. Coates has given up his lease on the Madrid property
in the city limits, but it is reported that the fee owners
will operate the mine. About 100.000 tons has been shipped
so far. A washing plant of small capacity was erected over
the shaft to treat the lower-grade ore. This is said to have
given successful results. The Oliver Iron Co. is also open-
ing several properties at Virginia and other places on the
range. This policy is said to be due to the fact that the
Company will relinquish the Hill ore lands and will have
other property opened to keep up reserves. The policy seems
to be to open all property that is leased, as much as possible.
to avoid paying royalties on idle mines, and this has resulted
in a practical cessation of work at several places where the
Company owns the fee. This has given a temporary set-back
to the towns in the vicinity depending on the mines for sus-
tenance. The state leases are being operated more vigorously,
with the result that the revenues of the state will be mate-
rially increased from royalties. One mine, the Hill Annex,
is on a school property, and it is said that the school fund
will receive over $12,000,000 from this one mine. The Jones
& Loughlin Co. has started operations on a large orebody
near Grand Rapids, and has installed a hydraulic dredge.
This is said to have demonstrated its practicability for re-
moving the overburden in the short time it operated this
fall. The orebody at this property is large and a part of
it will require washing. A large concentrating plant will
be built to handle this ore. Several companies have been
conducting experiments along this line, so that the near
future will see several more washing plants at work. The
drier operated by M. A. Hanna & Co. at the Brunt mine, at
Mountain Iron, is said to have been successful in reducing
the moisture content from about 18% to about 3%, although
the question of what effect this drying has upon the forma-
tion of fine material and the behavior of the ore in the fur-
naces is not mentioned.
The general trend of new construction work is toward per-
manency. Wooden head-frames are practically a thing of
the past. Concrete is taking a prominent part in all new-
construction both at the surface and underground. Mechan-
ical power is being used to a greater extent, but power-plants
are hardly keeping pace with developments in other locali-
ties, due probably to the comparatively shorter life of trie
underground mines. For the open-pit mines, no extensive
plant is required outside of the steam-shovel equipment. Ex-
periments are being conducted along various lines to improve
methods, and safety and public welfare are given more con-
sideration than they have received in the past. The use of
electric power is becoming more general, and new sources
are being developed. It is thought that the pumping of
the majority of the mines will in course of time be done
with electric power.
The Hull-Rust mine shipped last season 3.457.60SS tons of
ore, which is a record for a season's shipment from one mine.
The weather this winter has been remarkably warm, and
the first permanent snowfall occurred after the first of the
year. This is not enough as yet to help loggers to any
extent, and it is feared that mining-timber contractors will
have trouble in getting out their supply in time to fill their
contracts. This has not affected the price as yet, which is
ranging around 4.5c. per lineal foot for 16-ft. timber from
7 to 9 in. at the small end.
The Pitt Iron Mining Co. has leased the Canton forty,
adjoining the Miller mine at Aurora, which it is operating,
and has started sinking a shaft on the property. The Canton
forty is owned by the Oliver Iron Mining Co. The orebody
at the Canton is contiguous to that on the Miller, and can
be most advantageously worked in conjunction with that of
the Miller. The Alberta mine, which has been operated by
the Minnesota Mining & Development Co.. has been shut
down, and the lease reverts to the state, which owns the
fee. The Lily Iron Mining Co., from which the Minnesota
company sub-leased the property, is suing for an injunction
to prevent the Minnesota company from removing the machin-
ery until liens against the latter have been satisfied. The
Alberta mine is in the Virginia district.
The iron-ore situation at the present time is in a rather
uncertain state, practically no sales for 1914 delivery having
been made as yet; so whether the prices will be lower the
coming season is a matter that is causing considerable spec-
ulation. The recent placing of orders for large tonnage of
rails is conducive to a more optimistic feeling. The Cuyuna-
range continues very active. Considerable exploration work
is under way. and the area of ore-bearing formation is con-
stantly increasing. The city of Brainerd opened bids on
January 5 for exploring and mining the property bequeathed
to it by the late Judge G. W. Holland. The county commis-
sioners of Crow Wing county accepted the bid of the Long-
year Exploration Co. to explore the county poor farm. The
Company pays $100 as rent and agrees to drill nine holes
per year. It gets a 50-year lease at 30c. per ton. and a
minimum tonnage of 10,000 tons the first year. 20. Ohm t0ns
the second, 30.000 tons the third, and 40.000 tons each suc-
ceeding year during the life of the lease.
The output of iron for the month of December is reported
at 1.9S3.607 tons, or 63.9S7 tons per day. which is a decrease
from the November production of 2.233,603 tons.
January 24. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
191
NEW YORK
Pbofit-Siiakinu bv Employees. — Yukon Gold, Xkw York &
Honui'ras a xi) German Potash Syndicate. — Alaskan Cop-
per.— Mexican Affairs. — Armor Plate Manufacture. —
Inspiration Company. — Copper Situation.
The International Nickel Co. is following the example set
by the United States Steel Corporation, to which it is dis-
tantly related, in offering to allow its employees to purchase
a limited number of shares at $110. paying for it in instal-
ments from their salaries. Dividends will begin as soon as
the first instalment is paid, and the employees will receive
extra compensation amounting to b'A of the stock subscribed
for, so long as they retain their stock and remain in the
employ of the Company. As International Nickel common
stock is paying 10% per year, the employees will get what
amounts to 15'J a year on their holdings. The permissible
number of shares varies according to length of employment
and salary received, amounting to 10 shares in the case of
those receiving over $4000 per year, who have been in the
Company's service 10 years or more.
At the annual meeting of the Yukon Gold Co., all the re-
the United States was going to do about it. Naturally, the
answer has not been made public, but it might have been
an inquiry as to what the European powers did when the
Balkan states embarked on two wars in the face of their pro-
hibition. We are now paying pensions amounting to $175,-
000,000 per year on account of previous wars, and the Amer-
ican public is not likely to see in the losses of foreign in-
vestors any compelling reason for intervention, no matter
how awkward our diplomatic position may be, the more espe-
cially since the interest is merely suspended, not repudiated.
If the warring factions in Mexico would only carry on their
fighting without ripping up the railroads, the mining com-
panies— most of them, at least — would be able to get along
fairly well.
Some time since I wrote of the possibility of the United
States Government embarking in the armor-plate business,
and a bill appropriating $8,000,000 for the purpose will soon
be introduced in the House. Sir Robert Hadfield has been
in this country for some time, presumably on account of the
possibility of securing the use of Hadfield steel, which is
much cheaper than that now used in the manufacture of pro-
jectiles. In this he has been unsuccessful, since it was deter-
< OPPER CLIFF SMELTER, OK THE CANADIAN COPPER CO., OF TIIK INTERNATIONAL NICKEL COMPANY.
tiring directors were reelected. The New York & Honduras
Rosario Mining Co. has declared a dividend of 2'v payable
January 24, following its dividend of 3' '< paid December 30,
1913. The New York representative of the German Potash
Syndicate has announced that, at the general meeting in Ber-
lin, all the members waived their right to terminate the
agreement at the end of 1915, and it is therefore extended to
1925. (A cable to San Francisco on January 21 stated that
the German Government had appropriated $125,000 for an
exhibit of potash minerals at the Panama-Pacific Exposition
in 1915.)
The Kennecott Mines Co. has paid a dividend of $1,000,000,
bringing its total distribution to $5,000,000. The Tacoma plant
of the American Smelting ft Refining Co.. where the Alaska
copper ores are treated, was reported to have been shut down
on account of a strike, but as a matter of fact nothing more
serious occurred than a little inconvenience, and the plant
Is running. The total cop|>er now coming from Alaska
amounts to a respectable quantity, and when the affairs of
that 'distressful country' are finally adjusted, it is likely to
increase considerably.
Mexico has been so much discussed that only strong provo-
cation will lead one to reo|>en sueli a sore subject. The needed
stimulus has been supplied by the announcement by President
Huerta that payment of interest on all domestic and foreign
indebtedness will be suspended for six months. As something
over $300,000,000 worth of bonds is largely held In Europe
and America, this Is touching the pocket nerve with a ven-
geance. Euroi>ean governments lost no time in asking what
mined a short while ago to continue the use of the more
expensive forged projectiles. It will be interesting, therefore,
to see whether the Hadfield steel will be adopted for armor
plate in the government plant. It may be said that Sir Rob-
ert's wife is American, since he married the sister of George
W. Wickersham, attorney general under ex-President Taft.
Well Informed persons are of the opinion that the Hadfield
steel is much cheaper and just as good, since it has been
adopted by the British admiralty.
The Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co., in its report to
the New York Stock Exchange for November 30, 1913, shows
cash on hand amounting to over $2,000,000. In spite of this,
it is reported that the Company will have to do some new
financing in order to complete its scheme of new construc-
tion, which has been considerably extended as compared with
Its original plans. The 4-mile branch, to conned the plant
with the Arizona Eastern railway, will be built by the Com-
pany instead of by the railroad people as at first planned;
and additional lands will be bought for the storage of tail-
ing and to increase its water-supply. The surface plant and
work underground will be on a more extended scale, and
it is said that plant will be provided for the recovery of the
oxidized copper minerals, which cannot be caught in the dota-
tion plant. The Company has $6,000,000 in bonds outstand-
ing, but it lias over 500,000 shares which are available for
the raising of new funds.
Two seats on the New York Stock Exchange were sold for
$50,000 each on January 19. Sales on the Exchange on Janu-
ary 22 totaled 7.S3.300 shares.
192
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Seymour River Miking District. — Disputed Placer
Claims in the Cabiboo District.
The mineral resources of that portion of the province of
British Columbia, situated to the north from the head of the
Seymour arm of Shuswap lake, have been receiving more ser-
ious attention from prospectors during the past season than
formerly. Although handicapped to such an extent that the
transportation of supplies by pack horse has been costing 8c.
per pound from the village of Seymour arm to McLeod's camp,
a distance of about 22 miles by trail, development work has
been carried on all last summer on the Camp McLeod group
of claims, and assessment work has been done on the Copper
King and Bass groups. The camp is locally known as the
Cotton-belt, because the first discovery of mineral, in the form
of a heavy gossan outcrop, was made by a negro prospector
about 20 years ago, at the time when he and other stampeders
to the big bend of the Columbia river were traveling to the
placer diggings on creeks emptying into that river, following
an Indian trail that crossed the summit between Seymour
and Columbia rivers near the scene of present activity. The
discovery resulted in the staking of the Cotton-belt group of
claims, and the performance of sufficient assessment work
to obtain crown grants or patents to the ground. Later, the
attention of some trappers, who hunted and trapped every
autumn and winter in the neighborhood of the Cotton-belt
camp, was attracted by other gossan outcrops on the moun-
tain side, which were found to overlay copper ore as well as
galena. Several claims were staked and assessment work
was done: but at that time smelting ores were useless as
there were no smelters nearer than Trail, on the lower
Columbia river, and want of transportation facilities to the
Canadian Pacific railway. The progressive policy adopted
by the provincial government in encouraging and aiding
the construction of new railways and good wagon-roads, is
responsible for the renewed activity in the development of
the claims last summer. The miners argued that, if a fair
tonnage of ore of commercial grade was exposed, the con-
struction of a wagon road could be secured, followed later by
railroad to the head of Seymour arm, where water transporta-
tion could be used to the Canadian Pacific railway at Sica-
mous, and the ore shipped to the Trail smelter.
The rock formations of the range of mountains in which
the occurrence of galena, copper, zinc, and magnetite ores are
found, are mica, schist, and crystalline limestone. The ore-
bodies occur both as contact deposits between these rocks and
as veins in the mica schist, their lines of strike and dip
being conformable with the bedding planes of the country rock.
They strike nearly true northwest and southeast, and dip at
an angle of 45° toward the northeast. So far, work has shown
that there are at least three distinct parallel orebodies in the
Cotton-belt mountain, one of the earliest discovered, on the
summit at an elevation of about 6000 ft. above sea-level : an-
other at about 1700 ft. lower elevation, and the third about 300
ft. still lower. All are on the southwest slope of the mountain,
looking toward the north fork of the Seymour river and Deep
creek, one of its tributaries. The persistence and length along
the lines of strike of each of these orebodies are quite unusual.
For example: the outcrop of the Cotton-belt orebody is exposed
by cross-cut trenches on the plateau, along the summit of the
mountain, for a distance of nearly two miles: the outcrop
of the second or Copper King orebody can be traced across
five claims or about 7500 ft.: and that of the third or Camp
McLeod orebody has been exposed in open-cuts made about
100 ft. apart for a distance of 3000 feet. The Cotton-belt ore-
body is composed of some galena and zincblende in a matrix
of magnetite; the Copper King orebody is composed of iron
pyrite and chalcopyrite in a quartz matrix: and the Camp
McLeod orebody is similar in composition to the Cotton-belt,
only the amount of galena is greater.
Considered from a commercial standpoint, the ore in the
Copper King orebody apparently has an advantage over the
others because it could be easily concentrated, while the other
ores containing galena, zincblende, and magnetite would
present a more complex problem. The tonnage of ore in
the Copper King should be considerable judging from the
width of the outcrops, which at several points exceeds 12 ft.
The Camp McLeod orebody varies in width from about 3 to
10 ft., and the Cotton-belt averages about 3 feet. In addition
to the extensive surface work that has been done, underground
work on the Camp McLeod group in 1913 included an adit
driven along the strike of the lode, a distance of 65 ft.; on
the Bass group the incline shaft has been extended to a depth
MAP OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.
of 50 ft.; and on the Copper King group a short adit has been
driven to cross-cut the orebody at depth.
The supply of timber for mining and domestic purposes is
abundant on all the properties except at the Cotton-belt group,
situated on the extreme summit, and about 500 ft. above tim-
ber line. Deep creek, a tributary of the Seymour river, will
afford practically an unlimited supply of power, as it is quite
a large stream having a fall of several hundred feet in about
a mile, and as it flows through Camp McLeod property, is
easily accessible for use.
The hydraulic plant formerly operated at Bullion, in the
Cariboo district by H. B. Hobson. for a company composed of
Canadian Pacific people, was purchased several years ago by
the Guggenheims. A new ditch was partly made, but work was
stopped at the property in 1907 or 190S. From 1894, a total of
over $2,000,000 was recovered from the gravels. The water
supply was always insufficient to work over 50 or 60 days per
year. The following season, after suspension of work, it was
alleged that the Guggenheims had not complied with the
provincial mining regulations. Mr. Hobson then resumed
work, but was soon mixed up with litigation which was settled
before his death. In 1913, John Hopp assumed that the Gug-
genheims had not fulfilled the hydraulic regulations, and re-
located the claims. Then E. T. Ward claimed to have bought
them from the Guggenheims, and is soon to appear before the
authorities to endeavor to oust Mr. Hopp. Such complications
are almost unknown in British Columbia, and it is hoped that
work will soon be resumed.
January 24, 1!>14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
193
ALASKA
Cordova
The Mother Lode Mines Co., with property adjoining the
Bonanza, has started to sled some high-grade ore to the rail-
road for shipment to the Tacoma smelter. The Golden Eagle
claim at Golden, in the Port Wells district, has been leased
on option to Edwin Griset, of Cordova. The lease is for four
years, with a royalty of 10%, and a purchase price of $30,000.
The mine is at tidewater and can be worked by adits. About
$15,000 of ore has been opened.
Fairuanks
Winter dumps are being taken out on Fairbanks creek, and
several outfits are doing well. Work on the lower end of
Goldstream is as active as in former years. After many hard-
ships during a 21-day trip, P. Breen and A. Allendale, of
Council. Seward Peninsula, reached Fairbanks on December
17 with their dog-team. They averaged 50 miles per day.
Their destination is Shushana.
The geology and mineral resources of a part of the Yukon-
Tanana region, including the gold placers of Rampart and
Hot Springs, are described in a report just issued by the
U. S. Geological Survey as Bulletin 535, by Henry M. Eakin.
Placer gold was discovered in the Rampart district probably
M.I.AMAR MINE. EIXAMAK, ALASKA.
as early as 1893, and since 1896 systematic mining has been
carried on, the first claim worked being on Little Minook
creek. Later, as the area being prospected increased, placers
were located and mines developed on the tributaries of
Baker creek, and still later on Sullivan creek and neighboring
streams tributary to Patterson creek. The stream gravels
have furnished the greater part of the gold output of the
Rampart and Hot Springs districts. Smoothly rounded peb-
bles of cassiterite. the oxide of tin, are found with the gold
In the Sullivan creek placers near Rampart. The area In
which the cassiterite occurs Is small, being less than a mile
In its longest direction. The tinstone or stream tin, as It
is commonly called, varies In amount with the gold, the plac-
ers commonly being rich or lean in both minerals. In the
richest spots as much as half a pound of tin to the pan Is
reported, which at the present price of the ore would give
the gravels a value, not allowing for costs of mining or
transportation, of $18 to $20 per yard, according to assay.
Gravels that contain as little as 9 lb. of cassiterite per yard
are being mined profitably In the York region. A copy of
Bulletin 535 may be obtained free on application to the di-
rector of the Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.
Jukeau
The work of developing and equipping the Alaska Gold
Mines property continues without interruption. No. 1 shaft
is completed from the Sheep Creek adit to the surface. A
hoist has been installed at No. 10 level, enabling men and
supplies to be handled coming through the Sheep Creek adit
and up the shaft to the Perseverance mine. This adit was
driven 600 ft. in December, and connection should be made
with the vertical shaft early in April. All levels from No. 5
to 10 inclusive are being driven east and west. By May all the
main drifts will be driven west to the surface. No. 2
power-plant on Salmon creek is now at work, and No. 1, near
the beach, has the first unit completed. Work on the dam
was stopped in November, but will be resumed in April. Re-
moval of rock for the crushing and mill foundations will
be finished in about three weeks. Bunk, boarding, and club
houses for the employees have been fully equipped with all
necessaries.
Shushana
There is a difference of opinion between those who have
been over it, concerning the McCarthy-Shushana route. Some
say that it is a failure, while others declare it is all right. A
number of men are leaving the district.
Valuez
The 1913 season in the country tributary to Cook's inlet
and to Seward on the Kenai peninsula, at the head of Resur-
rection bay, was marked by steady progress in the mining
industry. This portion of Alaska is notable for free-milling
high-grade gold quartz veins, hydraulic and dredge mining, as
well as for the Matanuska coalfields. In the first mentioned
class of mining the following properties were producers, the
Gold Bullion, Gold Quartz, and the Milo Kelly, situated in
the Susitna district, tributary to Cook's inlet, also the Kenai
Alaska Gold. Skene Lechner, and the Primrose properties
tributary to Seward. Hydraulic mining was conducted suc-
cessfully on Cache creek, a tributary of the Big Susitna river,
but dredge mining on the Kenai river was suspended pending
examinations being supervised by Mr. Tripp, of Juneau. Pros-
pecting on Grant lake, near the 25-mile post on the Alaska
Northern railway, resulted in exposing some high-grade gold
quartz, of which a shipment of about 4 tons was sent to the
Tacoma smelter by James R. Hayden in November last, the
returns from which are reported as being quite satisfactory.
ARIZONA
The state mine Inspector, G. H. Bolin, has issued his annual
report at Phoenix. He and his deputies, William Farrell,
John Harper, and J. C. Wilson, made 266 inspections of S4
mines during the past year. The total number of men em-
ployed in those mines was 13,933, of which 2664 were above
ground and 11,269 below. They are divided among the coun-
ties as follows: Cochise, 4448; Gila, 245S; Graham. 35; Green-
lee, 3133; Maricopa, 159; Mohave, 426; Pima, 177; Pinal, 1786:
Santa Cruz, 188; Yavapai, 907; and Yuma. 189. During the
year. 66 men were killed in Arizona mines, and there were
70 accidents classed as serious. The Copper Queen heads
the list of employing companies, with 346 men above ground
and 2006 below. Other large employers are: Arizona Copper
Co., Ltd., 169 above and 792 below; Calumet & Arizona. 9i»
and 1387; Ray Consolidated, 228 and 1357; Inspiration, 162
and 458; Miami, 81 and 7S3; Old Dominion. 125 and 409;
Arizona Copper, 140 and 501; Detroit Copper, 133 and 926;
Shannon, 170 and 275; and 1'nited Verde, 34 above and 555
below.
The Inspector summarizes the industry as follows: "Min-
ing In Arizona was never more active than at present. The
principal porphyry companies that are operating actively are
the Miami, Inspiration, and Ray. These mines produce low-
grade ore and are mined by the caving and shrinkage sys-
tem. On April 17 five men were killed by an air-blast in
the Miami mines. After Investigating this disaster, Mr. Har-
per and I came to the conclusion that the stopes were drawn
194
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24. 1914
too much, thereby leaving too much open space between the
back of the stope and the loose ore in the stope. Instruc-
tions were given not to allow more than 10 ft. of space be-
tween loose rock and the back of stope in future. The num-
ber of fatalities in the Ray mine has decreased 200% or
more. The narrowing of the stopes, which was ordered by
this department, is responsible in a great measure for the
decrease. Considerable improvement has been made in the
ventilation of the mines in the past year. The managers of
the larger mines, by installing large electrically driven fans
which force pure air into parts of the mine where it was im-
possible for a miner to do a shift's work, have found that
such parts can be cooled to such an extent that a miner can
do much more work without impairing his health to a marked
degree. Waste and timber in parts of mines that have
been exhausted, or where the ores have been extracted, are
responsible for a great amount of heat encountered in min-
ing. More attention is given to the safety of employees at
present than before. 'Safety-first' departments have been or-
ganized by all the large operating companies. Regular meet-
ings are held, and the men in charge of operations exchange
ideas in order to install devices which will prevent accidents."
Gila County
(Special Correspondence.) — Recent assays of tailing from
the Inspiration flotation plant show as low as 0.64 and 0.13%
copper. The towers of the Roosevelt power-line are near the
mill. During the past week two men were killed by falling
from one of them. The American Bridge Co. expects to re-
ceive 600 tons of structural steel per week for the new mill.
There is nothing special to report on underground work in
the mine.
Miami, January 16.
Mohave County
During December the Tom Reed mine produced gold worth
$109,000, and in 1913 a total of $1,300,000. About $800,000
was paid in dividends. The claims in Copper canon, Cedar
Valley district, known as the Molybdenite group, have been
optioned to J. H. Conway, of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Santa Cruz County
According to The Oasis, of Nogales, the present situation of
mining in the county is as follows: Ore shipments have been
made from the Three R mine in the Patagonia mountains; in
the Chief, near the Three R, a promising orebody has been
developed; in the district are a number of good properties,
among which is the Buena Vista group, operated by the Ari-
zona-European Mining Co.; just across the mountains is the
well known World's Fair mine; at Mowry, the Red Mountain
Mining Co. is busy developing its claims, and a concentrating
plant will probably be erected; the Duquesne mines, near
Washington camp, 20 miles from Nogales, are shipping ore
regularly; in the Santo Nino, near Duquesne, the Havalena
Mining Co. has had good results, but litigation has stopped
work temporarily; a group of claims in the Patagonia moun-
tains is being actively prospected by J. F. Campbell, A. S.
Henderson, and L. Koeller; other good claims in these moun-
tains are the Volcano, Sunshine, Morning Glory, Bluenose.
Cunningham, Buffalo, Skibo, Hardshell, and Flux; there are
also several interesting properties in the Santa Rita moun-
tains, among which is the Elephant Head, employing 125 men.
and shipping ore. while a reduction plant is contemplated;
rich silver-lead-zinc ore has been opened in the Mark & Louis
Lulley mine; the Wandering Jew mine, worked many years ago
by the old monks, is in this district; litigation has suspended
work at the Alto; ore is being shipped from the Royal Blue;
on the south side of the mountains are the Trenton, Santa
Rosalia, Ivanhoe, Mammoth, and Blue Lead claims, which are
opening well; on the east side the Mansfield Mining Co. has
cut a large shoot of copper-gold ore at 400 ft.; the American
Boy, August, Hosey, Happy Jack, Gringo, and Victor are
near by; near the Pima county line, on the north side of the
mountains, the old placer deposits are being worked by a few
men; southwest of Greaterville the Onyx King Mining Co. has
developed a large deposit of chalcedony; the Oro Blanco dis-
trict, in the west of the county, is gold bearing, and there are
the Austerlitz, Montana, Warsaw, Oro, Oro Blanco, Grubstake.
Tres Amigos, Oro Fino, and Progressive mines; the first named
has a mill working; the Montana and Progressive have opened
large tonnages of ore; and near the Mexican boundary the
Gold Canon Placer Mining Co. has been hydraulicking, but a
cloudburst put the plant out of commission temporarily.
CALIFORNIA
Butte County
Dredging companies know the value of the ground on
which Oroville is built, and Lawrence Gardella, a dredge
operator, and the North California Mining Co. are trying to
have an existing ordinance repealed, whereby they can dredge
DREDGE TAILING AT OROVILLE.
a 40-acre tract within the town limits. They propose to give
the town an 8-acre park in return for the privilege of re-
covering the gold contained in the area; but the park com-
mittee argues that it will have only a rock pile on its hands if
this is done.
Calaveras County
It is stated that negotiations are pending for the sale of
the Keystone Union, and other claims by the Calaveras Copper
Co. at Copperopolis.
Lassen County
Mining at Hay den Hill has been quiet for some time; but the
Lassen Mining Co. is to resume work in the spring, while
others are preparing for operation.
Nevada County
Development in the Champion mine, owned by the North
Star company, is said to be very satisfactory. The Black Bear
stamp-mill in the Rough and Ready district is working again,
this time on ore from the Forlorn Hope vein, which junctions
with the Black Bear.
Placer County
Work is to be started soon at the Spring Garden and Pack-
ham Hill claims near Forest Hill. An active season is anticip-
ated for the district.
It is probable that Eastern capital will be secured to re-
open the Southern Cross mine, near Humbug canon. The
mill and other buildings were burned last summer. So far
this winter, no mines near Alta have been worked.
Plumas County
At Johnsville, the Jamison mill is to restart crushing,
there being ample water in the reservoir. An air-compressor
is being installed by lessees at the Tefft mine, near Clare-
mont peak. The machine will be driven by water-power.
Twenty-seven copper claims in Lights canon have been filed
for record at Quincy for the Nevada-Douglas Copper Company.
The Mohawk copper mine in Last Chance canon, near Vinton,
has been sold to Salt Lake people for $125,000. The mine was
opened by M. J. Daly, who has shipped ore worth $55 per ton.
E. A. Ludwick is manager.
January 24? 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
195
Sax Bebxabdi.no County
The Atolia district was the second largest producer of tung-
sten ores in 1913, and still makes a larger production of
scheelite than any other district in the world. Nearly all
the output was produced by the Atolia Mining Co., but small
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Ji. MO HAVE
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MAT Of SOUTHERN ( AI.IFOKNIA.
quantities were also produced from several mines at Atolia
and the Stringer and Randsburg districts on the north.
SlIASI a CoUNTY
The Friday Lowden group of copper claims lias been bonded
by an English Columbia company, called the Silver Tip Min-
ing Company. The property adjoins the Mammoth holdings.
The deal was made through S. E. Brethi rton. Twelve men are
working at the Mount Bailey compan> 's West End mine, and in
tons of rich ore is sent daily to the Gambrinus mill. A com-
pressor is being installed at the Shasta Monarch mine. Cross-
cutting is to be done at 140 ft The Whiskeytown district is
hoping for an active season. At '."" It. in the Esperanza mine,
a seam of good coal lias been opt ned. A. .1. Oswald is superin-
tendent.
SlNKIYOU Om \ i \
All the hydraulic mines are working full lime, and tin re Is
plenty of water. The 'dry gulch' miners are making good clean
tips the first time for six years, owing to shortage of water.
Trinity Cm N i 1
The (J lobe 20-stamp mill, at Dedrick. is Heating 100 tons of
ore per day. with high recoveries Fift> men are employed
at the property. Wallace McGregor is manager. I). \V.
Shanks has taken charge of the Trinit> Consolidated Mines
Co.'s Union Hill and Hupp placet properties. The plate for
the Lagrange Syphon at Stuart's I'm I was landed on Janu-
ary 16, and the break will soon be repaired.
Troll \i m Coi n i v
At the Hazel Dell mine, near Columbia, a 500-ft. cross-cut
has been driven, from which drifts arc cut 310 and 120 ft..
east and west. In the latter drill the ore-shoot is 32 in.
wide, worth (55 per ton. Tin ore contains a hi«h percentage
of galena. The Jamestown Exploration Co. lias an option on
the Carlin mine, and further development is proposed. The
Columbus, near Tuolumne, will probably be reopened. The
2200-ft. adit at the Shawmnt, used for conveying ore to the
mill, is being enlarged preparatory to using electric locomo-
tives instead of horses. Work at the Hope is satisfactory,
and a Huntington mill will be erected. G. W. Weston is
manager.
Yuba County
(Special Correspondence.) — The report published in this
journal of January 10, relative to the loss of two drills op-
erated by the Guggenheim interests, is not quite correct. One
machine of the Keystone type was wrecked, but not lost. It
was washed down the river about 1200 ft., and has since been
refitted.
Smartsville, January 15.
COLORADO
Clear Ckeek County
(Special Correspondence.) — The electric trolley system at
the Capital mine was brought into commission on January
12. Considerable development work is planned. The Onon-
dago Mining Co. will operate the Ruler property through the
Capital adit, a perpetual right of way having been secured.
E. C. Bauman is manager. Two well known miners fell about
600 ft. in the Capital mine on January 15 and were killed.
The machinery at the Rosebud mine on Democrat- mountain
was started this week. Cross-cutting is under way S00 ft.
from the portal of the adit, to cut the east extension of the
Astor vein. G. W. Teagarden is manager. The Butler prop-
erty is the scene of a promising find. The ore-shoot is 5 in.
wide and assays return 290 oz. silver per ton. H. W. Kirby
is owner. Hanson & Co., leasing on the Anamosa mine on
Columbian mountain, have uncovered a 20 -in. ore-shoot and a
test shipment returned 150 oz. silver per ton. A carload
shipment will be sent to the Argo smelter next week. It is
stated by J. B. Ballantine. in charge of installing machinery
at the Pelican mill, which is being provided with the Edison
method of ore dressing, that ore treatment will be started
within two weeks. The Mendota mill at Silver Plume, which
has been in almost continuous operation for 12 years, has
been closed down temporarily. Pending the starting of the
same. Stephens Bros., the operators, will carry on develop-
ment on the Frostburg vein, work to be done above the Vic-
toria adit level. Work lias been resumed on the Cold King
property situated on Saxon mountain. B. O. Bonham is in
charge.
G« orgetown, January 13.
Oukav County
Development in the Mountain Top is very satisfactory.
No. 2 shoot has been opened for 300 ft. and is from 2 to :! ft.
wide, averaging from $'■',» to $4n per ton. Metal contents are:
gold, $1 : silver. :!."> oz. ; and lead. 12 per cent.
Tei.i.kb County (Ckhti.e Cheek i
Sinking is under way in No. 1 and 2 shafts of the Port-
land mine, from 1(100 to lT.'ii) ft. Two shifts are employed.
Lessees at the C. K. & N. mine are making a large output
of t'Mi ore. Control of the Jo Dandy Mining Co. was sold
on January 16 to William MacDonald, of Albany, New York,
and H. C. Gilderhouse, of St. I.ouis. Missouri, for $100,000.
This was paid to Allen I,. Hurris. of the El Paso Consolidated
company, representing a large number of shareholders. Two
cars of ore from the South Burns mine returned $20 and $19.70
per ton. respectively. Two shifts of miners are working in
a drift from the Fuller cross-cut in the Roosevelt drainage
tunnel, to develop the C. K. & X. vein. Results are promis-
ing so far, but til" flow of water is S00 gal. per minute. From
the drainage tunnel the flow is now 7300 u:i! per minute.
IDAHO
Bi.aine Cor vi i
The Wilbert mill. In miles from Arco, has been shul down
owing to the low price of lead ore. Developmenl is to be
continued.
19(3
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Januarv 24. 1914
Boi.se County
The Liberty Mining Co. has been organized at Boise to
work placer ground in the Boise basin, about 30 miles north-
east of that city. The officers of the Company are A. E.
Small, president; James Cathcart, vice-president; M. A. Small,
secretary and treasurer: E. W. Barry, H. L. Fisher, Charles
F. Baxter, and J. C. Buckholz, directors. The company has a
large tract of virgin placer ground on Moore's creek, two
miles below Idaho City and adjoining the Boston-Idaho Gold
Dredging Co.'s ground. The property consists of 402 acres
of bar and bench ground and is situated well above the bed
of Moore's creek, affording an excellent dump for the ground,
which will be worked by the hydraulic method. Two electric
pumps of 500-hp. capacity will be installed, capable of de-
livering water at 60-lb. pressure. The plans include the con-
struction of a large storage reservoir, which will have a
capacity of 13,500,000 gal. Frank E. Johnesse, a Boise mining
expert, has made a thorough examination of the property and
reports an average of 24.7c. gold per cubic yard. Operations
will commence in May or June. The working season here is
from March to November, inclusive.
Custeb County
The Lucky Boy Gold Mining Co.'s properties at Custer have
been bonded and leased, with a purchase option, to Colorado
Springs men. The various claims have been opened by 25,000
ft. of development, and the mine, stamp-mill, and cyanide
plant have been fully equipped. Previous to the shut-down
the mines produced $7,000,000 in gold and silver.
Lemhi County
Great activity is reported from the lower Salmon mining
districts. One lessee on Shoup is extracting ore from an 8-in.
vein which will yield over $250 per ton in gold. This ore
will be treated at the new mill and cyanide plant at Pine
creek. Mr. Gonder, who owns property on Sheep creek, in
the Gibbonsville district, is in Nevada on a trip for new ma-
chinery. The A. D. M. people at Gibbonsville will probably
install a new compressor in the spring. The ore opened would
pay for the installation of a mill. On the Kitty Burton, at
Ulysses, other lessees are equally active. Though the ore is
not high grade, it is reported that they are making money.
Shoshone County
The Clearwater Gold & Copper Mining Co. has developed a
large tonnage of ore in its mine on the upper Clearwater, and
transport is difficult. According to Sam Seidenfeld, a large
stockholder, it is proposed to construct an aerial tramway 12
miles long to cross the Bitter Root divide between Montana
and Idaho. The tramway would have a capacity of 24 tons
per hour. About 4000 ft. of work has been done in the mine
at a cost of $80,000. The Stewart Mining Co.'s earnings in
December were $05,000, making a total of $226,000 for the
last quarter of 1913. The last half-year's profits were $435,000,
from which $277,000 has been paid in dividends.
The National Copper Co. at Mullen, is erecting a 500-ton
plant, the ore being crushed with rock breakers, rolls, and
Hardinge mills to 30 mesh. This Is then concentrated. The
sand product is reground in other Hardinge mills and then
the whole product passed to Dorr thickeners to be dewatered
as low as possible. The underflow goes to a flotation plant,
the overflow being returned to the head of the mill. The tail-
ing passes to other Dorr thickeners, the overflow from which
is mixed with the underflow from the first series of thickeners
which goes to the flotation boxes. The underflow from the
second series of thickeners goes to the tailing dump. All of
the concentrate from the tables and Minerals Separation plant
passes to a Kelly filter to be dewatered.
MICHIGAN
Houohton County
(Special Correspondence.)— Organized labor throughout the
United States has sent at least $750,000 into the Michigan
strike district since the inception of the labor difficulty here
last July. How much of it ever reached the men who went
on strike is a question which is agitating the minds of offi-
cials who are investigating the trouble. The largest contri-
butions to the maintenance of the strike came from the
Butte branch of the Western Federation of Miners. A similar
contribution had just been made to the strikers in the Bingham
district, Utah, in 1912. The Western Federation of Miners
has not received any contributions from Bingham, or the
Homestake, where there was a strike some years ago. Fur-
ther trouble has arisen with the Western Federation, and it
appears that Walker of the Illinois Federation of Labor and
the American Federation of Labor, is trying to consolidate the
Western Federation and the United Mine Workers of America.
At 18 of the copper mines there is a total of 8724 men
employed, against 13,514 before the strike, which started on
July 23. 'Moyerism' seems to be the only issue at stake now,
and the mining companies will not recognize the Western
Federation of Miners. Charles H. Mover and others have been
indicted on the charge of conspiracy.
Houghton, January 15.
MONTANA
Lewis and Clabk County
Ten to fourteen inches of high-grade galena has been opened
at the bottom of the incline shaft of the Franklin mine, at a
depth of 280 ft. From 15 to 20 men are employed.
Madison County
The Big vein has been cut 225 ft. north on the 500-ft. level
of the Corbin Copper Co.'s Blowout property at Rochester.
A large flow of water was also cut, and additional pumps
will be installed to handle the 800 gal. per minute flow. The
Company is developing its Gambrinus mine at Butte with
satisfactory results.
Silverbow County
The North Butte company has acquired 900 additional acres
of Butte territory for which it has paid $1,000,000 in cash
and 20,000 shares of stock. This property has been in process
of acquirement for nearly two years, and the $1,000,000 of
cash has come out of earnings, and at the same time the Com-
pany has added to working capital a total of about $1,000,000.
During 1913 the Butte & Superior Mining Co. treated 307,957
dry tons of ore, which yielded 104,214 tons of concentrate,
containing 102,002,039 lb. of zinc. The recovery averaged
S3.08 per cent.
NEVADA
The new mining law regarding the employment of men about
mines who cannot speak or understand English, referred to
in the last issue of this journal, is to be tested in the courts.
The Tonopah Mining Co., W. H. Blackburn, manager, is rep-
resenting the other mining companies at Tonopah in this
argument.
Esmeralda County
During the past week the shaft of the Darms Coal Mining
Co., at Coaldale. passed through 14 in. of good coal at 300
ft. The shaft will be sunk deeper.
Humboldt County
At the B rough ton-Newman lease on the Original Rochester
estate, controlled by W. C. Pitt, C. H. Mcintosh, and others,
the lessees have shipped ore worth $124 per ton In silver
and gold. A 140-ft. adit has cut the ore-shoot, which is
from 4 to 8 ft. wide. There is estimated to be a total value
of $70,000 in sight. The Octopus claims have been bonded
to Oakland and Spokane people for $50,000, with a cash pay-
ment of $2500. Ore opened is 9 ft. wide, 3 ft. being worth
$40 and the balance $12 per ton.
Lincoln County
The Day-Bristol Consolidated Mining Co., of Pioche, is in
January 24, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
197
the hands of a receiver, H. E. Freudenthal. The Consolidated
Nevada-Utah Corporation complains that the Day-Bristol com-
pany's properties have been mismanaged during the past two
years and money has been spent extravagantly.
Lyon County
The Mason Valley smelter, at Thompson, received 4075 tons
of ore during the second week of January, and shipped 240,000
lb. of blister copper. A 60-hp. gasoline engine and air-com-
pressor is being installed at the Smith Valley mine. Rich
gold ore has been opened by Bovard and Knight on their
Pumpkin Hollow ground. Development at the Burlington-
Nevada mine is satisfactory.
Nye County
The mines at Tonopah, during December, produced 46,115
tons of ore worth $937,480. The total for 1913 was $10,016,968,
and $63,602,133 to date. At the Belmont, 14,603 tons was
treated, yielding 4019 oz. gold and 370,354 oz. silver, with
$171,866 profit. The Tonopah company's output was 11,890
tons, yielding 227,523 oz. bullion and 135 tons of concentrate
worth $46,250. The profit was $133,125. The West End mill
treated 4869 tons at a profit of $42,211. From the Jim Butler
mill is treating 170 tons per day. Placer mining at Round
Mountain yielded $100,000 last season. D. Llewellyn and asso-
ciates recovered most of this.
Storey County
The water in the Con. Virginia winze was down ISO ft. below
the 2500-ft. level on January 21.
NEW MEXICO
Socorbo County
(Special Correspondence.) — A gasoline hoist, air-compressor,
and machine-drills are being assembled at the Lincoln prop-
erty. The Maud shaft is being sunk a further lt>0 ft., mak-
ing 700 ft. in all. Development at the Pacific property is
to be extended. The Deadwood plant is working full time.
Work is going on steadily in the main drainage and trans-
portation tunnel of the Oaks Co. which will eventually be
under the large mines of the district at depths of from 1400
to 1800 ft. During 1913 the Socorro mine produced about
25 tons of gold and silver bullion, and a good tonnage of
high-grade concentrate.
Mogollon, January 12.
TONOPAH BELMONT
TONOPAH BELMONT
TONOPAH, NEVADA.
mine 1971 tons was shipped at a profit of $13,451. Other con-
tributors to the December total were the Extension, with 4958
tons; Montana-Tonopah, 4581; North Star, 398; MacNamara,
2110; Merger, 585; and Midway, 150 tons. During the week
ended January 17, 10 mines produced 10,297 tons of ore worth
$252,450. In the Extension mine the west shoot of the Mur-
ray vein at 950 ft. Is 9 ft. wide, containing good ore. At 700
ft. In the Tonopah company's property, the Last Chance vein
has widened from 2 to 3 ft. Three feet of good ore has been
cut on the 665-ft. level of the Montana-Tonopah, this being
the downward extension of the A. B. K. vein below the fault,
which came in below 615 ft. On the 1100-ft. level of the
Halifax, two veins are being developed, and the raise at 1000
ft. shows 10 ft. of ore. Three feet of ore is being driven
on in the Midway at 635 ft. Cross-cutting north at 1166 ft.
in the Mlzpah Extension is still in favorable trachyte forma-
tion. The Buckeye-Belmont shaft is now in good condition
to the 1000-ft. level. Pump stations will be cut at this and
the 865-ft. level. A No. 5 Cameron pump is to be used in
shaft-sinking. The shaft is in trachyte.
The Round Mountain company's superintendent, R. H.
Ernest, states that the mine is improving. New ore-shoots
have been cut at 450 ft. depth. 600 ft. southwest of the main
workings on that level, and 100 ft. beyond this shoot the
southwest cross-cut intersected another mineral zone. The
first shoot Is from 12 In. to 3 ft. wide over 250 ft., worth $20
per ton, and the second is worth from $3 to $15 per ton. The
OREGON
Jackson County
(Special Correspondence.) — M. Blanchin. president and gen-
eral manager of the Bill Nye Corporation, a French company,
but with American headquarters at San Francisco, arrived
this week to make an inspection of the Bill Nye mine, near
Gold Hill. M. Blanchin was pleased with the mine. It is
now worked by one shift, but has been unwatered and over-
hauled, and the superintendent, Mr. Bellamy, states that an
additional shift will soon be added. The new 75-ton mill at
the Nellie Wright mine is nearly completed. It will be driven
by electric power. The mine contains a large tonnage of ore.
Gold Hill, January 15.
A. E. Smith, of San Francisco, has been visiting the hy-
draulic mines at Gold Hill, and has interested the miners
in saving black sand, which contains platinum. Tacoma and
Sutherlin, Oregon, people have purchased placer ground near
Dowden Falls, three miles from Gold Hill. Active pros-
pecting is under way. While there is plenty of water for
large hydraulic mines, the smaller properties are short, the
former depending on snow and the latter on local rainfall.
Josephine County
(Special Correspondence.) — A great amount of development
Is being done at the mines of Illinois valley, surrounding
the pioneer camps of Kerby and Waldo. The hydraulic plac-
ers are making a fine showing, as the season is an excellent
198
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24. 1914
one tor surface mining. New workings have been opened on
the Simmons-Cameron-Logan placers. A double-lift Hendy
elevator has been installed on this line to take care of the
tailing. John Logan, owner of the mine, is also operating
the Osgood, nearby, with* excellent results. The Wimer mine,
known as the Deep Gravel, is operating this year under the
management of Morrison brothers. A tubular elevator is
also in operation on the Wimer, there not being sufficient
natural dump to take care of the debris. The local manager,
Mr. Wimer, reports that an exceptionally rich bank of pay-
gravel is being worked this year. George W. Otterson, a
prominent mining man of Ottawa, Canada, after making a
thorough investigation of the mines of southern Oregon, took
an option on a Grants Pass placer. He has begun work and
will more extensively develop the mine, operating the pres-
ent equipment during the remainder of the season.
Grant's Pass, January 15.
UTAH
Cakiiox County
About four miles from Helper is the Spring Canon coal
mine, which has a daily output of 1100 tons. The property
has been producing only since March 1913, and the equip-
ment is sufficient for a 2000-ton output. The mine is oper-
ated by electric power throughout. Two coal seams are being
worked, S and 9 ft. thick, respectively. The town of Storrs
is quite a model in every respect, and has a population of
500 to 600 people. Coal is shipped to California, Nevada.
Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Montana.
Juab County
The Iron Blossom company has paid another dividend of
$100,000. The mine is in fine condition. The annual report
of the Company shows net earnings of $505,744 in 1913. The
ore production was 39,520 tons, worth nearly $20 per ton net.
Ore reserves are 200,000 tons averaging $20 per ton net.
Ground north of No. 1 shaft of the Colorado mine has been
leased. There is considerable activity in the north Tintic
district. Ore shipments from l(i properties during the past
week totaled 153 cars.
Salt Lake County
The Utah Metal Mining Co. has issued a report covering
the following work: On December 4, 1913, the Utah Copper
Co. completed its pipe-line, and the water being supplied
amounts to 440,000 gal. per day. Early in 1914 the flow from
the springs on Middle canon will be increased for the Utah
company. The Bingham-New Haven Mining Co. is also sup-
plied, and further water contracts are expected with other
companies and the town of Bingham. Negotiations are under
way for hauling waste and mill tailing through the tunnel
to dump in Middle canon. A drift is being driven west from
the 9100-ft. point in the tunnel, toward the Bingham-New
Haven property, the vein being 3 ft. wide in limestone. At
SG00 ft. in the tunnel, 244 ft. of work has been done in favor-
able mineralized ground. It is hoped that the Company's
finances will soon be on a sound basis.
WASHINGTON
Fkrry County
J. L, Harper has forfeited his bond on the Surprise and
adjoining mines, which includes the ground in dispute be-
tween the Republic .Mines Corporation and the Quilp Gold
Mining Co., and conceded to the latter under a written agree-
ment by which the litigation was settled and the Quilp com-
pany came into unquestioned possession of the ground in
dispute. The annual meeting of the Knob Hill Mining Co.
was held' at Spokane on January 14. During 1913 ore valued
at $140,000 was shipped from the mine, and $25,000 was paid
in dividends, the only Company in the state to pay any.
Development at the mine is promising.
King County
Gold receipts during 1913 at the United States Assay Office
at Seattle showed a large increase over the previous year,
being $8,205,000, as against $4,490,900 in 1912. The receipts
from Alaska amounted to $6,600,000. With the close
of business January 1, 1914, the Seattle office had handled
a total of 435 tons of gold valued at $218,612,600 since its
establishment in July 1898.
Stevens County
The Silver Queen mine, two miles from Turk, which has
been idle for 10 years, is to be unwatered and further devel-
opment done. Rich silver ore was formerly mined. From
the Providence, near the Silver Queen, ore was sent out last
summer. It costs $21 per ton to deliver ore to the Tacoma
smelter from this district. Rich copper-silver ore has been
opened in an abandoned adit of the Copper Queen claims, 9
miles from Chewelah. E. E. Thomason is the owner. No. 2
adit at the United Copper mine has been driven 3700 ft.,
leaving 500 ft. to reach the two-compartment winze sunk be-
low the 600-ft. level. This should be through by April 1.
The adit is 6 by 7'L> ft., with a 0.5r/£ grade, and a 30-in. gage
track. Electric haulage will be used later on. The adit will
have cost $50,000 on completion. The mill has been increased
by another unit of 12 stamps, the daily capacity being from
125 to 150 tons per day. From 80 to 100 men are steadily
employed.
Spokane County
The following dividends have been paid by mining com-
panies in the adjacent areas of British Columbia, Washington,
and Idaho: Total
Company. 1913. 1912. to date.
B. C. Copper $ 88,756 $ 177,512 $ 704,155
Bunker Hill 817,500 752,100 14,729,250
Can. Con 464,352 232,176 1,480,245
Federal 720,000 720,000 10,788,750
Granby 899,911 4,752,043
Hecla 320,000 300,000 2,970,000
1 Icdley 360,000 360,000 1,224,000
•Hercules 1,500,000 600,000 5,500,000
Int. C. & C 120,000 941.000
Knob Hill 25,000 5,000 70,000
Le Roi No. 2 43,200 60,000 1,567,620
Snowstorm 45,000 75,000 1.124,640
Standard 650.000 425,000 ' 1,075,000
Stewart 402,435 402,435
Success 90,000 1S0.000 930,000
Totals $6,456,154 $3.SS6.7SS $4S.259,138
•Estimated.
CANADA
Bbitish Columbia
The Portland Canal company's adit is now in 2870 ft. At
2300 ft. No. 1 vein was cut. and is over 100 ft. wide, while at
2800 ft. No. 2 was cut, it being 40 ft. wide, mostly quartz.
Neither vein was well mineralized where cut, but contained
a little galena and pyrite. Drifts have been started north
and south respectively on the two veins. The adit is being
driven 60 ft. per week at a cost of $20 per foot. W. J. Elmen-
doi f is manager. Work has been resumed at the Glacier Creek
mine, adjoining the Portland Canal property, on No. 1 vein
cut in the latter. A shipment of ore from the Lake View
mine, on Glacier creek, to the Tacoma smelter, yielded an
average of gold, $9.80: silver, 570.7 oz.: and lead 22.1'r. A
good tonnage has been opened in the mine. Complete returns
for 1913 from the Grand Forks smelter of the Granby com-
pany are as follows: ore smelted, 1,246.013 tons, and blister
copper, 21,960,997 lb. There was 17,434 tons of foreign ore
treated. There is 16 in. of snow at the Hidden Creek property
of the Granby company. A winze is being sunk from the
300 to 400-ft. level of the Jewel mine. C. A. Banks is manager.
January 2-i. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
199
The following table shows the estimated production of the
principal properties in the Cobalt district in 1913 compared
with 1912. The total for 1913 is estimated for the last month
of the year, and in one or two instances for the last two
and three months:
, Gross ounces.
Mine. 1913. 1912.
Nipissing 4,600,000 4.719.57S
Coniagas 3,550,237 3,703,942
La Rose 2.023,000 2,920,344
McKinley-Darragh 2,250,000 2,704,868
Buffalo 2,000,000 1.S90.150
Kerr Lake 2,109,975 1,895.309
Crown Reserve 1,833,333 2,714.766
Cobalt Townsite 1,783.554 1.505,396
Cobalt Lake 1,200,000 1,123,146
O'Brien 1,200,000 1,091,631
Sen. Superior 1.150.000
Beaver 750.1 42 689,921
Temlskaming 735.000 1.242.243
Temlskaming & Hudson Bay 659. 872 957,055
Trethewey 610.139 620.923
Penn. Canadian 365.000
Dividends paid by Cobalt mines in 1913 were as follows,
according to The Daily Xugget:
Company. 1913. To date.
Beaver $ 60.0(10 $ 410.000
Buffalo 890,000 2,527.000
Caribou-Cobalt 25,000 25,000
City of Cobalt 139,321
Cobalt Central 192,845
Cobalt Lake 240,000 240.
Cobalt Silver Queen 315.000
Cobalt Townsite 500.000 900,000
Coniagas 1.640,000 5,720,000
Crown Reserve 795, 966 5,483,315
Foster 45.774
•Hollinger l,17o,ooo 1,440.11110
Kerr Lake 600.000 1,920,000
La Ros--e Consolidated 937.500 4,079,185
McKinley-Darragh 1.033.93s 3,865.262
Nipissing l.siMi.ouu 10,890, >
Right of Way 526,903
Seneca-Superior :iir.u;49 309,649
Temlskaming* Hudson Bay 162.9M 1.870,341
Temlskaming ir.o.ooo 1,384,156
Trethewey 15ii.immi 1,012.598
Wettlaufer Ill ,«.V.i 637,465
Total $lo.|:o;.,;:, 1 $46,935,718
I-a Rose (shared privately previous 10 Ma> litos).. 1,204,862
Private corporations (estimated 1 3,500.000
Total $51,638,681
•The Hollinger is at Porcupine.
Ore from the Crown Reserve antl Dominion Reduction
companies, at Cobalt, was sent to Germany (luring the first
week of January. During Decemtwr the Home mill at Porcu-
pine treated 13.170 tons of ore yielding gold valued at $106,904.
This makes the total, since operations began in April 1913.
104.330 tons and $936,106 in told. The last ore shipment from
the Tough Oakes at Kirkland Lake was us tons containing
23.59 oz. gold and 67.50 oz silver pi r ton. Six shipments have
made a total worth $63,285.
Y 1 K II \
All dredges of the Canadian Klondyke Mining Co. are shut
down for the winter. During the past season 6,363,515 cu. yd.
of gravel was dredged, yielding 85,899 oz. gold worth $1,331,-
000. Working expenses totaled $480,000. Three boats with
16, and one with 7'_, -cu. ft. buckets, were In operation. No. 2
dredge worked 26S days, a record for the district. They are
all driven by electric power, generated by water-power from
the Klondike river. J. W. Boyle, general manager, may prob-
ably install another boat at the upper end of the property
in 1915. The hydraulic plants of the Yukon Gold Co. moved
2,S75,000 cu. yd. of gravel during the season of 1913. Water
for this purpose conies 75 miles, and was described in the
Mining and Scientific Press of January 16 and 23, 1909, by
T. A. Rickard. No. 6 dredge is to be re-erected in the spring
on Gold Run creek, 50 miles from Dawson. No. 7 is to be
transferred to 41 Hunker. Since starting dredging, the Com-
pany has completely worked out 10S full claims and several
fractions. All boats are driven by electric power. During the
season November 30, 1912, to December 1, 1913. the Klondike
produced gold worth $5,327,310, according to the report of
George Black, territorial commissioner, published in the
Dawson Daily Sens. The total for 1913 is estimated at
$5,500,000, an increase of $500,000 over 1912. The gold output
to date is $174,652,411.
COLOMBIA
The Pato dredge recovered $12,600 from 18.900 cu. yd. of
gravel during the last week in December. November returns
from the Colombian Mining & Exploration mine totaled
$22,000. Ten stamps are being erected in the new mill, and
should be crushing soon.
KOREA
The Seoul Mining Co., operating the Suan concession, in
Whang Hai province. Korea, reports the following results for
December 1913.
Stamps working 40
Time, days 29. S3
Ore crushed, tons 6350
Total recovery $61,499
Operating expenses 27.500
Net earnings 33,999
The Oriental Consolidated Co.'s December clean-up yielded
$143,000.
MEXICO
CiuiU'Aiir.x
On January 15, 15,000 oz. of silver bullion from the Batopilas
Mining Co. crossed the border at Nogales, Arizona, on its way
to New York. Supplies are being sent to the mine for more
active work.
Jai.isi (i
On December lit. the Mololoa 20-stamp mill of the Kl Favor
Mining Co. started ore treatment, the entire plant from that
date being available for Kl Favor ores. K. K. liugbee. pro-
fessor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston,
states that a preliminary roasl following magnetic separators,
and the present cyanide process in use at Kl Favor, shows
over W. extraction from the manganese-silver ores of the
Company's mines. There is on hand at the property 60 days
supply of dynamite. 90 of cyanide, and large stocks of other
supplies. There have I n no rebel disturbances in the dis-
trict. On January 30 a dividend of lc per share on 3,500,00(1
shares will be paid. At the beginning of 1914 the Company
had $54,195 credit in I'nlted States banks. Other receipts re-
mitted since December 12 will add to this amount.
So\oit\
About 75 men ate working at La Cobriza mine, Inn miles
south of Nogales, Arizona, on the bonier. The smelter - now
in full blast. A 100-ton mill will be built to concentiate low-
grade ores.
COSTA RICA
The Abangarez Col, I Field Co. reports (lie following for
November 1913: Ore treated. 7370 tons: total recovery by
amalgamation and cyanidation. $51,257: profit. $2355; and im-
provements, $i:'7!C
200
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
Columbia University students numbering 502 earned a total
of $56,705 during their summer vacation last year.
The University of California has started a course on oil
production, including well drilling and handling of product.
The University of Washington, Seattle, opened a three
months session for mining men on January 5. There were 44
registrations from 10 states, Alaska, and five foreign countries,
to study quartz, placer, and coal mining.
The American Institute of Mining Engineers will hold the
107th meeting in New York City on February 17 to 20. The
committees on iron and steel, petroleum and gas, mining law,
and mining geology have asked for a total of seven sessions
for the reading and discussion of papers.
The New York section of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers held its last meeting on January 16. A paper on
'Mine Gases' was presented by N. H. Darton, of the U. S.
Geological Survey. It covered the results of an exhaustive
study made under the auspices of the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
The Old Freibergers society held their semi-annual dinner
on December 4 at the Imperial restaurant, London, England.
Sixteen members and one guest were present, and Edward
Hooper, the president, occupied the chair. The evening was
enlivened by the singing of old German Kommerslieder, and
was thoroughly enjoyed by all those fortunate enough to be
present.
The "Colorado Scientific Society has elected the following
members to serve during 1914: President, Richard A. Parker;
first vice-president, E. N. Hawkins; second vice-president.
Thomas B. Stearns; treasurer, J. W. Richards; secretary, H.
C. Parmelee; executive committee, J. D. Skinner and Charles
A. Chase, term expiring January 1, 1917; and Victor G. Hills
to fill vacancy expiring January 1, 1916.
The Old Freibergers in America held their regular annual
meeting at the Hofbriiu Haus, New York City, on December 20.
A pleasant evening was spent around the festive board. All
the former officers were reelected, namely, Dr. R. W. Raymond,
president; Gardner F. Williams, vice-president, and C. L.
Bryden, secretary and treasurer. It was decided to hold a
meeting in San Francisco in 1915 during the Panama-Pacific
Exposition, and a number of the members are planning to
go to Freiberg in 1916, to help celebrate the 150th anniversary
of the founding of the old Bergakademie.
The annual meeting of the Faraday Society was held on
November 26, 1913, at the Institution of Electrical Engineers,
London. The following officers and council were elected to
serve for the year 1913-14: president, Sir Robert Hadfield;
vice-presidents, G. T. Beilby, K. Birkeland, W. R. Bousfield,
Bertram Hopkinson, A. K. Huntington, T. Martin Lowry,
Alexander Siemens; treasurer, F. Mollwo Perkin; council, R.
Belfield, H. Borns, W. R. Cooper, F. G. Donnan, Emil Hatschek,
R. S. Hutton, Alfred W. Porter, E. H. Rayner, R. Seligman,
and Maurice Solomon. The seventieth ordinary meeting was
held afterward. Ernest Vanstone submitted a paper on 'The
Electrical Conductivities of Sodium Amalgamates.' This dis-
cussion is a preliminary to a more extensive investigation.
A paper on 'The Influence of a Second Solute on the Solu-
bility of Ortho-phthalic Acid,' was read by A. C. Rivett and
E. I. Rosenblum. T. Martin Lowry showed a series of photo-
graphs illustrating the formation of an oxidizable variety of
nitrogen, by the action of a spark discharge on air at atmos-
pheric pressure. There was a discussion on the paper pre-
viously presented by F. J. Brisleeon, 'The Density of Alum-
inum.' J. W. Richards, of Lehigh University, had also pre-
viously sent a note on 'Over-voltage,' which was discussed.
J. A. Agnew sailed from Nicaragua Tuesday.
W. Y. Westervelt is at Redlands, California.
H. S. Bruckunier was in San Francisco last week.
A. W. Allen expects to return to England in April.
J. W. Finch has returned to Denver from California.
J. V. N. Dorr has returned to New York from Cobalt, Canada.
George E. Farish has returned to New York from Cobalt,
Canada.
Ross B. Hoffmann and Jack Hoffmann have gone to
London.
C. E. Bunker has gone to Nicaragua to become manager at
La Leonesa gold mines.
Ralph Arnold will deliver a course of lectures at the Uni-
versity of Chicago this spring.
J. M. Lovejoy is now superintendent of the Minas San Juan,
Huantajaya (via Iquique), Chile.
J. H. Collier has returned from Nicaragua, where he has
been investigating metallurgical problems.
W. S. Harrison, general manager for the San Francisco
Mines of Mexico, of Rugby, England, is at El Paso, Texas.
Frank Langford has left India for the Malay States and will
return from there to the United States by way of the Philip-
pine Islands.
Henry H. Armstead sailed from Vera Cruz January 8 for
New York, where he will remain until the last of March, at
which time he will return to Mexico.
Norval J. E. Welsh has withdrawn from the management
of the Otero Copper Co., at Orogrande, New Mexico, and is
now at Organ, Dona Ana county, New Mexico.
George A. Camphuis and Gerald Rives have formed a part-
nership in mining engineering and mine management work,
with headquarters in the Mills building, El Paso, Texas.
Godfrey E. Morgans passed through New York on his return
to London from Colombia, where he has been examining large
coal and iron properties for Colombian investors.
S. Wolff, formerly manager of the Cleveland office of the
Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co., has been appointed Chicago
manager for the De Laval Steam Turbine Co., with offices in
the Peoples Gas building.
Among those present at the meeting of the Geological So-
ciety of America, at Princeton, December 30 to January 1,
were C. D. Walcott, G. O. Smith, J. F. Kemp, A. H. Brooks,
J. M. Clarke, W. H. Hobbs, Willet G. Miller, A. P. Coleman,
J. A. Dresser, C. A. Fisher, N. H. Winchell, F. D. Adams,
C. A. Davis, F. H. Knowlton, G. H. Ashley, A. W. Grabau,
Melville E. Stone, T. W. Vaughan, I. C. White, U. S. Grant,
Ellsworth Huntington, W. J. Miller. S. W. Beyer, H. A.
Buehler, E. O. Hovey, Heinrich Ries, Fred E. Wright, E. H.
Kraus, Gilbert Van Ingen, Sidney Paige, H. L. Faibchild,
J. Volney Lewis, Thos. C. Brown, D. W. Johnson, J. W.
Spencer, A. L. Day, Lawrence Martin, F. R. Van Horn, R.
Van A. Mills, A. C. Boyle, T. T. Read, and G. P. Merrill.
Obituary
Death of Theodosie Tchernycheff, director of the Geolog-
ical Survey of Russia, is announced by cable. Tchernycheff
was an able geologist and an experienced administrator well
known to many Americans to whom he had extended cour-
tesies in his own country. He was one of the leaders of the
International Geological Congress and a man of first rank
in his profession.
January 24. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
.'ill
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco, January 22.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15^4 — 15%c
Pig lead 4.35— 5.30
Quicksilver (flask)
.41
-42%c
- 6\c
Tin
Speller 6 %—
Zinc dust. 100 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 V4 to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK. January 21. — A change for the hetter is to be
noted In the copper market, its position is at present strong
and a good demand for export is being expert, need. Standard
spot to April Is offered at 14.50 and electrolytic is quoted at
from 14.50 to 14.62^4. Lake copper Is quoted at 1.".. Copper
securities In general showed an advance during the day. The
lead market is firm but quiet, with quotations at from 4.05 to
4.10. Spelter is also quiet. Gold bars to the value of 32,000.000
have been engaged for shipment to Paris, making a total of
14,000,000 for this present movement of bullion. The London
market Is cabled as firmer, with an upward tendency in mining
shares.
SILVER
•Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
fine silver.
Average week ending.
per ounce, of fine sliver.
Date.
Jan. 15
•• 16
•• 17
IS Similar
- 19
■• 20
•■ 21
. r,7.r,"
.62
50
.37
[>ec. 10 58.23
17 57.79
" 24 57.77
" 31 57.52
Jan. 7 57.50
- 11 57.76
II .
.57.58
Monthly averages.
Jan
Keh
Mch
1912.
Jiilv 60.07
Aug 61.32
Sept. 62.95
Oct 63.16
Nov 62.73
I 63.38
1913.
58.70
59.32
60.53
60.88
58.76
57.73
r market
th<- past
there
year.
1912. 1913.
56.25 63.01
59.06 61.25
5S.37 57.87
Apr 59.20
May 60.88 60.21
June 61.29 59.03
To those who follow the course of the silv<
has been much of Interest In the history of
Among the most important events may be mentioned the suc-
cessful Issue of the £25.000,000 loan to China; the suspension
of the Indian Specie Bank, with the collapse of the native group
of speculators, who have Influenced the market fur so long, and
further important purchases of silver t>y the Indian Govern-
ment. In addition, there has been political unrest both in Mex-
ico, the largest producer of silver in the world after the United
States, and also In China, the only Important country which
still maintains a silver currency, and which. In consequence.
Is one of the largest users of the metal. As a result the mar-
ket has been an Irregular one and difficult to forecast, accord-
ing to Plxley and Abell's annual circular. India, with its Im-
mense population, has again been the dominating factor In the
market. The Government has purchased dining the year about
£5.500,000 of sliver for coinage Into rupees. A report on Indian
finance Is expected during the current month. China has been
fairly qutet during 1913. Stocks of silver in Shanghai are
£5,785,000. as against £3.347,000 In 1912. Imports of silver Into
England In 1913 were £14,520.000. of which (13.260,000 came from
the United States. Mexico, and Canada. Shipments from San
Francisco totaled £2.348,000. Exports from England In 1913
were £15,326.000 In sliver bullion and coin, of which £9,850,000
went to India. Stocks In London are £1,900.000.
MEAD
Lead Is quoted In cents per pound
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
Jan. 15 4.10 i,
■• 16 4.10
•• 17 4.10
Sunday
or dollars per hundred
18
19.
20.
21 .
Jan.
Jan.
Feb.
1912.
4.43
4.03
Mch 4.07
A_pr 4.20
Msv 4.20
June 4.40
... 4.10
... 4.10
... 4.1"
Monthly averages.
1913
\verage week ending
1"
17
21
31
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
4.3 4
4.33
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1912.
. 4.71
. 4.54
. 6.00
. 5.08
. 4.91
. 4.20
4.00
3.90
. 4.02
. 4.16
. 4.15
. 4.10
. 4.10
1913.
4.35
4.60
4.70
4.37
4.16
4.02
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 15
" 16
" 17
" IS Sunday
" 19
" 20
" 21
.13. SO
.13.90
.14.00
. . .14.10
. . .14.15
. . .14.25
Dec.
Jan.
Average week ending
10.
17.
2 4.
31.
14'.
21 .
1912. 1913.
Jan 14.09 16.54
Feb 14.08 14.93
Mch 14.68 14.72
Apr 15.74 15.22
May 16.03 15.42
Jui.e 17.23 14.71
Monthly averages.
. 1 1.13
. 14.1 7
. 1 t . 2 8
.14.56
. 1 1.39
. 13.97
.1 1.03
1912.
July 17.19
Aug 17.49
Sept 17.56
Oct 17.32
Nov 1 7,31
Dec ' ] 7*37
1913.
14.21
15.42
16.23
16.31
15.08
14.25
The New York copper market last week may perhaps be best
described as hopeful, and a gradual improvement was evident
There was some quiet buying during the week at slightly im-
proving prices, and the receipt of foreign statistics showed a
big decrease in visible supplies in Europe during the first half of
January, and will probably soon be reflected In better prices and
Increased buying on foreign account. The foreign visible supply
in England, France, and afloat thereto, on January 15 had de-
creased 1892 tons In the fortnight to 19.142 tons. " An increase
of 240 tons, on the other hand, was shown at European ware-
house points, including Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Bremen, the
supplies there now being 8755 tons. Hamburg showed an in-
crease of 302 tons. Bremen stocks dropped 62 tons, while those
at Rotterdam were unchanged. This presumes, of course that
there is nothing in the allegation that large foreign shipments
have been made on consignment. Exports from .January 1 to
15 were 16.395 tons, as compared with 15,061 tons in the same
period last year.
QIICKSII.VER ,
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price Is fixed in the
open market, and. as quoted weekly in this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a Mask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations. In dollars per flask of 75 lb.
are given below:
Dec. 2 I .
" 31.
Week ending
. 10.00
10.00
Monthly averages.
1912. 1913. '
Jan 43.75 39.37 i Julv
Feb 46.00 41.00 Aug
Mch 46.00 40.20 Sept
Apr 42.25 41.00 Oct.
May 41.75 40.25 , Nov. . .
June 41.30 41.00 Dec
.39.50
. 39. On
1912
. .43.00
.42.50
. .42.12
. .41.50
. .41.50
.39.75
1913.
41.00
40.50
39.70
39.37
39.40
to 00
Zinc I
delivery
Date.
7.INC
s quoted as spelter, standard Western brands. St. Lou
In cents per pound.
Average week ending
D.-
Jan.
16
5 05
17
. 5 05
18 Sunday
17
24
14
21
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1912.
1913.
6.4 2
6.8S
6.50
6.13
6.57
5.94
6.63
5.52
6.68
5.23
6.88
5.00
1912.
July 712
Aug r,.»r,
Sept 745
Oct 7.3fi
Nov 732
Dec 7.119
19
i.09
.07
TIN
New York prices control In the American market for t
the metal is almost entirely Imported. San Francisco <|U
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given
monthly New York quotations. In cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
191
Jan 42.53
Feb 42.96
Mch 4 2.58
Apr 43.92
May 46.05
June 45.76
On January 22 the
as follows: Spot for
39.10; and April. 38.85
1913. I 1912.
50.4 5 July 4 4.25
49.07 Aug 45.80
46.95 Sept 48.64
49.00 Oct 50.01
49.10 Nov 49.92
45.10 I Dec 49.80
prices for tin were firm and qu
February. 38.75 to 39; March,
to 39.25c per pound.
in. since
otations
avera ge
1913.
40.70
41.75
4 2.45
40.61
39.77
37.57
otations
38.80 to
202
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
LO
(By cable, through
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
January 21.
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s 8 97
E. 1. du Pont pfd 84
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 5s 78
Ask
Unlisted.
General Petroleum 6s
Natomas Consol. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s..
Santa Cruz Cement 6s
STOCKS
SI
Bid
Listed. Bid Ask
Amalgamated Oil 82J 8t
Associated Oil 43 —
Giant 81 —
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd 68J —
Pacific Crude Oil — 35c
Sterling O. & D I '2 I
Union Oil 56 —I
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
January 22.
Unlisted.
Noble Electric Steel... -
Natomas Consol 1J
Riverside Cement 50
Santa Cruz Cement... 38
Stand. Port. Cement .. 19
Ask
50
24 J
1003
Ask
3
Atlanta $ .19
Belcher -35
Belmont 7.62
Big Four 18
Con. Virginia .19
Florence 75
GoldfieldCon 1.60
Goldfield Oro .15
Halifax 1.25
Jim Butler 90
Jumbo Extension ?. 21
MacNamara II
Mexican 1.20
Midway 40
MIzpah Extension
Montana-Tonopah
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophlr
Pittsburg Silver Peak .
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension ...
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada ...
Victor
West End
Yellow Jacket
..» .35
.. 1.10
.. .55
.. .43
.. .17
.. .34
.. .52
.. .OS
.. 1.87
.. .66
.. 6.50
.. -31
.. 1.37
.. .28
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
Bid
Allouez $ 38
Ariz. Commercial 5
Butte & Superior S3J
Calumet & Arizona... 67]
Calumet & Hecla 432
Copper Range 39
Daly West..
2}
East Butte 12J
Franklin
Granby
Greene Cananea
Isle-Koyale
Mass Copper
NEW
3i
8:t
40}
22
2,
January 22.
Ask Bid
383 Mohawk ? 45
5J Nevada Con 16|
34} North Butte 29
fi7j Old Dominion 53
435 Osceola 79
391 Quincy 64
2J Shannon 63
12» Superior & Boston 2&
4 Tamarack 31J
HI U. S. Smelting, com... 42|
403 Utah Con 10
•j2} Winona 3}
23 Wolverine 463
Ask
46
16g
29}
53J
80
65
6*
2*
32
423
10}
3|
47 i
YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E.
Braden Copper..
Braden 6s
B. C. Copper. . . .
Con. Cop. Mines.
Davis-Daly
Dolores
Kl Kayo
Ely Con
First Nat
Giroux
Iron Blossom. . .
Kerr Lake
La Rose
Bid.
* 7%
F. Hutton & Co.,
January 22.
Ask.
Kohl Building.)
'%
160
1%
1
1
1%
l7s
l'/2
3%
IV2
1%
1%
Mason Valley.
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am .
Nipisslng . . . .
Ohio Copper . .
San Toy
Sioux Con. . . .
Bid.
17
1
Stand. Oil of Cal.286
Tri Bullion .... ■
Tuolumne -1
United Copper. . \
Wettlaufer 7
Yukon Gold 2
Ask.
3 %
1%
2 U
S
%
20
' 2
2SS
2%
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
Bid
Amalgamated $ 77
Anaconda 363
A. S. & R 69
Calif. Pet 281
Chino 41)
Guggenheim Ex 483
Inspiration 16)
Mexican Pet 'ill
January 22
Ask
Bid
77' Miami $ 23S
361 Nevada Con 16jj
69] Quicksilver, com H
28J Ray Con 19
41$ Tenn. Copper 35
49 U. S. Steel, pfd 112
163 U. S. Steel, com 65J
62 Utah Copper 54}
Ask
24
10J
2
19}
35J
112|
65}
54J
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell...
Alaska United
Arizona
California Amalg
California Oilfields..
Camp Bird
El Oro
Esperanza
Granville
NDON QUOTATIONS
the courtesy of Catlin & Powell
New York.)
January 22.
E s. d. 1
6 Kern River Oilfields
0 Mexico Mines
0 Messina „
0 Orovllle
3 I Pacific Oilfields
0 RloTinto
6 Santa Qertrudls
0 |. St rat ton's _
0 ; Tanganyika
0 Tomboy
Co.,
7
0
5
0
1
0
12
15
0
0 10
AUSTRALASIAN
January 22.
£ s. d.
British Broken Hill ..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shoe...
Great Boulder Prop..
Ivanhoe
Kalgurll
1 15
1 16
12 6
Mount Boppy
Mount Elliott
Mount Lyell
Mount Morgan
Walhl
Walhl Grand June..
s. d.
6 3
Mineral Production of British Columbia
The following figures are from the
the province in 1913 by the miner
Robertson:
Mineral. Quantity.
Gold, placer, ounces
Gold, lode, ounces 266.547
Silver, ounces 3,569,642
Lead, pounds 54,205,594
Copper, pounds 46,042,379
Zinc, pounds 7,100,000
Coal, long tons 2,136,694
Coke, long tons 235,123
Building materials, etc
preliminary review of
alogist, William Fleet
Increase or
Value.
$540,000
5,509.526
2,027,557
2,130,280
7,021,463
340,800
7.478,429
1,710,738
3,400,000
-
decrease.
$15,500
187,084
217,512
324,653
1,387,050
24,661
1,722,385
124,740
35,722
Total $30,158,793 — $2,2S2,007
Practically all the placer gold is obtained in the Cariboo
and Cassiar districts, the latter including Atlin. The lode-
gold districts are Rossland, 135,300 oz.; Boundary, 103,300 oz.,
including Camp Hedley with 3S,300 oz.; Nelson, 23.500 oz. ;
Coast, 3000 oz.; and Lillooet, 1300 oz. Silver was produced by
the Slocan district, with 1,860,000 oz.: Ainsworth. 487,000 oz.:
East Kootenay, 413,000 oz.; Boundary, 380,00 oz.; and Nelson^
160,000 oz. Slocan and Ainsworth were responsible for
31.00(1,(100 lb. of lead: East Kootenay. 20.300,000 lb.: and Nel-
son, about 2.(100,000 lb. A small bounty was paid to lead pro-
ducers during part of the year. Copper amounting to 29,000,-
000 lb. came from the Boundary, chiefly Granby: 14.000,000 lb.
from the Coast: and 2,200,000 lb. from Rossland. Slocan pro-
duced nearly all of the zinc. Laboratory experiments, in elec-
tric smelting lead-zinc ores, made by the Dominion" Depart-
ment of Mines, have reached an advanced stage, and an electric
furnace has been constructed at Nelson, with G. C. Mackenzie
in charge. Slocan ores are being experimented with for their
commercial reduction. Labor troubles on Vancouver island
caused a decrease in the coal output of the province. The
Island mines produced 962,620 tons; Nicola, 262, 76S tons; and
Crowsnest, 1,351,498 tons.
Gold Movements in England in 1913
Imports were as follows, according to Pixley and Abell:
Australia, £452,000; Brazil, £472,000; British India, £2.345,000:
Java, £336,000: South Africa, £40,79S,000; and West Africa,
£1,596,000.
Exports were as follows: British India. £9,955.000; France,
£1.831,000; Germany, £8,824,000; Holland. £96.000: Russia,
$2,080,000; Switzerland, £442.000; Turkey. £401,000: and United
States. £600.000.
January 2i, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
203
Company Reports
TONGKAH HARBOUR TIN DREDGING COMPANY
As its name implies, this Company operates dredges in a
harbor in Siam. The report covers the seventh year of work,
and shows the following:
Harbor gravels dredged, cubic yards 3,336,190
Yield of tin oxide, tons 1 ,339
Yield per cubic yard, pounds 0.90
Value per cubic yard, cents 23
Cost of dredging, cents 7.6
Other costs, cents 1.4
Value of output $758,000
Profit 385,000
Dividends paid 288,000
Surplus 337,000
No. 6 dredge is being built in Scotland by W. Simons & Co.
It will have a digging capacity of 60 ft., and is to cost
$124,800. Only $49,000 has now to be paid to the Govern-
ment of Siam. Eliot T. Lewis is general manager.
CONIAGAS MINES, LIMITED
This Company operates at Cobalt, Ontario, and the report
covers the year ended October 31, 1913. Development work
during the year has been mostly on No. 9, 12, 18, and 28
veins, and cross-cutting to the southern boundary. There
has also been considerable development done on small veins
on No. 1 level. On account of recent discoveries in the
claim adjoining the southern boundary, it is necessary to
operate from No. 4 shaft, which was sunk in 1907-1908 near
the southern boundary of the claim. A shaft-house will be
erected and operations started within a few weeks. Broken
ore In stopes has increased 14, 000 tons. Ore reserves are
as follows: 3870 tons containing 11,610,000 oz. silver. 132,525
tons with 2,650,000 oz., 52.130 tons with 2.0S5.200 oz., and
10,500 tons with 315,000 oz.. a total of 16.660,700 oz. Allow-
ing for contingencies, this should be reduced to 13,329,000 oz.
New orebodies opened contain 2,950,000 oz. The mill operated
98% of the possible time, and treated 54.S90 tons of ore.
This, with concentrate shipments, yielded a total of 3.572.399
oz. Since 1905 the output has been 17.662.904 oz. of silver.
ST. JOHN DEL REY MINING CO.. LTD.
The fifty-fifth half-yearly report of this Company, which
operates a gold mine In Brazil, contains the following infor-
mation from G. Chalmers, the superintendent: The ore
reserves, down to and including horizon 18, a total depth
of 983 ft. vertical, amounts to a total of 1,045.912 tons.
This is equal to 5>(. years supply at 192.000 tons per year.
Development covered 1345 ft., and at horizon 18 the lode
has been opened 259 and 222 ft. east and west, respectively.
There was 70,070 tons of filling put into the mine. During
the term the Sirocco fan ran with only two stoppages total-
ing 3 hours 50 minutes, consequently ventilation was good
throughout the workings. The electric locomotives did excel-
lent work. A total of 167 accidents occurred in the mine,
of which 7 were fatal. 5 being due to carelessness of a
hoisting engineer, 1 being probable suicide, and the last
due to a man trying to get off a cage while in motion.
The labor situation has been serious, but is improving by
the importation of Japanese. 107 coming during the half-year.
It is hoped that they will prove to be efficient. The various
plants have worked well. Two new Chalmers & Williams
tube-mills have been erected. Manganese steel linings are
much preferable to the chilled iron make. From two quarries,
1391 tons of bard rock was excavated and sent to the mill
for us« in tube-mills. The sand-sattling system has been al-
tered to cope with a larger tonnage, and the filter plant re-
quires extending. The Edwards furnace treated 2610 tons of
sand, yielding gold worth $9600. The 120-stamp mill worked
138.3 days, and 82,500 tons of ore was treated yielding $950,000.
Extraction was 92.637c. The profit amounted to $259,000.
On December 19, 1913, dividends amounting to $120,000 were
paid on the 10% preference and ordinary shares. Mortgage
bonds outstanding amount to $134,000, and investments on
the reserve fund are $460,000. The rainfall was 11.07 in., or
4.05 in. less than during the previous period. The Mono
Velho and Raposos tramway is of great service, and 14.588
passengers were carried. Health of the camp has been good,
there being only four cases of typhus fever. The Hotel
Retiro shows a loss on operation for the half-year. Brazilian
exchange on the Company's drafts averaged 32.19 per milreis.
MEXICAN GOLD AND SILVER MINING COMPANY
The fiscal year of this Comstock company ended on October
31, 1913, and Whitman Symmes, the superintendent, gives
the following information: At the date of the last report the
stopes above the 2300-ft. level had been practically worked
out, and extraction was continued from the 2400 and 2500-
ft. level stopes. The last ore from the 2300-ft. stope was
taken out on January 17. The 2400-ft. stope was worked by
the shrinkage method, which avoided the use of any consid-
erable amount of timber. When the work was completed,
the ore was drawn from the stope, and it was allowed to
cave, according to the usual practice in such methods. The
last ore was taken out on February 28. In April the 2500-ft.
stope was nearly exhausted, and ore was taken from beneath
the sill floor of the stope on that level. By May 9 all the
ore below the sill floor that appeared to be of value was
taken out, and on May 16 all ore was removed from the
main 2500-ft. stope. This stope was worked by the square-
set system of timbering. The extraction of ore from the
mine during the past year has been as follows:
Level, ft. Tons. Gross yield.
2300 202 $ 3,139
2400 7,652 142.721
2500 0,318 260,163
Total 14,172 $406.02:1
During the previous term an incline winze was being sunk
below 2500 ft., and at February 14 it was down 147 ft. in
practically barren rock. No arrangements being made with
the Comstock Pumping Association, the work was abandoned.
There being no further work that could be profitably done
in the Mexican mine until the water-level had been lowered,
all equipment was removed from below 2000 ft., and the
drifts and air-ways securely timbered. Ore from the .Mexican
mine and surface dump milled during the past year, was
15,973 tons, yielding $462,434. Mining and treatment, etc., for
the Mexican totaled $10.40 per ton.
An option on the Comstock Quartz Mining Go's property
was allowed to expire, as prospecting did not open anything
of value. The Mexican company has a 60% interest in the
Monte Cristo lease, and the mill treated 13,274 tons, yielding
$109,071. also 118 tons of concentrate yielding $5299. The
cost of this treatment was $2.83 per ton. In the Monte Cristo
mine, work Is under way on the 350-ft. level. When a satis-
factory agreement has been made with the Pumping Asso-
ciation and adjoining mining companies, the lower levels of
the Mexican mine will be explored.
The total value of the bullion from all sources was $564,258,
of which $449. S89 was from the Mexican and $ 1 1 4 . :? 7 1 > from
the Monte Cristo. Operating expenses were $177,.">70; con-
struction. $27,891; and miscellaneous, $26,267. Value of sup-
plies at the end of the year, October 31, 1913, was $14,917;
balance from Monte Cristo company, $45,012, and cash at San
Francisco and Virginia City, $253,922. The Company has since
decided to invest $145,000 at Rochester, Nevada.
•_>04
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 24, 1914
Horizontal Duplex Power Pumps for High
Efficiency
A notable installation of pumps which was recently put
into successful and continuous operation is that furnished
to the Santa Gertrudis at Pachuca, Mexico, by the Fred M
Prescott Steam Pump Co., of Milwaukee. The original speci-
fications issued by the purchaser called for vertical quin-
tuplex plunger pumps, but after a full consideration of the
accessibility and durability of the two designs, as well as
the high economy of the horizontal duplex, the latter pat-
tern was selected. The manufacturers have kindly furnished
the following information regarding the plant.
There are three pumps of the same size in an underground
station. Each has 4%-ln. plunger diameter and 36-in. stroke,
and a capacity of 500 gal. per minute against 1500-ft. head
at 47 revolutions. The pumps handle mine water and are
placed so as to permit putting in a fourth unit if the water
increases beyond that which can be handled safely by two.
The third pump is used as a spare. The electric motors
driving the pumps are alternating-current induction motors
of 500 r.p.m. synchronous speed, 3-phase, 50-cycle current.
HORIZONTAL DUPLEX PUMP.
The illustration, taken from a photograph of these pumps,
will give a good idea of their general appearance, and espe-
cial attention is directed to the design of the water end.
The variation in the water flow made it desirable that some
means be provided for changing the capacity, and this is
accomplished in this design by changing diameters of plung-
ers, which is made possible by the use of a hollow steel
cross-head admitting of plungers being removed and others
substituted without dismantling or moving any of the per-
manent parts of the pump and within a very short space of
time. Further, all dripping of water on the main slides is
done away with, by having the stuffing-boxes centrally placed
instead of at the ends. The water valves are of the double
port design and faced with steel, and the valve pots are
fitted with hinged covers to provide for quick inspection and
repair. The water ends are furnished with both suction and
discharge air-chambers of ample capacity, as well as an air-
charging device which is operated in connection with the
compressed air supply in the mine together with the pres-
sure from the discharge column. Ample and removable
stuffing-boxes and glands are provided at the inboard ends
of the water barrels. The power end is of the heavy tandem
type, the same as is used in connection with the Corliss fly-
wheel pumping engines built by the Fred M. Prescott Steam
Pump Co.. and proportions are ample for any strain incident
to mine work. The main bearings are of the quarter-box
type, and all pins, rods, cranks, and shaft are of heavy de-
sign and section and the best construction. The gears em-
ployed on this work are of the cast steel 'herringbone' type
in bolted halves, with pinions cut from solid blanks. The
couplings joining the motor and pinion shafts are of special
design with leather links taking up any slight inaccuracies
of alignment and operation. A mechanical efficiency of 85%
was guaranteed on these pumps and their gears, which effi-
ciency is reported to have been exceeded in actual work.
These units are, for the horse-power developed, very compact,
yet heavy, and sectionalized so as to go down any ordinary
mine shaft.
Catalogues Received
T. H. Pboske, Denver, Colorado. Booklet. 'The Imperial
Drill Sharpening Machine.' 15 pages. 5 by 7 inches. Illustrated.
Electric Weighing Co., New York. Booklet. 'Electric Con-
veyor' Scales.' Messiter patents. 8 pages. 6 by 9 inches.
Illustrated.
Rix Compressed Air & Drill Co., San Francisco. Leaflet.
'Portable Drilling Outfits. Self Rotating Air Hammer Drills.'
4 pages. 7>4 by 7% inches. Illustrated.
Justbite Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Illinois. Booklets.
'The Justrite Carbon Lamps and Lantern,' and 'The Justrlte
Carbide Half-Shift-Lamp.' 10 pages. 3'/j by 6V4 inches. Illus-
trated.
National Tibe Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Leaflet.
Safety Calendar.' 8>/-j by 11 inches. Illustrated. Issued for
the Company's employees, in connection with the 'safety first'
trend in factories.
The Cyanide Plant Supply Co., 1 Broad Street Place, Lon-
don, E. C. 'Tube-Mills.' Supplement No. 27. 48 pages. 6 by 8
inches. Illustrated. Descriptions are given of sectionalized
mills, mills at various reduction plants, directions of driving
pulleys, and standard specifications of tube-mills.
Buff & Buff Manufacturing Co., Boston. Massachusetts.
Booklet. 'The Buff Transit.' 32 pages. 4 by 6 inches.
Illustrated. Index. This surveying instrument is the result
of 58 years of study. It has a 12-in. telescope with a power
of 26.5 diameters. Full details are given as to its construction.
The Commonwealth Gas Power Co., Ltd., Hoskins Foundry,
Perth, Western Australia. Booklet. 'The Commonwealth
Down-Draught Generator.' 5% by 8 inches. Illustrated. This
apparatus is used in connection with suction-gas engines, and
is a new system of generation where any kind of wood or
refuse is consumed. In Australia, the generator and many
makes of engines are working with great success. The cost
of fuel being 0.32 cents per brake horse-power.
The Lunkenheimer Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Catalogue. 'An
Improved Automatic Injector.' This injector is exceptionally
durable, efficient, and economical. The tubes, which parts are
subjected to the greatest
wear, are made of a special
bronze composition of ex-
treme hardness, and the
injector can be subjected
to long and severe usage
before any sign of wear
on the tubes appears. A
feature of great impor-
tance is the scientific de-
sign of the tubes, which
aids in prolonging their
efficiency, even after con-
siderable wear takes place
within them. After the
tubes are worn to such an
extent that the efficiency
of the injector is lost, new
tubes can be quickly and
easily inserted at small
cost. The Lunkenheimer
injector is automatic at all times, and will restart at once
after a temporary stoppage of steam or water supply.
AUTOMATIC INJECTOR.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant/'
Whole No. 2793 *,£££, ?
San Francisco, January 31, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PES ANNUM
Sinjle Copies, Ten Cents
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ESTABLISHED MAY 24, I860
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SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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Entered at San Francisco Postomce as Second-Class Matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
KIMTOKIAI.I Page.
Notes 205
Metal Mine Accidents 207
What is the Matter With Prospecting? 207
ARTICLES i
What Is the Matter With Prospect lug? IV A Symposium
Ralph Arnold, J. It. Flnlay, A. I). Fimte, II. C. Gein-
mell. Charles W. Goodale, James \V. Maholmson.
W. \V. Meln. Reno II. Sales. !•'. I' Sharpies*, W. Y.
West.-rvi-lt. Louis A. Wright 210
California Miners and the Exposition
Charles E. van Harneveld 213
Electric Blasting in Shafts With Delay Action Exploders
C. \V. Morse 216
A Motorcycle Hoist 21 r,
Diamond-Drilling at AJo, Pima County. Arizona.'. 217
The Speel River Electro-Chemical Project .. .W. P. Lass 21S
German Iron Ore Product inn 221
Gyratory Versus Jaw Crushers.... C. T. Hutchinson 222
Gold and Silver Movements In 1913 224
The Chicago Portable Mine IL.ist 241
The Younger Generation ..f Rock-Drills 241
DISCUSSION!
The Rand Banket Klrby Thomas 226
Theory and Practice of Crushing II W, Harilinge 226
Natomas Consolidated Charles M. Rolker 227
A Premature Announcement W. H. Storms 227
SPECIAL COHHKSI>OXI)i:\(i: 229
OBTfBRAL MIMXJ NEWS 232
DKPARTJIEXTSi
Concentrates 228
Schools and Societies 237
Personal 237
Obltuarv 237
The Metal Markets 238
The Stock Markets 239
Recent Patents 240
Book Reviews 241
EDITORIAL
JAPANESE mineral production showed an increase
** in 1913, and final figures are expected to show a
total value of over $70,000,000 as compared with
$65,000,000 in 1912. The copper output amounted to
154.000.000 pounds.
rT1HE review number of the Bonanza states that in
A the early days of Tonopah, the weekly supplies
included four barrels of spirits frumentnm ; but even
with such a bad beginning the camp has flourished
like the green bay. Perhaps the 'spirits' was of the
same brand as that which Lincoln once inquired for
that he might send a barrel to each of the federal
generals.
A NTHRACITE production of Pennsylvania for the
•**■ year 1913, according to figures collected by the
producers, amounted to 69,069,628 tons, which is an
increase of 5,459,050 tons over that of the preceding
year, but 884.669 tons less than the 1911 production.
While the exhaustion of these fields is periodically pre-
dicted at a not far distant date, indications arc that
Pennsylvania will supply anthracite for many years to
come.
rpilE mining department of the Auckland Exposi-
-*- tion. which is now open and continues until the
first of May. contains many interesting features. .Min-
eral collections and working models, showing the an-
cient and modern methods of mining and ore treat-
ment employed in New Zealand and which account
for the production of £82,000.000 in gold from the
native ores, are exhibited, and a comprehensive survey
of the local mining industry is attractively presented.
EACIIIN'G experiments on the Nevada-Douglas
-Li copper ores, which are being conducted at Denver,
are reported as having demonstrated thai copper can
be produced by this method at the mine at a maxi-
mum cost of between 8 and 9 cents per pound, this
charge including mining, crushing, sulphuric acid con-
sumption, and all other charges incidental to the treat-
ment of ores. Copper produced by this method, it is
claimed, is as good as the best electrolytic copper.
It is hoped that from the introduction of sulphur di-
oxide gas into the lixiviant for the purpose of reduc-
ing the ferric salts to the ferrous condition an im-
provement in efficiency will result, and experiments
toward this end will be conducted.
206
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
CALIFOBNIANS and others interested in recent
changes of law as relates to the mining industry of
the state will welcome Bulletin 66 of the State Mining
Bureau, which is available for distribution free. In it
will be found a summary of changes in the United
States and California statutes in 1913, and of recent
court decisions of local importance.
GOLD AND SILVER are articles of commerce as
well as media of exchange, and the world move-
ments of the surplus production of each year are mat-
ters of first moment to miners and merchants. We
print elsewhere a long abstract of the annual bullion
letter of Messrs. Samuel Montagu & Company which
throws many sidelights upon the demand for the
precious metals.
rPEXAS has modified its mining law, a recent enact-
■*■ ment of the legislature providing that the Land
(Commission may issue a permit for prospecting for
mineral to any applicant upon the payment of 10
cents per acre for the land upon which he intends to
prospect. When minerals in paying quantities are
found, the applicant has the right to lease the land
for a period of ten years. Each applicant is restricted
to 1280 acres, but when such land is situated within
10 miles of any producing mine or a well of oil or
gas, the number of acres that may be awarded is
restricted to 200.
TVT1NERAL exports for the month of September from
*■*■*■ Mexico, according to the recently published
official statistics, have shown a decided decline from
that of the same month of the previous year. The total
gold exportation during the month amounted to
1*2,692,132, which is a decline of 1*703,948. The silver
exports for the month totaled 1*4,740,031, which is a
decline of 1*6.087,472 from that of the same month of
the preceding year. Copper exported amounted to
1*893,544, which is a decline of 1*1,306,493 for the same
period. Petroleum has shown a material increase in
exports amounting to 1*1.787,515, which is an increase
of 1*1,132.157.
TT'XTENSIYK deposits of platinum are reported as
-*--i having been discovered at Wenden, in Westphalia,
a district which has been the producer of iron, lead.
copper, anil zinc in the past. In that the platinum
occurs as an alloy with silver, its presence had not
been suspected as in this alloyed form it was soluble
in nitric acid and being in solution as a nitrate it
had not been previously tested for. The discovery in
Westphalia is reported as the result of the chemical
analysis of bore-hole samples. The platinum is con-
tained in a rock formation overlying the common-
metal orebodies. Assays from nine holes over an area
of 500 acres show ore carrying from 0.9 to 1.9 ounces
of platinum per cubic yard. These results are higher
than obtained from the Ural deposits and preparations
are being made for mining this orebodv. In that the
production last year was only 1.304 tons, valued at
$1,732,200, and the visible sources are fast diminishing,
this field, if it prove as good as anticipated, will be a
welcome addition to the world's resources.
OTRIKES seem still to occur, however much the laws
**J be tinkered, and experience still holds first place
as schoolmaster. The general strike in New Zealand,
called three months ago, has now been declared off
and the thousands of miners and union men who re-
sponded to the exhortations of the labor agitators have
returned to work with nothing gained save an experi-
ence, which may or may not prove profitable in the
future. It will be recalled that the New Zealand parlia-
ment has enacted a law for the compulsory arbitration
of labor disputes, but this proved futile in the present
instance, and settlement has only been brought about
through pressure by law-abiding citizens who refused to
allow the strikers to interfere with those who desired
to work. The situation is similar to that in the Lake
Superior copper region where present indications point
to a like solution. The recent government investiga-
tion in the latter case seems to have resulted in nothing
more tangible than a report that some of the smaller
companies were operating at a loss, while the Calumet
& Ilecla company has made "extremely large profits."
The conciliators' report has been rejected by the op-
erators on the ground that they will have no dealings
with the Western Federation of Miners, nor would
they have any of its members in their employ.
TT is a pleasure to print, as we do this week, a clear
-1- and authoritative statement regarding the plans
for a California mining exhibit at the Panama-Pacific
Exposition. Mr. van Barneveld's argument for a con-
solidated exhibit centrally placed, is unanswerable.
To hold an exposition in California without such an
exhibit of the industry which made California famous.
would be as disappointing as to open a mine that con-
tained no ore — if Mr. Rickard will pardon the meta-
phor. The artist's sketch that has been prepared
and copies of which are furnished with this issue.
shows what a striking picture of California's great in-
dustry is possible, and anything less than the best
would here be a failure. The state as such has appro-
priated no money for exhibits. This is a radical de-
parture from previous custom. We believe it to be
a mistaken policy that may lose to California much of
the benefit that would otherwise flow from the exposi-
tion. No possible series of county exhibits can make
up for the absence of suitable collections representing,
not the resources, but the industries of the state. If
this mistake is to be rectified it must be through the
overruling good sense of those in charge of the county
exhibits, and we are glad to say that there is a general
disposition to make up in this way for the failure of
the state administration to appreciate its opportunities
ami responsibilities. California must have an exhibit
of gold mining, and Mr. van Barneveld has proposed
the only feasible plan.
January 31, 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
207
Metal Mine Accidents
Statistics of the metal mine accidents in the
United States during the year 1912, compiled by
Mr. Albert II. Fay and recently published by the
Bureau of Mines, seem to be indicative of the success
of the 'Safety First' movement. It is an encouraging
and hopeful sign to find that there was a decrease in
the number of fatalities in metal mines in 1912 as
compared with the previous year, although this de-
crease amounted to only 5 per cent. During 1912 the
number of men killed in and about metal mines in
the United States was 661, compared with 695 killed
in 1911, so we may consider that 34 human lives were
saved. This saving of life is well worth while, but
the number of fatalities and accidents is still appall-
ingly large. Mine operators, however, have awakened
to the necessity for keeping their workings in better
condition and providing more adequate safety appli-
ances, so it is hoped that there will be a gradually
diminishing deatli list in the future. In many states
the enactment of rather drastic workmen's compensa-
tion laws has forced operators to adopt elaborate pre-
cautionary measures, but a large number of mini'
managers have voluntarily provided better facilities
for guarding the lives of their employees since they
have found this to be wise from a purely economic
standpoint. Mr. II. ('. Hoover informs us that in Aus-
tralia large sums of money have been spent to make
the mines absolutely safe, and that these expenditures
have invariably proved to be good business invest-
ments, resulting in increased efficiency and lower costs
per ton of ore mined. The same result has followed
from expenditures by the United States Steel Corpora-
tion and other American concerns.
An analysis of Mr. Fay's report reveals a number
of interesting facts. During the year 1912 the total
number of men killed in and about coal mines was
2360, out of 722,662 men employed, or at the rate of
3.27 per thousand. Of tin; 169.199 men employed in
and about the metal mines of the country, 661 were
killed, this being at the rate of 3.91 per thousand men
employed. Among the metal mines the fatalities were
greatest in the copper properties, where the rate was
4.62 killed and 34.90 seriously injured per thousand.
The fatalities in the gold, silver, and miscellaneous
metal mines were 3.99, and the serious injuries 13.89
per thousand. Statistics of the iron mines show that
3.76 men were killed and 39.35 seriously injured per
thousand. In the lead and zinc mines of the Missis-
sippi Valley, there were 3.77 fatalities and 10.26 seri-
ous injuries per thousand men employed. In other
mines, such as asbestos, asphaltum, graphite, kaolin,
phosphate, and salt properties, the rate was 1.52 killed
and 10.23 seriously injured per thousand. This low
rate may be due in part to the fact that accurate rec-
ords are seldom kept in these mines.
An instructive comparison is made between the num-
ber of accidents in metal mines and those in coal
mines. Although the apparent fatality rate in 1(112
was higher in metal mines than in coal properties, the
comparison is not just, because, although the metal
miners worked 287 days during the year, the coal
miners worked but 225 days. Using a 300-day year
as a basis, and reducing the figures from both the
metal and coal mines to a common denominator, tin-
average fatality rate for all of the metal mines be-
comes 4.09", and that for the coal mines 4.36 per thou-
sand. On this basis, therefore, the fatality rate in
coal mines is actually the higher.
The effect of careful management and systematic,
efforts to decrease the number of accidents on the
part of the larger mining companies has been a mate-
rial lowering of the fatality rate in the large mines
as compared with small properties and prospects. In
the case of the small mines the average number of
days worked was only 105 for the year, compared
with 305 days for the copper mines and 277 days for
the gold and miscellaneous metal mines. On the basis
of a year of 300 working days, the fatality rati' in
mines where less than 1000 days' work was performed
during the year was 7.05. and that for mines with
more than 1000 days' work was 4.02 per thousand.
The fatalities in and about prospects and small mines
were chiefly due to the careless handling of explosives.
and secondarily to shaft accidents. The more careful
supervision and regulation of the larger properties is
evidenced by the smaller number of accidents caused by
explosives, but there is marked lack of adequate provi-
sion against falls of rock. in the mine workings. In the
large mines deaths and serious accidents were caused
primarily through poor stoping methods and inadequate
timbering or filling of the workings. Of the fatalities.
34.52 per cent was caused by falls of rock: 22.55 per
cent by falling down shafts, winzes, and stopes: 14.21
per cent by explosives, and 9.99 per cent was due to
tramming and haulage systems. These figures show
that the necessity for better methods of stoping an. I
timbering, and more effective safeguards around shafts
and winzes, is most imperative. It too often happens
that in the endeavor to mine ore cheaply and quickly
the condition of the mine workings is almost entirely
disregarded until calamitous falls of rock have taken
place.
What is the Matter With Prospecting?
The series of letters upon this subject that we have
been printing have proved distinctly worth while.
They have been widely quoted and commented upon.
and we can not but feel that they have helped to clear
the air. They have punctured some fallacies and dis-
couraged some hopes, but they have brought us all
face to face with actual conditions, and that is always
a prerequisite to progress. We are grateful to our
friends for their generous response to our request for
information, and we .sincerely trust that in this case
the bread cast on the waters may return to them after
208
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
the cost of living has gone up.
Summarizing the letters, of which the last are print-
ed this ■week, it may be said that there is great
unanimity with respect to the question of the avail-
ability of adequate amounts of money for finding and
developing prospects. Almost without exception, it
is agreed that there is plenty of money for the pur-
pose, although at the present time there may be less
than usual on account of the general depression in
business circles. The reasons given for the apparent
lack of interest in the mining industry as far as the
search for and development of new mining camps is
concerned, are numerous and varied. On one point
there is general agreement, and that is the fact that
this country has been so thoroughly explored that
almost all of the orebodies which could easily be seen
and recognized have already been discovered. Now
that the entire country is fairly well settled, the terra
incognita no longer exists and the spirit of adventure
no longer stimulates. At the present time the old-
fashioned prospector has almost ceased to exist, for
his chances of 'striking it rich' are so remote that
he has turned from the hardships of exploration to
the comforts afforded by the large mining camps. In-
asmuch as there have been no discoveries of moment
in the past few years, there is no encouragement
to grubstake and send out prospecting parties, al-
though plenty of money is available for that purpose.
In other words, funds for prospecting purposes now
appear to be less plentiful than they formerly were,
only because the chance of finding profitable mines
lias greatly diminished. In sparsely settled regions,
like Alaska, and parts of Mexico and South America,
where it may still be possible to obtain large rewards
for the hardships endured, the old type of prospectw
is still found.
Most of the writers think that there is no need for
additional money, as there is an ample supply of cap-
ital now seeking investment in mining, provided that
thoroughly good properties can be found and in vest-
ments in mines or prospects will be protected. If
further funds should be required, they would be sup-
plied by the public, if it were impossible for fake
companies and wild-cat schemes to mulct the people.
The restoration of confidence in legitimate mining
ventures by means of the prompt prosecution of all
swindlers and 'wild-eatters' would be followed by a
resumption of investment by the general public in
mines and prospects or in exploration companies.
The giving of any monetary aid to prospectors by
the government is unanimously condemned. It is
thought that any financing or 'grubstaking' of pros-
pectors by the government would lead to no good re-
sults, but on the contrary would produce a large class
of loafers and professional parasites. The government
can greatly assist the prospector, however, by increas-
ing the activity and usefulness of the Geological Sur-
vey and the Bureau of Mines. For this purpose larger
appropriations should be made for the prompt under-
taking of work in new districts. The government
should attempt to do more pioneer work. A revision
of the mining laws is generally demanded in order
that the prospector and the buyer may not be sub-
jected to uncertainty and annoyance with regard to
his title and to constant litigation if he succeeds in
finding a valuable orebody. The government should
protect the prospector in his possession and deyelop-
ment of his claims "by providing some method by
which title can be safely and surely secured to unde-
veloped or partly developed mineral land, or land
which is sufficiently promising in mineral possibilities
to justify serious investigation," as Mr. Stanley Eas-
ton phrases it. Mr. J. W. Malcolmson says that "our
imperfect and obsolete laws should be revised with
special reference to the rights of prospectors." It is
also urged by many that the government should aid
the prospector by building roads, providing govern-
ment assay-offices where ores could be tested at small
expense, and by assisting in the provision of trans-
portation and other facilities in new districts where
orebodies of promise are being opened. Mr. Albert
Burch thinks that the government should carefully
prospect and classify its own mineral land. "Pros-
pecting methods can only be improved in the United
States by raising the standard of intelligence of the
prospector," one engineer notes, and "this virtually
means that prospecting will have to be done by trained
men- — mineralogists, geologists, and mining engineers —
and on geological principles." "The large, prominent,
rich croppings have all been found in every country
that has even been partly explored, and now the search
must be for concealed outcrops, hidden veins, and ore-
bodies whose existence can only be suspected by an-
alogy and the deductions from careful geological
study," as is noted by a number. This kind of pros-
pecting will require large sums of money, and will
therefore be confined chiefly to the larger exploration
and mining companies. At present the methods to be
used are none too well understood and the laws are not
well adapted to permitting the temporary occupation
of a suitable area prior to discovery.
The demand for undeveloped mineral land will in-
crease with the exhaustion of the present productive
mines and increases in the price of metals. At the
present time there would be a greater demand for
undeveloped properties if the owners did not hold
them at exorbitant prices, thus driving away capital
which might make the properties productive. Some
engineers estimate that fully 95 per cent of the owners
hold their undeveloped properties at prohibitive prices.
On this account a large amount of mineral land is held
for years, by the performance of a little unsystematic
work, without becoming productive, and the prospect-
ive investor is driven to other fields. Cooperation and
a better understanding between the owners of pros-
pects and investors willing to develop them would
create a much better demand. It is rather generally
felt that undeveloped mineral land is unattractive to
investors because of the great feeling of distrust
which has been engendered by the acquisition of such
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
209
lands by unscrupulous promoters for the exploitation
of the public. The market for undeveloped lands could
be greatly increased by the creation of "a stronger
public sentiment against fake promotions and charla-
tan engineers and geologists. The postal laws can
always be invoked to check this kind of fraud if peo-
ple would take the trouble to go to the proper author-
ities with well assured facts. Fraudulent promotion
has been a great deterrent to the legitimate develop-
ment of the country. Of course, dishonest promoters
would go out of existence if there were not so many
foolish and avaricious people with money ready to
put into their schemes. We cannot hope to eliminate
the fools, but we could make it very hot for the pro-
moters that use the mails." as Mr. F. Lynwood Garrison
states it, and this sentiment is echoed by many.
According to most of those who discuss that phase
of the subject, there is little or no danger of a metal
famine for many years to come, although few mines
are now being discovered to take the places of
those that are being exhausted. In and around the
large mining centres new orebodies are continually
being opened in the extensions of the workings of
the older mines as well as in new properties, and the
improvements in mining, milling, and metallurgical
practice are continually making available millions of
tons of ore which was unprofitable heretofore. With
increasing scarcity of any metal, it is thought that
rising prices will so increase the potential reward that
active search will bring out ample supplies.
Mining, no more than any other industry, can con-
tinue inless money goes into development. More ore
must tontinually be found, and more ore will be found,
but just where and how to spend most wisely in search
of more ore, is a problem that remains unsettled, and
which, we believe, is not capable of universal and sure
solution. We approach the question with certain
prejudices growing out of the history of the industry.
It is a tradition that an orebody is a treasure trove.
and, just as every man thinks that with sufficient
paper and pencils, he could write a 'best seller,' so
he thinks that if he really wanted to and had a pick
and a eomfortable camp outfit, lie could find a mine.
From time to time the inexpert do make discoveries,
and thereby further establish the dictum that in find-
ing mines expert knowledge is unnecessary. A few
of the inexperts stay in the business long enough to
become expert — and a real prospector is expert, indeed.
The picturesque vagabond who depended on whisky
and luek, and the new-style claim staker who depends
on the printing-press and the mails, die hard. Fortun-
ately, the well informed, really expert prospector is
also far from extinct. We anticipate that our discus-
sion department in the wicks to come will bear evi-
dence of the fact. Equally fortunately, he has, as the
letters printed show, the confidence of moneyed men
quite as much as ever. There is plenty of money for
sending him to any virgin territory where his meth-
ods offer a reasonable chance of success. The prac-
tical problem is to develop a new system for the
finding of lodes in the combed-over territory.
In the meantime, the mining companies are fur-
nishing metal as fast as the market demands it, as
is shown by any careful study of prices. Despite the
'increased cost of living,' which has affected mining
as well as other industries, there has been no consist-
ent or general increase in metal prices in the last
quarter century; except in the case of tin, where there
is an admitted shortage. The increased demand has
so far been met by finding new veins in old districts,
by development of extensions of known orebodies, and
by lowering production costs and increasing extrac-
tion so as to convert into ore what was formerly waste
rock. Presumably there will some day be an end to
this. No extraction can be more than perfect, all
orebodies do have limits, and there is a minimum cost
below which a ton of material can not be handled.
whether it be gold ore. coal, or clay.
The world is not coming to an end and people are
not going to cease using metals. Xew deposits will
be found and the open field is in the search for blind
lodes. That requires skill, and money. The old pros-
pectors as a class do not have that skill, and a new-
order of prospectors must be developed. It is insight.
not numbers, that is needed. The geologist has some
of that, hut lie falls far short of having all that is
needed. Koine time a<ro we suggested that the United
States Geological Survey had a large responsibility
and a magnificent opportunity in this connection. Our
suggestion has been partly misunderstood. Mr. Albeit
Bureh believes that the Government should prospect
its own lands, and we believe that something along that
line can be done to advantage, but it is much more
important that the organization that has the largest
fund of information and at the same time the entire
confidence of mining men. should do its share in de-
veloping the new methods that we must have. Whether
the Geological Survey found a mine or not, would be
relatively unimportant if it pointed the way to tin.'
finding of mines. The suggestion that young technical
graduates be put with old prospectors lias much to
commend it. as both the prospector and the graduate
would learn much that would be useful: but that is a
detail of administration. We heartily agree with the
unanimous sentiment of our contributors that direct
government aid to prospectors would but lead to
waste and graft. The gradual extension of the ex-
cellent work already being done by the Geological
Survey and the Bureau of Mines is more to the point
and will meet the situation, but specific attention is
needed to the general methods of prospecting. Occa-
sionally Mr. J. F. Kemp lets his imagination play
around to the subject of how to find minerals with-
out sinking or drilling, and the result is a delight-
fully humorous essay that we all enjoy, but in sober
earnest, why should we not hope for improvement
alon<r these lines, and why should not a reasonable sum
be constantly expended, under proper direction, in
the search? The prize is worth the effort, and the
field of the unknown stretches to a far horizon.
210
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
What is the Matter With Prospecting?— IV
A SYMPOSIUM
Ralph Arnold: — 1 have found it true that money is
no longer available in adequate amounts for finding
or developing prospects. The only way that additional
money can be made available is for people to organ-
ize small syndicates for carrying on preliminary de-
velopments, after which they can secure all the capital
necessary if their mines show large bodies of blocked
ore. It is quite easy to secure money for developing
oil prospects ; in fact, much easier to secure money
for this than for investments in proved and developed
properties. I do not believe in government aid to
prospecting or prospectors, except that I believe our
land laws can be modified so as to protect the pros-
pector, which will naturally stimulate work along this
line, especially prospecting for petroleum. A better
market for mineral lands can be created by educating
the prospectors to consider reasonable terms for their
holdings when they have little absolute proof of the
value of the property. Most prospectors want to sell
their holdings for a cash value equal to the amount
of money that probably can be taken out of the prop-
erty, not on the basis of what is absolutely proved.
J. R. Finlay: — I do not believe it is true that money
is no longer available for finding and developing pros-
pects. The proof of this is, that metals are being pro-
duced at normal price, at least with such fluctuations
in price as have always occurred. The decline of old-
time superficial prospecting in this country is simply
the inevitable decline which must come when the
surface is pretty thoroughly known. No one would
think of encouragiiig prospecting in England or in
Masscichusetts, because those countries are full of peo-
ple. I believe that discoveries of mineral deposits in
this country from now on must depend mainly upon
more expensive and scientific prospecting, and will con-
sist mainly of extensions of deposits already partly
known.
A. D. Foote: We must realize that most of the
easily found deposits have been found, especially those
that can be found by men ignorant of geology. To
find more mines, therefore, it is necessary that men
of knowledge and experience should hunt for them.
When the demand is sufficient, such men will be sent
out properly equipped and financed to find and work
prospects up to mines. There is plenty of money avail-
able for this purpose. The greatest detriment to new
mining now is the easy way by which a location may
be held year after year by anyone. There are thou-
sands of claims held by men for a nominal hundred
dollars per year who want thousands for a mere hole
in the "round. Gradually these holders are getting
worn out and are willing to sell at a proper price,
and it is here that we are going to find most of the
mines of the future. The old prospector has had his
day, and the sooner he realizes it and lets up on his
grip on the holes he keeps all over this country, the
sooner new mines will be found. I disapprove most
decidedly of government aid to prospectors.
R. C. Gemmell:— It is my belief that, at the present
time, money is not available in adequate amounts for
prospecting and for the development of mineral
claims, but I think this is due very largely to the
unsettled condition of business. With the improve-
ment in business conditions in this country and abroad
— which is bound to come sooner or later — capitalists
will be anxious to get their surplus money profitably
invested, and they will then take a much greater in-
terest in mining projects. More money would be
available for prospecting and for developing claims
if more small syndicates or associations were formed
for the purpose of handling claims, and I believe that
such syndicates will be organized when business be-
comes better and money easier. It does not seem to
me that the Government should be called upon to give
financial aid to the prospectors. The Government could
assist by being more liberal in its mining laws, and
by giving greater protection to prospectors and locat-
ors of claims who have complied with all the laws
and regulations in the location of their claims. It is
possible that it might be practicable and advisable for
the laws to be so modified that the government would
protect the locator of claims, who has complied with
all the requirements of law. against claim-jumpers and
adverse litigation. 1 do not see how a better market
for undeveloped mineral lands can be created at the
present time. When times are better, perhaps some
plan could be promulgated that would enlist tke con-
certed action and support of the men who are actively
engaged in the mining industry. The Eastern investor
is a speculator in stocks and is not a buyer of mining
claims. Any plan of this kind would, therefore, have
to be developed and carried out by the mining men
of the West.
Charles W. Goodale: — The impression does not seem
to exist in the Butte district that money is no longer
available for finding and developing prospects, but if
that is true in other mining districts. I think it may
be accounted for by the fact that there is a lull in
mining activity generally, and that this has been
brought about to a great extent by the fact that a
great deal of money has been lost in Nevada and else-
where in questionable mining schemes. As president
of a development company having funds available for
developing favorable prospects, I have been impressed
by the fact that many owners of claims are unwilling
to make agreements on a reasonable basis. They
January 31. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ill
nearly always insist upon a cash payment before work
is commenced, and do not distinguish between a com-
pany having funds on hand for immediate development
and the adventurer who is simply taking options upon
raining claims in the hope that he may be able to in-
terest capital in the scheme, giving him a commission
for having brought the property to their notice. It is
to be suspected that in some cases, at least, the owners
are afraid that a little work will "spoil the best mine
in the Rocky Mountains." The prospector is very
apt to tell us that all his property needs is depth, but
lie is generally unwilling to let us determine by doing
some work whether depth is the only thing needed.
unless we are disposed to give him some cash for the
privilege. Some of my friends here are inclined to
attribute the depression in prospecting to the regula-
tions of the Forest Service, for since the setting
apart of large areas of Rocky Mountain lands for
forestry reserves the prospector is subject to scrutiny
by forestry agents in any work which he may do.
and in many cases these agents are not competent
to pass upon the question of whether the pros-
pector has made a valid discovery or not. I do not
see how government aid can be given to the prospec-
tor except in such a way as is carried out in British
Columbia, where the Government is inclined to aid
in the. development of new country by spending money
for wagon-roads and trails. I am inclined to agree
with H. C. Cutler in his remarks, in your issue of
November 22, 1913, when he calls attention to the fact
that there is hardly any area of new country which
has not already been run over by the prospector.
James W. Malcolmson : I believe it is quite true
that at present money is obtained with greater diffi-
culty than formerly for finding and developing pros-
pects in the United States. This is probably because
the eonntry has been already explored very carefully
and the number of undiscovered mines left with ore
outcropping at surface is small. The chance of easily
finding a mine, or of discovering a mine at all, is very
much less than in former years. Another reason, per-
haps, is because in past years the speculator did not
have a 'square deal.' much of the money subscribed
for mining ventures having been expended improperly
before reaching the mine or prospect. There is usually
an increase in the amount of money invested in mine
exploration following a general rise in the prices of
securities on the New York Exchange and elsewhere.
This is because many holders of stuck are able to sell
with [profit and without personal effort : such persons
are always inclined to gamble, in the hope of discov-
ering or developing a new mine. Government aid
should be given to prospecting and prospectors by re-
lieving them from the unjust and costly burdens now
imposed on them. Today if a prospector discovers a
mine in the United States he is immediately assailed
by a number of adverse claimants, a condition which
is the scandal of every new mining district. Instead
of receiving protection, the discoverer finds the law
used to destroy his rights and to impoverish him.
Prospecting methods can only be improved in the
United States by raising the standard of intelligence
of the prospector. Unfortunately, however, if this be
done under existing laws and legal methods, the in-
dividual will thereupon probably cease to be a pros-
pector. The market for undeveloped mineral lands
will be improved by the advance of lines of commu-
nication, such as roads or railways, by an increase
in the value of the metal in the ore, a decrease in the
costs of operations, or in general by anything which
will enable the miner to operate undeveloped proper-
ties more profitably than before.
W. W. Mein: — Money is available to support pros-
pecting, and prospectors are available for the work,
just as long and as plentifully as results prove favor-
able. The only factor required to stimulate enterprise
is success, and the present phase of comparative in-
activity is due to lack of recent finds of great impor-
tance. The area of unknown territory is constantly
decreasing. Further, when prospecting is most active,
it is generally the most wasteful and poorly directed.
The natural laws governing the situation lend them-
selves little to control by artifical measures. The prac-
tical utility of government aid to prospectors is largely
a matter of historical and physiographical conditions.
In a little developed, heavily timbered, and mountain-
ous country like British Columbia, the prime function
of the Government toward prospecting should be in
the improvement of roads and trails, as is creditably
recognized by the provincial authorities; in California.
the most valuable work of the state lies in the col-
lection and distribution of accurate knowledge, so that
past experience can best be applied in the search for
new occurrences: in a desert country like Arizona,
where the outcrops are usually less obscured, the most
direct aid to prospectors might lie in the loan of state
drills, as in Western Australia and Nova Scotia.
Broadly, I feel conservative in my views of governmen-
tal relations to the speculative industry of mineral
exploration. Fearing the danger of faddist legislation
more than the effects of undue indifference, I prefer
to see official energies confined, almost exclusively, to
the geological surveying, statistical and publicity work,
and the fundamental duty of improving the accessi-
bility of difficult regions.
Reno H. Sales: — It is my opinion that it is not true
that money is no longer available in adequate amounts
for finding and developing prospects. We all must
realize that the must easily found good things have
already been taken up. and therefore prospecting for
hidden outcrops, blind veins, etc., has come to be ;i
matter of much more expense than in earh days. I
am inclined to think that additional money can be
made available only by reason of conditions under
which there will be greater demands tor the various
metals. I believe in government aid to prospecting
and prospectors to a certain extent. Canada is far in
advance of us in one respect, and thai is in the matte)
212
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
of building wagon-roads to inaccessible properties.
As far as my experience goes, the prospector in this
country receives no help along these lines, until he has
developed his prospect into a producing mine, and
then help comes only from the county in which the
mine is situated. Even then the help is so much de-
layed that it is of doubtful value. The conservation
movement has had its bad effect on prospecting in
this country, and this is especially true when it is
realized that it is becoming more expensive now to
find veins than it was in former years. The establish-
ing of government assay offices, where assays could be
made for the prospector at a slight expense, would
be of some benefit. A good service could be rendered
to the prospector, and the mining industry, by increas-
ing the field forces of the U. S. Geological Survey.
F. F. Sharpless: — There is not so much money avail-
able today as there once was for grubstaking and the
development of prospects. The reasons for this are
numerous, but among them one stands out prominently,
and to my mind is all important. I refer to the fact
that a different condition of affairs confronts the pros-
pector of today from that which confronted his father
and grandfather. In other words, the chances of the
prospector of average intelligence have grown less from
year to year as the more easily prospected ground has
been taken up and eliminated from his available hunt-
ing ground. We hear of few new and important finds,
not so much from the lack of prospectors as from
lack of important discoveries made. The backer of
the prospector — that is, the local merchant, saloon-
keeper, hotel proprietor, etc. — failing to reap returns
as he formerly did, is growing less and less inclined
to furnish the grubstake which is as necessary as the
prospector himself. I doubt much if it would be pos-
sible to get up a real good old-fashioned mining boom
on short notice, even with the proper settings ; it
would certainly require some very high-grade ore and
high-grade advertising; but, if the prospector is to
have his innings again, this is the most likely way
in which he can secure his ample funds. People who
make a business of mining have learned to stick to
mining rather than to attack the prospecting busi-
ness. It pays better to buy at a price something that
has been developed than to pay nothing for a pros-
pect and develop it into little or nothing. Prospect-
ing by the larger companies has been conducted on
lines too closely resembling those adopted in the hand-
ling of a mining property. The care and refinement
with which the prospects have been handled have cost
too much, the money set aside for that work has not
gone far enough, the company has not been able to
investigate as many prospects as it should, so the re-
sult has been rather discouraging. Some day this
side of the mining business will be so developed, so
thoroughly understood and capably handled, that
money for legitimate business will not be lacking.
Government aid to prospectors is practicable along
■'•'•!ii: lines, mainly through the revision of mining
laws. The Government may not be able to throw open
to the prospector land that has already been deeded
to another, but in the future it can draw these deeds
to surface rights in such a manner that later, if the
prospector cares to, he will have an opportunity to
investigate what is under the surface.
W. Y. Westervelt: — To my mind there is little doubt
that the number of old-time prospectors is steadily
lessening. Further, it seems to me inevitable that these
men will eventually disappear entirely, at least from
the territory occupied by the present states, as the
natural result of the disappearance of wilderness sec-
tions. The prospector is essentially a frontiersman
and pioneer. His methods are adapted primarily to
wild life. His search is for rich deposits but little
concealed beneath the surface, and his reward must
be secured, if secured at all, through a rich find
which will yield large and quick returns with compar-
atively little capital investment. As is well known.
the development of new camps in recent years has
been largely due to the proving of large low-grade
masses of ore by heavy expenditure in districts long
known to be mineral bearing and long since passed
from public to private ownership. The prospector did
his part in them many years ago by noting and re-
porting the presence of valuable mineral. As soon as
he became convinced of the unlikelihood of the pres-
ence of bonanzas, however, he either moved on to
more promising fields or settled down on his claims
while awaiting the opening up of his district by large
capital with its all-essential transportation facilities.
The prospector of the future, and I am inclined to
think of today, is the development company which
combines practical geological, engineering, and busi-
ness skill with capital. Such companies can take the
risks of extensive prospecting by sinking and boring.
of technical investigations, of experimental plants, etc.,
necessary to establish the existence, quantity, quality,
and feasibility of working large low-grade or refrac-
tory deposits.
Louis A. Wright: — I am of the opinion that there
is plenty of money available for development of at-
tractive prospects, but that the active search by finan-
cially strong companies or individuals has waned con-
siderably during the past year. Additional money
would be available immediately in any given district
if a success were made of a group of claims and suf-
ficient area not included in such a group were avail-
able for development; that is, there would be many
people looking for chances in the district, provided
that the promising ground was not all held by the
successful corporation or individual. I most emphat-
ically do not believe in government aid in prospect-
ing. I personally know a good many eases in which
undeveloped mineral lands would be worked if own-
ers' prices and terms were more reasonable. It seems
to me impossible to remedy this condition until pros-
pector-owTners have been further educated and brought
to a better understanding of b"*i'T • , '. " „,, .
sonable basis. Thev
Supplement lo THE MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS, January 31, 1914.
ARTIST'S SKETCH OF THE PLACER MINING QUADRANT
of the Proposed California Mining Exhibit
Panama-Pacific international Exposition, San Francisco 1915
ot . ici'ivmu' prott-Ei'jiii.
i. iii *•['»•-
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
213
California Miners and the Exposition
Bv Charles E. van Babkeveld
In just one year the exposition to be held in San
Francisco will open its doors to the world. Many
look upon an exposition as a gigantic and expensive
commercial advertising scheme. Nothing could be
farther from the mark. While it has legitimate ad-
vertising possibilities from the standpoint of the ex-
hibitor, the motif is educational: to bring together
men and women from all walks of life and from all
activities so that each may learn what the other is
doing and how it is done. If a number of public-
spirited men were to get together and ask themselves,
"What can we do to promote the welfare of industrial
and professional America, to show our triumphs and
our shortcomings, to set a mark for progress, to pro-
mote a better understanding among the nations, among
the various states, among the industries?" the answer
might well be: promote an international exposition.
An exposition always inspires new ideas, gives im-
petus to inventive genius and to powers of execution,
and makes for decided progress.
What the Exposition Means
This exposition will be a record of the history of
the world's progress in all the arts ami industries;
an inventory of the world's status at the commence-
ment of this new trade era presaged by the Panama
canal. Its exhibits, gathered from all over tint world,
will tell the casual observer, the student, and the
thinker, by object-lessons instead of by words, what
mankind is, does, and seeks to do. It will be a living
picture illustrating and interpreting the cold and bare
statistics which, without such interpretation, are in-
comprehensible and meaningless to the average mind.
It is, therefore, the privilege and the duty of each
industry to properly represent its activities, each in-
dustry being in turn host to all others.
What is California's mining industry going to do,
on the one hand, toward making a success of the ex-
position, and, on the other hand, toward making the
most of this opportunity to display intelligently and
attractively its mineral resources to an audience
drawn from the four quarters of the globe, and there-
by uphold the prestige of the industry which has played
so important a part in the development of the state?
The history of the opening, development, and settle-
ment of the western United States is the history of
the prospector and miner. This is especially true of
California. The lure of gold, following Marshall's
discovery in 1848, drew to the Pacific Coast the
mighty throng of intrepid pioneers whose splendid
achievement wrought the present western civilization.
the climax of which is seen in the construction of
the Panama canal, that great trade shortcut, which
has been appropriately referred to as "the greatest
liberty ever taken with nature."
The great gold belt of California which stretches
for a distance of 250 miles from Mariposa to Plumas
county, is one of the most impressive mining spec-
tacles on earth. Since 1849 this territory has created
new wealth at the rate of if2.000.000 a month. After
adding over one and a half billion dollars to the
purchasing power of the nation, California is still in
the lead in American production. The oil industry of
California is of paramount importance to the future
development of the state. The great westside oil-
fields, from Coalinga on the north, stretch southward
in one unbroken formation to the Midway-Sunset field.
a distance of nearly 150 miles. The coast fields occur
in a stretch of territory covering four counties, within
which are geologically connected areas of great pro-
ductivity. Petroleum and its products occupy a large
place in the commerce of the world; in fact, no in-
dustry surpasses the petroleum industry in magnitude
and diversity of operations. Capital the world over
is eagerly seeking new fields. Governments realize
the advantage from both a naval and a commercial
standpoint of having a dependable and readily acces-
sible supply. California's store of petroleum is one
of its richest endowments. As the premier oil pro-
ducer, the world looks to this state to make such an
exhibit of the industry as will mark a new epoch in
its history.
Why Mining Should Exhibit
There are some who feel that in addition to altru-
istic and patriotic reasons tor devoting time, thought,
and money to an exhibit, they must have a good busi-
ness reason. On the cover of the official call of the
American Mining Congress, there appears this state-
ment regarding mining: "It is tin; one indispensable
industry; through cooperation only can its impor-
tance command recognition and the best results be
accomplished." This was followed by the invitation,
"Come, let us reason together." That is exactly what
the exposition offers you: an opportunity to reason
effectively with ihe public, with a select and highly
influential portion of the publit — the thinking public
— in a way that will make a lasting impression. The
mining industry of the country at large is not nourish-
ing; it is not receiving its due share of attention.
Among the basic reasons for this is public misinfor-
mation and mistrust. One of the greatest assets an
industry can have is public confidence, for that means
public sympathy and cooperation. We all recognize,
in a general way. the importance of education; it is
the greatest remedy for prejudice, superstition, and
ignorance: it makes for greater all round efficiency.
A well planned exposition is of incalculable value
214
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
as an educator of the public mind, and no industry
is in greater need of this service today than mining.
Many important questions in which the miner is vitally
interested are pressing for settlement. The public is
taking an increasingly active part in forcing these
settlements. When not blinded by prejudice and
ignorance, the public is essentially fair-minded ; it
only needs to be educated. You have before you now
an opportunity which probably will not recur for a
decade to give the public an insight into the impor-
tance, stability, and solidarity of your industry, its
legitimate speculative and investment features, your
need of capital, of fair treatment, of wise legislation,
of public support and cooperation. Surely this is
sufficient commercial incentive.
In considering this question from the standpoint of
an industry which has no direct interest in stimulat-
ing the retail markets of the country, we are prone
to allow the lack of apparent direct individual bene-
fit to blind us to the decided indirect, collective bene-
fits to be derived from the right sort of publicity.
Every mining man should see in this exposition an
opportunity for some broadcast sowing. The higher
he has risen in his profession, the more important the
enterprise he owns, directs, or is associated with, the
greater will be his opportunity. To approve the sen-
timent that the industry should be properly repre-
sented is only the first step. While the result will
be collective, the responsibility is individual, and only
as the individual interests himself in the matter will
we attain results.
The mining industry of California has been strug-
gling under disadvantages, many of which could be
removed by an educational campaign. The exposition
offers an opportunity to those interested in copper
smelting and gold dredging to show what these
branches of the industry mean to the state. The smel-
termen could show what they have done toward sup-
pressing the smelter fumes, which at one time threat-
ened to extinguish this important industry. The dredg-
ers could show the progress they have made in re-
soiling dredged areas and restoring them to the hor-
ticulturist in an improved condition after adding mil-
lions annually to the gold production, thereby stimu-
lating every industry in the state.
The Public and the Oil Industry
The American public, on account of ignorance, has
failed to interest itself sufficiently in the oil industry
of California and has failed to supply the necessary
capital for a proper development of this state's mag-
nificent oil resources. It appears, however, that for-
eign capital fully recognizes the opportunity for in-
vestment in California fields, and there is increasing
danger of our industry falling into alien hands. Cali-
fornia should conserve this magnificent heritage to
its own use: it should not have to pay tribute to for-
eign capital. The exposition offers the oil industry
an opportunity to make a collective educational ex-
hibit which will make a lasting impression on the pub-
lic mind.
Many of the states can point to a much larger min-
eral production than can California, but none can point
to a combination of like potential value. California is
the leader among this nation's gold producers, cre-
ating yearly $20,000,000 of new capital. California
is the leader in petroleum production, with roughly
40% of the American production, or about 25% of the
world's production; the heaviest producer among the
states by over 60%. exceeding the output of the heavi-
est foreign producer, Russia, by over 40% (1912). Not
only does California, through its vast oil resources,
command an abundance of cheap fuel which is an aid
to transportation, mining, agriculture, and horticul-
ture, and a stimulus to manufacturing industries, but
the lighter California oils have a great potentiality
as raw material for many lines of manufacture as
yet undeveloped.
Minor Metal Production
Besides leading the world's oil production and head-
ing the American gold production. California is cred-
ited with the entire American borax, magnesite, and
chrome production. To this must be added such im-
portant products as: copper, running up into the mil-
lions and destined, on account of its wide distribu-
tion, to assume far greater importance: quicksilver,
to the extent of furnishing 80% of the American pro-
duction; cement to a value of $8,000,000; and many
other products making a grand total of $91,477,385
for the year just ended. It is a notable fact that
each of California's 58 counties contains mineral de-
posits of some description and with ver3>- few excep-
tions all of them produce commercially.
It would seem as though an industry of such mag-
nificent proportions and of such wide importance should
do something more than have a series of unrelated
county displays. It is entirely proper for the coun-
ties to wish to make a display of their various re-
sources, agricultural, horticultural, forestry, mineral,
and oil. in the California Counties building. Each
county can thus draw attention to what it has to
offer the investor and the homeseeker in each line.
Such an exhibit has its rightful place: it is. however,
merely an exhibit of mineral resources and very far
from being an industrial mining exhibit, which latter
is a graphic portrayal of the mining industry, with-
out which the mineral exhibit would be flat and un-
profitable. The exhibit which impresses the public and
teaches the valuable lesson is the complete exhibit
which begins with undeveloped mineral resources, ends
with the article sold to the retail trade of the country.
and shows, in so far as possible, intermediate processes.
The public must be educated regarding the importance
of the mining industry. The right kind of an indus-
trial exhibit will teach them the lesson in cooperation
which they need. They do not realize the problems
of the industry, its need for public support and coop-
January 31. 1!H4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
215
eration. A beautiful collection of mineral and ore
specimens, or a well lighted and well arranged collec-
tion of crude and refined oils, attracts the color sense,
the sense of the artistic, and very little else, unless
it forms a link in the complete' exhibit of the industry.
The mining man who knows all about mineralogy,
about ores and their occurrence, is interested in these
mineralogieal exhibits because he has the supplemen-
tary information needed to make the exhibit instruc-
tive. The thousands who know little or perhaps noth-
ing about the details of mining see in it something
pretty and attractive, but it does not teach them a
lesson. An exhibit which does not teach a definite
lesson is a waste of money and effort on the one hand,
a waste of valuable space on the other.
Need of a Central Exhibit
The proper place for California's mining and oil
exhibit is unquestionably the Palace of Mines and
Metallurgy — in a mining atmosphere, in competition
with the mining exhibits of the other states and na-
tions. There is where the world will expect to find
it, and unless it is made there, the world will not see it.
Everyday life teems with illustrations of the value of
cooperation and united effort in a common cause. The
mining industry of the state is far greater than that
of even the leading producer among the counties. Then,
aside from questions of the right kind of public spirit,
industrial and state pride, would it not be a good
business policy to draw the world's attention to the
irreater? A county would unquestionably derive more
individual benefit from a comprehensive, well worked
out, complete state exhibit of an industry than it
would derive from the same amount expended on an
individual exhibit. This is merely another striking
case when- cooperation will bring results which cannot
be secured in any other way. Furthermore, the coun-
ties need not lose their identity under this plan. There
are other, more dignified, more effective ways of at-
tracting attention to a county's position than by need-
less duplication of exhibits. The counties could at
best make relatively small individual exhibits of min-
erals, ores, and oils supplemented by photographs,
maps, and an occasional model. There would be an
endless array of these individual exhibits and much
inevitable duplication. Such exhibits are tiresome to
the visitor who has heard much of California's won-
derful mining history: they are disappointing to the
visitors from other states, and From all over the world,
who have come to see and learn something about the
mining industry. Collectively, the industry can make
an exhibit which will he spectacular, beautiful, in-
structive, and which will impress the world with the
importance of the mining industry of the state and
therefore with the importance of the mining and oil-
prodneinir counties. That is what the state wants,
and what the counties want. Unfortunately, no funds
have been provided for a state exhibit. To remedy
this deficiency. T suersrest that, the counties unite in
financing such an exhibit out of the exposition funds
which they are raising by taxation.
In the centre of the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy,
under the dome, which towers to a height of 160 ft.,
is a space of 150 by 200 ft. The main aisles from
the four entrances to the Palace converge toward this
space, so that it naturally divides itself into four quad-
rants, each one opposite a main entrance. This is
the choicest space in the building, and I would like
to see placed in it a mountain having a peak of 45
to 50 ft. Each quadrant of this mountain, facing a
main entrance to the building, would be finished to
represent some main subdivision of the industry. One
of these could represent an important oilfield repro-
duced in such detail as to give a comprehensive idea
of California's wonderful oil industry. Another, a
placer mining section to include primitive methods.
a reproduction of the La Grange mine with giants
throwing streams of 20 to 25 ft. in length, and at the
base of the mountain a working model of a dredge
showing all operations in detail. Another section
could show the copper industry. The fourth side could
be devoted to the representation of quartz mining.
Several veins might be shown, one being prospected
with the meagre equipment characteristic of prospect-
ing work, another fully developed, producing, and fully
equipped. A section of the mountain could be cut
away here, and behind a plate-glass front the under-
ground working details could be shown.
Such an exhibit would, on account of its prominent
position, visible from each of the main entrances, on
account of its completeness, its unique features, its
very boldness, surpass anything in the building and
would make California's exhibit the centre of attrac-
tion. The expense, viewed in the light of its being
the exhibit of an industry which in one year produces
over $90,000,000. would be relatively small. It would
have a tremendous stimulating and otherwise benefi-
cial effect on the industry. The state's debt of ac-
knowledgment to the pioneer miner would be complete.
The miner's pride, his community pride and his in-
dustrial pride would be satisfied.
Cooperation Essential
This plan insures the best state and the best
possible counties display at the least cost and under
conditions where each one's exhibit reenforees and is
reenforced by his neighbor's exhibit. Each county
might rightfully say. "this is our mountain." The
quartz counties could exhibit opposite the quart/, sec-
tion of the mountain: the placer mining counties oppo-
site the placer section : Shasta county opposite the cop-
per section: the oil-producing counties' individual ex-
hibits would be deployed in magnificent array around
the oilfields. Tf this plan is carried out, the mineral
industry of California will present a solid front, will
be the centre of attraction, and. best of all, the vari-
ous natural subdivisions of the industry and the indi-
vidual counties will maintain their individuality.
216
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
Electric Blasting in Shafts With Delay
Action Exploders
By C. W. Morse
Blasting with electricity in shaft-sinking is not re-
ceiving the attention it deserves. The principal rea-
son seems to be that comparatively few mine superin-
tendents and engineers are familiar with the delay-
action exploders as perfected by the California Cap
Co. The largest powder company in the United States
attempted to perfect such an exploder, but was not
entirely successful. Charles S. Ilurter, whose article,
'Electric Blasting,' appears in your issue of November
8, was a member of the technical division of that
Company at the time. Had he been familiar with
the California product, I believe he would have rec-
ommended it strongly, not only in shaft-sinking, but
in driving and raising in close places.
Shaft-sinking is an anxious period with most of us.
and anything that will render it less dangerous is
surely welcome. The delay-action exploder is some-
thing that many of us have hoped for. These exploders
were used in sinking the South Jackson shaft, at Jack-
son, Amador county, California. The superintendent,
Jeffrey Schweitzer, reports that they were most satis-
factory. Jack Collier tried them later at the Sultana
mine, at Crass Valley, with equally good results. The
exploders are made up with an electric fuse igniter, a
short length of time fuse, and a detonator, all con-
tained in a waterproof covering. They are made in
ten periods; the different periods being obtained by
varying the lengths of fuse. The longest will go into the
regulation stick of powder. They can be obtained with
any length of wires.
In blasting in a wet shaft, current should be taken
from the light circuit, as there are many sources of
leakage and the ordinary blasting machine will not sup-
ply sufficient current. Two wires are brought from the
light circuit to a small box which should contain fuses
of lower amperage than those on the light circuit, a
knife switch opening down and held open with a
weight or spring, and two binding posts; an indicator
lamp is convenient. This box should have a lock for
which the blaster only has a key, and should be placed
near the collar of the shaft or at a convenient station.
Nearby is a reel for holding and playing out a No. 10
encased cable. The inside end of the cable is left pro-
truding sufficiently to permit its being connected to
the binding posts when the box is opened.
The cable reaches to within a few inches of the
bottom of the shaft, and to each of its two wires a
length of bare telephone wire is attached and placed
horizontally across the shaft, being kept off the bottom
with blocks of wood. To these wires the exploders are
attached in parallel by the insulated wires with which
each is supplied. In loading the holes the first delays
are. of course, used in the cut holes. For most work,
five periods of delay are all that are required.
When the men. including the blaster, reach the sur-
face, the blaster unlocks the box, connects the ends of
the cable to the binding posts, and throws the switch.
At the South Jackson, they took the additional pre-
caution to have a break in the cable, the ends being
held together during the blasting.
All miners can recall many horrible accidents that
would have been avoided by the use of this method
of blasting, and not only are accidents avoided, but
the fumes from long lengths of burning fuse are also
done away with, and the air in the shaft is rendered
less foul by the round.
A Motorcycle Hoist
The figure with this shows a successful application
of a motorcycle to hoisting ore at one of the leases
on the Stratton Estate property at Cripple Creek,
Colorado. The lease operator. Jerry Mackey, after
riding his machine to the mine in the morning — a long
uphill pull, by the way — then puts it to work at rais-
ing the ore on his lease. For this purpose, the motor-
MAKING THE MOTORCYCI.K WORK.
cycle is held tightly in a wood frame, and a long
chain run from the sprocket, past the front forks, to
a gear-wheel on the hoist.
The hoist is of the geared type ordinarily employed
on hand derricks for quarry work. The duty demand-
ed of this outfit is hoisting a total hind of about 300
lb. from a depth of 90 ft. One man can handle the
engine, and dump buckets at the shaft top: and the
hoisting is much more rapid than would be the case
with the usual whim. Mr. Mackey has placed a pow-
erful band brake on the drum, and for additional
safety there is a ratchet dog in mesh during hoisting,
which is held up during the lowering of the empty
bucket. A flexible steel cable is used in preference
to hemp rope.
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
217
u
-^^■ffi
Diamond-Drilling at Ajo, Pima County, Arizona
The recent announcement in the Minimi and Scien-
tific l'ress that the Calumet & Arizona Mining: Co. had
exercised its option to purchase the New Cornelia
property at Ajo, Pima county, Arizona, recalls the
interesting fact that this is the first of the large low-
grade copper deposits to be thoroughly explored by
diamond-drills. It is needless to say that the Calu-
met & Arizona Mining Co. had given the Ajo prop-
erty a thorough examination before securing an op-
tion late in the summer of 1911. It determined to
do a small amount of work at first, and laid out a
plan which called for drill-holes approximately 200
ft. apart.
Although having an organization and equipment of
its own. the Company asked for bids from independ-
ent contractors, on a small amount of diamond-drill-
ing as a preliminary test. The contract was awarded
,n the E. J. Longyear Co.. exploring engineers, of
Minneapolis. Minnesota. The work, beginning in No-
vember 1911. resulted satisfactorily, and a much larger
amount of drillin«_r was decided upon. The explora-
tion continued until June 1913. when five outfits were
in operation and approximately 2.">.00() ft. had been
drilled. The geological and engineering departments
of the Calumet & Arizona company had charge of
the work, and with the representatives of the E. J.
I.ongyear company spent a large amount of time and
money in determining the best method of sample re-
covery. The method finally adopted for collecting the
sludge consisted in the use of a number of steel bar-
rels or small tanks, which wen' filled in rotation from
the drill, no overflow being allowed. As the sludge
in the barrels settled suTieiently. the clear water was*
drawn off by a siphon. The residue in the barrels
was then carefully collected into one barrel and again
set aside to settle, after which, the clear water hav-
ing been siphoned off. it was poured into tubs and
taken entire to the drying racks, dried, and quartered
down to the desiri'd volume
The core recovery was excellent, considering the
nature of the rock, and composed ;in important part
of the sample. Tt also afforded an opportunity not
otherwise obtained for geological study of the ehar-
:icter and occurrence of the ore. Roth single and
double-tube core-barrels of the standard l1/->-in. size,
outside diameter, were used, and a minimum of 'grind-
ing core' resulted. The shattered and fissured con-
dition of the rock offered abundant opportunity for
the loss of water, but the methods used for casing
and cementing prevented delay on this account, as
an extra outfit was always at hand, to which the crew
was transferred. The crew did not continue drill-
ing after the bit blocked, nor when the flow of water
was insufficient to procure a proper sample. The
diamond-drilling was checked in several instances by
test shafts sunk on the drill-holes, and the results
show the reliability of the drill samples.
The machinery used consisted of the E. J. Long-
year Co.'s TG' drills and one hydraulic. The 'UG'
is a light, two-cylinder, screw-feed drill of steel con-
struction, and proved very satisfactory and conven-
ient, and especially adapted for this work, a large
proportion of the drill-holes being on the sides and
tops of steep, bare, rock hills: moving from hole to
hole having to be done almost entirely by hand. The
work as a whole did not offer any difficulties that
could not easily be overcome, although the operating
conditions were somewhat complicated by the situ-
ation of the camp, necessitating a 50-mile haul from
the railroad. Among other features dealt with were
a very limited water-supply for drilling purposes, and
excessive heat at times requiring a modification of
the usual working hours. The closest and heartiest
cooperation was maintained between the mining and
exploring companies.
That diamond-drilling is the logical method of ex-
ploration in the Southwest, as elsewhere, is argued
from the fact that the equipment is a collection of
comparatively small units easy of transportation, that
holes may be drilled in any desired direction and an
excellent opportunity afforded for studying ore forma-
tions by inspection of the drill-core. The fact that
so progressive ;i company as the Calumet & Arizona
has used this method and found it satisfactory, and
has adopted it in exploring its low-grade copper prop-
erties, suggests thai the diamond-drill, under careful
direction, may occupy a much larger place than it
has heretofore held in the development of the West.
218
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31. 1914
The Speel River Electro-Chemical Project
By W. P. Labs
The Alaska Hydro-Eleetro Chemical Co. contemplates Alaska that are allowed to run to waste, while million
the development and utilization of hydro-electric power of dollars are being -expended for hydro-electric de-
in the vicinity of Speel river, southeastern Alaska. velopments in other countries for the manufacture of
From the data available it is estimated that from 40,000 electro-chemical products.
to 100,000 hp. that may be developed from the river The proposed undertaking should not fail to meet
and the lakes adjoining by a capital expenditure of less the approval of all conservationists because it is "the
than $40 per horse-power. Detailed estimates by E. application of common sense to common problems for
P. Kennedy have already been published.* The cost of the common good." In order to successfully undertake
electric power at Speel river, allowing 8% interest on any large electro-chemical industry it is of prime ini-
the investment, will not exceed $5 per horse-power portance to have : (1) a large amount of cheap power
year, it is believed. Were a lower rate of interest ob- the year around; (2) accessibility to the market, loca-
tainable the power costs would be decreased according- tion suitable for cheap transportation of products ;
ly. This is much below any known power development (3) to have accessible the various raw materials to be
in the United States and compares favorably with that used ; (4) in order that the concern may operate most
of Norway. efficiently it is necessary that the industry be large and
The selling price of power at Niagara Falls varies so varied as to allow the utilization of its various by-
from $8 per horse-power year for those buying only the products and thus avoid waste.
water rights and putting in their own machinery, to $20 , -. _. ,
s ' „ , , , Proposed Power Development
to $2o per horse-power year tor those buying the work-
ing current adapted for their particular use. In 1911 The proposed power is the hydro-electric power gen-
Xiagara was producing 275.000 lip. of electric power. crated from Long, Crater, and Tease lakes, and Spi-<*I
Of this total amount. 146,000 hp. was employed in the river. The industrial plant will be situated alongside
manufacturing industries attracted to Niagara Falls by the generating plant on Speel river. This allows for
reason of the cheap power. Of this 146.000 hp. so a deep water harbor for handling raw materials as
employed. 128,000 lip., or 87%. was used for electro- well as the various marketable products. From the
chemical processes. The Keokuk & Hamilton Water most reliable data at present available it is thought
Power Co. has about completed the development of possible to generate electric pow7er near Speel river
200.000 hp. at the Des Moines rapids of the Mississippi in units of 10,000, 20,000, or 30,000 hp. at a cost not
river. The cheapest contemplated power in the United to exceed $5 per horse-power year. Speel river is be-
States is at the Dalles, on the Columbia river, where tween Ketchikan and Skagway, 35 miles southeast of
the cost is estimated at $77 per horse-power for a 300.- Juneau. It is but 10 miles from the course of all boats
000 hp. development, and the cost of producing low- sailing from Seattle to southeastern Alaska and tin-
tension power at the station $6.90 per horse-power year. westward by what is known as the Inland Passage. The
_ ^ .. „ present freight rate to Seattle is $2 to $4 per ton.
Cost of Water-Power Development in Norway and Sweden ' ° ^ *
It is doubtful if the electro-chemical plants of Nor-
1 ctr'c w:1-v or ^'a?ara would ever be strong competitors in
Hp. Head. ft. hji. the 1'acifie Coast markets, to a plant on deep water in
.loesefors, Sweden 1,800 26 $70 a sheltered harbor in southeastern Alaska. 1000 miles
Frykfors, Sweden 4,000 27 64 north of Puget Sound, a location which would permit
Yngerdsfors, Sweden 8.250 00 38 shipments to be made from the plant by barges to Puset
Vamafos, Norway 75,000 86 26 0 , c „ . , , ,.
m „T „„ „„„ oon„ .„ Sound and San Francisco, or bv boat direct to anv
Tya, Norway 73,000 ..290 06
foreign port.
Most of the above power is used for electro-chemical As repards the supply of r{nv matcrials it would be
purposes. One plant at Notodden is now using 60.000 hard-to find a spot lnore favored. The surrounding
electrical horse-power in the manufacture of nitric acid jsl.mds are densely eovered with timber and contain
from the air. limestone, sulphur, and manv other raw materials used
Much has been said of the resources of Alaska: the m the manufacture of electro-chemical products. Suita-
rich placer deposits of the interior, the vast coal and We coal cou]d bp obtained by boat from the westward
copper deposits to the westward, the large low-grade or from Vancouver. Oil may be obtained at a price
sold deposits in the vicinity of Juneau, and the ex- ()f $1 ppr barre] An electro-chemical industrv here
tensive timber lands in southeastern Alaska; but little wol]]d stimnlate prospecting among the islands along
has been said of the water-powers of southeastern th(> who,e eoagt of S0Iltheastern Aiaska and would sup.
•See Western Engineering, January 1914, and Mining and ply a market for the gold- silver, copper, lead, and zinc
Scientific Press, January 24. ores and concentrates.
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
219
The Speel river project consists of several individual
lakes and a river so situated as to allow the develop-
ment of 10,000 or 20.000 hp. for the same low capital
expenditure per horse-power as would be required for
the full development. The maximum amount of power
which can be generated will depend upon the run-off
and precipitation, records of which are to be gathered
during the next few years. The run-off and precipita-
tion records for the year 1913 indicate the possibility
of developing 100,000 hp. Were such a power develop-
ment possible it would mean the establishment of a
large electro-chemical and industrial plant and would
furnish permanent employment to several thousand
men. The scope of such an electro-chemical industry
would be the manufacture of carbides from lime and
coke; of sulphuric acid from pyrites; of pig iron from
clinkered iron; of pulp from wood and sulphur; of ni-
trates from the air: of explosives from nitrates and
glycerine; of zinc and lead salts: of cyanide for treat-
ment of gold ores; of cyanamide and fertilizers; of
potash, silica, and aluminum from feldspar; of potas-
sium and fertilizers from kelp: and the treatment of
zinc and lead ores by electric furnaces.
Raw Materials Available
That there is a field for a large electro-chemical in-
dustry is shown from a consideration of the raw mater-
ials to be had and the demand fur these when put into
a marketable shape.
One of the limestone claims located mi Sped river
contains 15.000 Ions of calcitc above tidewater. Chem-
ical analysis of this ealcite is:
Per cent.
Calcium carbonate 98.50
Iron and aluminum 0.31
Insoluble 0.22
Water 0.80
There is an abundance of limestone containing less
than 1% magnesium and iron to be had on Admiralty
island. For the manufacture of calcium carbide, liinc
should be pure and contain not more than \'< magne-
sium. The cost of producing die ton of calcium car-
bide from the raw material may In- estimated as below:
2000 lb. lime $ 3.00
1200 lb. coke G.00
4600 kw-hr. at $5 pee kw-year 2.75
Electrodes 1.25
Labor and repair 10.00
Interest and depreciation 2.00
Freight to Pacific Coast ports '. . 4.00
General expense 1.00
Total cost per ton of calcium carbide f.o.li. San
Francisco or Seattle $30.00
Assuming a market value of $40 per ton, there would
be a profit of $10 per ton of calcium carbide marketed.
In practice a power consumption of one horse-power
year would be required to produce 1.5 tons of carbide,
yielding a profit of $15 per horse-power year of electric
power generated. A carbide works having a daily
capacity of 55 tons would cost $150,000. and would re-
quire 13,000 lip. for which it would pay $5 per horse-
power year. After paying $65,000 for power such an
industrial plant should market 19.500 tons of carbide
for $30 per ton, at which rate it would earn a yearly
profit of $195,000. Such an industrial plan would be
able to meet all operating expenses, fixed charges, inter-
est and depreciation, and in three years' time earn suf-
ficient funds to pay for its own works as well as the
original power development costs. Or, paying 8% for
interest and depreciation on the power development, it
would pay dividends of 100% on the industrial plant.
In 1910 seven Norwegian carbide works used 60,000
hp. and marketed 50.579 tons of carbide. In 1912,
Norway produced 64,000 tons valued at $2,500,000. In
1909, the world's production of calcium carbide was
280,000 tons.
The cihef industry of any electro-chemical plant
would no doubt be the manufacture of nitrogen from
the atmosphere, and the various products composed of
nitrogen such as calcium nitrate, calcium cyanamide,
cyanide, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid. In 1910.
Chile exported 2.308.000 tons of nitrates, and Norway
produced 22.000 tons of nitrates from the air. One
kilowatt year will produce half a ton of nitric acid by
either the Pauling or Birkeland & Eyde electric fur-
naces. This acid would have a market value of 3c. per
pound.
The use of 10.000 kw. would require 24 Pauling fur-
naces and five absorption towers, making an estimated
cost for the industrial plant of $500,000. Such a plant
should produce 6500 tons of nitric acid having a market
value of $400,000. The cost of producing such an
amount of acid would be:
Operating and general expense $100,000
13,000 hp. at $5 per lip-year 85,000
Interest and depreciation at 12' r 60,000
Total cost of 6500 lb. nitric acid $225,000
Market value of 6500 lb. nitric acid 400,000
Profit 35%, or $175,000
Powder Making
Among the supplies of greatest interest to the gold
mines of the West are cyanide and powder. At the
present time cyanide can be imported from Loudon,
and after paying a duly of 25$ be sold in Seattle or
Juneau for the same price as our home product which
has to be obtained from New York. The demand for
cyanide will increase as the price is lowered; for in-
stance, if the Treadwell companies were to cyanide
their tailings the expenditure for cyanide at the pres-
ent rate of consumption woidd be $164,000 yearly. This
cyanide cotdd be manufactured at Speel river for one-
third of the above cost. With the price of cyanide re-
duced, treatment of low-grade ores becomes more pro-
fitable. Cyanide could be manufactured at Speel river
and compete in the open market at a price much lower
than the present quotations.
The mines of Douglas island purchase annually
220
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
2.000,000 lb. of blasting powder. Should the Alaska
Juneau and the Alaska Gastineau companies each use
a like amount this would mean 6,000,000 lb. of powder
manufactured in the United States from nitrates im-
ported from Chile, although the whole industry could
be carried on within 40 miles of the mines and the
powder manufactured at a smaller cost.
Acid Making
The Treadwell companies produce yearly 30,000 tons
of pyrite, having the following chemical analysis —
and no market value: iron, 34%; sulphur, 32%; gold,
$1.25 per ton ; arsenic, none. This pyrite could be con-
centrated into 20,000 tons having the following chemi-
cal composition : iron, 45% ; sulphur, 40% ; gold, $1.50
per ton. It could be delivered to Speel river for $1
per ton. The cost to Treadwell companies for market-
ing pyrites would be :
Washing 30,000 tons, at $0.10. .' $ 3,000
Loading 20,000 tons at $0.15 3,000
Freight to Speel river on 20,000 tons, at $0.70 14,000
Total $20,000
These concentrates could be sold by the Treadwell
company for $2 per ton, or $0.05 per unit of sulphur, at
a profit of $20,000 per year to the Company.
By a combination of the iron-oxide contact process
with the lead chambers one ton of 40% sulphur will
produce 1.88 tons of 50° sulphuric acid, using a com-
bination of fine Herreshoff burners followed by lump
burners. Thus, if satisfactory arrangements could not
be made with the Treadwell companies, lump pyrites
could be used from known deposits on Admiralty island
and at Skagway. Such a plant designed to treat 20,000
tons of pyrite yearly should produce 37,600 tons of 50°
(Baume) acid. This acid would contain 20% of sul-
phur.
Comparing lie., the unit price of the sulphur on
the Pacific Coast used for sulphuric acid manufacture,
with 5c. the unit price of local sulphur is equivalent
to $1.20 per ton of acid when making 50° acid. This
sulphuric acid from Alaska could afford to pay $1.20
per ton freight and compete with acid manufactured
in San Francisco. No doubt such a freight rate could
be obtained from the oil boats which desire a return
cargo and also wish sulphuric acid for their own oil
refineries. There is no available farm land near Speel
river to be injured by fumes. At Speel river sulphuric
acid would be used for the manufacture of sodium
carbonate, nitric, hydrochloric, and acetic acid.
Sulphuric acid is largely used in the manufacture of
blasting powders, some powders requiring as much as
50% acid. In recent years the price of sulphuric acid
on the Pacific Coast has been in excess of $10 per ton.
The cost of making 37.600 tons of 50° sulphuric acid
at Speel river would be :
Raw materials $40,000
Labor and repairs 12,000
Interest and depreciation, $100,000 plant at 20% 20,000
Total $72,000
or $1.92 per ton of 50° acid at Speel river. Allowing
a freight rate of $2 and a selling price of $10 per ton
in San Francisco or Seattle, a profit of $6.08 per ton or
$228,608 per year would be realized were the whole
amount to be marketed for $10 per ton. The sulphur
would be used in the manufacture of wood pulp or com-
bined with phosphates to make fertilizers. Sulphur
is also the basis of most chemical industries.
After roasting the 20,000 tons of pyrites for the
manufacture of sulphuric acid there would be left 8000
tons of clinkered iron oxide, free from arsenic and lead,
containing less than 1.5% sulphur, and less than 0.12%
phosphorus. This could be reduced in an electric fur-
nace forming a pig iron that would contain 3% silica
and less than 0.02% sulphur.
From the above it may be seen that any development
that would deliver during the entire year electric
energy to tide water for $5 per horse-power year is a
very attractive- undertaking for electro-chemical and
industrial purposes. According to the report on Long
Lake power development by E. P. Kennedy, 13,000 hp.
may be developed at a cost of $28.36 per horse-power.
Allowing 8% interest and depreciation on the plant the
cost of producing electric power would be $3.48 per
horse-power year.
Possible Electro-chemical Development, with Costs
Development of Long Lake. 13.540 hp. at $27.95,
$375,476.
The operating cost of electric plant were:
Interest and depreciation, 8% of cost $30,030
Operating labor 6,000
Supplies, etc 4,000
General expense and taxes 6,000
Total cost of generating 13,405 hp-year $46,030
Cost of generating 1 hp-year $3.43
Were this power to have a market value of $10 per
horse-power year at Speel river, there would be a
profit of $6.57 per horse-power, or $88,012, or a profit
of 23% on the investment of $375,476.
Calcium carbide factory, 50 tons daily capacity, capi-
tal cost $300,000.
The cost of producing 16.000 tons of carbide per
year would be as follows :
Interest and depreciation. 10% $ 30,000
Electric power, 10,660 hp-yr. at $10 106,000
Lime, 16,000 tons at $3 48,000
Coke, 9600 tons at $9 86.400
Electrodes and repairs 30.000
Labor 38,000
General expense 16,000
Total cost of producing 16,000 tons $355,000
Cost of producing 1 ton of carbide $22.20
Cost of containers 4.00
Freight to Pacific Coast ports 4.00
Total $30.00
Were it possible to sell 16.000 tons of carbide yearly
on the Pacific Coast for $40 per ton there would be a
profit of $160,000 from the carbide plant or a profit
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
221
of 53% on an investment of $300,000. Were the power
plant and carbide factory controlled by one company
using all the power for manufacturing carbides, the
profit would be $248,012 or 36% on the total invest-
ment of $675,476. Were the carbides marketed at cost,
namely $22.20 at Speel river or $30 per ton delivered
in containers at San Francisco, there would still re-
main a profit of $88,012 for the power or 13% on the
total investment in power plant and carbide industry.
Provided there were no market for the calcium ear-
bide, the whole amount could be converted into calcium
eyanamide and from calcium cyanamide into sodium
cyanide and ammonium sulphate. The cost of produc-
ing calcium eyanamide by combining calcium carbide
with nitrogen would be :
Cost of nitrogen plant (including royalties to pro-
duce 15 tons of nitrogen daily by the Lunde process),
$100,000.
The operating cost per year, producing 500 tons
nitrogen, would be :
Interest and depreciation $10,000
Operating labor and repair 10,800
100 electric hp. year at $10 1,000
General expense 5,400
Total $27,200
Or $5.40 per ton of nitrogen.
In addition to the nitrogen the above plant would
produce 1200 tons of 99% oxygen. Were this utilized
the cost of the nitrogen would be less.
Cost of additions to carbine plant to convert 50 tons
of carbine to eyanamide daily. $100,000.
I Operating cost per year to produce 17.500 tons of
calcium eyanamide :
Interest and depreciation. W , $ 10,000
16,000 tons of calcium carbide at $22.20 355,000
5000 tons of nitrogen at $5.40 27,000
3000 electric hp. year at $10 :!0,000
I^abor and repairs at $5 per ton 87,500
(ieneral expense at $3 per ton 52,000
Total cost of 17.500 tons calcium eyanamide $562,000
Or $32.17 per ton.
The calcium eyanamide wotdd no doubt be most
profitably marketed by conversion into sodium cyan-
ide or ammonium sulphate. Calcium eyanamide treat-
ed with superheated steam rapidly liberates all of its
nitrogen in the form of ammonia. This ammonia may
he absorbed in sulphuric acid, forming a pure ammon-
ium sulphate which finds a ready market at 13c. per
pound of nitrogen content when in the form of ammon-
ium sulphate. To convert 17.500 tons of calcium cyan-
amide into 28.875 tons of ammonium sulphate would
require 21.437.5 tons of II. SO,. This acid could be
manufactured for $10 per ton at a profit. One ton of
calcium cyanamide costing $40 per ton produces 0.425
ton of ammonia which combines with 1.225 tons ILSO,.
costing $12.25 1<> form 1.65 tuns ammonium sulphate
having a market value in excess of $90. To produce 21,-
437.5 tons of sulphuric acid requires 7000 tons of sul-
phur which could be supplied from the pyrite now run
to waste at the Treadwell mines. The ammonia ob-
tained from the carbides may be neutralized by nitric
acid produced by either the Birkeland & Eyde or Paul-
ing process and marketed at a higher price than any of
the other ammonium or nitrate compounds. Such a
plant would use the oxygen formed in Lunde machines
to enrich the air fed to the Birkeland & Eyde or the
Paulding furnaces and increase the output of nitrogen.
There would be calcium and carbon left after remov-
ing the ammonia from the carbide. This could be used
again for the manufacture of carbides.
German Iron Ore Production
The statistics for October 1913 show a surprising
advance in the German iron-ore production. Thus, ac-
cording to data collected by the Association of Ger-
man Iron and Steel Concerns, the production of iron
ore in Germany and Luxemburg amounted to 1,650.-
205 tons in October, compared with 1,589,197 tons in
September 1913 and 1,633,539 tons in October 1912.
The daily production in October 1913 amounted to
53.232 tons against 52.973 tons in September 1913 and
52.695 tons in October 1912. The development of the
total production during the past two years is shown
in the following table :
1913. 1912.
January 1,610 1.385
February 1,493 1,320
March 1,fi2S 1 ,424
April l.r>S7 1 ,458
May 1 ,042 ] ,492
June 1 .60S 1 ,454
July 1,647 1.505
August 1 .639 1 ,527
September 1,589 1.519
October 1 ,650 1 ,634
November 1 ,5:57
December \ sfifi
Total for year 1 7,853
January-October 16,094 14.749
Thus the first ten months of 1913 already showed an
increased production of nearly 1.145.000 tons over the
same period of the previous year. The production di-
vided among the different classes of the iron industry
is as follows, in metric tons :
1912. 1913.
Cast iron 294,727 '98,828
Bessemer 31,748 31.670
Thomas 1 .062,529 1 ,048,31 8
Puddled 44.703 38,953
Miscellaneous iron and steel 199.832 232.436
Central electric light and power-stations in several
states in 1912 were as follows:
Generator Station
capacity, output.
State. Number. kw. Icw-hr.
Arizona 16 1 4,7:.c, ",2.960,084
Connecticut 44 77.655 130,672,201
Maine 79 58,757 117,092.565
New Mexico 21 7,981 9,027.824
Rhode Island 8 38.509 62,106.528
Vermont 61 29,468 56,552,977
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
Gyratory Versus Jaw Crushers
By C. T. Hutchinson
As a rock-breaker is ordinarily considered an in-
tegral part of a stamp-milling plant, the question as
to the selection of a type of machine is one of the
problems confronting the machinery buyer. Rock-
breakers as ordinarily manufactured may be broadly
classed in two types : the Blake, or oscillating jaw
type; and the gyratory. The Blake breaker may be
sj. <o *0 N <& $
Fig. 1.
,4-i£>Q0Ocvl*vPC0
+ *> *
W/WM of f zee/ opening /nc/res
Fig. 2.
further subdivided into two types. One advocated by
some makers is constructed with sectional frames tied
together with heavy steel tie rods which take the
strain of crushing and are in tension; other builders
advocate the solid one-piece frame in which the
frame, including the two sides and the two ends.
are cast in one piece. In discussing comparative
merits of the two types, it can be said for
the former that there is good reason for
tli is method of construction within cer-
tain definite limitations. Forged steel is
obviously better adapted to withstand a
tensile strain than cast iron, as the latter
has no elasticity of any consequence and
a comparatively low tensile strength per
unit of area. In order to manufacture a
solid-frame crusher that will render satis-
factory service, it is necessary to use a
large factor of safety in designing the
frame. This results in a very heavy
crusher which is difficult to transport and
which in case of failure of the frame is
very expensive to repair. On the other
hand, in constructing a sectional-frame
type of machine beyond certain sizes, the
mechanical difficulties, in tying the end-
frame sections together and keeping them
tight and rigid, greatly increase.
With the gyratory type of crusher for
small sizes the principal objection is the
high first cost as compared to the Blake
machine : and also the feed-opening, which
is small in proportion to the rated ton-
uage.
Comparisons of first cost may best be
studied by means of curves. Curve sheet
No. 1 shows the cost at the factory for all
three types of machines. The ordinates
represent the area of the feed-opening hi
square inches and the abscissae represent
dollars in first cost at the factory. In
studying these curves it will be noted that
the gyratory crusher is by far the cheaper
in sizes down to the No. 3 machine, which
had feed openings 8 by 30 in. and the
combined openings S by 60 in. The build-
er's lating for this machine is from 10
to 20 tons per hour, and it is conceded
that as far as first cost is concerned the
gyratory breaker cannot compete with the
Blake below this size. A further refer-
ence to sheet No. 1 will show the curve of
the solid-frame Blake type machine cross-
ing that of the sectional-frame machine
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
1-1
at a point that would indicate that, as far as this basis
of comparison is concerned, the sectional-frame ma-
chine is cheaper in first cost in sizes of about 10 by
16 and smaller. Beyond that point, however, the ad-
vantage apparently lies with the solid-frame machine.
It is admitted that the most satisfactory basis for
comparison would be that of the actual tonnage out-
put, but as this varies so widely in different localities,
and as it is obviously most difficult to obtain exam-
ples where all three types of machine may be crush-
ing the same rock under exactly the same conditions,
this basis of comparison is out of the question. The
manufacturer's ratings also vary within wide limits.
the difference between the maximum and the mini-
mum given in trade catalogues being in many instances
as much as 100% • A comparison by means of the
area of the feed-opening is also misleading as giving
an advantage to the gyratory to which, in view of
the true function of a rock-breaker, it is not entitled.
The object of installing a rock-breaker is to avoid
doing by hand what can be done better and more
cheaply by machinery, regardless of the theoretical
capacity of a breaker which cannot crush a rock that
is too large to permit of its entering the feed-opening.
For instance, a No. 3 gyratory, as mentioned above.
has two feed-openings, each of 8 by 30 in., and
is rated at from ten to twenty tons per hour. The
area of the feed-opening, therefore, is 240 sq. in.
To obtain an equivalent area of feed-opening in the
Blake type machine requires one with an opening 12
by 20 in. The manufacturer "s rating for this size ma-
chine is given at 15 tons per hour. Oil the other hand,
a piece of rock larger than an 8-in. cube would not
be taken in a No. 3 gyratory, while the equivalent-
by-area Blake machine would take a rock ii|> to 12-in.
cubes, or 50% greater than the gyratory, ('sing the
basis of the width of the feed-open iny as a means of
comparison, the 12 by 20 Blake crusher rated at fif-
teen tons per hour would he the equivalent of the
No. <> gyratory, which has a combined dimension of
feed opening of 121/- by 90 in., a total of 1125 sq. in.
The latter machine is rated at from 50 to SO tons
per hour. While there is no doubt that the latter
machine would have a capacity within the manu-
facturer's rating limit on any ordinary rock, it
cannot be denied, on the other hand, that if the run
of ore from the mine contains any appreciable amount
of ore larger than 12-in. cubes, an investment in a
machine of this type would not be a wise one.
Carve sheet No. 2 compares the factory cost of
the three types of machine as in curve sheet No. 1,
except that the ordinates represent the width of feed-
opening in inches instead of ana of feed-opening.
On this basis of comparison, the situation becomes
changed, and the gyratory machine will be seen to be
the most expensive. The solid-frame Blake crusher
curve crosses that of the sectional-frame Blake machine
at the 12 by 20 size, thus indicating that below this
the 12 by 20 sectional-frame Blake is cheaper, and
above this the solid-frame machine has the advantage.
Reduced to the final analysis, the entire question of
the selection of a crusher is an economic one. and
the true basis of comparison is one of operating rather
than first cost. While exact figures are not available
in order that a curve may be plotted depicting tin-
comparative merits of all the types of machine on this
basis, it is the consensus of opinion of experienced
operators that replacements and renewals may be more
easily and more cheaply accomplished with the Blake
than with the gyratory. The principal factor influ-
encing the selection of the latter for the great major-
ity of crushing plants having capacity in excess of
twenty tons per hour lies in the lower first cost, and
the fact that the average run-of-mine rock is of such
a size that the greater percentage of it may be taken
into a crusher feed-opening 8 in. wide and larger.
It is argued that the expense of an attendant for
the crusher is inevitable under any circumstances.
and that he will have ample time to break by sledging
such "pieces of ore as may be too large to be fed di-
rectly into the crusher-opening.
The work of plastering Recreation hall, at head, is
nearly completed, and it is now but a question of a
few months when the magnificent structure will be
dedicated to the purposes for which it is intended.
namely, a clubhouse for Homestake employees. In the
building will be installed, in commodious quarters, the
Hearst library, a donation of Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst.
which has long been an institution of Lead. The board
of directors of the Aid Fund have announced that.
beginning with January 1. death benefits will be $1000
for accidental death and $800 for death from illness.
an increase of $200 in each ease over the amounts
which have been paid since the fund was established
some three or four years ago. The cash resources of
the fund have been constantly growing, and it appears
that the increased amount can easily be met from pres-
ent revenues without embarrassing the fund or levy-
ing special assessments. Under the plan of operation
of the fund, each employee contributes $1 per month
and the Homestake company not less than $1000 p,r
month. For all time lost from work, the fund pays
the employee $1 per day. whether he is sick or injured.
The dredging of placer tin in the York district, in
the western part id' the Seward Peninsula. Alaska.
was continued during 1913. Work- was also carried
on at the lode tin mine on Lost river, in the same dis-
trict. A small concentrating mill was erected there
and some concentrate was shipped. It is reported
that there was considerable prospecting for lode tin
at Ear mountain, in the north-central part id' the penin-
sula. A little placer tin has been mined which occurs
with the auriferous gravels °f the Hot Springs dis-
trict. It is reported that in 1913 lode tin was found
in this region, according to Alfred IT. Brooks, of the
TT. S. Geological Survey.
224
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
Gold and Silver Movements in 1913
•Although the past year was a highly prosperous
one for trade, it was memorable for a combination
of circumstances which cast a gloom on markets gen-
erally. These include the revolutions in China and
Mexico, war in the Balkans, and uncertainty as to
the military movements of European powers. Pru-
dence demanded the careful handling of monetary re-
sources, resulting in an unusually high rate for money
during the second half of 1913, and a consequent de-
crease in speculative activity. Nevertheless, the effect
of these factors on gold, the basis of international
finance, cannot be said to have been very apparent,
for with the exception of considerable exports from
the United States, in order to pay for securities re-
turned from Europe, no remarkable movements of
gold took place as a result of the widespread unrest.
Gold
The gold output of the world was probably £98,000.-
000 in the past year, a decrease compared with the
previous term. A new source of gold supplies is likely
to be found in British Guiana. Future prospects of
Porcupine. Ontario, are good.
In 1912. India absorbed £27,600,000 in gold, but
the net imports in 1913 were only £18,000.000. The
Indian people are now disposed to invest in local se-
curities, and a large coinage of new silver rupees was
made, and a readjustment of government balances
resulted in the decreased gold supplies. The report
of the Royal Commission on Indian currency and
finance is awaited with interest, as recommendations
may be made bearing on the relation between silver
and gold in the currency of the country and on the
adaptation of the present currency system to the hab-
its of the people, who have lately shown a greater
desire for gold. Reserves of gold held by the Indian
irovernment are £25.642.000, against £24,820,000. and
C13.260.000 at the end of the last three years.
The great state banks of Europe held gold as fol-
lows at the close of the last two years :
1913. 1912.
Great Britain £33,874,535 £29,294,455
Austria-Hungary 51,666,000 50,380,000
Belgium 9,960,000 8,559,000
tDenmark 4,260,000 4,305,000
France 140,696,000 128,293,000
Germany 59,887,000 38,504,000
■ Holland 12,624,000 13,390,000
lltaly 48,585,000 46,019,000
Norway 2,657,000 2,353.000
Russia 168,355,000 155,841,000
Spain 19,168,000 17,4S5,000
Sweden 5,672,000 5,563,000
Switzerland 6,813,000 7,092,000
tit is possible that the figures set against these two banks
include a small portion of silver.
♦Abstract from the Annual Bullion Letter of Samuel Mon-
tagu & Co., London.
[The United States Treasury holds about £260,000,-
000, while the United States national banks have about
£31,000,000 in gold. Australian, including the Com-
monwealth government reserve, and New Zealand
banks hold about £30,000,000.— Editor.]
. Bar gold maintained the steady price of 77s. 9d.
($18.66) per ounce.
Germany absorbed a good deal of gold in March,
May, June, and September, while Russia was a buyer
in October and November. Imports of bar gold to
Great Britain in 1913 were £47,137,000 from Africa,
India, Australasia, South and Central America, and
other smaller countries. Exports totaled £25,477,000
to India, European countries, and £600,000, included
in the total, to the United States.
English sovereigns continued to be coined in large
numbers. In 1912 the issue in England was 30,248,742;
Australia mints, 8,974,401: and Canada, 515; a total
of 39,223.658. Only a small proportion remains in
Great Britain, the bulk going to India, the British
Empire, and foreign countries. The circulation of the
English sovereign is extending to most countries, in-
cluding India, Egypt, Turkey, South American repub-
lics, and even the Bank of France makes special efforts
to keep a lar<;e stock of them in its vaults. The coin
has become a handy form of international remittance.
The imports and exports of sovereigns in 1913 was
£11.947.000 and £19.740.000, respectively. Sovereigns
held in the reserves of the Indian note currency at
the end of the last year were £21.100.000, against
£24.570.000 at the previous period. Owing to the
higher rates for money in Europe, there was a falling
off in the net export of sovereigns to South and Cen-
tral America. The low price of coffee and rubber in
Brazil had a deterrent effect. Light-weight coins val-
ued at £453.025.5 were sent from India to England.
The sweating of gold coins to the lowest weight ac-
cepted by the Bank of England is still being illicitly
done. Imports and exports of foreign gold coin were
£294.000 and £869,000, respectively. A noteworthy
feature of the year was the gold exported from New
York to France and South America, the net exports
from January 1 to December 13, 1913. being £9.000.000.
Silver
During the year 1913, prices were dominated by
the operations of the Indian government. Its acquire-
ment of over £6,000.000 in 1912 had imparted strength
to the market, which was continued into January 1913
by a further purchase of £1.000.000. Prices on Janu-
ary 7 were the highest for the year, being 29%d.
($0.59') per ounce. On account of disappointment in
negotiating the Chinese government loan, prices fell
away in February. Near the end of that month, a
'squeeze' for delivery in Bombay was manipulated
by the Indian Specie Bank, during which operators
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
225
caught 'short' were mulcted 7% or 2d. (4c.) on the
London price. 'Bear' sales depressed the market in
March, forcing almost the lowest figure for the year,
26V„d. ($0.52). From this point a steady recovery
set in, owing to better news from the Balkans, and
the hopeful negotiations of the five powers with the
Chinese loan. This was floated on May 22, and silver
had advanced a fortnight previous to this transaction
to 287„d. ($0.56). The loan was followed by a dull
market, and prices sagged. Supplies were scanty, and
a more or less constant demand arose from China in
July, improving matters. During the next three
months, the Indian government's transactions were
felt, there being about £4,500,000 of silver purchased.
The Banks and the Government
Owing to steady withdrawal of all supplies over ordi-
nary market demands, the cash price went to 28" ',„d.
($0.57) on September 22. From this date the tend-
ency of prices was downward, and it became evident
that trouble was in sight. The Indian Specie Bank
had been able to dispose of part of its colossal hold-
ing to the Indian government on very favorable terms.
The Bank was doubtless more unable than unwilling
to sell more before it became too late. Heavy 'bear'
sales hastened a fall in prices, and on November 29
the Bank failed. A short account of events leading
up to the crisis is of interest: In 1910. Chunilal Sa-
raya, managing director of the Bank, without much
difficulty, obtained control of the silver market in
India. The time seemed favorable, owing to the like-
lihood of the Indian government purchases. But hav-
ing made over-purchases in 1907, the Government de-
layed taking the step counted on by the speculators.
This resulted in the Bank being obliged to acquire
more silver to maintain the price of its stock. Gradu-
ally the bank's operations became a monopoly in In-
dia and London, where the bulk of the stock had to
be financed. Then came a duel between the Indian
government and the Indian Specie Bank, in which the
former was able to acquire silver worth £15,000,000 in
1912, but not from the speculators at the prices they
anticipated getting. The Bank was under a big strain,
and had to pay as high as SC/; interest. Clever at-
tempts were made by the Bank to recoup itself, but
without mueh avail. A heavy bear movement from
India set in, prices sagged away, and the Bank could
not fulfill its engagements in London. The sudden
death of Mr. Saraya completed the debacle and the
Indian Specie Bank closed its doors. Prices fell to
25,7,„d. ($0.52) on December 1. 1913, the lowest quo-
tation for the year. A strong syndicate, headed by
the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
and the Chartered Bank of India. Australia, and
China, well known in the East, took over the un-
realized stock of the defunct Bank. This was followed
by a marked improvement in the tone of the silver
market.
Stocks at the close of 1913 were as follows: at sea.
2,000,000: Bombay, 1,320,000; London. 15,800,000; and
Shanghai, 52,960,000 oz. (including 50,300,000 in sycee
or small bars), a total of 72,080,000 ounces.
Imports of silver to England in 1913 were 114,800.-
000 oz., including 88,300,000 from the United States
and Mexico, and 19,600,000 oz. from Canada. Exports
were 117,000,000 oz., including 78,000.000 oz. to India,
14,700,000 oz. to Germany, and 6,000,000 oz. to China.
The net imports to India on private account were
35,052,341 oz., and 255.814.141 oz. since 1908. Vast
sums of money are lying scattered in individual hoards
in India, which should be gathered into properly con-
ducted native institutions.
The internal affairs of China, a great silver-consum-
ing country, are full of interest to people connected
with silver. When the republic was established in
February 1913 it was thought that there would be a
wave of prosperity, but due to several movements, the
contrary was the case. Instead of silver being freely
absorbed by China, the tendency has been for it to
move from the interior to the treaty ports. Sycee
and big bars in Shanghai, in October 1913, were worth
£6,405,000. Imports of silver to Hongkong and Ton-
kin were £443,650 in 1913. Since the institution of
the Chinese Republic, large quantities of notes have
been circulated in the country, thereby adding to
the currency difficulties.
The Future of Silver
Regarding the future of silver. Samuel Montagu &,
Co. state that, although industrial consumption must
ultimately absorb all surplus silver, prices are unlikely
to give way much for that reason. A slight rise in
price is not likely, however, to reduce the amount
used in the arts, but this means a great deal to the
mining industry. The support given to silver on ac-
count of Chinese loans has hitherto been fitful and
temporary. It is unlikely that China will be a pre-
dominant factor in the silver market of 1914. The
demand by India, apart from coinage, shows no sign
of diminution. The industrial consumption will de-
crease very little, if at all. The probability of India
requiring silver for coinage depends entirely on the
monsoon of 1914. and if the harvests are good, the
demand will be from £4,000,000 to £5,000,000.
Germany and other European countries will continue
to absorb the metal. .Mexico will probably use a large
quantity for coinage, as was done in 1913. The Mex-
ican silver output in 1914 may be further checked,
while Canada will show little, if any, improvement.
Mining in the United States of America is on a very
sound basis, and the better price level of late has
encouraged the mining of lower-grade ores, yet there
is no likelihood of an important increase in the cur-
rent year's silver production. In conclusion, the de-
mand as a whole for 1914 is likely to be good, espe-
cially as a large Indian bear is still in existence. Pro-
duction has little chance of increasing, and the world's
apparent stock is considerably reduced.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to his own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
The Rand Banket
The Editor:
Sir — To one who has followed the discussions as to
the genesis of the gold deposits of the Rand Banket
only incidentally to the general study of the problems
of ore deposits, C. B. Horwood's articles have a satis-
fying completeness and their conclusions can be readily
accepted on the weight of the detailed evidence so
capably assembled. To establish so definitely in the
case of the Banket deposits the actual relation in
origin of the gold and associated minerals and the
dikes which apparently are a comparatively minor
feature of the accompanying rock formation, suggests
certain interesting analogies and comparisons and may
lead to light on the ultimate origin of some of the other
'unique' ore deposits of the world. The Canadian
geologists have worked out a similar relation in the
explanation of the origin of the silver veins of the
Cobalt district of Ontario. These veins occur mainly
in a conglomerate (Huronian) and in an inert meta-
morphic rock (Keewatin). Their origin is now at-
tributed to the direct influence of a diabase 'sill' which
was intruded into this formation and furnished the
'mineralizcr' for the cracks and Assures in the other
rocks.
The same cause is apparently the explanation of the
genesis of the rich gold veins in the conglomerate at
Kirkland Lake. Ontario. These veins all seem to
have a connection in origin with the nearby dikes and
masses of syenite, which in this case have a relation
similar to the dikes of the Rand Banket and to the
sill at Cobalt. The copper in the conglomerate at the
Calumet & Ileela mine in Michigan obviously has its
origin in the associated eruptive flows, similar to allied
deposits in the porous amygdaloidal flows of the same
district. At Las Vegas, east of Chihuahua, in Mexico.
is a deposit of copper sulphide ore in a tilted sandstone
interbedded between slate walls. The genesis of this
'unique' deposit, too, can best be explained by the
acceptance of the 'mineralizing' effect of an underlying
later eruptive formation. Likewise the real origin of
the so-called 'limestone' ore deposits of the Mexican
plateau and of southwestern United States is in most
eases to be found in the effects of the intrusive rocks
invariably accompanying them more or less near. The
Silver Reef mine in Utah (silver ore in sandstone) is
'unique' not in origin but only in the locus of the
minerals in a sedimentary formation, for the close re-
lationship of the eruptive rocks is here again obvious.
These instances and Mr. Norwood's final solution of
the Banket enigma suggests that perhaps we should not
rest with the present accepted origin of some of the
other metalliferous deposits. Perhaps the lead and zinc
deposits of Missouri and of northern Arkansas may
have had their real origin in some deep lying eruptive
masses related to the Ozark uplift feature of that
region. It is not so easy to suggest the application of
the idea to the Wisconsin zinc and lead deposits, but
it is conceivable that these, too, had their first origin
in deep buried eruptive rocks and that they have wan-
dered through the porous sandstone beds to their pres-
ent 'habitat' in the limestone formations. May not
the real origin of most of the metalliferous ores have
been in connection with eruptive manifestations and
their present status be due chiefly to the accidental and
real influence of the physical and chemical characters
of the rocks in which they have finally found a more or
less permanent abiding place?
Kirby Thomas.
New York, January 5.
Theory and Practice of Crushing
The Editor:
Sir — In your editorial notes of December 13. under
the head of 'Tube-Mill,' referring to the different
opinions advanced relative to its practical action, you
mention that "theoretical knowledge alone is not
sufficient." In this you recall a fact which has re-
cently and forcibly come to my attention in the form
of an article in the Transactions of the American Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers, by Arthur 0. Gates, of
Lafayette, Indiana, in which he criticizes the inclina-
tion of the cones of the Hardinge mill and gives, ac-
cording to his idea, 'correct' diagrams based upon
theories which he probably obtained from text-books.
My own paper, read at the February 1913 meeting of
the Institute, is the basis for his criticisms. I feel posi-
tive that Mr. Gates' theories would be greatly modified
could he have the opportunity of practical study and
observation of a pebble mill of the Hardinge type, but
in order to do this successfully he would doubtless fol-
low my example and discard his textbook and drawing
board and resort to overalls, shovel, and screens before
deciding as to the line on which the mill should be con-
structed.
That theoretical knowledge alone is not sufficient,
was the basis for the inclination of the cones which
form the Hardinge mill, for, as I state in the above
mentioned paper, "practice was evolved from practice
and not from theory." as the latter did not conform to
the former. It is one thing to theorize with the known
density of an atmosphere or the gravity of a liquid,
and entirely another thing to practice with absolutely
unknown qualities, when it will be found that theory
and practice not only clash, but often annul expected
results. In one ease the basis for the theory is a known
condition, but these known conditions do not exist in
a swirling mass of pebbles of different diameters (con-
sequently surface frictions^ operating at different dis-
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
tanees from the periphery in a medium of sand, slime,
and water, having densities of vastly varying viscosity.
It would be equivalent to an artillerist basing his calcu-
lations for a projectile upon the specific gravity of the
lead or steel. Certainly even the layman in physics
would not expect an ounce of lead in the form of bird
shot to be projected the same distance as would an
ounce of lead in a bullet, even though the motive force
was the same amount of powder. This comparison is
not strained, in view of the fact that both cases are
dealing with projectiles. The main basis of the results
much be considered from a frictional standpoint. We
would ask the theorist how much resistance is set up
by a 3-in., 2-in., or 1-in. pebble when projected through
an unknown quality of frictional interference, and
owing to this frictional resistance how far will a given
sized pebble be projected by centrifugal force when the
pebble is retarded by constantly varying resistances?
The answers would be as various as the problems
involved in a pebble mill.
II. W. Hardixoe.
New York. December 29. 191:5.
Natomas Consolidated
The Editor :
Sir — Your journal of December <>. 1913, has come to
hand, and I notice in your editorial remarks, when
discussing Natomas Consolidated of California, that
you lapse into an error when you state that the esti-
mate of yield "was made, it is to be noted, not by en-
gineers of the staff, but by a consulting engineer chosen
by the London bondholders. It is also fair to recall
that the money furnished to the Company was $2,000.-
• »i»0 less than E. J. de Sabla asked."
It is with reluctance thai I take note of your re-
marks, for when a company is in financial straits, it is
not a good time to ventilate private grievances, and
the least said, the better it is for the Company, par-
ticularly when those who have asked to furnish new
money know the facts in question : but 1 must state
that you are in error in both your statements and that
your London correspondent has misled you.
Mr. Griffin, the president, frankly summarized for
the bondholders the causes which have led to the pres-
^' nt financial embarrassment, namely, that the gold
dredging fleet was not completed until two years after
it was flue under the original schedule, and that the
burning of one dredge and sinking id' three others in
addition, curtailed the gold earnings. He further
stated that the sold recovery was about 1.VX less on
the cross gold, or about 27" on the net. than the bore-
holes indicated; that the cost of the dredges exceeded
the estimates by about $800,000, and that more lands
were acquired than was originally contemplated, and
that, in consequence of all. the present shortage of
money resulted.
At the time of the flotation of th.- o.OOO.OOO bonds in
London, my report on Natomas was published and
accompanied the prospectus. As I never made any
estimate of cost of dredges or plant, the excess of cost
cannot be laid at my door. It is a matter between the
Company engineers and the Bucyrus Co., or Yuba Con-
struction Co. The loss of money through completion
of the dredging fleet two years behind the original
scheduled time, if blame is to be attached to it. falls
on California, London having repeatedly pointed out
by correspondence the inevitable consequence which
would follow the delay. Regarding the 15% shortage
in gross gold recoveries from what the bore-holes in-
dicated, I point out that I cheeked the report made by
the general manager of the Company, and that I stated
in my published report that I based my valuation on
the average results of the individual values of 1274
drill-holes and test pits, as inscribed on the Company's
map.
I stated in the computation of the average values.
that I found the Company estimate $418,000 too large,
which I considered a permissible error in so large a
gross value as $28,814,000. which was the Company's
estimate, in round numbers, for Natomas Development
Co. and Folsom ground. Immediately after this. 1
added the following sentence, which I copy literally
from my report: "The writer wishes to emphasize
that, according to the statement of the general man-
ager, Newton Cleaveland. the values of the different
bore tests, which are marked on the Company's map.
are the original values calculated, reduced by 15%, in
order to make them representative of actual extrac-
tion. The different test bores are marked on the
larger map in places where drilling or shaft sinking
took place." My valuation of the Folsom and Natomas
ground is conditioned distinctly by the qualification
quoted.
As dredging proceeded over a longer period, I was
enabled to collect data to check this statement. I
then wrote Mr. Griffin that extraction results did not
bear out above quoted statement, and T added the ex-
traction results up till then. Mr. Griffin took immedi-
ate steps to satisfy himself as to the correctness of my
assertion, and from his statement quoted to begin with.
it is seen that he admits what I pointed out to him.
Ciiaui.es M. Roi.kkk.
London. England. December 2-i, 1913.
A Premature Announcement
The Editor:
Sir — I have noticed frequently of late paragraphs
in the newspapers to the effect that I was to take the
management of the West Eureka mine (a prospect )
at Sutter Creek, in Amador county. This is an error.
and such publication was made without my Knowl-
edge. Moreover. I have no present intention of going
to tlie West Eureka, though I have done some geo-
logical and other work for that concern. The object
of causing the above-mentioned statement to be pub-
lished. I can only surmise.
W. II. Storms.
Berkelev. California. January 21.
228
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
Concentrates
Most of these are In reply to questions received by
mall. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
Back-geared electric motors of 25 hp. have been in-
stalled in the mills of the Homestake company, South
Dakota, each driving 10 stamps.
Oregon pine has been largely used for timbering in
Broken Hill mines, Australia ; but of late there has
been a tendency to use an increasing quantity of Aus-
tralian hardwoods.
The Cathead Gold Mines Co., working near Ararat,
Victoria, mined 2790 fathoms of 'wash' during the
past half-year, yielding gold worth $77,000. At out-
point the profitable gravel is 250 ft. wide. Dividends
totaled $7500. To date the Company has treated 24,226
fathoms, yielding $893,000, of which $264,000 was paid
in dividends.
Labor conditions in the Joplin district, Missouri, art-
exceptional, and the work accomplished per man is
very high. Miners work 8 hours, and millmen 10
hours, and wages average $2.72 and $2.70 per day,
respectively. At 57 mines, 2877 men average 5.77 tons
per man per day, including all departments, at a
cost of 46.8c. per ton mined.
Lightning arresters on the Great Falls smelter stack,
Montana, consist of 16 one-inch round copper rods,
lead coated for protection against acid, and tipped
with platinum points 1% in. high. The rods are all
connected to a copper cable which encircles the chim-
ney a few feet below the top. From this cable, two
%-in. copper cables lead to the ground on opposite
sides of the chimney. The lower end of each cable
is fastened to a copper plate about 6 sq. ft. in area,
which is buried several feet under ground, and some
distance from the foundation, where moisture is usu-
ally present. The stack is 506 ft. high, and 50 ft. in
diameter at the top.
Diesel engines are gradually being introduced, and
there are increases in installations for every purpose.
They are internal-combustion engines, and will oper-
ate on oil as heavy as 14CB., with an asphalt or paraf-
fin base, like that from California and Borneo respect-
ively. A recent visitor to San Francisco was the
cargo boat Siam, of about 9000 tons net register,
propelled by Diesel engines. The two screws are
driven by two sets of engines of 1600 hp. each. These
have 8 cylinders each. 590-mm. diameter and 800-mm.
stroke (23.23 and 31.49 in. respectively). The pro-
peller shafts run at 125 r.p.m. The engines are start-
ed by compressed air at 20 atmospheres (300 lb. pres-
sure), generated by another Diesel engine and com-
pressor. The compression in the cylinders during
working is 35 atmospheres (525 lb.), and a tempera-
ture of 1000°F. is generated. This heat is sufficient
to burn the oil fed into the cylinders at 60 atmos-
pheres (900 lb.), no sparking being necessary as in
other gas-engines. Oil from Borneo was used on the
vessel's trip to San Francisco, but a supply of Cali-
fornia oil was taken on before leaving. Oil consump-
tion for the two engines and an auxiliary was about
SHOWING LAY SHAFT OF (INK DIESEL ENGINE ON THE 'SIAM. THIS
SHAFT CABBIES CAMS FOK WORKING VALVE RODS FOR THE (VI-
INDCB8, FOUR RODS TO EACH. THE CAMS ARE FOR MOVING
AHEAD OR ASTERN.
20 tons per day, which equals nearly 0.5 lb. per horse-
power hour. The fuel cost is 2c. per horse-power day.
Exhaust from the main engines is through two 6-in.
pipes alongside of one of the masts. Oil storage is
1174 tons, and the steaming radius is 581 o days with-
out replenishing the tanks. Power and light through-
out is generated by a 250-hp. Diesel engine coupled
direct to a 150-kw. generator, working at 170 r.p.m.
A similar engine is used as a standby. The space
usually occupied by boilers and coal bunkers in steam-
ers is devoted to cargo on the Siam, there being an
increase of 15 to 20% in carrying capacity. There
are 12 electric winches for hoisting material in and
out of the 6 holds. At the Panama-Pacific Interna-
tional Exposition, to be held at San Francisco in 1915,
more than 12 large firms have contracted for space-
in which to install engines constructed on the Diesel
principle, in the Palace o" Machinery. They will he
seen in operation connected to other machinery.
January 31. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
229
Special Correspondence
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
Decrease of Gold in Rand Ores with Depth.
A good deal of discussion has been caused in local mining
circles by H. H. Webb's report to the Consolidated Gold Fields
of South Africa on selective mining; but the admission by
the same authority that, so far as the mines of that group
were concerned, the average gold content of the ore devel-
oped has been decreasing as greater depth was attained, has,
although generally recognized, caused no little surprise to
be expressed. A short time ago the directors of the Con-
solidated Gold Fields were highly indignant when one of
their engineers made a similar general statement about the
Rand, and immediately called upon him to resign, not be-
cause the statement was not generally known to be correct,
but probably because it was made without first obtaining the
usual official permission. There is probably not a single
mining group on the Rand which has not suffered consider-
able disappointment and loss through this decrease of gold
content in depth, but none more so. perhaps, than the Con-
solidated Gold Fields of South Africa, whose misfortune it
was to own and control an extensive area in the Germiston
district, where even at the outcrop the gold content was
below the average of the Rand. Twenty years ago the Sim-
mer tt Jack property was recognized as low grade when com-
pared with the Central Rand, and was the first property on
the Rand, after its control passed into the hands of the Con-
solidated Gold Fields, to adopt the big-mill policy which en-
abled the Simmer & Jack to frequently head the list of gold
producers. It was about this time that the value of the
deep-level ground began to be recognized. A large area of
Germiston ground came within the sphere of influence of
the Gold Fields group, and nothing was more natural than
that it should fall into its control. That the gold content
would deoiine with depth was not at that time foreseen, be-
cause the oxidized zone had not in all cases been passed; but
not only has the gold content decreased with depth in this
particular area, as in most cases on the Rand, but it has
been troubled with more than the usual number of faults
and dikes. Still, the Gold Fields, undismayed, continued to
open and develop these poor areas, and when the working
capital provided proved unequal to the task, the group did
not hesitate to raise and guarantee additional debenture cap-
ital to complete the development and equipment of these
areas. It is doubtful whether any other mining group on
the Rand would have displayed the same pluck or gone about
the work in such a confident and workmanlike manner; but
in those days capital for Rand ventures was easily obtained.
and the results should not be judged from today's mining
and market conditions. In those days, nothing less than $10
ore was regarded as profitable, but today the dee|>-level areas
of the Simmer & Jack have made small working profits on
ore assaying much less than $r, per ton. This achievement
has not been obtained without the expenditure of consider-
able working capital in equipment, and perhaps the Simmer
Deep will favorably compare in this respect with many better
known and more showy mining equipments on the Rand. It
is not generally recognized that in these poor deep-level areas,
controlled by the Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa
in the neighborhood of Germiston. the working costs com-
pare most favorably with the cheapest worked mines on the
Rand. If the Simmer Deep is taken as an example, it must
not be forgotten that normal development costs have to be
included, while with many of the cheaper worked mines they
are either fully developed or the cost of development amounts
to a mere trifle per ton. That the Simmer Deep does not
earn more than £3000 per month is not due to the higher
cost of deep mining on the Rand, but to the lower gold con-
tent of the ore when compared with its richer and outcrop
neighbors. Low as the working costs of the Simmer Deep
are, the controlling group hopes still to bring them lower
by enlarging the scale of working, while the technical advisers
express the opinion that working costs will ultimately come
down to such a reduced level as will enable these poor deep-
levels of the Rand to be worked at a satisfactory profit.
Coming from such a quarter as the engineers of the Consol-
idated Gold Fields, whose experience in working and equip-
ping poor areas on the Rand is unique, such an expression
of opinion is valuable, as is also that of the decline of gold
content with depth; but the time seems far distant on the
Rand when it will be possible to mine and treat $4 ore from
a vertical depth of over 4000 feet.
MAGALIA, CALIFORNIA
Drift Mining in Butte County. — The Royal, Steiker, Double
Eai;le, Indian Springs, Smith, Emma. Kirby, and Mineral
Slide Mines. — Suggestions fob Future Work.
The heavy storms of the past few weeks have resulted ill
a shut-down of practically all the mines in the Nimshew
district, it being cheaper to c!ose and let the surface water
run off than to keep them drained. Some damage was done, of
course, but this is more than offset by the prospects of one
of the best seasons for water in the history of the state.
The Royal drift-gravel mine, near Forest Ranch, is employ-
ing six men, and a lower adit is being driven to tap the
old river channel, known to contain high gold content. The
adit will be continued for about 170 ft. to cut the channel
at the lowest point. J. W. Chilton, of San Jose, is principal
owner, and he and his associates are optimistic regarding
the property. The Steifer Mining Co., near Magalia, exten-
sion of the old Magalia mine, is now busy constructing its
power dam. P. B. Steifer is manager. Ex-Governor Gage
and son have the old Springer quartz property tinder bond
and are busy at prospecting work. This property is near De
Sabla, Camp One, and has a good record. Mint receipts in
the past show over $7000 in gold recovered from it. and
wasteful methods have lost considerably more. The mine
has a promising future. Assessment work is finished at the
Double Eagle drift-gravel mine, near Rerdan. C. D. Camp
bell and associates, of San Jose, own this property. At tl> !
Robbers Roost drift mine, mar Nimshew, extension of the
Emma drift, five men are working, and driving in gravel
is now under way. S. M. Anderson is superintendent.
The Indian Springs drift-gravel mine is to he reopened
through the old workings. Disagreement among the owners
has kept this famous producer quiet for a long time, but
Norman Torrison, the present owner, will soon start opera-
tions. It is nine years since the mine has been worked.
The published production is $2.5(10,000, but men who worked
in the mine say that the output was nearer $4,000,000 in gold.
All this was taken out from 4000 ft. of the channel.
The old Smith drift-gravel property, near Lovelock, lias
been bonded to the Nugget Gravel Mining Co., of San Fran-
cisco. The ground is an extension of the famous Indian
Springs channel. Development has been done during the
past six months, and an electric equipment, consisting of
hoist and pump. Is now being installed. The gravel taken
from this mine so far has averaged over $6 per yard, and the
owners expect a good return on the investment.
In October 1913 Aubery Rue found a mass of gold and
quartz that contained gold worth $826, in the old Emma mine,
near Lovelock. Mr. Rue was just prospecting around in the
old workings when he made this pleasant discovery. The
Emma is a drift-gravel mine. In fact, this district contains
some very famous drift-gravel mines, the Persh baker or
Magalia mine having been the greatest gold-producing drift-
gravel mine in the world. Men who worked in this great
230
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
mine claim that in the richest part of the channel from $80
to $100 could easily be picked up on a shovelful of the
gravel. It is reported that this property is again to be
opened by a long adit. A large quantity of water flowed
from the mine at one time, and the largest pumps in the
state were in operation there. A lower adit would thor-
oughly drain the mine.
The Conger drift-gravel mine, near Nimshew, has just
broken into the old Emma workings. Eight men are work-
ing, with Mr. Conger as superintendent. O. G. Martin is
principal owner. The Kirby mine, in the Nimshew district,
now owned by the New Indian Spring Gold Channel Mining
Co., has employed six men. The recent storms filled the mine
with water, but the Company will start as soon as the sur-
face water has run off. Pay-gravel is being mined. The
mine is well equipped with electric machinery, and low
costs and high efficiency are maintained. C. G. Kirby is man-
ager. The Loughlin, a promising property on Butte creek,
is being operated under bond by G. P. Dyer and new asso-
ciates.
The Mineral Slide drift-gravel mine, near Magalia, has
IN THE MINERAL SLIDE DRIFT-GBAVEL MINE. WATER IS TAKEN
UNDER PRESSURE TO THE WORKINGS, THE GRAVEL WASHED IN
THERE AND THEN RUN THROUGH SLUICE-BOXES.
been operated steadily during the past year. Some coarse
gold has been recovered, one piece taken out in August last
weighing nearly 10 oz. and worth $182. Last month's storm
damaged the flume and ditch to some extent, but these have
been repaired. A profitable year is looked forward to by the
company. S. P. Moody is superintendent.
A great deal of interest would be taken in this district
were it not for the fact that claim-owners, considering the
splendid record of the past, put altogether too large a price
on their properties. As an old resident of Magalia said:
"They want a fellow to come along and fill their hole in
the ground with 20-dollar pieces! And if the man has that
many 20-dollar pieces he does not want anybody's hole in
the ground." It seems to be the difficulty all over the state —
the proper valuation of a 'hole in the ground,' of a prospect.
and of a mine, and a definite understanding of the ter~n.
Capital is naturally against the old methods. It seems that
the fairest kind of a deal, and one that is best for all parties,
is for an operating company to advance money and the claim-
owner to take 10% of the gross output of the mine. Of course,
if a company stopped work for any length of time, the mine
should revert to the original owner. Another thing concerns
the bad condition that titles get into. It would take a 'Phila-
delphia lawyer' to straighten some of them sufficiently to
risk operating the properties. A mine is never wanted until
it has 'proved up,' and then it is always pleasant to find
seven or more claimants to it, that you have never been in-
troduced to. A company should protect the title to the prop-
erty first of all. Miners are an optimistic class, and hard
to talk business with. All expense arguments are answered
by 'What is going to come out of the mine?' It is time, how-
ever, that the old river channels of the Tertiary period were
receiving more attention. Over $300,000,000 has been recov-
ered from them in the past in this state alone.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Kamloops District.— Iron Mask Mine Development. —
Work at the Python, Evening Stab, and Whealtameb.
In the early nineties, several prospectors located mineral
claims on which outcrops of copper-gold ore had been dis-
covered, and about 250 or 300 claims were then taken up
within a radius of a few miles of the town of Kamloops.
Owing to lack of smelter facilities and the cost of transport,
either to the Trail smelter or to the coast, the owners of
most of these claims performed sufficient work to entitle
them to crown grants or patents, and allowed nearly all the
properties to remain idle. The Iron Mask group has been
an exception, having been in active operation continuously,
with more or less success, since about 1905, when it was
acquired by an English corporation. The management at-
tempted to overcome the difficulties of transport costs from
the mine to the railroad, thence to the smelter, by erecting
a concentrating plant, and later a small matting plant.
Neither of these proved quite satisfactory, and the English
company, about three years ago, sold out to E. C. Wallinder
and associates of Duluth, Minnesota, who formed the Kam-
loops Copper Co., and in 1912 reopened the mines after a
temporary suspension of work for organization and other
purposes. The mines are situated on Coal hill, at an eleva-
tion of 1600 ft. above Kamloops lake, about six miles south-
west from the town of Kamloops, and about 3% miles from a
siding on the Canadian Pacific railway. In order to over-
come, as far as possible, the extra costs entailed for fuel
for steam, the present management has made a contract with
the town for the supply of electricity to drive the recently
installed motors for the hoist, pump, concentrating plant, car-
penter and machine-shops. An auto-truck, with a capacity of
5 tons of ore or concentrate, has been placed in commission.
The concentrating plant has been remodeled, and it is ex-
pected will do more satisfactory work in the future. On
the Iron Mask claim, a main shaft was sunk 600 ft. by the
English company, and all the ore stoped from all levels except
between No. 5 and 6. On the Erin claim, one of the group,
a shaft had been sunk to a depth of 130 ft. prior to Sep-
tember last, and the ore extracted during development was
shipped to the Trail smelter. The orebodies, of which there
are several outcropping on the group of claims which em-
brace, in the aggregate, an area of about 600 acres, occur as
veins in diabase country rock. The vein-filling is composed
of copper carbonate and some bornite and chalcopyrite, usu-
ally associated with magnetite as the matrix, having an
average value of about 6% copper, with low gold and silver
content. The depth to which oxidation has extended varies,
but usually is about 150 ft. below the surface. The extent
of the various orebodies has not been fully determined except
in one shoot on the Iron Mask, which is about 200 ft", long
and from 4 to 20 ft. wide, but at the greatest width the
ore is lower grade, and for treating this the concentrating
plant was installed. The management proposes an energetic
policy in future with regard to mining operations, and expects
to decrease the cost of production and haulage considerably
below what it was prior to the present year.
No other property in this copper belt is being operated at
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
231
present, but there are about a dozen claims in addition to
the Iron Mask group on which prospects are sufficiently prom-
ising to warrant more thorough development, providing cheap
haulage to the railway and fuel for driving machinery can
be obtained. At some of these claims, notably on the Python,
Evening Star, and Whealtamer, considerable development has
been done, and a large tonnage of low-grade oxidized copper
ore has been opened.
NEW YORK
Business Conditions and New Eond Issues.— The Copper
Market and Views or Consumers. — Federal Mining &
Smelting, Batopii.as. and Homestake. — .Mining at Cobalt.
There has been a good deal of optimism regarding the out-
look for business since the first of the year, but the strongest
kind of evidence of an actual basis for optimism was disclosed
last week. The state of New York has issued $51,000,000 in
4%% bonds for the construction of canals and roads. These were
advertised in the usual way, and a syndicate composed of W. A.
Read & Co. (a bond house) and Kuhn, Loeb & Co. secured the
entire issue on a bid of 106.077. When the syndicate put the
bonds on public sale at 1071 i the issue was oversubscribed
twice over, and the syndicate in about two hours made a profit
of $550,000 on the transaction. No evidence could be clearer
that plenty of money is available for well secured investment,
and that the financial position is fundamentally sound.
The future of the copper market is naturally a never fail-
ing source of interest to all copper producers, and the opinion
of large consumers is of much interest because of the point of
view. The National Conduit & Cable Co. is a large user of the
metal, and it is worth while to reproduce the views which it
expresses in a recent circular:
"The new year began with material changes in the copper
situation, and developments during the next few months will
be watched with peculiar interest. The last half of December
witnessed a firmer market for copper as the result of some im-
portant sales made to European buyers. Dealings were in
large volume, especially with foreign interests, and a fair
degree of activity extended to domestic manufacturers. Lon-
don dealers and operators were prominent in the recent
movement which lifted prices of electrolytic copper from
14 Vi to 15c. It soon became evident, however, that con-
sumptive demand did not warrant the rise in prices engineered
in the closing weeks of last year, and early in the present
month the market began to show a sagging tendency.
"Although domestic consumption at present is much below
capacity, there Is no reason to expect that it will remain at the
low level represented by last month's deliveries. We fully
expect to see larger quantities of copper going into home con-
sumption each month before long, and in the coming weeks we
look for more active buying. It is not probable, however, that
manufacturing activity will be immediately resumed at ap-
proximately full capacity, but it is reasonable to assume that
consumption will gradually reach a more normal basis within
the first half of this calendar year, provided fundamental con-
ditions are favorable."
Another consumer believes that stocks here are being kept
low to bolster the market and expresses himself as follows: _
"We have had to pay 14Vj to 14\c. for electrolytic over the
past few days. The strength of copper prices is due to heavy
shipments of copper to Europe. This country is exporting
more copper than ever before in its history, notwithstanding a
substantial falling ofT in consumption in Germany, Great
Britain, and. France. Exports so far this month are at the rate
of nearly 1,000,000,000 lb. per year. Consumers are not able to
reconcile these large shipments with industrial conditions
abroad, but one thing Is certain, they are not allowing large
stocks of copper to accumulate in this country. They are
shipping it almost as fast as it is produced and in this way
the agencies are in a position to mark up the price of the
metal."
The Federal Mining & Smelting preferred stock was a source
of much interest last week, since it suddenly advanced from
35% to 40 on sales of 1600 shares. As nearly all the preferred
is in the hands of people who hold less than 50 shares,
naturally everyone was keen to know what had happened.
At the time of writing the mystery has not been solved. The
Wettlaufer-Lorrain has made its report for 1913, showing a net
profit on its operations of $38,042. As dividends amounting to
$141,659 were paid there was a considerable deficit for the
year, cutting down the company's surplus to $156,124. The
Batopilas Mining Co. did better with a total of $742,568 income
and a net profit of $160,094. The Company has a surplus of
$3,219,816. The Homestake makes a new record, even for itself,
having paid $2,167,620 in cash dividends and a 15% stock divi-
dend. The new stock represents $3,000,000 which has been
put into new construction and equipment during recent years.
Cobalt mines continue to be favorites in the New York
share market and the large dividends which many of them
pay furnish an excellent atmosphere in which to foster the
growth of new enterprises. Thus the Nipissing Mines has just
paid dividend No. 32, which brings the total to date to $11,340,-
000, or nearly 200% on its capitalization. Crown Reserve has
paid $5,508,290 to date and is paying at the rate of 2% per
month. The production is showing a decrease from 1912, when
it was 3,430,900 oz. of silver, but much is hoped for from the
five acres of ground made available by the draining of Kerr
lake, which is counted on to yield 51,000,000 oz. Crown Re-
serve has another string to its bow in the McEneany mine at
Porcupine, which it has re-christened the Porcupine Crown,
since acquiring it in 1911. A 20-stamp mill has been built and
much is expected from this promising property.
TORONTO, CANADA
Hollinger Development. — Dome Returns. — Dome Lake Cap-
ital.—Cobalt Ores to England, Germany, and the United
States. — Silver Queen Mine.
The Hollinger mine has recently considerably improved un-
derground. The winze from the 425-ft. level of No. 4 vein has
reached a vertical depth of 550 ft., at which point a station
will be cut and a new drift driven. The directors have in-
spected the mine and decided to start diamond-drilling to a
depth of 3000 feet. A large increase in the capacity of the
mill is under consideration, and will probably be undertaken
in the near future. Results at the Dome in December show a
slight falling off, the tonnage milled amounting to 13,470 and
the gold production to $106,904, as compared with 13,820 tons
and $121,150 in November. The directors of the Dome Lake
have decided to increase the capital from $750,000 to $1,000,000,
and the shareholders will be asked to ratify the increase at a
meeting to be held on February 9.
Cobalt ores are finding a market in England and Germany,
several shipments having recently been made to Birmingham,
Manchester, and Hamburg. The Crown Reserve has a contract
for consignment of high-grade ore to the last port. Ores
having a high cobalt content are also becoming marketable to
advantage, the Nipissing having recently shipped two carloads
to England and one to the United States. At the Silver Queen,
now operated by the Aladdin-Cobalt under lease, an ore-shoot
6 in. wide and 30 ft. long, containing 1400 oz. ore, which had
been overlooked in former operations, has been discovered
and is being stoped. The Aladdin-Cobalt, which has now a
controlling interest in the Chambers-Ferland, has made an
offer to buy out the stockholders of that Company by giving
them one $5 share of Aladdin stock for every 20 shares of
Chambers-Ferland. The Coniagas has declared its regular
quarterly dividend of 6%, with an additional 3% bonus, which
brings the total returns to shareholders up to $6,080,000.
232
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
General Mining News
ALASKA
By a vote of 46 to 16 the United States Senate passed, on
January 24, the Alaska railway bill, directing the President to
purchase or construct 1000 miles of railroad in Alaska at a
cost not to exceed $40,000,000.
Juneau
December results from the three companies operating on
Douglas island were as follows:
Alaska Alaska Alaska
Mexican. Treadwell. United.
Development, feet 108 1,185
Ore in stopes, decrease or in-
crease, tons +1,417 -53,529 -5,955
Stamps working 120 540 240
Ore crushed, tons 19,758 80,094 37,912
Gold by amalgamation $21,771 $119,165 $41,919
Gold from concentrate 23,159 99,809 30,048
Realizable value 44,480 216,784 71,248
Yield of ore treated, per ton. . 2.27 2.73 1.90
Operating expenses 23,106 82,739 49,560
Construction 5,207 27,146 8,230
Estimated net profit 16,167 106,899 13,456
Ketchikan
Litigation has resulted in the old Cymru copper mine,
known as the North Arm, situated at the head of the north
arm of Maori sound, being shut down since 1907; but it
was recently bonded to a local company formed by G. V.
Bland, W. P. Powers, and others. The property is equipped
with a Fairbanks-Morse compressor, 4200 ft. of surface tram,
and orebins. Two shafts are down 95 and 105 ft., respect-
ively. A good deal of surface mining has been done. In
1906, 3000 tons of ore sent to a smelter averaged 4.5% copper
and $1.25 per ton in gold and silver. Work is to be started
at once, and shipments made in April.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
The Hermitage company's 50-ton mill, 7 miles south of
Hereford, is in operation. Two Harz jigs are included in
the plant. The Hermitage Mining Co. is composed of Mem-
phis, Tennessee, people, and John Moffett is manager. There
are 144 Holquist patent machine-drills working in the War-
ren district, made by the Cochise Machine Co. Results are
said to be quite satisfactory. The ore from the mines con-
tains lead, zinc, and silver.
Gtla County
(Telegraphic Correspondence.) — A contract has been let to
the American Bridge Co. for the erection of a smelting plant
for the International Smelting & Refining Co. The cost will
be over $2,000,000.
Miami, January 28.
(Special Correspondence.) — Extensive development continues
at the Inspiration. Part of the Joe Bush ore dump is ready
for caving. The Scorpion hoist is hauling about 700 tons
of ore per day at present. During the first fortnight of
January, 2000 tons came through this shaft, 8500 tons of ore
and waste through the Colorado shaft, and 4600 tons of waste
through the incline shaft. This material came from 2700 ft.
of development. The flotation plant is working full time,
and an Oliver filter is being tried, while a Trent filter is
being erected. Other filters may be tested for their suitability
in this treatment. The usual construction work is going
on at the concentrating plant. The International Smelting
& Refining Co. is receiving bids for steel work for the smelter
as well as for a power-station.
Miami, January 17.
(Special Correspondence.) — Ore from the Superior & Boston
now averages between 7 and 8% copper. The faulted vein
has been found 210 ft. from the fault, where it is 30 ft. wide,
3 ft. being good ore. Cross-cutting is under way on No. 13
and 14 levels of the Arizona Commercial. It is intended to
bail the water flowing from the 1200-ft. level, after it flows
down the shaft. High-grade ore is still being shipped from
stopes above 650 ft. in the Iron Cap. For a width of 10 ft.
and 75 ft. in length the stope has averaged about 20% copper
and 31 oz. silver. In 1913 development totaled 1610 ft., and
4899 tons of ore yielded 763,882 lb. of copper. Revenue was
$91,814, and profit $38,460. The annual meeting was held at
Portland, Maine, on January 6, 1914.
Globe, January 17.
Maricopa County
Negotiations for the sale of the claims of the Sunflower
Cinnabar Mining Co., 75 miles northeast of Phoenix, have
fallen through, and the Company, composed of Phoenix people,
will operate the property for itself. Probably a 50-ton plant
will be erected to replace the present 10-ton installation. Rob-
ert Scott, the mercury furnace inventor, has just examined the
Sunflower group.
Yavapai County
The Humboldt smelter is not working at present, but the
mill is producing concentrate for the Hayden smelter. A
new reverberatory furnace is being constructed at the Hum-
boldt, and a flotation plant will soon be at work. Development
at the Baumann copper mine is promising. The Cherry Creek
Mines Co. is diamond-drilling at Cherry. At the Poorman
mine, in the Walker district, a hoist is being installed to un-
water the shaft.
CALIFORNIA
Amadob County
The South Eureka Mining Co. paid $251,000 in dividends in
1913, making a total of about $740,000 since the Company was
formed. The South Eureka owns the Oneida mine, and two
SOUTH EUREKA MINE AND MILL.
stamp-mills are operated. The Zeila mine is being sampled
by B. M. Lynder, of Los Angeles. Robert E. Cranston and
Alex. Nise of San Francisco, and R. H. Elliot of Berkeley.
The new shoot at 1500 ft. is being carefully examined.
Eldorado County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Central El Dorado Gold
Mining Co. is developing the Davidson mine, in the Mud
Springs district. It has also acquired adjoining claims called
the Three Champenoise mines. The old workings, which
proved profitable for the owners thirty or forty years ago,
have been reopened and found to consist of a 400-ft. adit,
with stopes and an incline shaft 300 ft. deep with a few
hundred feet of drifts. Since then an incline shaft has been
sunk 300 ft. on the west vein. At 200 ft, 3 ft. of ore gave
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
233
satisfactory results in the mill. This was also good at 250
ft., and 500 ft. of drifts have been driven at the 300-ft. level.
The mill returns at this depth were $3 per ton. Active work
will be started again in the spring. The property is equipped
with an 80-hp. oil-burning boiler, 25-hp. hoist, 35-hp. com-
pressor, five 1000-lb. stamps driven by steam, assay office,
and all necessary appliances to make the plant as complete
as possible. Water power was installed a year ago, and
a change was made in driving machinery from steam to
water. Rene Bordier is manager, and George Blanchin and
M. Bordier in France are heavily interested. It is probable
that additional stamps and concentrators will be erected dur-
ing the current year.
Eldorado, January 19.
E. E. Shook, agent for the Placer County Properties Co.,
was recently at Placerville with a view to locating and obtain-
ing control of all the magnesite and asbestos deposits in the
county.
Nevada County
A 40-hp. electric triplex pump is being installed at the
1000-ft. level of the Oustomah mine. When this is working,
the shaft will be sunk to 1200 ft. The mill is kept busy on
ore from the 600-ft. level. E. C Klinker, the superintendent,
has resigned to take charge of the Eagle Bird and Fritz
Meister mines, near Washington, in this county. The Ousto-
mah offices are to be moved from I»s Angeles to Nevada City.
Diamond-drilling drift-gravel areas on Columbia hill by F.
S. and F. M. Phelps has defined the extent of the gravel,
and an adit will be driven in the spring to get under the
channel.
Plcmas County
Six claims, containing good ore, have been located two miles
from Quincy by A. D. Le Roy and J. B. Gillespie. Bad
weather has caused a stoppage of work in the district.
Sacramento County
Gold produced by the Natomas Consolidated's 10 dredges
at Natoma, and 3 at Oroville during 1913, amounted to $2,299,-
260. against $2,020,634 in 1912, and $2,053,593 in 1911. The
net profits over bond interest are over $300,000.
Shasta County
A two days' trial of the Hall process at the Coram smelter
has proved satisfactory. The Balaklala sampling works was
burned on January 21, the loss being $25,000. The Hall plant
was not damaged. Storms have interfered with the electric-
power service. Ore from the Balaklala mine is being sent
to the Mammoth and Mason Valley smelters. The Mammoth
Copper Co. has 50 men employed at the Stowell claims, and
at all mines and the smelter 910 men are busy. The monthly
payroll is about $100,000.
Sierba County
The interior shaft being sunk from No. 4 adit of the Plum-
bago mine has cut 4 to 6 ft. of ore containing free gold
and rich arsenical pyrite. About 40 men are employed about
the mine and 20-stamp mill.
A new adit will be driven at the Mountain House drift
mine, to open the gravel, the present workings being too
high. The adit will be 500 ft. long. Shaw brothers, of Oak-
land, are working the property. East of the Kate Hardy
mine, R. D. Norris has staked two claims on a vein outcrop-
ping on Oregon creek.
Siskiyou County
At the Hardscrabble mine, the cross-cut adit has cut 12
ft. of mineralized rock, and it is figured that the main vein
will soon be cut. The Company will install an electric
power-plant, machine-drills, and a stamp-mill.
Tuolumne County
(Special Correspondence.) — The complete unwatering of
the Dutch mine shows that 300 ft. of unexplored ground
remains between the 1500 and 1800-ft. levels, and the man-
agement has decided not to sink the shaft below its present
depth until drifts have been extended into the undeveloped
orebodies. The Columbus mine, one mile north of Tuolumne,
is being unwatered preparatory to the resumption of oper-
ations by a new company. T. G. Winwood will be in charge
as superintendent. Ten new cottages have been erected at
the Shawmut mine. The shaft at the Black Oak, 1700 ft.
deep, is being sunk 200 ft. A large electric pump is being
installed in the mine. It is expected that New York and
Philadelphia capitalists will shortly reopen the Seminole and
Mayflower mines, near Tuolumne.
Sonora, January 24.
COLORADO
Cleab Creek County
The mills in the Idaho Springs district are kept fully em-
ployed. Thirty men are at the Combination plant, which is
treating ore from the Saratoga. The Jackson mill is treat-
ing custom ore, and from the Golden Eagle and Bride mines.
E. F. Gustafson has leased this mill.
Gunnison County
A revival of mining at Crested Butte, and the opening of
a considerable quantity of lead ores, has started some dis-
cussion as to the feasibility of smelting in that district.
Transport to distant smelters is costly, while coke is made
nearby.
La Plata County
Rich gold and silver ore has been discovered by D. Cason,
two miles from Needleton, and 33 miles from Durango, at
a height of 9500 ft. above sea-level. The mine shows IS in.
of high-grade and 6 ft. of low-grade ore.
Montrose County
(Special Correspondence.) — This place is the centre of the
Paradox district, which is known for its uranium ores. As
the mining for this ore is mostly at the surface, and
the ground is frozen at present, there is not as much work
being done as usual. Indications point to a greater output
during the current year than any previous period.
Bedrock, January 12.
Summit County
During the week ended January 10, the Tonopah Mining
Co. completed its purchase of the property of the Reliance
Gold Dredging Co. at Breckenridge. This included 30,000
acres of placer ground, a fine machine-shop, and three dredges.
B. Stanley Revett is to be resident manager.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
(Special Correspondence.) — Proposals from contractors are
desired for building to specifications, in whole or in part,
a 300-ton mill for the El Oro M. & M. Co., Elkton, Colorado.
The work will be under the direction of William H. Kritzer,
superintendent, and, weather permitting, construction is to
begin in March.
Cripple Creek, January 22.
The Golden Cycle company has resumed sinking its main
shaft near Goldfleld from 1700 to 1900 ft. The shaft collar
is 10,066 ft. above sea-level. The Vindicator main shaft will
also be deepened from 1600 to 1800 ft. This shaft collar is
10,209 ft. above sea-level. A Fairbanks-Morse pump, of 200
gal. capacity per minute, has been installed on the 500-ft.
level of the El Oro company's Eclipse shaft. On No. 9 level
of the Mary McKinney, the ore-shoot has been opened for
300 ft., it being 10 ft. wide and yields up to $.'!0 per ton.
A dividend, equal to $26,184 was paid on January 24. A
new set of rolls from the Colorado Iron Works is being
Installed in the Rex mill. A lease has been taken on the
Pharmacist dumps, the ore to be treated in the Rex plant.
The Kavanaugh mill is working full time. Rich ore is still
234 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS January 31, 1914
being mined from the 400-ft. level of the W. P. H. mine, Ci.abk County
worked by lessees. At 1350 ft. depth in the Granite a cross- The Gooa Sprlng8 Anchor Co hag been organized wUh
cut has intersected the main Granite vein, where the ore con- Frank A Keith president and manager, Seeley W Mudd vice-
tains sylvanite, calaverite, and iron pyrite containing 5 oz. president, and R. I. Rogers, Philip Wiseman, and J. W. Keith
gold per ton. directors, to develop and operate a zinc mine in the Good
IDAHO Springs, Nevada, district. The mine Is eight miles from
Mining men who have spent some time in the Sawtooth Jean' on the Salt Lake road> and an 1800-ft. aerial tramway
mountains, during the past few summers, state that there and other equipment has been ordered. A contract has been
are good chances for prospectors in the region. The range made with the EmPir« Zinc Co. for two years for shipments
lies partly in Boise, Blaine, Custer, and Elmore counties. at tne rate of 10 tons Per day- Based upon 40% zinc con-
The snow is deep in winter, and little can be done with centrate, the price at Jean nets $16.90 per ton, from which
the present state of transport. is to be deducted mining, estimated at $3, and hauling at $2.
According to Stanly A. Easton, manager of the Bunker Hill 0n the 132ft- level samples cut in 5-ft. sections in a 30-ft.
& Sullivan company at Kellogg, the draft of the workmen's cross-cut gave the following results:
compensation act being discussed at Boise has apparently Silver, oz. Zinc, %.
met the approval of all interests. 60 34.5
Custeb County 5-6 46.9
Near the town of Custer, the Bonanza Gold Mining Co., ,' 45,8
l.u 01 1
composed of Salt Lake City people, has been pushing devel- „ „ ° -1
o.b . ... i<j j
opment until the winter set in. About 400 ft. of work has „ ,. 13.*
o.O 118
opened a wide decomposed vein of ore worth $10 per ton. •"•8
A 40-ton mill was completed just before winter. It is driven A variaD'e amount of lead is also found in the ore.
by a Dubois gasoline engine. Near the Bonanza is the Wall Elko County
Street property, containing gravel and lode claims. A large According to J. C. Griffen, Jarbidge is improving A 10-
dam is being constructed for hydraulicking. stamp mi„ ,g being erected at (he ^^ mine / and 30
Shoshone County stamps are working at the Alpha, owned by Chicago people.
The Stewart Mining Co. reports that the gross value of Owing to high transport charges, only rich ore can be shipped
mine and mill products for the last quarter of 1913 was from the camp. The Bluster mine has a shipment of $100
$325,866. Deducting all expenses, including development, the to $150 ore ready. This was mined at 300 ft., where the
net income was $177,942. No. 2 dividend of 10% and an vein is 4% ft. wide for 225 ft. in length, worth $19 per ton.
extra one of 2Vj% was paid on October 3, while No. 3 of 10% A mill may be erected in the spring,
was paid on December 29. Cash at the end of 1913 was
$342,650. The Hecla Mining Co., of Burke, has paid its first Esmeralda County
monthly dividend of 2c. per share for the year. This makes The Goldfield Consolidated mine produced 28,804 tons of
$20,000, and $2,990,000 to date. ore during December, giving a net realization of $153,353.
The raise connecting the lower and upper workings of Costs totaled $6.46 per ton. Development covered 3071 ft. at a
the National mine at Mullan has been completed, and the cost of *453 per foot °n the new No. 1 level of the Sheets-
upper workings, a 200-ft. shaft, and numerous stopes, filled Ish area of the Mohawk, the 3-D sill produced 272 tons of $40
with water, were drained through the raise and the long ore' Tne 815 drift of the Grizzly Bear produced 75 tons of $16
lower adit, which is practically a mile long. With the com- shipping ore. The mill was run to full capacity throughout
pletion of the raise, the Company will cut stations every 100 tne m°nth, without drawing heavily on second-class dumps,
ft., from which ore will be mined. The new mill is fast nut the ayerage grade of the ore was low.
nearing completion, and, if delayed shipments of machinery Great interest is being taken in the Florence mine, where
are received in the near future, it is expected that the Na- from 8 to 18 in- of rlch ore was cut in *»> incline raise above
tional will be ready for active operations early in February. the 350ft- level. This has since been opened 40 and 50 ft.
The motor tram from the mine to the mill, a distance of northwest and southeast, respectively. A winze from the
nearly two miles, has been completed and is ready for service. 250-ft. level is down 18 ft. in 3 ft. of ore worth $96 per ton,
and will be sunk to meet the raise from 350 ft. Ore worth
MONTANA $20 to $30 is being shipped to the mill. At a depth of 650
Jefferson County ft. the Oro shaft has got into broken vein formation. A
(Special Correspondence.) — Lessees at the Baltimore mine, station has been cut at 550 ft., and the pumps are handling
near Boulder, are shipping a mixed sulphide ore, carrying 25 the water with ease. The Silver Pick shaft is down 485 ft.,
oz. silver, 7% lead, 2% copper, and $2 in gold. At present the and has opened a vein for over 80 ft., assaying from $2 to
stoping width is 5 feet. $10 per ton. A station is to be cut and extensive develop-
Boulder, January 24. ment done. A larger ventilating plant is being installed at
Lewis and Clark County ^ the Merger for this and the Atlanta mines. The temperature
Work being done by E. R. Purnell in the Scratch Gravel at 1750 ft- is very hi%h-
hills is opening good silver, copper, and lead ore, and pros- Eureka County
pects are encouraging. The property of the Copper-Montana (Specla, Correspondence.) -It is stated that a company un-
Silver Mining Co. is situated six miles north of Helena. der the nlanagement of Mr. Berardi, is constructing a 50-stamp
NEVADA mill at Mill canon, a short distance from Beowawe.
Churchill County Beowawe, January 23.
During December the Nevada Hills Mining Co. treated 4140 Humboldt County
tons of ore averaging $10.27 at a cost of $7.45 per ton. The' Seattle men, headed by Charles G. Heifner, have taken an
loss in tailing was $1.52 per ton. Net returns were $5401. option on the Kramer Hill mine, near Golconda. The pur-
Cash on hand and in banks at the end of 1913 was $110,618; chase price is said to be $350,000, and the buyers have 90
supplies, $43,600; concentrate and bullion in transit, $11,820; days in which to sample and make mill tests of the ore
and metals in solution. $20,000. The annual meeting of the opened. If satisfactory, a large mill will be erected. Butte
Company was held on January 23. men have taken an option on the Elko Prince. They have
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
235
already spent about $60,000 on the property. Rich ore is
being shipped from the Seven Troughs mine. There is 2500
tons of $30 ore on the Delaware dump, and about 30,000 tons
blocked out in the mine. At present there are about 100 men
employed at Seven Troughs. A road is being constructed to
the cinnabar property of C. E. Dolbear, 22 miles south of
Lovelock, and a retort is being installed to treat the ore.
This was made by the Joshua Hendy Iron Works of San Fran-
cisco.
Lander County
(Special Correspondence.)— The Austin Manhattan Mining
Co.'s property at Austin was sold by auction recently, to Pitts-
burgh interests. The Mariposa Mining Co., whose mine and
plant is situated at New York canon, near Austin, is com-
pletely closed down after operating its new mill for six weeks.
Austin, January 23.
Mineral County
(Special Correspondence.)— A little activity is apparent at
Gold Dyke, where several prospectors are working in a small
way. Small shipments of copper ore continue to be made
from Luning to the Mason Valley smelter at Wabuska.
Luning, January 23.
Nye County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Nevada Cinnabar Co., at
lone, is continuing construction work through the winter un-
der the direction of Mr. Pearce, who was for many years con-
nected with the Quicksilver Mining Co. at New Almaden, Cali-
fornia. The plant will be complete in every detail. The ore
will be dried in a rotary machine and elevated to a 50-ton
storage bin on top of the 50-ton Mirabel-type Scott furnace.
lone, January 23.
Snowstorms and slides of ground have interrupted the
electric-power service to the mining districts of the county.
Storey County
A heavy snowstorm caused a considerable amount of in-
convenience at Virginia City during the past week.
convenience at Virginia City during the past week. The water
In the Con. Virginia winze was only :: ft. above the 2700-ft.
level on January 29.
White Pine County
No. 6 steam-shovel, at Copper Flat, was being moved to a
COPPER FLAT. ELY, NEVADA.
new position recently, when it partly turned over, injuring
four men in charge of it.
Reports filed with the county assessor for the last quarter
of 1913, in compliance with the bullion tax law, show the
following results:
Nevada Con. Giroux Con.
Ore mined, tons 848,826 38,916
Gross value of metals $2,984,867 $78,019
Mining cost 558,484 29,261
Transport 228,553 13,273
Treatment 1,513,569 54,375
Net profit 684,261
Bullion tax on profit 14,780 (loss) 18,890
NORTH CAROLINA
Montgomery County
(Special Correspondence.)— The mill of the Uwarra Mining
Co. is now in operation, and an excellent extraction is reported.
Candor. January 26.
OREGON
Baker County
Eighty acres of ground near Sumpter was sold by N. Hatley
for $6000 to the Powder River Dredging Co. The greater
part of this area includes creek gravels.
Josephine County
The organizing of a mining experiment station at Grant's
Pass is being discussed in Congress at Washington, the
bill having been introduced by Mr. Hawley. It provides that
the station be under the control of the Bureau of Mines, the
appropriation necessary being $25,000. A survey of the Dothan
quadrangle is also suggested.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Lawrence County
A statement regarding the Homestake Mining Co.'s employ-
ees' aid fund showed the following position at the end of
1913:
Bal. at Dec. 31, 1912. .$23,338
Employees' contribu- Death benefits, 1913. .$16,000
tion in 1913 27,584 Injury benefits, 1913.. 9,691
Homestake Co. contri- Sick benefits, 1913 7,921
bution in 1913 12,000 Insane benefits, 1913.. 200
Interest, etc 925 Bal. at Dec. 31, 1913. . 30,035
Total $63,847 Total $63,847
There is promise of considerable activity in the Tinton
district this year.
UTAH
JuAn County
The following table shows results of operation at the Iron
Blossom mine during the past year:
Development, feet 6,080
Cost per foot $6.06
Ore mined, dry tons 39,526
Metals produced:
Gold, ounces (0.18 oz. per ton ) 7,289
Silver, ounces (34.29 oz. per ton) 1,355,392
Lead, pounds (7.78%) 6,153,265
Copper, pounds (0.35%) 277,922
Gross value $1,112,787
Sampling and freight smelting 361,709
Net return 751,078
Developing and mining 240,470
Profit 51 0,608
Dividends paid 400,000
The Lower Mammoth Mining Co.'s report for 1913 contains
the following information: The past year's work in new
ground has been unsatisfactory, the orebodies being low grade.
This was especially so at 1800 and 2000 ft. The Gold Chain
company is extending work in its property from 1500 and
1800 ft. in the Lower Mammoth. The general manager sug-
gests further prospecting, although the directors have con-
sidered the question of shutting down. Copper ore shipped
was 101 tons, worth $979; zinc ore, 806 tons, worth $9673:
and lead ore, 68 tons, worth $89. Total receipts, including
an assessment of $10,000, were $22,901. The expenditure was
$26,326. Cash on hand at January 2, 1913, was $1162.
During 1913, a total of 6383 ft. of development was done in
236
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
the Chief Consolidated, making 23,000 ft. to date. On Febru-
ary 2 a dividend of $43,822 was distributed by the Company.
Piute County
New York people have leased and bonded, with a purchase
option, the Glen Eyrie, Cascade, Shamrock, Roosevelt, Taft,
and Deserct groups of claims in Bullion Creek canon, seven
miles southwest of Marysvale. These claims cover over 1000
acres. The Bully Boy, adjoining, may be included in the deal.
It has produced between $400,000 and $500,000. A 100-ton
mill was erected there last year. Several long adits have been
driven in the leased properties, and the ores contain lead,
silver, copper, and gold. Men have already started work here,
and a large number is expected by May.
Salt Lake County
The Alta Tunnel & Transportation Co.'s tunnel was in 444
ft. last week in blue limestone. The face of the drift was
streaked with stringers of manganese, which is often asso-
ciated with ore in the Wasatch range. It is hoped that the
work will cut all the veins in the Alta district, within a total
length of about one mile. F. V. Bodfish is president of the
Company, and Roy L. Mack is superintendent. Two Austrian
miners were imprisoned in the Boston part of the Utah Copper
Co.'s mines last week by a fire in the hoisting shaft. Three
other Austrian miners made an attempt at rescue, but lost their
lives as a result. Oxygen helmets were used later by L. W.
Anderson, mine superintendent, J. T. Bowen, and Julius Soren-
sen, of Salt Lake City. They were assisted by several other
employees. Heavier crushers have been recommended for the
Ohio Copper Co.'s mill at Lark, by the general manager, George
F. Waddell. The plant is treating 210 tons of ore per day at
present.
Utah County
At the mouth of the Santaquin King adit there is about
2000 tons of $8 to $10 ore containing lead and silver, while
200 tons of $30 ore is ready for shipping. An ore-shoot con-
taining 38 to 40% zinc was recently opened, and further
driving cut silver-lead ore. This is in limestone. Further
development in the mine gives assays of 8 oz. silver, 51%
lead, and 9.2% iron. The adit, 4% by 6% ft. in the clear, is
to be extended 100 ft., at a cost of $6.50 per foot. Transport
facilities have hindered profitable work in the past, but on
January 12 a contract was let to the Utah Industrial Trans-
portation Co. to install, at its own expense, a monorail system
of tramway to carry ore to the railway. This will cost about
$35,000.
Wayne County
A good discovery of carnotite (uranium ore) has been made
2M> miles southeast of Fonita by S. W. Mulberry, an old pros-
pector. Two tons of the ore was taken to Richfield. The de-
posit is irregular in size, and occurs between white and red
sandstone. There is also a 75-ft. layer of blue clay. Eleven
claims has been staked, and 11 outfits are going to the new
field.
WASHINGTON
Ferry County
(Special Correspondence.) — The following ore production
was made from mines at Republic during November and De-
cember:
November, December.
, • tons. tons.
Ben Hur 3,080 3,322
Knob Hill 310 2,002
Hope company 71 ....
Quilp 92 235
Republic Mines Corporation:
Lone Pine 227
Pearl 80
Surprise 2,180 1,709
The output for December exceeded that of any month of
1913. The January yield will not be as large as the two
previous terms.
Republic, January 25.
CANADA
British Columbia
The sixteenth annual convention of District 6, Western
Federation of Miners, was held at Nelson on January 20, when
there were delegates from all mining camps in the Kootenai
and Boundary districts. James Cuthbertson of Greenwood is
president. He spoke on compensation in Washington, and a
universal 8-hour day. The membership of the union increased
20% in 1913.
Ontario
The Miller Lake-O'Brien company, at Gowganda, is pro-
ducing 60,000 oz. silver per month. The Mann mine is being
sunk to 200 ft., and a car of rich ore is to be shipped.
Two Italians were sentenced to six months imprisonment
on January 20 for stealing silver ore from Cobalt. The ore
was returned to the Mine Owners' Association. During the
work of draining Cobalt lake, the foreman, W. E. Janes, was
killed by a falling derrick. In December, the McKinley-
Darragh-Savage property produced 159,022 oz. silver, making
the year's total 2,212,557 oz. This is a decrease of about
500,000 oz. compared with 1912. The large tube-mill at the
plant was out of commission in December. On February 14
the Seneca-Superior Mining Co. will pay a dividend of 12%%,
equal to $59,548. The total paid since February 15, 1913, will
be $369,297.
Yukon
A dredging record was put up during the past season by
No. 2 boat of the Canadian Klondyke Co., which operated 271
days, or 33 days longer than the previous record, which was
held by the same boat.
KOREA
The Oriental Consolidated Mining Co. reports as follows for
November: 240 stamps crushed 25,602 tons of ore yielding
$134,633 from all departments. Operating costs were $97,281,
leaving a profit of $37,352, of which $11,761 was spent on im-
provements and development. The net profit was therefore
$25,591.
JAPAN
The output of the Imperial Steel Works at Wakamatsu for
1913 is placed at 200,000 tons of pig iron and the profit for the
year is estimated at $2,000,000. This includes profit on final
products, a large variety of which are made at the works.
MEXICO
Chihuahua
The Batopilas Mining Co. reports as follows for the year
ended December 31, 1912: total revenue, 1*742,568; expendi-
ture, interest, etc., F582.473; progt, P160.095. There is a sur-
plus of $194,913, an increase over the previous year. Cash
totals $58,027; current liabilities, $46,260; and current assets,
$174,372.
SONORA
The Lucky Tiger-Combination company of Kansas City, Mis-
souri, reports as follows for December:
Ore crushed, tons 6,209
Tailing treated, tons Ifill
Revenue from shipping ore, concentrate, and bullion. .$148,092
Expenditure, including development, marketing, and
89.041
taxes
Total 6'046
7,268
Profit * 59-051
A dividend, No. 58, of 6c. per share was paid on January 20.
On December 18 and January 8 all outstanding bonds were
authorized to be purchased, this to take place on January 26
and February 1.
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
237
Schools and Societies
The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, on January 13,
celebrated its twenty-second anniversary, and the opening
of its new quarters at 1 Finsbury Circus, London, E. C.
The Mine Owners and Operators' Association of the Cripple
Creek district met at Colorado Springs on January 25. The
meeting was called to order by the president, E. A. Colburn.
Mine taxation was one of the subjects discussed.
Colorado mining men will hold a convention on February
19, at a place to be decided later. There will be present rep-
resentatives of the counties, Bureau of Mines, U. S. Geological
Survey, state geologists, and the commissioner of mines, T. R.
Henahen.
The University of Arizona will give a six weeks' course in
mining early in the spring. Twelve distinct branches of the
industry will be included, from mineralogy to ore treatment.
The mining department of the university has collected in-
formation regarding the working of 139" mines in the state.
The Institution or Petroleum Technologists in London
has appointed its first council. The president is Sir Boverton
Redwood, with Lord Cowdray of Midhurst as vice-president,
and 15 ordinary members. David T. Day, of the U. S.
Geological Survey, and C. Engler have been elected honorary
members. Over 100 applications have been received for mem-
bership.
The third annual mining exhibition, under the auspices
of the Chemical, Metallurgical, and .Mining Society of
South Africa, will be held at Johannesburg, from May 19
to 29, 1914. Commercial firms, for whom a limited space
will be provided, desirous of exhibiting machinery, apparatus,
natural products, etc., will be charged for the space occu-
pied at from $1.25 to $2.50 per square foot, according to posi-
tion, and whether stands are provided or not.
The Montana branch of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers will hold its annual meeting at Iiutte on Febru-
ary 6. This includes a dinner, business meeting, and read-
ing the following papers: 'The Drumlummon Mine,' by C.
W. Goodale; 'Reverberatory Smelting with Low-Grade Coal,'
by C. E. Demond: and 'The Labor Crisis in Chile,' by Ban-
croft Gore. E. P. Mathewson is chairman, and D. C. Bard
secretary.
The University of Illinois has issued an interesting illus-
trated booklet covering the work of the College of Engineering.
This includes 11 departments covering architecture, civil, elec-
trical, mechanical, mining, municipal, sanitary, and railway
engineering, mechanics and physics, and the experiment sta-
tion. A short course in highway engineering will be given
from January 19 to 31, 1914. There are no charges for the
course, and It is open to anybody without examination. This
is an Important subject and a series of highly Interesting
practical demonstrations is to be shown.
The Safety First Convention opened at Reno on January
26. The following papers were presented on the first day:
•The Safety-First Movement In Nevada,' by John J. Mullin;
Safety First on the Oregon Short Line,' by L. E. Abbott;
'Safety First In Practice,' by Frank Ingram; 'Safety Regula-
tions for Electrical Power Companies,' by W. K. Freuden-
berger (this was discussed by officials of the principal power
concerns of Nevada); and Electric Headlights,' by J. G.
Scrngham, which was discussed by representatives of engi-
neers, firemen, trainmen, and conductors of railroads in Ne-
vada. The evening session consisted of demonstrations of
electricity by members of the University of Nevada, and
motion pictures on various subjects.
L. A. Greene is in New York.
W. H. Lanagan is in London.
T. W. E. David is in London.
F. Lynwood Garrison is in Colorado.
R. Y. Hanlon is at Santa Ynez, California.
E. H. Leslie is visiting Arizona mining regions.
J. Fordyce Balfour has returned to Nigeria from London.
J. E. Spurr is inspecting the Tonopah Mining Co.'s properties.
Paul M. Paine has moved from Fellows to Taft, California.
F. A. Voorhees left San Francisco, and is at Pearce, Arizona.
R. E. Cranston and R. H. Elliott are sampling the Zeila
mine at Jackson.
J. N. Esselstyn has moved from Orogrande, New Mexico,
to Denver, Colorado.
G. Macfarlane, manager at the Wallis property in West
Africa, is in London.
Reiji Kanda has been investigating operating conditions at
the Hasami gold mine.
T. N. Turner, who has been with the Orsk Goldfields in
Siberia, has returned to Palo Alto.
John Mocine will become manager for the National Copper
M. Co., at Mullan, succeeding Charles McKinms.
Albert Birch has been elected president and Elmer King
vice president of the newly organized Goldfield Unity Club.
Percy E. Barbour has returned to North Carolina from at-
tending the annual meeting of the Mining and Metallurgical
Society in New York.
Obituary
Godfrey D. Doveton, the well known and active metallurgist.
died at Guadalajara January 20 as the result of an injury sus-
tained the day before. While working around machinery his
right arm was caught in gearing and he was so badly injured
that he did not recover. Doveton was a New Zealander, one
of the pupils of James Park. He studied at Auckland Uni-
versity College, 1891-93, and the next two years at the famous
School of Mines on the Thames where so much of the pioneer
work on the cyanide process originated. After graduation he
worked for five years with various New Zealand companies.
including the Waionio, Puhi Puhi, Anglo Continental, and the
Moanatairi. In 1900 he came to America, making his head-
quarters at Denver. Almost immediately he was called to take
charge of the mill at the Camp Bird mine, and he spent two
years there as superintendent and metallurgist. In 1902-04 he
served as metallurgical engineer for the Creston-Colorado, re-
turning to the United States to take up general consulting
work, in which he was associated with Spurr and Cox. He did
especially important work at Cripple Creek and Tonopah, being
responsible for the designing of some of the largest mills in
Nevada. In 1905-06 he was with the Lincoln California at
Telluride, Colorado, and since then has been almost continu-
ously in Mexico, where he has done notable work at El Oro,
Zacatecas, and Pachuca especially. When the Sta. Gertrudis
mill was to be built Doveton was selected to make the pre-
liminary studies and to determine the process and plant to
be adopted. His report was a model of careful conscientious
work. That, however, was characteristic of his entire career
and he obtained an enviable reputation for fairness and thor-
oughness in all that he did. His death is a real loss to the
Industry and his career illustrates the fact that hard work
and ability carry men far in the profession of metallurgy.
238
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco, January 29.
Antimony 9 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15 Vi — 1 5 % c
Pig lead 4.35— 5.30
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 41 -12'^c
Spelter 6Vi-6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7 Vi to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, January 28. — There has been a steady increase
in the price of copper during the past week, the market is
active and firm, with good demand from Europe. American
smelting agencies and Hirsch are quoting 14 %c. for electro-
lytic, and the Amalgamated 14%c, in London. There is a fair
inquiry, and Continental dealers are selling at 14 Vic per
pound. The Greene Cananea Copper Co. paid a dividend of
50c. per share today. Earnings are at the rate of »6 per share
per annum. Ray Consolidated copper output for December was
5 232 167 lb., and Utah Copper, 10,624,790 lb. Lead is firm, and
spelter is strong. London metal prices yesterday were: copper,
£65 12s 6d. and £65 17s.6d.; lead £20; spelter, £21 10s.; and tin.
£179 5s for spot, up £1 10s., and £180 for futures, up £1 10s.,
with strong demand. Investment issues were buoyant and
Consols advanced V4. Bonds were active In New York, and
shares sold on the Stock Exchange on January 28 totaled
460,598.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Tanat22 57.37
Ja"- 23 ! I! 57.50
» 24 57.62
" 25 Sunday „n Jan-
" 26 57.62
.. 27 58.00
" 28!!! ! 57.50
Monthly averages
Average week ending.
17 57.79
24 57.77
31 57.52
7 " 57.50
14 . .57.75
21 57.58
28 57.60
1912.
Jan 56.25
Feb 59.06
Mch 58.37
Apr 59.20
May 60.88
June 61.29
Writing on January 8,
1912.
July 60.67
Aug 61.32
Sept 62.95
Oct 63.16
Nov 62.73
Dec 63.38
1913.
58.70
59.32
60.53
60.88
58.76
57.73
1913.
63.01
61.25
57.87
59.26
60.21
59.03
PIxley and Abell state that from
January 2 to 5 the market remained quiet and somewhat dull
in tone, as the demand was barely sufficient to absorb the daily
offerings. On the 6th, a premium of l/16d. (l/32c.) was estab-
lished on cash, the effect of which was immediately felt, for,
on the following day, the Indian bazaars, doubtless having
fears of another 'corner,' sent large covering orders for near
dates, and in addition limited orders for shipment, in conse-
quence of which the premium increased Vid. (Vic), the quota-
tions being 26y4d. (53Vic) and 26 7/16d. (53%c), respectively.
Today the premium has eased off to Vid. (l/16c), as the buy-
ing has been chiefly for forward dates, and, at about the pre-
vious day's difference, there were 'bulls' who were willing to
extend their purchases falling due shortly for a further two
months. There are still a good many 'bears' whose sales must
be covered during this month, and their position may not be
an easy one to adjust, as the Continent is shipping freely from
London, while silver worth £150,000 was sent to Bombay.
Lead
pounds,
Date.
Jan. 22
" 23
" 24
" 25
" 26
" 27
LEAD
is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
New York delivery.
Average week ending
Sunday
4.10
4.10
4.10
4.10
4.10
4.10
Dec.
Jan.
4.02
4.15
14
4.10
4.10
Monthly averages.
Jan
Feb.
Mch
Apr
May
June 4.40
1912.
. 4.43
. 4.03
. 4.07
4.20
4.20
1913.
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
4.34
4.33
1912.
Jul- 4.71
Aug 4.54
Sept 5.00
Oct 5.08
Nov 4.91
Dec. . . '. 4.20
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 22 14.25
" 23 14.30
" 24 14.35
" 25 Sunday
" 26 14.35
" 27 14.40
" 28 14.45
1913.
4.35
4.60
4.70
4.37
4.16
4.02
Average week ending
Dec. 17 14.17
" U 14.28
" 31 14.56
Jan. 7 14.39
" 14 13.97
" 21 14.03
" 28 14.35
1912.
Jan 14.09
Feb 14.08
Mch 14.68
Apr 15.74
May 16.03
Jure 17.23
Monthly averages
1913
16.54
14.93
14.72
15.22
15.42
14.71
1912.
July 17.19
Aug 17.49
Sept 17.56
Oct 17.32
Nov 17.31
Dec 17.37
1913.
14.21
15.42
16.23
16.31
15.08
14.25
The copper market gained strength during last week. On
January 19 one of the large agencies sold 18,000,000 lb. at a
little under 14 Vic (this includes delivery charges and 30 days
interest). The following day less business was done, but the
price was firm at 14 Vic. On January 23 the United Metals
Selling (Amalgamated) asked 14 %c, and London quotations
advanced os. to £67 5s. The following day a fair business was
done at this price. Exports of copper for the week ended
January 22 totaled 8822 tons; since January 1, 25,217 tons, and
17.967 tons in the same period last year.
Preliminary estimates by L Vogelstein & Co., of the 1913
copper production in the world give a total of 989.000 tons, as
against 1,006.900 tons in 1912. Principal decreases were in the
United States and Mexico. The world's consumption was 1,048,-
500 tons. Stocks in Europe at the end of the past four years
were as follows: 94,800, 60,750, 35,041, and 23,670 tons, respec-
tively. Prices moved illogically compared with statistics, for
while stocks decreased, prices have fallen. Inasmuch as there
is no immediate prospect of increased smelter production or
imports, it is reasonable to assume that refinery output must
decrease during the first half of 1914.
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly In this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Week ending I Jan. 15 39.50
Dec. 31 40.00 " 22 39.00
Jan. 8 39.50 | " 29 39.00
Monthly averages.
1912.
Jan 43.75
Feb 46.00
Mch 4 6.00
Apr 42.25
May 41.75
June 41.30
1913.
39.37
41.00
40.20
41.00
40.25
41.00
1912. 1913.
July 43.00 41.00
Aug 42.50 40.50
Sept 42.12 39.70
Oct 41.50 39.37
Sov 41.50 39.40
ec 39.75 40.00
SBINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 22 5.20
" 23 5.20
24
25 Sunday
26
27
28
5.20
5.20
5.20
5.20
Average week ending
Dec. V
Jan.
24.
31.
7 .
14.
21.
28.
Monthly averages.
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 6.88
1912.
. 6.42
. 6.50
. 6.57
. 6.63
6.68
1913.
6.88
6.13
5.94
5.52
5.23
5.00
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov 7.32
Dec 7.09
1912.
7.12
6.96
7.45
7.36
5.00
. 5.15
. 5.1J
. 5.02
. 5.08
. 5.05
. 5.20
1913.
5.11
5.51
5.55
5.22
5.09
5.07
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin. since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1912. 1913.
Jan 42.53 50.45
Feb 42.96 49.07
Mch' 42.58 46.95
Apr 43.9-2 49.00
May 46.05 49.10
June 45.76 45.10
1912. 1913.
July 44.25 40.70
Aug 45.80 41.75
Sept 48.64 42.45
Oct 50.01 40.61
Nov 49.92 39.77
Dec 49.80 37.57
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
239
The Stock Markets
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
January 28.
Listed. Bid
Associated OH 5s * 97J
E. I. du Pont pfd_ —
Unlisted.
An. Oil Bs 78
Ask Unlisted.
96} General Petroleum 6s..
Natomas Consul. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s...
Santa Cruz Cement 6s .
STOCKS
Bid Ask
Us ted.
Amalgamated OH 821
Associated OU 421
Giant 831
Pac. Cat Borax, pfd. 68J
Pacific Crude OU —
Sterling O. A D_ 1-36
Union OU. 82 —
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock
January 29.
Bid
45
Bid
43J
86
35c
Unlisted.
Noble Electric Steel
Natomas Consol 1J
Riverside Cement 60
Santa Cruz Cement 48
Stand. Port. Cement 18
Ask
48
25i
1C0J
91
Ask
8
Exchange.)
Atlanta * -18
Belcher M
Belmont 7-7&
Big Pour. 12
Con. Virginia -lfi
.65
Florence.
Goldneld Con 1-82
Ooldfleld Oro -1&
Halifax 1-°6
Jim Butler -I*
Jumbo Extension. 22
IfacNamara "
Mexican l->2
Midway ,l
Mlzpah Extension f .39
Montana-Tonopah 1.47
Nevada Hills 43
North Star. 42
Ophlr 20
Pittsburg Sliver Peak 36
Round Mountain _ 43
Sierra Nevada 07
Tonopah Extension 1.92
Tonopah Merger 67
Tonopah of Nevada 7.00
Victor 33
West End 1.47
Yellow Jacket.. 37
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
January 29.
Ask Bid
38 Mohawk I 43
i; Nevada Con 16
84] North Butte 281
87 Old Dominion 51
490 Osceola 771
38] Qulncy 81
2j Shannon 61
121 Superior A Boston 2J
41 Tamarack 301
8-21 U. S. Smelting, com 411
39 Utah Con 9}
211 Winona. 3J
8 Wolverine 441
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
courtesy of E. F. Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
January 29.
Mason Valley
McKlnley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am
Nipisslng 714
Ohio Copper %
San Toy 15
Sioux Con 1
Stand. Oil of Cal.282
Trl Bullion V4
Tuolumne %
United Copper ... 14
Wettlaufer 6
Yukon Gold 2
Bid
Allouea 1S71
Arts. Commercial 4|
Butte* Superior. 34}
Calumet 4 Arizona 86]
Calumet A Hecla 429
Copper Range 381
Daly West. *t
East Butte .„ >2
Franklin *
Granby M
Greene Cananea 381
Isle-Koyale 21
Mass Copper *\
(By
Ask
44
m
28.
51*
79
63
61
2*
31
«H
10
31
46
Bid.
Braden Copper... 7%
Braden 6s 150
B. C. Copper 314
Con. Cop. Mines.. 2%
Davit-Daly IS
Dolores 1
El Rayo 2
Ely Con 4
First National... 3
Glroux 1
Iron Blossom 1 %
Kerr Lake 4%
La Rose 1 %
Ask.
7%
160
3 VI
2%
1%
2
4
5
314
1%
114
5
2
Bid.
3
1
2H
Ask.
4
114
2%
7H
Vs
20
2
284
14
%
%
8
214
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
January 29.
Bid Ask
Amalgamated t 75 75J
Anaconda 36J SfiJ
A. S.AR 681 6s*
Calif. Pet 26} 30
rhino 40} 41
Guggenheim Ex 49i 50
Inspiration 16| 161
Mexican Pet 62 63
Bid Ask
Miami t 21 24J
Nevada Con 16 161
Quicksilver, com 2} 2j
Kay Con 18J 19
Tenn. Copper 34} 84}
U.S. Steel, pfd Ul| lllj
U. 8. Steel, com 64| 641
Utah Copper 53J 64
LONDON QUOTATIONS
(By cable, through the courtesy of Catlin & Powell
New York.)
January 29.
£ s. d. i
Co..
Alaska Mexican 1
Alaska Treadwell 8
Alaska United 3
Arizona 1
California Amalg. 0
California Oilfields 6
Camp Bird 0
El Oro 0
Esperanza ...
Granville....
Kern River Oilfields..
Mexico Mines
Messina
Orovllle
Pacific Oilfields
RioTlnto
Santa Gertrudis
Stratum's
Tanganyika
Tomboy
£ s.
0 7
5 0
1 10
0 15
0
71
0 18
0 1
1 16
1 5
AUSTRALASIAN
January 29.
£ s. d.
British Broken Hill 1 15
Broken Hill Prop 1 16
Golden Horse-Shoe 2 15
Great Boulder Prop 0 13
Ivanhoe 2 17
Kalgurll. l 16
Mount Boppy
Mount Elliott
Mount Lyell
Mount Morgan
Walhl 1
Walhl Grand June.
s. d
16 9
7 6
3 8
5 0
11 3
7 6
Portland Cement Production
According to returns received by the U. S. Geological Sur-
vey up to January 12, 1914, it is estimated by Ernest F. Bur-
chard that the quantity of Portland cement manufactured in
the United States in 1913 was approximately 92,406,000 bbl.,
compared with 82,438,096 bbl. in 1912, an increase of about
9,967,900 bbl., or 12%. The estimated shipments of Portland
cement during 1913 were 88,853,000 bbl., compared with
85,012,555 bbl. in 1912, an increase of about 3,840,400 bbl., or
4.5%. On account of a large surplus of production over ship-
ments, stocks of cement at the mills apparently increased more
than 45%. or from 7,811,329 bbl. in 1912 to 11,375,000 bbl. at
the close of 1913. In 1913 the relations between production
and shipments were the reverse of those for 1912, when ship-
ments exceeded production. It may be necessary to revise con-
siderably the estimates of stocks, but it is believed that these
figures for production and shipments are very close to those
that will be shown by complete returns from all producers.
The average price per barrel was appreciably higher than in
1912, several plants in the Central and Eastern states reporting
increases of 10 to 25 c, while there were small decreases in
the Rocky Mountain district.
Gas, Tar, and Ammonia Production
Artificial gas produced in the United States in 1912, as re-
ported by 1062 establishments, amounted to 228,076,510,000
cu. ft. About 7% was lost or unaccounted for, so that the
quantity sold or utilized was 212,391,168,000 cu. ft. This was
valued at $148,282,725, or 70c. per 1000 cu. ft. Coal gas used
for illumination was 31,864,052,000, and for fuel purposes
57,829,320,000 cu. ft. Oil and water gas used for illumination
was 68,136,269,000 and for fuel 54,561,527,000 cu. ft. The prod-
ucts in manufacturing gas from coal were 12,490,757 short
tons of coke, valued at $48,380,009; 134,796,438 gal. of tar,
valued at $3,802,047; 51,527,074 lb. of anhydrous ammonia
(the ammonia liquor being reduced, when strength of liquor
was reported, to its equivalent in NH,), valued at $4,776,386;
35,242,549 gal. of ammonia liquor (strength not reported),
valued at $1,002,807; and 99,070,777 lb. of ammonium sul-
phate, valued at $3,740,075, according to Edward W. Parker,
of the U. S. Geological Survey. The output of tar was 134,-
796,438 gal., worth $3,802,047, and that from oil and water-
gas plants was 9,168,834 gal., worth $229,582.
Sulphuric acid manufactured by the Tennessee Copper Co.
in December amounted to 20,100 tons, and totaled 197,673
tons during the past year.
240
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
Recent Patents
1,071,893. — Pbocess of Removing Suspended Matteb Fbom
Gaseous Fluids. Henry L. Doherty, N. Y.
The process of separating from a body of gaseous fluid
particles suspended therein, which consists in imparting a
spiral motion to the said gaseous fluid first in one direction of
rotation and then in the opposite direction.
1,072,010. — Process of Producing Alkali-Metal Hydroxides
Directly from Alkali-Metal Chlorides. Julius Kersten, Dell-
bruck, near Cologne, Germany.
Mixing an aqueous solution of an alkali metal chloride with
hydroxide of lead, whereby an alkali metal hydroxide contain-
ing basic chloride of lead is obtained, and in separating the
chloride of lead from the alkali metal hydroxide.
1,071,856.— Treatment of Metal-Bearing Solutions. Edgar
Arthur Ashcroft, Balestrand, Norway.
Process for the treatment of metal-bearing solutions to ob-
tain the zinc therefrom which consists in adding to the
solution a cyanogen compound and subsequently heating the
mixture, whereby the zinc is obtained in the form of an
insoluble compound.
1,071,962. — Automatic Charging Device for Roasting-Fub-
naces and the Like. Ludwig Singer, Bochum, Germany.
For roasting-furnace and the like, comprising a plurality
of bottomless exchangeable charging-vessels and a rotatable
false bottom provided with a discharge-opening adapted to
register successively with the lower end of each of said
charging vessels.
1,071,917. — Dewatering Device or Means for Separating
Solids and Liquids. Wilbur Alson Hendryx, New York, N. Y.
A tank having a lower converging portion, an upwardly ex-
tending undivided conduit directly connected to the bottom of
said lower portion and a pair of oppositely rotating screws
in such conduit, said screws having their edges approaching
each other and the sides of the conduit.
1,072,209. — Process of Extracting Zinc from Residues Con-
taining Zinc, Especially Slags, in Reverberatory Furnaces.
Adolphe Henri Desgraz, Hanover, Germany.
Recovering easily reducible and volatile metal from sub-
stances containing the same, which consists in forming such
substances to a molten liquid bath of slag, and reacting upon
said molten bath with a suitable basic agent, thereby driving
off said metal from the bath.
1,072,276. — Magnetic Separator. Georg Ullrich, Magdeburg,
Germany.
A stationary magnet, a non-magnetic guard entirely cover-
ing the active part of said magnet and against which guard
the material is held by the magnet, said guard rotating to re-
move the adhering material when beyond the action of said
magnet, a counterpole adjacent to said magnet also attracting
the material, said counterpole also constructed to rotate.
1,071,975. — Ore Concentrator. Joseph Weatherby, New
Cumberland, Pa., assignor by mesne assignments to Electric
Ore Separator Co., New Cumberland, Pa., a corporation of
Delaware.
Combination with a table, of means for feeding materials
to be separated to said table, means for agitating said table
to pass said materials gradually along the table to effect
stratification and separation thereof, and means for creating
a magnetic field in the path of the moving material and with
the lines of force converging to lines lying in a plane coinci-
dent with the path of the body of material traveling over the
table.
1,071,850. — Ore Concentrator. Henry Ellsworth Wood, Den-
ver, Colo.
The combination with an inclined vibrating ore concentrat-
ing table of the kind described and provided with longtitudinal
riffles, of means for maintaining a stream of water transversely
across the same at the feed end, means for feeding the mater-
ial to be treated in a finely divided state upon the surface of
the stream, a spillway adjacent the feed end of the table to
permit the discharge from the table of the surface film of said
stream with the particles floating thereon, and means for
separately discharging the submerged concentrates and
gangue from the table as set forth.
1,072,359. — Rock Drill With Water Feed. Alexander
Palmros, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Pneumatic Electric
Co., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York.
In a rock drill and a housing therefor, the combination with
a reciprocating hammer in the housing, a drill steel and a
chuck for said steel, of a dolly pin situated between the ham-
mer and the drill steel, a duct in the drill steel and a corre-
sponding duct in the dolly pin, an elastic bulb inclosing part
of the dolly pin, a hollow chamber in said bulb communicating
with the duct in said dolly pin and connection for supplying
water under pressure to said chamber.
1,072,277. — Apparatus for the Magnetic Separation of
Ores and Other Material. Georg Ullrich, Magdeburg,
Germany.
Means for producing a plurality of magnetic fields in a
circle about a vertical axis, in each magnetic field two
stationary poles of which the upper pole comprises lamellae
adjustable vertically and Independently of each other, said
lamellae being downwardly sharpened, for the purpose of pro-
viding, in each magnetic field, a plurality of single adjustable
zones and an extracting body revolving between said poles,
said extracting body being corrugated to conform in shape
with the sharpened part of said lamellae and means for con-
veying the material to be separated between the upper and
the lower poles.
1,072,362. — Safety Clutch fob Mine Cages. Brereton Bur-
gess Roberts, Cimla, Neath, Wales.
An automatic safety device for mine-cages, lifts, and the
like, comprising guide ropes, a movable plate, a pair of jaws
mounted at each end thereof, and adapted to grip the guide
ropes, slidable collars adapted to cause said jaws to grip said
guide ropes, a spring adapted to impel said sliding collars, said
spring being normally restrained by tension of the winding
rope, a connection between said movable plate and the cage
consisting of a rod projecting upward from the cage, and
passing loosely through the said plate, a block through which
said rod also passes, and rods connecting said block with the
aforesaid collars, said rod having a shoulder at its upper end
to retain said block.
1,071,891. — Gold-Saving Machine. Loyd C. Dioert, San
Francisco, Cal.
The combination of a horizontally disposed screen shoe in-
clining in the direction of its length and having a discharge
chute extending from end to end with an outlet substantially
midway of the ends of the shoe and to the side thereof, a gold-
saving table extending transversely relative to the shoe and of
a width greater than the discharge outlet of the shoe and less
than the length of the latter, the head of the table being
directly beneath the discharge outlet and the table inclining
from this point downwardly, yieldable supports for the shoe
and the table, a rotatable shaft arranged at a point substantial-
ly between the shoe and table and extending transversely rela-
tive to the shoe, pitman rods, one for the shoe and the table
each, having eccentric connections with said shaft and adapted
to simultaneously impart shaking movements to the shoe and
table in relative transverse directions about their yieldable
supports.
January 31, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
241
Economic Geology. By Charles H. Richardson. Pp. 320.
111., index. McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1913. For sale by the
Mining and Scientific Press. Price $2.50.
This book makes an excellent first impression, being well
printed and illustrated with fresh, up-to-date pictures. Un-
fortunately, this favorable impression is not strengthened by
a study of the text. The latter does not show that intimate
first-hand knowledge of the subject which alone permits wise
choice from the bulk of material on ore deposits now avail-
able, and the English is so poor that it is charitable to
assume that in places the reverse of what is stated was what
the author intended to say. For example, the statement is
made (p. 3): "If ore deposits are found in the sedimentary
rocks as they sometimes are (with the exception of the lead
and zinc deposits of Missouri), the minerals were associated
with great rock masses whose detritus furnished the material
for the new geological formation." In fact, of course, the
lead and zinc deposits of Missouri are preeminent among
deposits found in sedimentary rocks. The illustrations, while
attractive, are used with little discrimination. For example
(p. 112), a figure (71) typical of the 'flats and pitches' of
Wisconsin, is used as follows: "In Missouri, galenite occurs
filling large cavities as chamber deposits and as gash veins;
also it occurs in what is known as flats and pitches." In
fact, both gash veins and 'flats and pitches' are typical of
Wisconsin. The latter do not occur in Missouri with the
possible exception of some rare and far from typical instances.
The discussion of zinc smelting is entirely out of focus. The
'calcination process' which is discussed first (p. 265) and
at more length than distillation, is of no present large com-
mercial importance. The gain of the Kansas zinc smelters
over those at La Salle, Peru, and other points where "Joplin
ores were formerly treated" (p. 267) has long since been
reversed; the common method of making zinc oxide is not
"by burning metallic zinc," but by treatment of ore; and
in other details the discussion gives a false impression. The
whole book is 'off centre.' It is a pity so much good effort
should have gone to waste.
Russian Mining Regulations. By J. Harper. P. 144. The
Mining Magazine, London. For sale by the Mining and Scien-
tific Press. Price $2.
The difficulties attendant upon mining operations in Russia
have been said to be principally those due to politic, racial,
and economic conditions, and the mining law is by no means
a small obstacle in the path of the uninitiated foreigner be-
ginning operations on Russian soil; he being constantly told
that he cannot do this or that thing according to his own
designs as it is contrary to the government regulations. It
is therefore Important that every milling engineer contem-
plating going to Russia be conversant with the mining laws
of that country and that every company operating in Russia
should supply their managers with a ropy of the laws govern-
ing mining. A knowledge of the law is a protection to the
engineer, In that it stands between him and almost any even-
tuality that is likely to arise in the conduct of mining oper-
ations. In special cases not provided for in the regulations.
It Is usually possible to get permission to proceed by simply
furnishing the authorities with plans and descriptions of the
proposed undertaking. This has been found necessary in the
sinking of inclined shafts, which are not provided for in the
regulations, the use of locked coil hoisting ropes and other
instances. In that this edition is the only English transla-
tion of the general regulations pertaining to metal mining,
every engineer interested in Russian mines should include
In his library a copy.
The Chicago Portable Mine Hoist
Portable mine hoists are one of the recent improvements
that are decreasing costs and lightening the work and worries
of underground managers. The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co..
has perfected a hoist of this type that has a number of novel
features sure to commend it. The weight is 300 lb., so that
the hoist may be handled as easily as a drill. It may be
mounted or dismounted in a few minutes and is so small as
to be easily stowed out of the way. It may be mounted on a
column bar or set as a stationary hoist. It is described by
the makers as below.
The Chicago portable mine hoist operates by a reversible
two-cylinder pneumatic motor through a chain of gears cut
out from solid steel and hardened. This gearing is so de-
signed that a brake is unnecessary. It instantly and posi-
tively locks, whether in raising or lowering the load, the
moment the motor stops, and it is impossible for the load to
slip even though the air is cut off for a whole day. The hoist
will coil 200 ft. of V„-in. wire rope and hoist 650 lb. at a rope
speed of 90 ft. per minute. This it is guaranteed to do with
80 lb. air-pressure, but as a matter of fact is tested with much
heavier loads. The hoist is so designed that the rope cannot
possibly run off the drum. The gears are incased in a closed
gear box, which not only protects the teeth, but also insures
the careless operator against personal injury and permits of
automatic lubrication. The motor consists of two double-
acting oscillating cylinders set at right angles in a closed case.
There is no movable valve mechanism, as the oscillation of
the cylinders opens and closes the ports. A quantity of oil is
kept in the case, so that the crank in revolving lubricates
itself and dashes the oil on the cylinder seats, from which the
air carries it through the inlet ports in sufficient quantities
to thoroughly lubricate the pistons. The air is controlled by
a slide valve, which closes when in the central position and
starts or reverses the motor as it may be thrown to the right
or left. The valve is thrown by a lever. When this lever is
released by the operator the valve is self-closing. This auto-
matic action of the valve positively eliminates all danger of
the hoist creeping and doing damage due to a slight dis-
placement of the valve, since it is necessary to hold the valve
open in order to admit any air to the cylinder. The cylinders
are bored true, and automatically adjustable to their valve-
seats, the adjustment being simple and made from the out-
side of the motor case. The piston rods are ground. The
stuffing boxes are ample and contain sufficient packing for
long wear. All bearings are bronze bushed.
The Younger Generation of Rock-Drills
•One of the most useful additions to the rock-drill family
in recent years is the perfected hand hammer-drill, known
in various mining districts by different terms of endearment
such as 'Plugger' drill, 'Jap' drill, or 'Jackhamer.' This
general type of drill is now extensively employed for such
purposes as sinking shafts, digging trenches, in road work,
trimming tunnels, breaking up boulders, quarry work, strip-
ping coal land, picking coal bands, tearing up pavements,
foundation work, glory-hole' mining, and similar operations.
The hand hammer drill is essentially a one-man machine,
its weight being 20 to 50 11>.. and this has brought the type
into general popularity. This is aside from the fact that
the hand hammer-drill may be used in restricted quarters
and more drills may be employed per unit of space, due to
the absence of mounting and the elimination of helpers.
The adoption of such unmounted drills has been accomplished
without any sacrifice of speed. On the contrary, they have
proved a material aid in securing results greater than could
♦Furnished by Charles A. Hershberg of the Ingersoll-Rand
Company.
242
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
January 31, 1914
be obtained with other types, and this is leaving out of con-
sideration certain other advantages inherent in the hand
type. It must be kept in mind, however, that this article
applies only to work for which the hand hammer type is
adapted. There are certain limitations to the possibilities
of the type which will be referred to later.
The time factor in drilling may be considered as made
AUTOMATICALLY ROTATED HAND DRILL.
up of the following elements: Setting up the drill; drill-
ing the hole; shifting position; removal.
The hand hammer-drill is used without mounting. Hence
the time for setting up is eliminated. The time consumed
in drilling the hole may be said to depend upon the size
of the hole to be drilled, the method of applying the power
to the bit, the facility with which steels may be changed, and
the manner in which the drill-hole is kept clean of cuttings.
With the types of mounted drills in which steel reciprocates
with a piston, it is necessary to employ steels of large diam-
eter, with correspondingly large bits, owing to the heavy
crushing done by every blow and the severe shocks to which
the steel is subjected. Moreover, a certain amount of power
is consumed in the rubbing of the bit against the walls of
the hole, which results in very rapid wear of the bit unless
sufficient metal is provided.
In contrast to this, the hand hammer-drill under discus-
sion employs the hammer principle for delivering the blow.
The steel is not reciprocated with the piston, but rests loosely
in the chuck and is struck a great many light blows by a
rapidly moving piston; the bit end of the steel being at all
times against the rock. It will be evident that the lateral
movement of the steel is very slight (the rebound only) as
compared to the reciprocating of several inches with the
mounted type. With the hand type, the great reduction in
rubbing of the bit against the walls of the hole reduces the
wear on the wings of the bit, so that bits of smaller gauge
variations may be employed. In other words, to obtain a
given size of hole at the bottom, a smaller size of starter
bit may be employed than would be advisable with the mount-
ed type of drill. In the one type the steel is rigidly clamped
to the piston rod; in the other it rests loosely in the chuck
and is prevented from going too far into the cylinder by
a collar on the shank of the steel or by means of an anvil-
block interposed between the end of the steel and the piston.
The latter constructions mean less time consumed while
changing steels and in removing steels so as to clean the
hole. Of course, with types of drills having automatic hole-
cleaning features the time consumed in cleaning the hole
may be practically eliminated from consideration. The time
required for removing the steel from the hole is still further
reduced when a steel holder is employed, especially if it is
of a type that can be slipped into place quickly.
In the mounted type the steel is invariably automatically
rotated. In the hand
type there are two
methods of rotation,
by hand and auto-
matically. The drill
runner must constant-
ly rotate the drill
back and forth
through an angle of
about 45° or the hole
will become rifted,
with consequent stick-
ing of the steel and
delay in removing it.
A drill embodying au-
tomatic, rotation will
produce a more uni-
form hole and will
relieve the operator
of the most irksome
part of his work, thus
permitting him to
work faster and with
little or no necessity
for periods of rest.
The time required
for mounting and for
the various operations
of shifting mounted
types of drills is often
greater that the actu-
al time of cutting,
whereas with the hand
hammer drill this ele- special form of valve for directing
ment is practically AIR through hollow steel and so
eliminated, it requir- clearing hose.
ing but a few sec-
onds to shift. When it comes to removing the equipment
preparatory to blasting, the absence of mounting, aside from
the great disparity in weight (about 250 lb. as against 40 lb.)
is an important item in favor of the newer type of drill.
Of course, this type of drill has its limitations, principal
among which is the depth of hole that may be drilled econom-
ically. This varies, depending solely upon the nature of
the ground to be drilled. In extremely hard rock the drill-
ing range has been as low as 5 or 6 ft., in medium ground
around 12 ft., and in favorable ground about 20 feet.
'Science has no enemy save the ignorant.'
Whole No. 2794 SK&T
San Francisco, February 7, 1914
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
l.lll I iiKI \ I ■
F'ilgf.
Notes 243
Discovery Versus a Permit System 244
Gold Placers of the Maranon 244
ARTICLES l
Revision of the Mining Law — Discovery
William E. Colby 246
Bisulphite Zinc Process 250
Tin Mining In Bolivia «. W. Wepfer 251
Gaylusslte and Its Possible Utilization E. E. Free 255
Cylindrical Wooden Ore-Passes. . An. It ew Fairweather 257
Leading Copper Producing States 261
Studying Mine Fires by Experiment 261
Income Tax Regulation 262
Cover for Engineers' Note-Hooks 262
Mining Costs at Joplln 261
New York Metal Markit Review 275
A New Classifying Jig 278
DISCISSION:
California Miners and the Exposition. ... Herbert Lang 263
Leaching Copper On-s Wilbur A. Hendryx 264
Ore Jerome H. Lanfleld 264
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
GENERAL MIKING NEWS ...
DEPARTMENTS!
266
269
Personal 273
Company Reports 274
The Metal Markets 276
The Stock Markets 277
Current Prices for Ores ami Minerals 277
Current Prices for Chemicals 278
Commercial Paragraphs 278
EDITORIAL
rPHE more careful methods of mining in foreign
A countries, as well as the stricter regulations and
supervision, result in much lower fatality rates
abroad than in the United States. The statistics for
the year 1911 show that the fatality rates in Aus-
tralasia varied from 0.68 to 2.33 per thousand. In
Great Britain the rate was 1.48; in Japan, 1.76; and
in Spain, 1.49 per thousand. In the Transvaal the
high fatality rate (4.14) is probably accounted for
by the enormous number of native laborers employed
in the mines.
pOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY students, according to
^ the report of the director of the University em-
ployment office, earned $56,705 during their summer
vacation. The vocations of the 460 students who
worked during the summer were both numerous and
varied, including all the arts and trades from boot-
black, plasterer, caddie, and baker, to fakir at the
country fairs. With such a variety of talent being
yearly moulded into doctors, lawyers, and engineers,
we can but realize what an important position our
great universities hold in the shaping of the youthful
mind and giving direction to its efforts.
TS Wall Street the barometer of business conditions
A in the United States? No doubt this is generally
thought to be the case, yet we venture to question it.
One of our contributors has succinctly remarked that
"the eastern investor is a speculator in stocks and
not a buyer of mining claims." According to news-
paper headlines we are informed that Wall Street was
hard hit by the poor trade in 1913, and that the past
year was almost a calamitous one in business circles
generally. Yet on another page of the same paper we
read that the year's exports were the largest in the
history of the United States, and that the balance of
trade in favor of this country exceeded the records of
any previous year. Incidentally we note that the im-
portation of diamonds and other gems broke all
records, the value being about $46,000,000. or more
than half that of the total gold production of the
country. The recent depression in Wall Street seems
to be less indicative of poor business conditions than
of a tendency on the part of the public to cease specu-
lating, both in Wall Street and in mining claims, and
to use their money for personal adornment.
244
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
Discovery Versus a Permit System
Discovery, as the proper basis for title to mineral
lands, is discussed in detail and with great clearness
in this issue by Mr. W. E. Colby, whose knowledge
of the facts and the law in the case, as well as his
disposition to be constructive rather than merely a
'standpatter,' lends great weight to what he says.
Probably few have realized how ancient and how
widely recognized the right of discovery is, and it is
true, as is urged, that a rule found good for so many
years and by so many different peoples, must have
merit. It is also true that in legal matters it is wise
to build on to an existing system rather than to be
too ready to start with a clean slate. All this may be
admitted without materially weakening the position of
those who urge that the time has come for radical
changes. We are confronted by certain stubborn facts,
and out of them demand for revision has arisen.
In the first place, there are the withdrawn lands. Ini-
tially only coal lands were withheld from entry "pend-
ing classification." Later oil land, phosphate lands,
potash lands, were added to the category, and now —
and we understand that of this Mr. Colby approves —
even presumed copper-bearing lands have been with-
drawn in certain areas where there are no surface show-
ings of the orebodies assumed to be present at depth.
Furthermore, it seems entirely probable that there will
be more classes of lands withdrawn in the future than
the reverse. In the second place, the public domain
is passing under private ownership with great rapid-
ity. Figures need not be quoted, as the fact is one
patent to all who live in the Western states. The
bulk of the land is being acquired as non-mineral
land, even in regions where there would seem to be
a good presumption of mineral. Unless some measure
be enacted and some step taken, there will soon be
little land left for "free exploration and discovery."
Finally, it is generally admitted by those who have
watched the search for ores that the opportunities for
making discoveries of ore-shoots at the surface, by
the simple methods of prospecting hitherto in vogue,
are becoming extremely rare. To find additional ore-
bodies, we must, in general, adopt newer and more
expensive methods of exploration. These require
longer time, and as they involve more expense they
warrant granting larger areas to. the one undertaking
the venture. Also, they warrant giving such explorer,
during the period prior to discovery, more than a
shadowy and constructive right to undisturbed pos-
session of the ground that he is trying to prove to
be mineral in character. In fact, under the present
law such an explorer is put to needless anxiety and
useless expense. Take as a case a secondary copper
deposit similar to that at Miami. What good pur-
pose is served by covering such ground with 'quartz
locations' — each with a theoretical extralateral right
■ — and cither requiring or allowing the proverbial $100
worth of work per claim during a tentative period:
especially if this work take the form of 10-foot pits
in a capping 200 feet thick ?
For the case of the rare 'true fissure lode,' with a
shoot outcropping at the surface, the old system was
excellent; but for the search for mineral in the west-
ern part of the United States as it is conducted in
1914 and must be from now on, these simple laws of
our forefathers are clumsy, crude, and unnecessarily
vexatious and expensive. Discovery may properly be
made a condition to the giving of final title; but a
form of temporary permit, coupled with withdrawal
of any presumably non-mineral land from any other
form of entry, or the reservation of mineral rights
in all lands taken under non-mineral title in certain
defined areas, may be added to the present system,
we believe, with great benefit to the industry.
Gold Placers of the Maranon
New York and eastern investors are being asked to
subscribe for the shares of Peru Gold Placers, Incor-
porated, a company formed to work certain ancient
placers on the Maranon river in eastern Peru. The
Company is well officered and the directorate includes
Messrs. Alexis I. Du Pont and John J. Kaskob of the
Du Pont de Nemours Powder company ; Henry H. Bow-
man of the Springfield National Bank ; David T. Marvel,
former judge of the Delaware Supreme Court; Charles
S. Miller and 0. R. Hartman of the Ascot Tobacco
Works; and William B. Bassett of Bassett & Company,
New York. It is capitalized at $20,000,000 in $5 shares.
Of the total, 1,200,000 shares have been set aside for
the benefit of the treasury and 150,000 are now being
offered at $2 per share. Subscriptions are said to have
come in rapidly and it was at one time announced that
the entire allotment had been taken. We understand
that this was premature but that the issue has been
underwritten by responsible men. The concern is being
floated upon public faith in the directors and an
engineer's report made by Mr. Raymond McCune. The
placers are in the territory east of the Andes in which
gold undoubtedly occurs and from which stories of
enormous wealth to be won by mining have been com-
ing for years. Our readers will recall the articles by
Mr. Pierre Bourey and by Messrs. C. S. Haley and C. A.
Rodegerdts that we have printed within the year. These
gave definite conceptions of the character of the
country and of the difficulties to be faced in mining or
prospecting. These general impressions warrant an
extremely critical attitude toward any project that ap-
peals to the public for funds and that is capitalized at
$20,000,000. This disposition to scrutinize the matter
closely is all the more warranted in the face of claims
that gravel to the value of $106,106,482 has been found
as a result of one season's work in sinking test pits.
It is not the first time that the 'placers of the Incas'
have been reported to have been found, nor is it the
first time that stories of fabulous wealth have come
from the Andes.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
245
Mr. Raymond MeCune, who is general manager for
the Company and at the same time makes the report
upon which stock is offered the public, is a son of Mr.
A. W. MeCune, at one time of Salt Lake City and well
known as an able railroad builder in the countries
along the West Coast of South America. Mr. Raymond
MeCune is not, as is stated in advertising literature
circulated for the Company, a graduate of Columbia.
He left the school in fact without graduating and with
numerous conditions. This would by no means prevent
his later becoming a good engineer. It is, however, to
his discredit that advertising literature is allowed to
be circulated claiming for him graduation when this
is not in accord with the facts. Mr. MeCune has had
extensive experience in connection with his father's
railroad projects and may be safely assumed to be en-
tirely familiar with the country in which it is proposed
to mine, and with the conduct of expeditions through,
and business enterprises in. such a country. From
that point of view his experience has been excellent.
His ability to test placer ground is less certain and
must be judged by the report to which he has put his
name. Here, as it seems to us, the evidence is inade-
quate to sustain the conclusions drawn. The deposit is
taken at 22,966 yards long. :S17 yards wide, and 18 yards
deep, and the resulting 131.150,840 cubic yards is as-
sumed to have an average value of 80.9 cents per yard.
This average value was obtained by combining the re-
sults of 185 test pits. There are several doubtful points,
among which we may call attention to the fact that
Mr. MeCune has assumed an average depth of 18 yards.
Only two of his test pits were put down to bedrock.
There may or may not be a depth of 18 yards of gravel
present. Another doubtful point is the method of min-
ing that is proposed. It is obvious from the report, to-
gether with the photographs and maps, that the usual
simple method of hydraulicking would be absolutely im-
possible of application on this property. The condi-
tions are quite unlike those at California placers, where
the gravel in high banks can be washed down into
sluices by means of giants. It should be evident to any-
one that this easy and inexpensive method would be
quite inapplicable to the Maranon placers, where nearly
all of the gravel lies below the level of the river. The
question of dump room and disposal of tailing is a
vital one that has not been adequately discussed in the
report. We find no estimate tin- hydraulic elevators:
and provision for a 3000-foot diversion canal only, al-
though the total length of the claims is said to be about
twenty miles. The internal evidence obtained from a
careful reading of the report convinces us that the
testing and sampling of these placers was not done by
thoroughly experienced men. however painstaking and
careful they may have been. \'o engineer qualified
in the testing of alluvial deposits would attempt to
estimate more than a hundred million cubic yards of
gravel when only one or two pits had been sunk to bed-
rock ; nor would he sink test-pits in the irregular and
unsystematic manner that is described in this ease. In
placers of tliis type it is necessary to sink series of
closely spaced shafts or drill-holes to bedrock along
lines drawn at right angles to the course of the river,
these lines or sections being spaced at regular intervals
throughout the entire length of the valley to be sam-
pled. In this way only can accurate data be obtained
concerning the distribution of the gold and the aver-
age value of the profitable gravel areas. Mr. MeCune
reports that he collected the black sand obtained from
the samples of gravel, had this assayed, and then added
the value of the gold from this source to that of the
free gold obtained by panning. This practice is mis-
leading and erroneous, inasmuch as rockers and pans
will save all of the gold that can be caught in the
sluices in actual practice. In addition he fails to give
the depths of any of the test-pits; and gives arithmetical
averages of the gold values, instead of averages cor-
rectly weighted according to the depth of the shafts
and their spacing.
It is also to be remembered, with all due respect to
the engineer who signs his name to this document, that
this is a vendor's report: and studying the plan of
capitalization it becomes evident that the 'insiders'
are to have the large share of any potential profits. It'
all the 1,200,000 shares set aside to finance the property
are needed, the insiders' share will still amount to
nearly three-quarters. If, as is hoped, part of these
treasury shares can be cancelled, the promoters' share
will be larger. There is just one other point that may
fairly be recalled in this connection. The McCune-
Ilaggin interests were last year interested in the Ambo
placers on the Huallaga river, not in the same district,
and were prepared to spend considerable mpney upon
their development when it was discovered that the
samples upon which their faith was centred had been
salted. We are unable to say whether Mr. Raymond -Me-
Cune was a member of the syndicate that came to grief
in this way or not. but the fact that responsible officers
of the leading American mining company in Peru
were deceived in such a matter is another reason for
caution in this case. We have been among those who
have faith in eventual development of important gold
mines on the east side of the Andes, but repeated fail-
ures suggest that no larger expenditures be undertaken
except after complete verification of the first glowing
reports, and we respectfully urge the men who are
serving as directors of this new enterprise to take the
time necessary to check the reports that they now
have before inviting the general public into such a
venture.
Mr. MeCune lias given us an interesting and
picturesque account of his journey into the jungle with
a small army of retainers, and a glowing account of
what he discovered. While there is no suggestion of
the use of gum-drops to inspire his native workmen,
we are critical enough to recall that events proved the
wisdom of suspending judgment in the case of the
; unt of the far wanderings of another eminent
explorer.
246
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
Revision of the Mining Law — Discovery
By "William E. Colby*
Much has been written of late regarding the pro-
posed revision of the United States Mining Statutes.
There seems to be a strong current running in the di-
rection of such revision and the probabilities are that
Congress will, in the near future, be urged to radically
amend the existing law, if not to adopt an entirely new
system.
Difficulty of Revision
It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that such
action should be taken only after mature deliberation.
The proposed changes and the reasons underlying such
changes, should be subjected to the most searching
scrutiny while the probable effect on the mining in-
dustry of the laws to be substituted in their stead
should receive the most careful and critical considera-
tion. That the general excellence of the existing law
has been a material factor in the wonderful develop-
ment of our mineral resources must be generally
conceded. The results have abundantly justified the
sagacity of the framers of the act, and for this reason,
if we have outgrown the system or if some of its pro-
visions require amendment, it would seem that the
burden is on the critics to establish beyond a reason-
able doubt that what they offer as a substitute will
accomplish the results claimed. Unless they can prac-
tically guarantee that what they offer will materially
improve existing conditions, the move will be a dan-
gerous one and may have a disastrous effect on mining
in general. Most of the criticism aimed at the existing
law is of a superficial character and throws but little
light on actual conditions.
Extralateral Rights and Discovery
The object of this comment is to call specific atten-
tion to some of the important details which, so far as
the writer is aware, have not been satisfactorily treated
by the advocates of revision. The two most radical
changes proposed are the abolishment of the extra-
lateral right and doing away with the necessity of
making a discovery. Those who advocate the first
change are consistent in recommending the second. If
the right to follow a vein down on its dip underneath
adjoining ground is denied, and vertical side boun-
daries are to control, then obviously discovery on
claims overlying the dip of the vein and situated sev-
eral hundred feet from the apex would only be pos-
sible after great expenditure of time and labor. A
shaft would have to be sunk from the surface of such
*An'HOR's Note. — A portion of the material used "in this
article has heen prepared for and permission to publish given
by the Carnegie Institution of Research, Washington, D. C.
The author is also indebted to his wife, Rachel Vrooman
Colby, for valuable aid in translation of foreign authorities
on mining law.
outlying claims to intersect the vein in depth if the re-
quirement of discovery on each separate claim be re-
tained.
Is Revision Wise?
Is it wise that we should wipe out this existing dis-
covery requirement? Let us examine the underlying
reasons and anticipate if possible the consequences
which must inevitably result from its abolishment.
Some uninformed critics of the present law have re-
ferred to its discovery requirements as being 'an im-
possibility of mining law originating in America.' No
one at all conversant with the origin of the discovery
requirement in the mining laws of the world could
possibly stand sponsor for such a statement. As Judge
Lindley, in his classic work on the 'Law of Mines,'
has said :
Sec. 335. Discovery the Source of the Miner's Title. —
Discovery in all ages and all countries has been regarded as
conferring rights or claims to reward. Gamboa, who repre-
sented the general thought of his age on this subject, was
of the opinion that the discoverer of mines was even more
worthy of reward than the inventor of a useful art. Hence,
in the mining laws of all civilized countries the great con-
sideration for granting mines to individuals is discovery.
Antiquity of Rights of Discovery
The right of a discoverer of a mine to have the
preference in the concession is recognized in the min-
ing law of nearly every country of continental Europe.
In Germany in the Middle Ages, in the famous min-
ing district of Joachimsthal, free prospectors' licenses
(Fret Schurfen) were granted, but they gave rise to
so much quarreling that they were finally abolished.
Thereafter it was declared that:
"The mining regions shall be free to every miner, who shall
have the right to prospect therein according to his opportu-
nity, without the necessity of securing previous permission.
Whoever, thro' the grace of God first discovers a vein shall
be termed 'the first discoverer' and he shall have the first
discoverer's right, viz: a Fundgrube (discoverer's claim). * *
The Mining Director shall grant the location to no one
else. * *"
Locators of claims (maassen) adjoining the discov-
erer's claim had 14 days within which to discover
and expose a vein in such adjoining locations.1 These
regulations are typical of those which governed in
other mining regions of Germany and Austria.
In more modern times in Germany the discovery
of a vein must be followed by its regular denunciation.
The actual discoverer has, for one week after his dis-
covery, the prior claim. As in our American law,
iThe foregoing information is Sound in Speculum Juris
Metallici,' by Sebastian Span. It is one of the most com-
prehensive treatises on mining law of the early Germanic
period and was published in 169S.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
247
the discovery point must lie within the claim as laid
out.2
European Practice
The French and Belgian law of mines, while not
giving the discoverer an absolute preference to the
concession of a mine, placed him in the list of pre-
ferred applicants. The Spanish and Mexican laws
were still more liberal, for they secured to the dis-
coverer an absolute right of property in the mine
which he discovered and denounced, and no one could
have any preference over him. Other persons who
came after the first discoverer were entitled to take
up claims "as they shall discover ore." They could
not set up stakes unless they had first discovered ore.
In Prussia and Sweden, he who first discovered a vein,
layer, mass or bed of ore. had a right to receive the
concession in preference to any third party.3 In Eng-
land in the lead-mining districts of Derbyshire, where
the right of free mining existed, the discoverer of a
mine was entitled as a matter of ri^ht to have his
claim allotted him by the Barmaster, but this could
not be done "till Ore be gotten in the same ground
to free it withal."4
It may seem strange that countries like Spain and
France should have requirements in their mining codes
so similar to those of Germany. Germany was the
birthplace of free mining, and one would naturally
expect the Roman and civil law to have had greater
influence in moulding the mining institutions of these
other countries bordering on the Mediterranean. This
is not the fact, however. The German States had
made such a success of mining, and developed the
art to such a high degree, that all of the other Euro-
pean countries were compelled to look to it for en-
lightenment. In doing so they also assimilated some
of the ideas of free mining which had there attained
so vigorous a growth. Gamboa. in his famous 'Com-
mentaries on the Mining Ordinances of Spain,' states
that the King of Spain appointed a commission to
examine the mining laws of the world with the idea
of selecting those best suited to the development of
the provinces in the New World, and that after ex-
haustive consideration, those of Germany, with their
right of free mining, were found best adapted.5
Extensive research confirms tl onclusions of the
foregoing authorities. Discovery, as we are familiar
with it. sprang into existence contemporaneously with
the assertion of the free miner's right. This was an
-"Modern German Codes.' by Raymond. Mineral Resources,'
1869.
Hoover's translation of Agricola, pp. si, 82, note; Halleck's
'De Fooz on the Law of Mines': Delebecque, Legislation des
Mines': Blavier, 'Jurisprudence des Mines'; and Ganibon.
Ordenanzas de MInas.' arc authority for the foregoing state-
ments.
• 'The Compleat Miner.' Houchton, 1681; Bainbridge, 'Mines
and Minerals' (5th. cd.i. pp. 150-151.
-Gamboa. 'Commentaries a las Ordenanzas de Minns' (1761),
p. 6. As to the influetiee of German mining law on that of
France, see Das Franziisische Bergrecht.' Achenbach, pp.
28-29.
early Germanic institution, similar in its origin to
other examples of an exercise of free and independent
personal privilege as opposed to the restraint of
despotic sovereignty which have been handed down to
us and become a part of our own institutions. The
free miner's right involved the privilege of going out
on land, usually wild and uncultivated, even though
owned by some prince or royal owner (this being the
equivalent of our public domain), and discovering and
locating a mining claim without the express permis-
sion of such owner. This right became so general and
so well established, that the royal owners were finally
forced to recognize it as a valid custom, and thereby
yielded up one of their prerogatives of ownership. In
short, the free miner decided for himself what land
he would locate, and the ostensible owner of the land
had very little or nothing to say about who should
be allowed to work his mineral lands. A discovery
was essential in order to identify the land claimed,
stamp it with mineral character, and segregate it from
the great bulk of surrounding land. This free miner's
right was confined to mineral land, and the burden
of establishing it to be mineral devolved on the free
miner, and hence the necessity of discovery which fur-
nished his proof. It was the simplest and most prac-
tical test. This same institution of free mining, some-
what modified by circumstances, can be traced into
tlie lead district of Derbyshire. England, and it was
accompanied by the same requirement of discovery
founded on the same necessities.
Origin of American Mining Law
While it is impossible to state that the so-called
American mining law which sprang up in the West
following the discovery of gold, was directly patterned
after the Germanic or Derbyshire prototypes, it is
certain that our law in its genesis owes much to the
spirit and reason underlying these other systems of
mining law with their free miner's right. Here in
the West, in the early days, the miners exercised the
same free right to go out on the public domain to
' discover and locate mining claims. The sovereign
power did not undertake to assert its prerogative,
as it might have done, by designating those who should
be permitted to work its mineral lands, but it gave
full sway to the choice of the individual locators and
passively allowed them to make their own rules and
regulations. This free miner's right, first embodied
in the rules and customs of the mining districts, was
later crystallized and codified into the federal statutes.
For the same reasons which have existed ever since
the free miner's right was first exercised, the principle
of discovery was thus recognized and incorporated
into the American mining law. It was necessary for
the individual exercising this free right to himself
stamp as mineral in character the land lie sought to
select, and the only feasible way in which he could
do this was to make a discovery of mineral. This
served a double purpose, for it, furnished eviden >f
248
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
good faith on his part in claiming the land as min-
eral, and also segregated it from the public domain
and prevented its acquisition by others who might
seek to acquire it under the agricultural laws. As the
law now stands, the miner is given the preference,
and he can ordinarily defeat any agricultural claim-
ant even up to the time of entry for patent by making
a valid discovery of mineral on the land in contro-
versy. By doing away with the necessity of discovery,
what will result? No longer is the mineral claimant
afforded a convenient test as to the character of the
land, which it is now within his power to make, but
he must look elsewhere for the determination of the
controversy. Who shall decide whether the land is
mineral or agricultural in character, and how? Those
who advocate the abolishment of this test overlook
the fact that an agricultural claimant may file on the
same land. They must offer some substitute which
will not only work as well as the test which they seek
to supplant, but to justify the change they should
offer a better test. It may be that they have such a
test in mind, though it is impossible that they can
have one which has withstood the wear and tear of
centuries as has the one they would discard — one which
was created by the miners themselves.
Classification by Government
It has been suggested that the Government shall
determine whether any particular tract of land is
mineral or non-mineral. This means an intensive clas-
sification of the millions of acres comprising the 'pub-
lic domain.' "While this land is being classified, what
is to be the status of mineral filings? And after it
has been classified, what likelihood is there that in
innumerable instances the actual character will be
properly determined? Prospecting will then have be-
come a 'lost art.' With the greatest respect and ad-
miration for the splendid work that has been and will
be accomplished by the government geologists, the
writer feels that they would be the last to claim that
they could perform such miracles. But it may be
urged that the determination shall be made by the
Government after the claim is filed on by the mineral
claimant. One can imagine the delay and intervening
uncertainty of title which would result if some pros-
pector in a remote part of the public domain had to
notify a government inspector of his desire to acquire
title to a claim and had to await the arrival and in-
spection and confirmation of report of the govern-
ment agent. The writer has personal knowledge of
a case where the applicant had to wait two years
for the government inspector's report on a patent
application for a lode mine existing in a remote and
mountainous region of California. This instance is
not cited by way of complaint, but merely as evi-
dence of what will inevitably be the condition if the
burden of classifying the character of the land is
shifted from the prospector to the Government. It
means abandoning the right of the miner to deter-
mine for himself by discovery the character of the
land he seeks to acquire and compelling the Govern-
ment to assume the burden. And who is to pay the
expense of such government inspection and determina-
tion? When the government inspector arrives on the
ground will he not, in all probability, in the great
majority of cases, base his determination of the char-
acter of the land on the same evidences that the
prospector and miner himself ordinarily accepts as a
sufficient discovery?
Legal Protection of Discoverer
Under the present law the prospector knows that
as soon as he has made his discovery he is entitled to
his ground and can enforce his right in the courts,
where the long line of well considered decisions on
the question of discovery will be followed. When dis-
covery has been abolished, however, he can have no
such assurance. The protection of the courts based
on long established precedent is no longer his. The
determination of the character of the land will rest
elsewhere, and the miner will have sacrificed one of
his strongest safeguards, founded on centuries of min-
ing experience.
The element of discovery is firmly established in
our system of mining law, as is evident from the fol-
lowing expressions of opinion by the Supreme Court
of the United States:
"Discovery is the all-important fact upon which title to
mines depends." (Lawson v. United States M. Co., 207 U. S. 1,
13.)
"The whole scope of the chapter (Chap. 6 of Title 32, Rev.
Stat.) is the acquisition of title from the United States to
mines and mineral lands, the discovery of the mineral being,
as stated, the initial fact. Without that no rights can be
acquired." (Creede and Cripple Creek M. & M. Co. v. Uinta
T. M. & T. Co.. 196 U. S., 337, 345.)
"In all legislation, whether of Congress or of the State or
Territory, and by all mining regulations and rules, discovery
and appropriation are recognized as the sources of title to
mining claims, and development, by working, as the condi-
tion of continued ownership, until a patent is obtained. And
whenever preliminary woik is required to define and describe
the claim located, the first dscoverer must be protected in
the possession of the claim until sufficient excavations and
development can be made, so as to disclose whether a vein
or deposit of such richness exists as to justify work to extract
the metal. Otherwise, the whole purpose of allowing the
free exploration of the public lands for the precious r- 'tals
would in such cases be defeated, and force and violen in
the struggle for possession, instead of previous discovery,
would determine the rights of claimants." (Erhardt v. Boaro,
113 U. S., 527-535.)
The foregoing is sufficient to indicate that discovery
has played an important part in the history of min-
ing law of the world and is the most vital requisite
of the law as it exists in the United States today. Not
only is this fundamental requirement incorporated in
the federal statutes, but practically every mining state
in the West has enacted this provision into its sup-
plementary statutes. If discovery be abolished, not
only must the federal statutes be amended, but each
February 7, 1!>14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
IV.)
state will be compelled to alter its own statutes to
harmonize.
The Law Now Well Understood
More important than all else, the mining laws with
relation to each other, and with relation to all of our
public-land laws. have, during the years of their exist-
ence, been interpreted by the courts ; and we have now
built up on these laws a superstructure consisting of
a long line of decisions worked out after years of
painstaking effort, harmonizing and correlating and
unifying not only the mining laws themselves, hut also
these laws in their relation to the non-mineral public-
land laws. Decisions involving the effect of discovery
of mineral exist with relation to homesteads, town-
sites, desert lands, timber lands, railroad lands, state
lands, national forests, etc. and almost every imagin-
able problem that can arise where discovery is in-
volved has sooner or later been presented and decided.
This judicial interpretation of the effect of these laws
with relation to one another is as important in its
way as is the organic law itself which it interprets.
It is more important in one sense, for the fundamental
law may be enacted 'over night,' as it were, while
the judicial interpretation and harmonizing of these
laws is a matter of a great many years of laborious
development.
The law as it exists is now well understood all
through the mining regions. Rights innumerable have
become vested and are being exercised, and to make
a radical change will materially unsettle conditions
for years to come. To wipe out at one stroke all of
these statutes and all of this superstructure of judicial
interpretation will be a most serious mistake unless
something materially better is offered in its stead. The
burden rests heavily on the proponents of revision to
establish this, for we are giving up the result of years
of labor and cannot afford to take in exchange some
substitute that somebody or other thinks will improve
conditions, unless it is quite certain that it actually
will have the beneficial effect claimed. We must have
some valid reasons that cannot be satisfactorily cov-
ered by amendment to the existing law.
A Way Out
No one conversant with the facts can. however, fail
to recognize that the existing mining law is deficient
in many respects and has been stretched to cover con-
ditions it was never intended to govern. This is par-
ticularly true in the case (if a discovery requirement
as applied to deep-lying oil-bearing strata, zones of
seeondaryvi enrichment constituting the so-called 'cop-
per porj )rries,' and gold placers of Alaska where the
'pay streak' can only lie reached by sinking through
many feet of frozen overburden. To such deposits the
rigid discovery requirements should not apply. But,
on the other hand, because the law as to discovery
has imperfections is no reason for abolishing it in toto
unless its shortcomings are incurable by amendment.
This entire condition can be remedied very simply by
applying to such exceptional eases the following equita-
ble doctrine which has already been announced many
times by the Supreme Court of California:
"If a qualified person peaceably enters upon public lands
of the United States for the purpose of discovering oil or
other valuable mineral deposits therein, and such land is at
the time unoccupied, and there is at the time no valid min-
eral location or lawful entry thereon, under the land laws
of the United States, such person has the right to continue
in possession so long as he continues to occupy the same to
the exclusion of others, and diligently and in good faith
prosecutes thereon the work of endeavoring to discover such
mineral therein." (Smith v. Union Oil Co.. 135 Pacific Re-
porter, 9U6-967, and cases cited.)
The citation from Erhardt r. Boaro, already quoted,
is also an announcement of the same doctrine by the
Supreme Court of the United States. It is true that
some conns have limited the locator's right prior to
discovery to his pedis posxessio, or ground that he actu-
ally has in his physical possession.'1 but it would seem
that this is taking too narrow a view of the situation
where the locator is using due diligence in perfecting
a discovery. The United States, through its mining
statutes, has extended to him a tacit invitation by de-
claring that all of its mineral lands are '"free and open
to exploration and purchase.'' When he enters upon
such lands in good faith, intending to demonstrate
their mineral character by making a discovery with
reasonable diligence, the Government should protect
him to the extent of his located boundaries of lawful
size and thereby prevent acts of violence and unseemly
contests in a struggle for possession.
The California doctrine is (dearly the equitable one,
and if there is any uncertainty about its being the law.
it can readily b xlified by Congress as an amend-
ment to the mining statutes. This will overcome many
of the objections to the ri«;id discovery requirement.
Mineral Versus Agricultural Lands
There is another objection which has been raised
against the existing law by reason of the possibility
of agricultural filings being made on such lands con-
taining deep-lying mineral before the mineral claim-
ant has had a chance to make a discovery. The
remedy for such eases is (dearly one which has already
been utilized in the oilfields and in the ease of 'copper
porphyries. '7
Where such areas have been satisfactorily demon-
strated by adjacent indications or discoveries of min-
eral to contain, in all probability, the continuation
of such deposits, the land department can withdraw
them from agricultural entry for a sufficient period
of time to enable prospective mineral claimants to
demonstrate the actual presence of mineral by discov-
ery. Under existing law the Government can in this
way extend every protection to the miner. The pos-
"Hanson v. Craig, 170 Fed., K2: Gemmel v. Swain (Mont.),
72 Pac, 662.
■34th Ann. Rep.. Director U. S. Geol. Surv., p. 154: also,
Bulletin r,.,!7. V. S. Geol. Surv.. pp. 40-41.
250
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
sibility of serious difficulty from an agricultural claim-
ant prior to discovery is rather remote even in the
absence of a withdrawal from agricultural entry.
The agricultural claimant must file his application
tinder the land laws in the land office, and the miner
has every opportunity of calling the land depart-
ment's attention to the probable mineral character
of the land by protest. The department has in sev-
eral instances already decided that it is not neces-
sary that there be an actual discovery of mineral on
the" land in order to cause it to deny the agricultural
application or withhold determination pending discov-
ery work by the mineral claimant. Adjoining indi-
cations of mineral are sufficient to justify the depart-
ment in taking such action.8
, The experience of 'scrippers,' homesteaders, and
■other pseudo-agricultural claimants in the oilfields is
evidence of the fact that the Government will not
permit land with mineral indications to be patented
nuder the non-mineral laws. If this protective action
has not been exercised widely enough, it is possible
to extend it simply by convincing the land depart-
ment of an existing necessity. The miner's status can
be further strengthened, if deemed necessary, by ap-
propriate legislation.
It will appear from the foregoing discussion that
to do away with the necessity of discovery is to
amend our mining law fundamentally. It shifts the
power of establishing the character of the land in
the first instance from the miner himself to the Gov-
ernment. Whereas the miner has in the past been
given the preference, wherever he could establish a
valid discovery, any alteration in the law such as
proposed gives rise to new and unfathomed complica-
tions. Where agricultural claimants assert title to
the same land, and where national forests are in-
volved, the miner is not likely to profit by doing away
with discovery. Under a new law placing the deter-
mination of the question of mineral character in the
hands of others, he may awaken to the fact that he
has "sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.''
It may be that the difficulties pointed out can be
overcome and that some one can suggest an altera-
tion of our mining code, fitted to our conditions, which
will not work a hardship on the miner. But the old
adage must be kept in mind that it is easier to tear
down than to build up. The proposal of abolishing
the extralateral right also deserves careful consider-
ation, but the subject is too large to be dealt with
in this article.
To guard against sudden invasions of rebel bauds
at the El Favor Mining Co.'s properties in Mexico.
the principal buildings wore surrounded by a high
wall and towers from which a defense could be made.
A little tact with the ' hisurrectos ' has at the same
time been of great benefit to the management.
"Skinner v. Fisher, 40~lTd., 112, 116; also, see an unre-
ported decision appearing in the Mining ami Scientific Press
of July 27, 1907, p. 123.
Bisulphite Zinc Process
The Metals Extraction Corporation, Ltd., has been
conducting experiments with a process designed to
treat mixed sulphide and tin ores. A 25-ton plant has
been in operation at Swansea, and experimental work
has also been under way in Wales, Tasmania, and
Sweden. At the company meeting held in London, De-
cember 29, II. T. Durant gave the following particulars.
"If one traces from its inception the bisulphite
process, we find that its evolution has been strikingly
similar to, and by no means slower than that of other
metallurgical discoveries. The bisulphite process has
always appealed strongly to all metallurgists after the
briefest explanation of its claims and objects, for the
reason that nothing but water and power is required
for its operation, and its chemistry is simple and does
not admit of discussion. Briefly, the process consists in
roasting ores containing, among other valuable metals,
/inc. During the actual roasting there is given off cer-
tain impure acid gases; these latter are dissolved in
water, and the acid water thus produced is used to dis-
solve the zinc out of some of the already roasted ore,
producing, on the one hand, ore free from zinc and,
therefore, now of value for its other contents (for ex-
ample, lead and silver), and, on the other hand, solu-
tion containing zinc, which zinc is recovered as zinc
oxide by the agency of heat. The work naturally di-
vides itself into three distinct sections, namely: (a)
roasting the ore; (6) dissolving the zinc out of the
roasted ore by means of the acid gases given off during
the roasting, and thereby producing ore free from zinc
and also zinc solution: and (c) recovering zinc oxide
from the above-mentioned solution.
"None of the standard types of furnaces met our
requirements until we had succeeded in evolving a
furnace of our own. simpler than any of the stand-
ard roasting furnaces and free from royalties or other
encumbrances. We had to provide for roasting com-
plex ores under certain well defined conditions;
such complex ores (because, to a great extent, a drug
in the market) had not previously been commercially
roasted. The first means employed was to obtain the
pure acid out of the acid gases given off during the
roasting of the ore, then to stir the ore in closed ves-
sels with water, and pump the acid into it. thereby
dissolving the zinc. This procedure was abandoned
for several reasons: it is sufficient to state one. namely,
that up to the present it is not possible to make a pump
which will pump the acid gas. The next method tried
was an improvement in that no pumps for acid gas
were required : this method succeeded metallurgical^,
but we had to abandon it because the smell of the acid
solutions was such that it was impossible for men to
work on the plant. Here we succeeded metallurgically.
but failed from a humane point of view. Now. by cer-
tain plant modifications, involving none of the pre-
vious disabilities, we have succeeded in putting the
process to work on a commercial scale."
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
251
Tin Mining in Bolivia
By G. W.
The following notes are extracted from .■studies, and
observations made in Bolivia together with informa-
tion which I have taken from the work of Sr. Pedro
Aniceto Blanco, entitled 'Monografie de la Industria
Minera en Bolivia,' published in La Paz, 1910.
Pedro de la Gasca founded the city of La Paz in 1548
and this date may be taken as the beginning of the
mining industry in Bolivia, the 'Peru alto,' of the Span-
iards. They had undisputed sway until 1781, when
the Indians rose in revolt from Cuzco, Peru, to Tucu-
man bow in the Argentine Republic. In 1805 a new
Spanish army returned to Bolivia to reconquer the lost
provinces, but after twenty-four years had to give up
the attempt. During this period mining was being
intermittently conducted in different parts of the
country.
The Spaniards were not seeking tin: they wanted
only silver and gold. They found tin in many of their
silver mines, tin veins frequently running parallel with
the silver veins, sometimes being intertwined with
veins of silver in such condition they could not be
mined separately. As far as possible, the early Span-
ish miners avoided the tin ore. but now the conditions
■re reversed and in the same mines the silver ore is
left in place and the tin is mined.
Where the tin ore is in the form of oxide as
cassiterite Sn02. it is crushed, concent rated, sacked,
and shipped. Where it is in form of sulphide, as
franckeite, Pb.Sn.Sb.S,, or 2PbSnS Pb.Sb.S,, it is
crushed dry. roasted and leached with hyposulphite
of calcium and the tailing is concentrated. The hypo-
sulphite, solution is precipitated and this silver pre-
cipitate is washed, dried, and sacked. The tailing
is classified by spitzkastcn. the spigot discharge j^oes
to jigs, the overflow is ;iLrain classified into sand and
slime and treated on sand and slime tables. The
jig middlings are reground, separated by spitzkasten
again into sand and slime and run over sand and
slime tables. According to the ores, separate con-
centrates can be obtained of tin. gold, copper, lead, and
antimony.
Wepfer
I have the detailed records of 115 tin mines, and
there may be as many as 25 more tin prospects. These
115 tin mines may be divided into three classes, viz :
44 are good mines, some of which requiring more capi-
tal to operate; 27 are financially embarrassed and able
to do but little development work on their tin veins ;
and 44 are prospects. Bolivia has nine departments,
hut only in four departments, namely. La Paz, Cocha-
hamba. Oruro and Potosi are tin mines to be found.
To afford a general idea as to the condition of tin min-
ing in Bolivia, I give herewith the detailed operations
of a number of the better and larger tin mining com-
panies.
Department of La Paz
The Sociedad Anonima de las Minas Iluaina-
Potosi y Milium has 653 hectares of mineral land (1
hectare=10.000 square metres=2.4711 acres) on which
are about 20 veins of tin and bismuth with an average
content of 5 per cent tin. The monthly production
amounts to 1000 Spanish quintals, (1 Spanish quintal
=101.4 lb.) of concentrate of 55 to 60 per cent tin.
The Company employs 200 men at a daily wage of
1.20 Bolivianos to 2 Bolivianos ($0.60 to $0.80).
Bolivia has an agreement with the Bank of England
whereby the bank accepts 12% Bolivianos for £1 ;
1 Boliviano equals about $0.40. The Company has a
■rood concentrator, also good houses for officers, and
miners. The property is 12% miles by a good wagon
road from La Paz.
The Minn Kala-uyu property consists of 450 hectares
in the mountains of the Autajahua and Pacolla.
Cereado province. The veins contain 10 per cent tin.
The ore is stannite=Cu,S-FeS-SnS... The production
amounts to 800 quintals of concentrate per month of
60 per cent tin. The Company employs 20 men. who
work by contract and receive 16 Bolivianos ($6.40)
per quintal. The Company has a good future, but will
need $50,000 to open a tunnel and build a concentrator,
(at present the concentration is done by hand sorting
bv Bolivian women) and an aerial rope way to convey
252
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
the ore from the mine. The property is 9^2 miles from
the railway from La Paz to Guaqui.
The Empresa Providencia property consists in 300
hectares upon the mountains of Chilaya and Chun-
ehumany. This property has 40 veins which average
10 per cent in tin. The production varies between 150
and 200 Spanish quintals of concentrate of 68 to 72 per
cent tin; employs 30 men at a daily wage of Bs. 1.20 to
Bs. 2.50 ($0.48 to $1.00), and has a small concentrator,
and houses for staff and workmen. The Empresa de
Estaho en Araca has 502*4 hectares at Viloco. There
are two large veins each two metres wide which carry
from 12 to 19 per cent of tin, and produce 2000 to 2500
quintals of 60 to 65 per cent concentrate of tin per
month. These veins produce the beautiful large speci-
mens of cassiterite, the finest in the world, which can
be seen in the National Museum at La Paz. This com-
pany employs 225 men. A branch railway to the
Viacha-Oruro railway would greatly benefit this Com-
pany and with additional capital the mines could have
a much greater production.
The Monte Blanco property is in the valley of
Guallatani of the Cordillera Quimza-Cruz at an altitude
of 17,984 feet. The veins are as much as two metres
wide and of an average content of 8 per cent. At the
intersection of veins, the ore assays from 40 to 50 per
cent of tin and contains many fine large specimens of
cassiterite. There are 20 veins of uniform size and
grade in the property. On the property are lakes
Guallatani and Kasiri. Lake Guallatani' is 4920 ft. long
by 1640 ft. wide and at an elevation of 16,138 ft. above
the sea. This water will be used for power purposes.
It has a fall of 1476 ft. and could develop power for
many mines in the locality.
The mineral area of this Com-
pany consists of 213 hectares.
This Company is new and has
not yet completed its equip-
ment. The reserve of 13 per
cent tin ore in sight amounts
to 200,000 tons. The capital
of the Company is £280,000.
The Concordia property
was first known as the Andes
Tin Company and was organ-
ized in Boston. Mass., with
strong capital. The property
comprises 477 hectares of min-
eral ground in the vicinity of
Santa Vela Cruz. The ores
contain from 3 to 19 per cent
tin and the production aver-
ages about 200 Spanish quin-
tals from the veins and from
old dumps, but it is expected
to be greater as soon as the
new installations are complet-
ed. The concentrator includes
a stamp battery. Chilean mills,
jigs, and Wilfley tables. The
Campany has a hydro-electric
power-plant and about 70 men
at present occupied in road
making. The Company has
warehouses at the railway sta-
tion 'Euealipto. ' as well as
at 'Caluyo, ' which serve as
deposits for material in tran-
sit to the mine.
Department of Cochabamba
The Minas de Tucsuhuma is an Argentine enterprise
which controls 64 hectares mineral ground upon the
mountains of Tucsuhuma and Jatum-Kaka in the
mountain range of Coleha. One vein is a metre wide
containing 3 to 4 per cent tin. The main tunnel
'Escorial' is lined with hewn stone and affords access
to all the interior workings. The production is 500
quintals of concentrate of 65 per cent tin. The mine
employs 140 men who receive Bs. 2 ($0.80) per day.
There is a mill on the property, but for better work a
wagon road, from the mine to Coleha. connecting with
the railway from Oruro to Cochabamba. and more
capital is required. The Santa Rosa Company has 35
February 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
253
50-TON TIN CONCENTRATOR. ANDES TIN CO., I. A PAZ, HOLIVIA.
hectares upon the mountains of Huaillacocohi and
Tucsuhuma in the Canton of Colcha. There are two
veins, 3 metres wide, containing 8 per cent tin. The
property is in a state of development at present with a
short tunnel 200 ft. long, and is expected to produce
500 quintals per month. The Company would be bene-
fited by a concentrator ami ;i wagon-road about 6
miles long from Tucsuhuma to Colcha.
The Berenguela Tin Mines. Ltd., own 50 hectares in
the Berenguela mountains in the Canton of Colcha.
Within this area are 2 veins in tin. each 3 metres wide.
carrying from 3 to 4 per cent of tin. The actual pro-
duction per month is 700 quintals of 64 per cent tin
concentrate. There are 73 men employed with a total
monthly expense of Bs. 1200. The work is restricted
on account of the scarcity of water for the mill. With-
out this difficulty the Company could easily produce
1000 quintals per month.
Department of Oruro
Empresa del Socavon de Oruro y Dependencias is
also known under the old mime Compaiiia Miners de
Oruro. Tt belongs to the Rank of Chile in Santiago
and comprises 252 hectares. There are 10 principal
veins of an average content of 6 per cent tin and 12
mareos silver per cajon. The tin occurs ;is sulphides
and oxides. The monthly product ion consists in 1121
metric tons of 10 mareos silver per cajon and 7 per
cent tin: the oxides of 336 metric t"::-; with equal con-
tent of silver and tin. The Company employs 770 men
with a daily wage of Bs. 0.80 to lis. 4 ($0.32 to
$1.60). The various mines have commodious buildings
for offices for the staff and men at Oruro and the
mine. The property is two and a half miles by wagon-
road from the city of Oruro. All the minerals are con-
veyed to the concentrator at Machamarca, which is
18 miles from Oruro by a branch railway. The sul-
phides are roasted and leached, and the tailings are
concentrated. In the concentrator. 290 men are em-
ployed with wages between Bs. 1 and Bs. 4.50 ($0.40
to $1.80) per day.
The Compaiiia Minera de San .lose has 87 hectares
of mineral lands northeast of Oruro at a distance of
only two and a half miles from that city. The yearly-
production amounts to 4500 mareos silver, of 100 mareos
per cajon and 4500 Spanish quintals of 55 per cent tin
concentrate. The Company employs 500 men with
average daily wages of Bs. 2 ($0.80). The ores are
sent to the Alantana mill in the province of Poopo on
the Antofagasta Oruro railway.
The Empresa Iluanuni de Penny and Duncan
operates 193 hectares upon Pozoconi mountain. There
are two companies at work, namely: the English com-
pany. Harrison & Co. and the Empresa Penny &
Duncan. The ore averages 8 per cent tin and the
monthly production is 2583 Spanish quintals of 70 per
cent concentrate. The Company employs 768 men
at an average wage of Bs. 60 ($24) per month. This
VIEW I HUM I(i\lll\(i TERMINAL. WILT 1!Y TRENTON IRON COMPANY.
254
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
Company has a large concentrating plant. There are
also in the town of Huanuni for the different mines of
this Company buildings for offices, the staff and the
men. This Company has working arrangements with
the English company.
The Compafiia Minera el Balcon is an English com-
pany which operates 16 different important veins on
Pozoconi mountain, Canton Huanuni, Cercado province.
The ore averages 8 per cent tin. The production is
3570 quintals per month of 65 per cent of concentrate.
The Company has 400 men who receive an average
wage of Bs. 1.80 to Bs. 4.50 ($0.72 to $1.80) per day.
This enterprise is one of the best in the department of
Oruro and has the best of equipment. The first-class
ore is hand sorted to a grade of 55 per cent and sent
to Europe for sale. The low grade is sent to the El
Balcon mill where a 65 per cent concentrate of tin is
produced. The transport of the ore from the Catarica-
gua mine is effected by an aerial ropeway with a
capacity of 3550 quintals per hour, to El Balcon
mill. «A branch railway from Huanuni connects with
the rail way station Machamarca , which is of great
service to this Company and others in that locality.
The Compafiia de Estafio de Anteguerra property
comprises 227 hectares with two principal veins and
many branch veins. The Esperanza group is on the
Chunchu mountain and produces 500 quintals of 70
per cent concentrate. The Company employs 150 men
who receive an average wage of Bs. 2.50 to Bs. 3.45
($1 to $1.38) per day, and 12 men with a monthly
salary of Bs. 200 ($80). The Empresa Avicaya is a com-
pany operating a property in the mountain Chualla-
grande in the province of Paria, 65 miles from Qruro
with a 6-mile wagon road to the station of Pazna. The
holdings of the Company cover an area of 300 hectares
and the ore assays as high as 40 per cent, but the aver-
age is about 17 per cent tin. The monthly production
is 3500 quintals of 70 per cent concentrate. The mine
shaft is 656 ft. deep. An aerial ropeway 8200 ft. long
brings the ore from the mine to the mill. There are
between 500 and 600 men employed. Near by are
other companies with equally good prospects, but they
are doing nothing on account of lack of funds.
The Empresa Magarinos property consists of 110
hectares on Villacollo and Sillacollo mountains with
an average of 20 per cent of tin, and at the intersection
of veins as high as 30 per cent. The production is
comparatively small and irregular on account of lack
of funds, but 500 quintals of 65 per cent concentrate
per month could easily be produced.
Department of Potosi
The Empresa Soux Hernandez, on Mount Potosi. has
10 tunnel mines employing 945 men who receive Bs.
1 to P.s. 2 ($0.40 to $0.80) per day. In the year
1900 this Company produced 385,350 quintals. Other
properties of the Company which were worked by 187
men. produced 7700 quintals with an average content of
30 to 40 per cent tin. The Company has the large
modern mill Velarde and an aerial tramway to trans-
port the ore from the mine to mill. Besides this mill
the Company operates the Huaillahuasi, Quintaniila,
and Pampa mills which employ 1187 men, who receive
an average of Bs. 1.50 ($0.60) per day.
Production and Wages
The Bebin Hermanos are operating five mines with
570 men, who receive Bs. 1.50 to Bs. 1.60 ($0.40 to
$0.64) per day. The mines produce silver and also
about 2500 quintals of 50 per cent concentrate of tin
per month. The Company has 10 other properties
which are not being worked and the modern concen-
trating mills Huayra and Santa Rosa.
The house of Metting is working six mines and has
five others in reserve. The production is 586 quintals
per month of between 45 and 55 per cent tin. There
are the two mills, the Candelaria and Alantaiia em-
ploying 70 men who receive Bs. 1.40 ($0.56) per day.
These mines of Eduardo la Iglesia have a good future.
These comprise seven properties, but only two, the
Milagro and La Patria are being worked. In the
Milagro 58 men are employed at an average wage of
Bs. 0.80 to Bs. 1.60 ($0.32 to $0.64). The production
amounts to 200 quintals per month. La Patria with
80 men and the same wages produces 400 quintals.
The Patria has the Laguacayo mill and the Milagro
mine has the Milagro concentrating plant.
The Cosme Alurralde Co. is one of the best mining
companies on Mount Potosi and has 11 mines, but work
is only carried on for the present at the Rosario
property. The production amounts to 417 quintals of
concentrate per month of 50 per cent tin and some
silver. The Company employs 340 men, who receive
lis. 1 to Bs. 2 ($0.40 to $0.80) per day. At present
the ore is hand-sorted.
Vladislavichy y Cia. has two mines and three mills
which produce 642 Spanish quintals of 50 to 55 per
cent concentrate of tin per month with 95 men. This
Company has a good future. Tomas Elio has four
mines and the Escalante mill which produces 400 quin-
tals of 57 per cent tin concentrate per month. Primitivo
Calvimonte has two mines and the Golpeadero and
San Jose mills. He is working 134 men and produces
about 420 quintals of 60 per cent tin concentrate.
Matias de Mendieta has the two mills Chaca and
Esperanza at Rivera and with 93 men is producing
1000 quintals of 55 per cent tin concentrate per month.
Roman Lopez owns the Victoria and San Felipe mines
and employs 120 men. The property produces 420
quintals of 50 per cent tin concentrate.
La Salvadora which belongs to Sr. Simon I. Patiiio.
lias four hectares on the Juan del Yalle mountain in
the canton of Uneia and a mill which is considered the
best and most complete in Bolivia ; the work through-
out is conducted upon best practide by careful and
efficient engineers. The content of the ore fluctuates
from 1 to 75 per cent tin. The mine has a depth of
more than 960 ft., all of which is being exploited, using
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
255
electric rock drills with good results. The ore is raised
by electric hoists, the electric power is produced at the
Mira-Flores mill. The ore is conveyed from the mine
by an aerial tramway 12,344 ft. long to the mill and
can deliver 1500 to 2000 quintals in 12 hours. The pro-
duction is 17,000 quintals of 65 per cent tin concentrate,
and 3000 quintals of ore which needs no concentration,
as it assays 57 per cent tin. The mine is dry and the
levels are well ventilated by electric fans. A gas engine
of 350 horse-power is installed to produce the electric
power at 2300 volts which is reduced by transformers
to 500 volts for the hoist, and to 220 volts for the rock
drills and fans. In mine and concentrator everything
is done to promote the welfare and hygiene of the men.
There is a hospital and a school for the children.
The Compaiiia de L'nica has been acquired by Sr.
Simon I. Patino for the sum of £150,000 cash. This
was an Irish company conducted by the well known
engineer, Sr. Juan B. Minehin, situated in the Chaya-
guena mountains of Uncia and consists of the follow-
ing groups : Carmen with 12 hectares, Industria with
_15 hectares, San Antonio with 12 hectares. I'izarro
with 7 hectares and San Jose with 12 hectares. Sr.
Simon I. Patino has now two large mines, namely, the
'La Salvadora' and the 'Compaiiia de Uniea' and will
soon be able to produce 2.">.<>(i0 quintals per month of
62 per cent concentrate, by means of the Victoria mill
of La Salvadora.
The Compaiiia Estanifera de Llallagua is owned by
Santiago interests. It has 2121 ■> hectares in Llalluagua
mountains. The Company lias two large veins, the
La Blanca anil the San Fermin. It is 2296 ft. from the
portal of the Azul tunnel to the La Blanca vein and
from thence 1476 ft. to the San Fermin vein. From
this tunnel a winze is sunk about 10(1 ft. to the new
Cancaniri tunnel and from the Azul tunnel a raise
is driven for 400 ft. to the San Jose tunnel. The Can-
caniri tunnel is the principal tunnel, through which
all the ore is extracted. All three tunnels have electric
current for light, electric traction, and electric rock
drills. The ore trains are pulled by electric locomo-
tives. An aerial ropeway conveys tin; ore from the
mine to the Chile mill, a distance of 16,400 ft. The pro-
duction is 600 quintals per month, with 600 men. The
wages are IJs. 3 ($1.20) per day.
The Aramayo Francke y Cia. I>td. property is one
of the largest enterprises in Bolivia with headquarters
at Quechisla, North f'hichas. The Company has 3524
hectares containing veins of tin. bismuth, wolfram, and
silver in the districts of f'horolque, Chocaya, and
Tasna. The average assay of tin ore is 18 per cent and
there are ore-pockets of cassiterite assaying as high as
70 per cent of tin. The rich material is hand-sorted
for shipment to Europe. The Santa Barbara, Sala-
Sala, and Cotani mills treat the Chorolgue ore. For
this district, the Company employs between 600 and
800 men and produces ;i limit 5000 quintals of 60 to 65
per cent tin. The Santa Barbara mill has an altitude of
15.777 ft.; the Cotani mill 13,133 ft., and the mines an
altitude of 17,188 ft. The ore from the mines at Tasna
containing tin, bismuth, and wolfram are treated in the
Buen Retiro mill. The Chocaya property has the
Asllani mill at an altitude of 13,123 ft. The property
is equipped with an aerial ropeway 9842 ft. long to
transport the ore from the mines to the mill. There
are 600 men employed at this property, producing 6373
quintals per month of 55 to 60 per cent tin concentrate.
The yearly production of this Company is about 71,700
quintals of tin concentrate. The wages vary between
Bs. 1.20 and Bs. 5 ($0.48 and $2) per day. At
Quechisla, the Company has a new installation for the
smelting of ores of bismuth and copper, an electric
power and light service and good buildings for the
staff and the men.
Gaylussite and Its Possible Utilization
By E. E. Free
•Previous to the discovery by the Railroad Valley
Co., gaylussite has been a rare and little known mineral.
Museum specimens came from a small lake near Merida,
Venezuela, and from Soda lake, near Ragtown, Ne-
vada, at both of which localities the gaylussite occurred
as scattered crystals with trona and other soda min-
erals. The mineral has also been identified at Searles
lake, California, and in Sweetwater valley, Wyoming.
It can be produced artificially, and is occasionally an
accidental and minor by-product in the manufacture of
caustic soda. Previous to its discovery in Railroad
valley, it had been found by the Railroad Valley Co.
as crystals scattered through the clays underlying the
Dixie salt marsh and the Columbus marsh, Nevada.
Physically it is colorless and transparent when pure,
but is usually rendered yellowish or grayish by in-
cluded clay. Crystals from the buried bed in Railroad
valley are the purest and most transparent yet ob-
tained. The crystals belong to the monoclinic system.
It is very brittle, has a specific gravity of nearly 2,
and a hardness of 2 to 3. Chemically it is a hydrous
double carbonate of calcium and sodium, having the
formula Na^CC^ • CaCO„ ■ 5ILO. In percentage com-
position the pure mineral contains 35.81% of sodium
carbonate, 33.78% of calcium carbonate, and 30.41% of
water. It may be distinguished by brisk effervescence
with dilute acid, and by the fact that when boiled with
water it decomposes, giving a white powder and a
strongly alkaline solution.
The practical interest of gaylussite lies in its con-
tent of sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate, known
commercially as soda or soda ash, is largely used in
glass and soap making, in the paper and textile in-
dustries, in the manufacture of borax and in many
other industries. At the present time nearly all the
soda consumed is made from common salt by compli-
cated and expensive processes, the industry of its
preparation being one of the most important branches
•Abstract from report of the Railroad Valley Company.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
of chemical manufacture. Commercial soda ash is
eommon/y sold on the basis of 48%, referring to a con-
tent of 487c of the hypothetical sodium oxide, Na20.
This 48% soda ash is now quoted in New York at $13.50
to $14.50 per ton of 2000 lb. Pure gaylussite contains
the equivalent of 43.62% of commercial. 48% soda
ash, and carries, at the present average price, a soda
ash value of $6.11 per ton.
Methods of Treatment
Since gaylussite in quantity is a recent discovery, it
has never been used commercially for the manufacture
of soda ash and no commercial methods have been
worked out or tested. However, laboratory results
indicate no probable difficulty in securing such methods.
Two alternative processes at once suggest themselves,
and both have been tested and found satisfactory on a
laboratory scale. The first would calcine the gaylussite
to drive off the water, leaving a mixture of sodium
carbonate and calcium carbonate, from which the
former could be extracted by leaching. The second
would grind the gaylussite and boil it with water,
when decomposition would occur, the soda would go
into solution and the calcium carbonate fall as insolu-
ble sludge. It is impossible to be sure that either of
these methods would work satisfactorily on a large
scale and in the simple form stated, but no general
difficulty is to be anticipated, and it seems probable
that all difficulties of detail can be worked out.
Since there is no experience, it is not possible to give
accurate estimates of the cost of manufacturing soda
ash from gaylussite. However, by making use of the
cost data of similar processes now industrially em-
ployed, I have estimated the probable cost of extrac-
tion by the first method above outlined as not over
$3.50 per ton of 48% soda ash. assuming fuel oil at
$1.50 per bbl. and a plant of such size as will produce
100 tons of finished product per day. This estimate
includes all plant expenses, depreciation, etc.. but does
not include general overhead taxes or charges for land.
It is based on the assumption that the gaylussite sup-
plied to the plant will contain not more than 5% of
clay or other impurity. It is believed that this esti-
mate is too high rather than too low. The second pro-
cess above mentioned is probably cheaper than the first.
and with either process various cheapening expedients
suggest themselves, such, for instance, as preliminary
part calcination of the gaylussite by exposure to sun
and air. It is probable that soda ash can be made
more cheaply from gaylussite than from any other
known raw material, even the natural sodium car-
bonate known as trona. In this connection, however, it
must be remembered that the utilization of the soda
beds at Searles lake. California, now being undertaken
by the American Trona Co.. does not depend on the
value of the soda alone. The Searles lake deposit con-
tains potash and borax as well as soda, and while the
chemical processes to be employed in working this de-
posit will be much more complicated and expensive
than the process of working gaylussite, this fact is
more than offset by the obtaining of three valuable
products instead of one. I do not consider it probable
that soda produced from gaylussite could compete
with soda produced from Searles lake, so long as pro-
duction from the latter point is not in excess of the
capacity of the market to absorb the potash and borax
produced as well as soda. The only by-product in the
manufacture of <raylussite from soda ash is the cal-
cium carbonate sludge, and. while pure calcium car-
bonate has some sale as whiting, it will probably be
impossible to produce from gaylussite a material pure
enough for this except at a prohibitive manufacturing
cost.
Practically, the crucial point of the gaylussite ques-
tion is one uot yet mentioned, the cost of mining the
gaylussite. It is apparent that a high cost of delivery
of the gaylussite to the extraction works would more
than absorb the margin of profit already none too
large. Whether or not there is hope of devising suffi-
ciently cheap mining methods for the Railroad valley
deposit it is impossible to say until cores have been
taken of the gaylussite beds, and we know more of
their nature and purity. It is obvious, also, that any
utilization of the Railroad valley deposit is dependent
upon cheap rail transportation, both outward for the
product and inward for fuel. Unless a railroad is
assured there is no hope of commercial value in the
deposit.
Gaylussite-Bearing Clays
Of some interest in connection with the buried gay-
lussite, is the discovery of a stratum of gaylussite-bear-
ing clay immediately underlying the surface of the
west central portion of the Railroad valley mud flat.
The material covers sections 33 and 34 of Township 8
north. Range 56 east, and sections 2. 3. 4. 5. 8, 9, 10,
and 11 of Township 7 north, Range 56 East, with parts
of the adjoining sections, about 12 square miles in all.
The iraylussite-bearing clay lies from 4 to S in. under
the surface and is from 12 to 18 in. thick. Samples
taken from 41 holes over this area show an average con-
tent of 13.82', gaylussite. The gaylussite crystals are
usually in skeleton form and somewhat less pure than
those from the buried beds, but are otherwise identical
with the latter. Assuming an average thickness of 14
in. for the gaylussite layer and an average gaylussite
content of 13.82%. the surface deposit contains nearly
two million tons of gaylussite. It is probable that it
could be worked for soda ash easily and cheaply and
it would probably be of value as an adjunct to any
soda or potash industry which might be established on
the flat . The surface deposit is not in itself of sufficient
size to encourage railroad building or determine a soda
industry.
During October two dredges of the Orsk Goldfields
Ltd. in Siberia treated 86.900 cu. yd. of gravel, yield-
ing gold valued at $38,000. Roth boats were shut down
from November 1 to 14 on account of bad weather.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
lo I
Cylindrical Wooden Ore-Passes
By Andrew
'Recognition of all the defects in the square-set and
cribbed types of ore-passes made it desirable to secure
a design that would require no repairs. After mature
consideration, it was decided to adopt a cylindrical
pass made of stringy bark eucalyptus boards stand-
ing on end, the thickness to be varied according to
the conditions. There was no lack of prejudice and
opposition against the novelty, and even those who
were prepared to push the idea were skeptical about
certain things. But as progress is made in knowledge
of the arrangement, tin' more convinced 1 am of its
superiority over any other design for practically all
conditions of stoping.
Construction
Briefly, the chute is made of stringy-bark timber
staves, cut with beveled edges, and fitted in the form
of a tube, the grain of the timber running vertical.
The staves are bound together by double hoops of
fence wire, until the waste envelopes them.
At first, sections were cut in the longest possible
length, but varied from ."> to 8 ft. Staves varied in
thickness from 4 to 10 in. Internal diameters of chute
were 3 ft.. 3 ft. 6 in., and 4 ft. The combinations
of all these lengths and sizes made a large number
of different stocks, and experience has decided against
them. Now there are four standard tyes of chute:
1. Chute 10 in. thick. 4 ft. internal diameter.
2. Chute 10 in. thick, 3 ft. internal diameter.
3. Chute G in. thick. 3 i't. internal diameter.
4. Chute 5 in. thick. 3 ft. internal diameter.
The length of the staves is now universally 4 feet.
It will thus be seen that the length of stave is a
standard: there are but three thicknesses, and two
diameters, for reasons that are obvious.
Types 1. 2. and 3 arc used in open stopes, type 3
in square-set stopes. and type 4 fur effecting repairs
to old cribbed passes which have failed. The follow-
ing tables show the marine!' of employment in the open
stopes :
Vertical Passks. Opi n Stopk-.
Height of chute. 100ft. lift. 150-ft. lift.
0 to 35 ft Type I Type 1
35 to 70 ft Type :: Type 2
70 to 120 ft Type :J
Inci.ivkii Passks. Opkn Stocks
Height of chute. 100-ft. lift. 1 50 ft. lift.
0 to 35 ft Type I Type 1
35 to 70 ft Type 2 Type 2
70 to 120 n (modified) Type 2 ( modified i
In the square-set stupes the available space inside
timber does not allow of any greater size than a 3-ft.
•Excerpt from paper read before the Australasian Institute
of Mining Engineer* and hased upon experience at the Rroken
Hill South mine.
Faibwkatiieu
barrel. 6 in. thick. The type 2 (modified), men-
tioned in the table, for inclined passes, refers to a
composite chute having a 10-in. bottom and a 6-in. top,
and will be described later.
The staves to form the chutes arc cut out of round
or sawn stringy bark, of 10 by 5 in.. 10 by b' in., and
10 by 10 in. dimensions. The 10 by 10-in. piece is
cut without waste, and to form the chute it is only
necessary to reverse the ends of the two halves. Un-
fortunately, stringy bark shrinks considerably, so
that if it is allowed to season at surface (and this
is advisable if underground use has to follow), slight-
ly different templates have to be used to form the
true cylinder and to provide full bearing of the staves
on one another. The shrinkage causes the use of an
extra stave in the chute of 10 in. thickness, but only
makes a slight alteration in size in the thinner sec-
tions.
It was recognized from the start that to obtain the
best results the staves should be so placed that the
rings of growth in the timber were parallel to the
circumference of the chute. In a chute made of sawn
timber this cannot be obtained, as in probably half
the boards the grain would run parallel to the shorter
side; consequently, an early attempt was made to
use round logs. At first two cuts, inclined the proper
. amount toward one another, were made with the saw.
and the outside and inside surfaces left rough.
As a guide to the timbermeii, in assembling this type
of chute. 4 dowel holes were bored in each stave, and
i/o-in. dowels used in the construction, as shown in
Pig. 1. For the boring of these dowel holes a
si'jrJi'lron Dotvels -
: i
\
i
-•
'
1 1
t
i
i
i1,
\
|
i!
i
f
1
V
1
i _ _
"
>'
■i
i1
M
Km. 1.
template was used, so that the irregularity of the
different logs was kepi outside rather than inside the
chute. However, experience proved that the time re-
quired to 'stand ' a sect ion of this type was much greater
than in the case of the sawn timber. The extra time
was taken up in fitting dowels and closing up. As a
consequence, the use id' dowels was discontinued, and
fencing wire was used to bind Ihe logs, blocks being
258
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
used to till up the irregularities. But this change
meant that the timbermen had no guide for the cor-
rect placing of the logs.
The next move was to increase the number of the
saw-cuts to three, that is, the two bevel cuts and one
to form the inside face. This was an improvement,
and gave the men a good opportunity to place the
staves correctly, but as the rough, irregular surface
outside effected no useful purpose, and gave some
trouble in wiring, the saw-cuts were increased to four,
and that method is now adhered to. The purpose of
the sawing on both inside and outside faces is only
to remove the irregularities and not necessarily to
form definite angles with the other faces.
Advantage of Round Timbers
The advantage of the round timber is clear at once,
apart from the fact that the correct position of the
rings of growth, namely, that a smaller number of
pieces go to form a ring than in the case of the sawn
article; i» the 3-ft. chute there is a reduction from
30 to 20 pieces, and in the 4-ft. chute from 38 to 24.
A still greater advantage will be dealt with under
the subject of costs.
The building of the chute in the slope is a simple
and quick operation, although before it was attempted
a good many had misgivings about it. The chutes on
the South mine are formed of round logs, in cribbing
form, for a height of about 13 ft. above the sill floor.
On top of the round logs is placed a framed set con-
sisting of four pieces of 10 by 10-in. Oregon pine,
two of them dovetailed into the other two. On top
of the framed set is placed a ring of 'chute blocks.'
When fitted together the blocks form a foundation
for the 4-ft. barrel, the outside of them being a
polygon of eight sides, and the inside approximately
a 4-ft. diameter circle. The blocks, in addition to
being a foundation, are also a guide to the timber-
men in the erection of the chute. They are spiked
to the framed set.
Method of Building
The operation of building a section is as follows:
One 4-ft. piece is stood on end, with its inside face
flush with the inside of the chute block frame. One
timberman holds it in position, while the other man
gets another. The second piece is stood against the
first, and the two are locked together by driving in
a little timber dog. Both men then get to the job.
one on one side and one on the other, standing other
staves and working toward one another, using a dog
to support each fresh slave to those already standing,
and being guided in thi> approximate location of the
staves by the chute blocks. When the ring is com-
plete, two lengths of fence wire are cut, each length
being a little more than twice the outside circum-
ference. The wire is put twice around the chute, at
a point 12 in. from the top, and the ends are connect-
ed by tying. This is also done at a point 12 in. from
the bottom. A fair amount of slack is allowed in
each case. A hole % in. diameter and 2 in. deep is
bored in any stave, 12 in. from top, and a similar hole
is bored 12 in. from bottom; into both holes a short
waste piece of %-in. round iron is driven, projecting
about 3 in. The slack of the wires is caught up by
a short drill, and twisted round the %-in. pins. When
both have tightened fairly well the chute dogs are
withdrawn, and one timberman then goes round the
chute hitting the staves on the outside with the back
of his axe, while the other man puts the final strain
on the wires by twisting. When the timbers have
been closed up tight, the end loops of the wires are
fixed in position by spikes driven into the stave. This
prevents possible slackening. When the first section
is finished, the second one is built on top in the same
way, the lower barrel then forming a guide for the
construction of the upper one. Of course, with all
the staves being the same length, the surface of the
top of the chute is flat. This lack of connection be-
tween two adjacent sections was thought at first to
be a weak feature, but experience has shown that
when the chute has been enclosed with filling there
is no tendency to lateral movement.
Filling Around the Chute
An 8 or 9-ft. layer of filling is then distributed,
particular care being exercised in spreading the waste
evenly around the chute, and in not allowing it to
build up high on one side only. This care is needed
most with the thinner and, therefore, lighter sections:
with the chute consisting of 10-in. timber, an advanc-
ing rill does not seem to have any effect in tilting.
As a rule, when the filling up is completed the tops
of the chutes are found buried 12 in. under the sur-
face. That is a desirable arrangement, as the stave
ends are better protected from the effects of firing
heavy holes in an open stope. There is also a better
chance for sudden pressure, caused by a big fall of
ground, to be distributed around the chute. As a
further protection to the top section, two rings of
bulk timber are sometimes placed around the top of
the staves, the bottom ring flush with the top of the
barrel, the upper ring flush with the surface of the
filling.
As explained previously, at a point 30 to 40 ft.
above the sill floor in an open stope a change is made
from 4-ft. diameter to 3-ft. diameter chutes. To
effect this change a framed set is used, measuring 3
ft. square within, and similar in construction to the
la peer one previously described. It rests on the lower
barrel, and upon it is placed a ring of chute blocks,
eight in number, the outside of them forming an 8-
sided polygon, the inside approximating to a 3-ft. di-
ameter circle. On top of this ring stands the -3-ft.
chute, either 10 or 6 in. thick. Another method of
making the connection between a 4-ft. chute and a
3-ft. chute is by means of a section 6 ft, long, and.
in shape, a frustrum of a cone, with its staves so cut
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
259
that the bottom ends fit to form a 4-ft. ring and the
upper ends tit to form a 3-ft. ring.
Inclined Passes
When the wooden cylinder was introduced, it was
felt that repairs were a problem, if not an impossibil-
ity, and accordingly a rule was made that the barrels
should only be reared vertical. This ride was found
impracticable, and it has since been decided to use in-
clined chutes for the sake of economy and convenience.
if possible, at the same grade as the dip of the walls
enclosing the lode. As some of the chutes had failed
at the point where the incline was commenced, the
need of some special protection on the lower side of
the pass was evident. The first suggestion put for-
ward for the construction of the inclined pass was
that it should be formed of round logs, of varying
diameters, the large logs being placed in the lower half.
This method has been used, and will be extended when
certain alterations have been made in timber cutting
and supply.
The existing method, however, consists in the inser-
tion of '/i-in. mild steel plate, 9 in. deep, between staves
10 in. thick, on the underside of the barrel. The plates
are held in position by dowels, passing through holes
bored near the outside edge and connecting the staves;
two dowels of %-in. round to each plate.
The action of the ore is to cut out a trough, about
1 in. deep, between adjacent plates. After that the
plate edges carry practically all the dirt, and thereby
protect the timber. No alteration is made in the cut-
ting of the staves, to allow room for the plates; such
alteration would only lead to confusion in selecting
pieces. The upper half of the chute is formed of 6-in.
staves, without steel ribs, but resting on arch-bars, bent
to a curve of slightly less than 18-in. radius, and pro-
vided with 6-in. lugs. The bars are of iron 4 in. wide
and % in- thick, and are placed at the contact of ad-
jacent barrels.
To provide a seating for the ln<_'s. recesses (J by 4 by
•vi in. deep are chiselled out of the top staves of the
lower half — before the upper half is commenced. Fig.
2 illustrates the arrangement.
6'S/aves
-/O'Sfaves
'•f'Ptote Ribs. 'i'DOYvels
Fk
The purpose of these bars is twofold; they act as a
guide and support for the upper timber during con-
struction, and they strengthen the chute against pos-
sible failure through heavy falls of ore.
Wherever a chute is changed from vertical to in-
clined, a definite angle is arranged for, not a gradual
sweep. As is well known, change in direction means
excessive local wear, and with a gradual sweep it is
more difficult to provide against such wear than when
an abrupt change is made.
The sketches below, Fig. 3, show how a change of di-
rection is made, and also illustrate the mode of pro-
tecting the timber that would be ordinarily exposed to
'beat.'
40*fff?/rvn
7-'/0"/ong N
"Mo/es.
40*RF?.lron
7J0"/ong- —
iifci!liw^
Fie. :;.
The inclined chute is given its correct inclination
by resting on an ordinary framed set 3 ft. square with-
in, which is blocked up on one side by 10 by 10-in., as
shown. The side openings, between framed set and
top of vertical barrel, are closed by 10 by 2-in. laths.
spiked to the 10 by 10-in. blocking and the framed set.
Stretching across the framed set near its high side, and
parallel with the 10 by 10-in. blocking, is a piece of
40-lb. railway iron, 3 ft. 10 in. long, with its ends rest-
ing in recesses 5 in. deep, cut out of the framed set, on
two sides. There are five holes in it. 1 in. diameter,
spaced 6\-j in. apart, in each a %-in. shackle hanging.
supporting another %-in. shackle, which in turn sup
ports a 7-ft. length of 40-lb. rail. The ore. in falling
down the incline, strikes the railway iron and is di-
verted into the vertical chute. This arrangement is
called a 'curtain.' and has been found to operate very
satisfactorily. The loosely hanging fingers of this
curtain yield to every blow, give no trouble in sup
port, and cause the ore to fall vertical after the impact.
Making Repairs
In repairing, suppose, for instance, that three staves
only in a ring have failed. The old pieces are removed,
and the filling behind them is worked away for an
extra C> in. or so to allow of the three new staves being
placed in a position li in. behind their correct position,
as shown in Fig. 4. These slaves are cul •'! ft. 2 in.
long, that is. 10 in. short, and each has a couple of
spikes driven into it projecting toward the inside of
the chute.
260
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
By pulling on the spikes in turn the three staves are
drawn inward, the final tightening together is done by
the timberman delivering blows with his hammer on
the outside of the staves, operating his arm through the
10-in. space over the staves. When the closing-up
process is completed, the space behind is filled with
tailing and tightlv rammed.
P/ug Weo/g/es. - - .
ffaaf/a/ Chute B/ocJcs. „
.Mi
— -**.^m^m
7*V"~V
VV
I
hAx,
f
Flo. 4.
The description only covers a special case : some-
times the whole barrel has failed ; in that case the com-
plete ring is stood, except two staves, which are short-
ened and plugged on top, as shown. A closure has
even been effected with one short stave only. If a
number of sections have failed, naturally work com-
mences on the lowest. The barrels are brought up as
in the case of rearing them in an open stope, except
that the final stave has to be dropped in. The only
section giving trouble is the closing one. and that is
dealt with in the manner just described.
Chutes in square-set stopes need scarcely any de-
scription, consisting merely of 6-in. barrels. 3 ft. diam-
eter, reared in the set openings. They are constructed
in a similar manner to those in open stopes. being
bound with wire and packed around with filling. There
is no blocking against the set frame and no outside
lining to the set.
Minor Advantages of Chute
Apart from first cost, good wearing capabilities, and
freedom from repairs, the cylindrical pass possesses the
distinct advantage of being easily and rapidly with-
drawn, after the slope is finished. This has been done
in a large number of cases on the South mine. Gen-
erally through the pitching of the lodes, but sometimes
by intrusions of waste, a chute has to be abandoned.
An inspection of the interior will quickly show
whether the timbers warrant removal. If so. a lump
sum contract is set for taking out the timber and filling
up the hole so formed. The modus operandi of recover-
ing the timber is briefly to begin at the bottom, cut out
the bottom section, fill up the height of it, remove the
second sect ion. fill up the hole again, remove the third
section and fill again, and so on till the stope above is
reached.
The cylindrical chute has been found very service-
able and convenient on the South mine for the lining
of winzes and waste passes.
Costs
The following table gives the cost of material and
labor for the five types of cylindrical passes used, as
well as for four other methods of construction used at
various times on this field. Allowance has been made
for bars, plates, fence wire, spikes, and nails, and tim-
ber has been reckoned at the following prices at pres-
ent ruling in Broken Hill, namely:
Per 100
bd. ft.
Stringy bark (eucalyptus) $5.64
Oregon pine, 10 by 10 4.56
Oregon pine. 10 by 2 4.80
, Cost per foot. n
No. Type of chute. Material. I^abor. Total.
1. 10-in. chute, 4 ft. diani $9.00
2. 10-in. chute, 3 ft. diam 7.08
:;. 6-in chute, 3 ft. diam 4.22
4. 5-in. chute, 3 ft. diam 3.60
."). 10 by 6-in. chute for inclines, 3 ft.
diam 8.28
6. Square set, lined 10 by 4 S. B. in-
side and 10 by 2 Oregon outside. 7.6S
7. Solid Oregon, 10 in. thick, made of
10 by 10, halved at ends 11.40
5. Bulk of 10 by 10 Oregon, spreaded
with 10 by 2. and lined with 10
by 2 S. B 9.84 0.96 19.80
!). 10 by 10 Oregon, 2-in. joggle 9.12 0.19 9.30
Cost and consumption of supplies at the Mexican
mill. Nevada, during the past year were:
Cyanide: Cost per ton. Pounds per ton.
$0.72
$9.72
0.72
7.80
0.38
4.61
0.3C
3.96
0.9«
0.9«
0.19
9.24
8.64
11.60
Mexican ore $0,495
Monte Cristo ore
Lime:
Mexican ore
Monte Cristo ore
Lead salts:
Mexican ore
Monte Cristo ore
Zinc dust:
Mexican ore
Monte Cristo ore
Shoes and dies
Chilean rings and dies
Chilean screens
Tube-mill liners
Pebbles
Fuel oil for heating . . .
♦Gallons.
0.287
0.034
0.039
0.044
0.119
0.172
0.105
0.170
0.022
0.011
0.03S
0.095
0.163
2.09
l.lf
4.02
5.2«
0.41
1.06
1.62
0.88
0.3S
0.6T
0.89
7.3S
►3.69
The Hyderabad mint, India, produced during the
four-year period ending in 1010. 27.526,895 rupees.
2.171,069 half-anna. 114.562.382 2-pie. and 6.876,334
1-pie copper coins (12 pies equal 1 anna. 16 annas 1
rupee, and in Indian currency 1 rupee equals in IT. S.
currency 32.44 cents).
Duty is imposed on exports of rubber, tin. and wol-
fram from the Federated Malay States.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
261
Leading Copper Producing States
For 1913 Arizona, with a record production, con-
tinues in first place among the copper producing states.
The production for 1913. according to the United States
Geological Survey, will greatly exceed the 359,322.000
lb. produced in 1912, and may exceed 400,000.000 lb.
The Bisbee district will show a large increase over the
140,000,000 lb. of blister copper produced in 1912. the
output probably reaching nearly 160.000.000 lb. in 1913.
The Morenei-Metcalf district will not equal the 79,900.-
000 lb. produced in 1912, but the 1913 output will doubt-
less exceed 70,000,000 lb. The Globe-Miami district
will show an increase of several million pounds over the
61,600,000 lb. produced in 1912. The .Mineral Creek
or Ray district made a large increase, the output for
1913 being approximately 50,000.000 11).. compared with
35,000,000 lb. for 1912. The output of the Jerome dis-
trict will probably exceed the 1912 production of 31,-
680,000 lb. by a few million pounds.
The production of copper by the mines of Alaska in
1913 has been estimated by the United States Geological
Survey at 19.700.000 lb. The decrease from the pro-
duction of 1912 is due to the reduced output from the
Copper River district, caused by the part destruction
of the plant of the Kennieott-Bonanza mine and the
consequent interruption of production. The production
of copper from California for 1913 changed but little
from the 35,835,000 lb. produced in 1912. As in pre-
vious years the largest output was from the Shasta
county region, with important production from the
foothill belt. The Shasta county district will probably
show a slight increase over the 26.000,000 H>. produced
in 1912.
Copper production in Colorado is largely incidental
to the production of other metals, and the output will
probably not change greatly in 1913 from the 7.963,000
lb. produced in 1912. The production of copper from
Idaho for 1913 will show some increase over the 7.182,-
000 lb. in 1912. As in 1912. the main output was de-
rived from the Coeur d'Alene and Alder Creek districts.
Owing to the serious labor troubles in the Lake Su-
perior district during the later part of tin; year, the
production of copper from Michigan tor 1913 was the.
smallest in many years. The output for 1913 was ap-
proximately 152,000,000. compared with 231.112.000 lb.
in 1912.
The output of copper from Montana decreased from
the 1912 production of 308,770.000 11). The production
for 1913 will probably be about 280.000,000 lb. As in
previous years, the copper was derived mainly from
the deposits of the Butte district. The production of
copper from Nevada in 1913 remained nearly the same
as that for 1912, which amounted to S.{.413,000 lb. As
in 1912, the Ely and Yerington districts were the prin-
cipal producers. In 1912 the Ely district produced
67,400,000 lb. of blister copper and the Yerington dis-
trict 14,700,000 lb. Both districts will show approxi-
mately the same output for 1913.
The production of blister copper from New Mexico
increased largely over that of 1912, owing to the in-
creased production of the Chino Copper Co., of the
Santa Rita district. The output of copper in concen-
trates by the Chino company for the first three-quarters
of the year was over 39,000,000 lb., indicating a produc-
tion for the year of over 50,000,000 lb. The production
of copper from Tennessee will show little change from
the 18,395,000 lb. produced in 1912. As in previous
years, the output came from the Ducktown district. In
1913 Utah made a large increase in the production of
blister copper over the 132,150,000 lb. produced in 1912.
As in previous years, the Bingham district was the
principal producer, though the Tintic district made a
considerable production and the San Francisco and
other districts also contributed.
Studying Mine Fires by Experiment
The Bureau of Mines has recently built at its Pitts-
burgh experiment station an underground chamber
or furnace in which to carry on experiments relating
to mine fires and spontaneous combustion as occurring
in mines.
A section of steel tube, cylindrical in shape, 6'/j ft.
in diameter and 27 ft. long, was laid on its side in
a deep trench, and after lining this shell with fire-brick
and mineral wool, and stopping the ends with 13-in.
brick walls, it was covered with two feet of earth.
The chamber was constructed so as to be as nearly air-
tight as possible, and in such manner as to retain to
the greatest degree practicable any heat generated
within its walls. At one end a motor-driven fan will
blow in air at a rate which can be accurately meas-
ured, and at the other a stack is provided which can
be opened or closed as desired. Through the top of
the chamber, at frequent intervals, pass small pipes
for withdrawing samples of air or j;ases and for in-
serting pyrometers for temperature measurement in
the interior.
The chamber will hold six to eight tons of coal when
one-third full. It is expected that different kinds of
coal or of the gob or waste material from mines will
be placed in the chandler and a study made of sponta-
neous development of heat in them under various con-
ditions. After an active fire has been started in the
chamber either by this means or artificially, experi-
ments will be made on controlling the fire by reducing
the air supply or by sealing it oft' entirely.
Investigations have been made in other countries,
and to some extent also in this country, of the gases
produced in actual cases of mine tires both before
and after sealing off a burning area. The Bureau is
now making, however, probably the first attempt to
investigate such problems in an experimental appara-
tus which permits careful control of conditions and
yet is on a scale nearly commensurate with mining
operations. These investigations are being carried on
bv Horace ( '. Porter, chemist, of the Bureau of Mines.
262
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
While the immediate tests are with a view to ques-
tions met in coal-mining, the data derived will be
available for solving problems connected with under-
ground fires of all kinds.
Income Tax Regulation
Engineers will be especially interested in the fol-
lowing among supplementary regulations regarding
the income tax, issued by the Treasury Department :
Expense for medical attendance, store accounts,
family supplies, wages of domestic servants, cost of
board, room, or house rent for family or personal use,
are not expenses that can be deducted from gross in-
come. In case an individual owns his own residence
he cannot deduct the estimated value of his rent,
neither shall he be required to include such estimated
rental of his home as income.
In calculating losses, only such losses as shall have
been actually sustained and the amount of which has
been definitely ascertained during the year covered
by the return can be deducted.
Persons receiving fees or emoluments for profes-
sional or other services, as in the ease of physicians
or lawyers, should include all actual receipts for serv-
ices rendered in the year for which the return is
made, together with all unpaid accounts, charges for
services or contingent income due for that year, if
good and collectable.
Debts which were contracted during the year for
which return is made, but found in said year to be
worthless, may be deducted from gross income for
said year, but such debts cannot be regarded as worth-
less until after legal proceedings to recover same have
proved fruitless, or it clearly appears that the debtor
is insolvent. If debts due to the taxpayer and con-
tracted prior to the year for which return is made
were included as income in return for year in which
said debts were contracted, and such debts shall sub-
sequently prove to be worthless, they may be deducted
under the head of losses in the return for the year
in which such debts were charged off as worthless.
Amounts due or accrued to the individual members
of a partnership from the net earnings of the part-
nership, whether apportioned and distributed or not.
shall be included in the annual return of the individual.
Estimated advance in value of real estate is not
required to be reported as income, unless the increased
value is taken up on the books of the individual as
an increase of assets.
Costs of suits and other legal proceedings arising
from ordinary business may be treated as an expense
of such business, and may be deducted from gross in-
come for the year in which such costs were paid.
An unmarried individual or a married individual
not living with wife or husband shall be allowed an
exemption of $3000. "When husband and wife live to-
gether they shall be allowed jointly a total exemption
of only $400(1 on their aggregate income.
Cover for Engineers' Note-Books
Engineers who have acquired the habit of neatness
are often sorely dismayed at the external appearance
and condition of their note-books. These become
soiled, worn, and ragged by contact with moisture,
the sun 's rays, and rough rocks and other objects, both
when in use in the field and while being carried in
the pocket or in a shoulder bag along with other ar-
ticles. The cover here described has been found en-
tirely satisfactory, and can be quickly removed from
one book and slipped on another.
DIMENSIONS AND PLAN OF COVER.
The cover is cut out of heavy linen-back mounted
map paper, and then glued together with Le Page's
glue, the cloth side being turned outward. The draw-
ing shows the pattern and gives the dimensions nec-
essary for the No. 363 Mining Transit Book of the
Keuffel & Esser Co., which has dimensions of 4V£ by
lYi in*. However, the best plan is to cut off a piece
of the paper and fold it about the book, then dress
down as necessary, and finally glue together.
A is a slit in the inside front cover for the inser-
tion of an Eugene Dietzen Co. 's No. 1925 scale-protrac-
tor. This is a combined transparent rule, scale, and
protractor costing 20 cents, and is a most valuable
accessory in the field.
B is a strip of emery cloth, a/3 in- wide, which is
glued to the bottom of the outside back cover of the
book- — a most convenient place — for pointing hard
pencils.
The smaller drawing represents a diagram to be
placed on the inside back cover for taking slope angle
in geologic work. A large size sewing needle is sus-
pended by a silk thread from C. The note-book is
placed on or in the plane of the slope to be obtained.
The back cover is opened to allow the needle to swing
freely to the vertical, when the angle of slope can
be read. These protractor diagrams are sometimes
blueprinted, and pasted in the backs of note-books.
Another use for the linen-back mounted paper is to
make durable covers for paper-covered bulletins, books.
etc., and it is a good idea to save the large scraps
remaining from maps for this purpose. The original
cover of the bidletin is removed. The mounted paper
is folded about the book, cut to the proper size, and
glued on in the same way as the original cover. The
title page of the original cover is then cut out and
pasted on the new cover.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
263
Discussion
Headers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Kditor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to li is own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
California Miners and the Exposition
The Editor:
Sir — What the Director of the mining exhibit says
in the Mining and Scientific Press of January 3 con-
cerning the character and importance of a suitable
exhibit of the mineral industry will be universally
commended by the mining public, and it is to be
hoped that his appeal will meet an instant and favor-
able response. The opportunity is certainly unusual
and not likely to be repeated within this generation,
if ever. There has never been an adequate presenta-
tion of the state's mineral wealth. Great world's fairs
are rare, and nothing short of one is likely to draw
together the materials in sufficient variety. This being-
the case, we all ought to get to work to build up an
exhibit worthy of the occasion and the country, in
spite of the fact that there is no pecuniary reward
in sight. While none besides promoters, stock-sellers,
and private exhibitors are at all likely to make any-
thing directly out of the fair, there should lie suffi-
cient incentive in state pride to bring about a united
effort and creditable results. It would be a great
pity if anything were left undone to insure a praise-
worthy exhibition, both on the part of the milling fra-
ternity and of the state.
From what has been said by .Mr. van Barneveld,
one may apprehend that a complete exhibit, if such
could be had. would necessarily consist of two sep-
arate but closely related parts: namely, the display
of ores and mineral products within 1 1 1 » • milling build-
ing, to he classified largely under county or local
designations, and the other, a more systematic repre-
sentation embracing processes and machinery as well
as ores and products. The former will be splendidly
housed, but in the nature of things the mill and cya-
nide apparatus, and matters of that sort, will have
to be taken care of on otherwise vacant ground and
amid less glorified surroundings. However, looks will
hardly count. Space, and a methodical arrangement
of processes and apparatus on a working scale, are
much more to the purpose, and this view harmonizes
with those of the Director. The presumed necessity of
placing each collection under some geographical des-
ignation tends to lessen their effectiveness. Valuable
historical and economic features are partly lost sight
of unless the offerhiLrs are concentrated in the mass.
This, probably, is unavoidable, but it would seem
that the working part, if we may call it so. of the
outside collections might be specially arranged from
this point of view. This part of the exhibit must be
financed, it appears, by individuals, organizations, or
districts.
The tentative program advanced by the exposi-
tion authorities looks to the installation of systematic
exhibits far in advance of anything yet attempted at
a world's fair, and if their project meets with the
support it deserves, the result must remain unap-
proached for generations. Previous fairs, while not
doing so much, have yet contributed good object-
lessons, and their mineral displays have invariably
been noteworthy. That of St. Louis was particularly
so; but. like the rest, it lost much of its force and
effect from the wide scattering of the exhibits, the
better part of which was embraced within foreign
collections necessarily shown as a whole. The best
of these was the Japanese exhibit, in which were many
noteworthy objects, arranged with exquisite taste.
Among these may be mentioned the splendid relief
map of the Ashio copper mine, which in itself was
worth going to St. Louis to see. We have never pro-
duced anything to compare with the best foreign work,
but there is no apparent reason why we should not.
and as a beginning it might be well to try our pren-
tice hands on a relief map of the Mother Lode region.
Such a model would form a valuable addition to the
fair, and might be presented by the five counties
through which the famous lode runs, or by the prop-
erty owners along its strike, who are numerous and
prosperous enough to well afford it. This form of
illustration lends itself very well to the surface fea-
tures of extensive areas as well as confined ones, and
furnishes an invaluable picture of the geological for-
mations as well as the surface topography, and might
be developed into an impressive exhibit of great sci-
entific and economic significance. At the conclusion
of the fair the work might be given over to some pub-
lic institution, the State Mining Bureau, for instance.
The history of the mines of California is virtually
the history of the state. Mining, therefore, has a
great significance to the world, and its historical
phase should by no means be neglected in preparing
the exhibits. This state and neighboring states ought
to be ransacked for historical objects. The ordinary
tools of the old placer miners will, of course, be shown.
and their cabins and places of employment and amuse-
ment ought also to be displayed. Antique arrastres
and stamp batteries with wooden stems would find a
place in such a collection. The educational side of
such exhibits is measurably subserved by the ordi-
nary glass-case displays, common everywhere. These
serve well enough so far as they go. but it is impor-
tant to complement them by systematic showings of
metallurgical processes. If it could be managed to
show visually how commercial metals are produced
from the ore. the general public also would be ins! met-
ed and impressed, as they cannot be by show-ease ex-
hibits of any size. There might be an attempt, to
show what we might call the evolution of the gold
coin, for instance. This would naturally embrace a
264
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
mine, with men working; a hoisting works or tunnel:
ears: a milling plant; eyaniding works or smelting
works, or both; a refinery of some sort; and perhaps
some minting process, all at work for so many hours
per day or per week. With these would go. as the
Director suggests, some piles of ore, and in descend-
ing ratio samples of the metal produced, by which
the uninformed bystander could gather notions of
the actual steps taken in mining and metallurgy when
gold, silver, lead, or copper is won. This might not
appeal to the miner or metallurgist, already educated
to the saturation point in the details of his profes-
sion, but it would have an educational influence on
laymen, whose ideas of mining need correction.
Efforts are being made to induce the different parts
of the state to cooperate in their exhibits, instead of
uselessly duplicating them. Groupings of the county
exhibits may be advantageously made to this end,
whose exhibits form a satisfactory unit. Thus the
Mother Lode counties should unite in a first-class dis-
play, covering placer, quartz, and drift mining, to-
gether with the appropriate metallurgy. It should be
practicable, also, to induce the copper-producing re-
gions to combine likewise in a display of their pecu-
liar arts. Very probably also, it might be found that
the subsidiary or minor industries based on silver,
mercury, chrome, magnesite, tungsten, etc., could make
unit exhibits of merit. It is well worth trying. Pocket
mining is another pursuit of much interest and its
geology and practice might easily be shown graph-
ically and instructively.
The proposal to put up and run a blast-furnace for
smelting copper and lead ores is one of great impor-
tance beyond the ordinary and spectacular features
of such work. It comes at an opportune time, since
it will provide sulphur fumes for testing several prom-
ising devices for controlling or utilizing such prod-
ucts. The Cottrell, the Hall, the Thiogen or Young,
the Field, and other processes might be tried exhaust-
ively, to the no small advantage to the mining inter-
ests of the country.
Herbert Lang.
Oakland. California. January 29.
Leaching Copper Ores
The Editor :
Sir — After reading the article in your journal of
January 3, 1914, by Thomas T. Read, page 57, in which
Mr. Read says "Hendryx agitator is to be displaced by
Dorr classifiers when this plant is enlarged," I called
up the office of the Bullwhacker Copper Co. and have
been assured that they are well satisfied with the
Hendryx acid-resisting agitator; that when the plant
is enlarged more of the Hendryx agitators will be
added, as they are giving perfect satisfaction, namely,
ores ground to 30 mesh and containing from 2 to 4%
copper, after 15 minutes agitation, 97 to 98% of the
copper is in solution, and at 16 mesh 92 to 957c- I
also notice on page 56, flow-sheet of Bntte-Duluth plant
you show Hendryx agitator, and the flow-sheet of the
Bullwhacker plant, you left out the Hendryx agitator,
which should be just the other way about. Such in-
accuracies in a journal of your character are inex-
cusable, to say nothing of their unreliability and false
impressions given to the reader.
Will you kindly, in your next issue, correct the same,
in order to be fair to everyone, which I believe to be
the policy of your paper.
Wilbur A. Hendryx.
New York, January 19.
[The information to the effect that the agitator was
to be displaced came to Mr. Read through a source of
information that had always proved reliable, and the
announcement was published in entire good faith.
Titles to the two cuts were transposed in making up
the number, and while the mistake is annoying, any
comparison of the figure and text makes clear at once
what happened. — Editor.]
Ore
The Editor:
Sir — May I suggest the following definition of the
word 'ore' as one satisfactorily covering the subject
and avoiding grounds for the criticisms leveled at Mr.
Rickard 's definition by several of your correspondents :
Ore is rock whose metal content entitles it to consideration
for the commercial production of that metal.
Cost of transportation, difficulty of extraction, and
the like, may prevent the present exploitation of a
metal-bearing rock, but if it justifies serious considera-
tion for that purpose, it is none the less ore.
Jerome B. Landfield.
San Francisco, California, January 24.
Mining Costs at Joplin
The following table presents a detailed account of
mining costs at a representative Joplin property. The
average cost per ton of ore mined in the district is
slightly higher than the figures presented.
Labor ' $0.47900
Explosives 0.20400
Fuel " 0.06870
Water " 0.01455
Oil 0.00979
Hard iron 0.02478
Drill R. & S 0.00802
Drill steel 0.00587
Power R. & S 0.00441
Other expenses 0.01342
Casualty insurance 0.02037
Superintendence 0.02651
Management 0.02711
Total cost per ton $0.90753
Imports of copper into Germany during the period
January to November, inclusive, were 212,458 tons,
of which 182.931 tons came from the United States.
The consumption was 203.802 tons.
February 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
265
Concentrates
Host of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
Caraotite contains potassium, uranium, and va-
nadium.
Crude iodine is prepared along the sea coast of
Japan in six prefectures. It is reduced from seaweed,
and in 1912 the output was 22.772 pounds worth
$44,979.
Six boles drilled by the rotary process in search of
potash deposits, for the Railroad Valley Co. of Nevada,
cost $3500 each. They were put down from 74."> to 1204
ft. through sand. clay, -.'ravel, mud. and crystalline
gaylussite.
The Minerals Separation Hotation machine is made
in five sizes, as indicated by the diameter of the stir-
rers, which revolve at 282 r.p.ni.. with approximately
the following capacities per 24 hours: 12-in. stirrer,
70 to 84 tons; 15-in. stirrer. 140 to 168 tons; 18-in.
stirrer, 200 to 240 tons: 21-in. stirrer. 360 to 4:50 tons;
and 24-in. stirrer. 500 to 600 tons.
Converting copper matte at the Old Dominion smel-
ter. Arizona, is done in the basic type of converter.
The first was blown in early in January 1913. and
remained on the stand until the middle of .Inly. Dur-
ing that time it produced 14.5(10.000 lb. of copper be-
fore requiring any patching. No. 2 converter is mak-
ing a better record than the first one.
Sycee is the name given to shoe-shaped ingots of
silver weighing between 50 and 60 oz. each. The
sycee at Shanghai at the end of 1913 amounted to
50.300.000 oz. Silver passes current as money in this
form throughout the greater part of China, and hav-
ing been prepared for this purpose at extra cost, nat-
urally ranks at a higher value than silver in the form
of large bars, as imported into that country. Sycee
is part of the currency of China, and figures really
as bank reserves. Sycee has been shipped and sold
to India, and also to London, but such transactions are
exceptional.
Transport of copper ore from the .Mother Lode mines
at Ke.nnecott, Alaska, to .McCarthy creek is done by
means of a Leschen aerial tramway. The line is 6980
ft. long with a fall of 2564 ft. in that distance. This
allows of the system being worked by gravity. The
cables carrying the fourteen 6-cu. ft. buckets are 1%
in. diameter on the loaded side, and 7's in. diameter
on the empty side, are supported on 13 towers spaced
100 to 1500 ft. apart. The traction rope is % in. diam-
eter. The track ropes rest on saddles, and the trac-
tion rope is supported on sheaves or rollers attached
at each end of intermediate supports. The whole sys-
tem is automatic in action, and only one man is re-
quired to supervise the line, which has a capacity of
50 -tons of ore per 10-hr. day. An unusual feature
of this tramway is that the towers on the upper part
of the line are built upon solid ice that has become
covered with broken rock. The anchorage at the
upper terminal is also imbedded in ice which is said
to be unusually clear. Another good use that is made
of the system is the transport of supplies and mine
equipment from McCarthy creek up to the mine.
Dredging in the Philippine Islands is on a fairly
satisfactory basis. The boats are all worked by steam-
engines. A crew of 1 white and 6 natives is employed
each shift. Dredgemasters get $150 per month, fore-
men $4 per day, and natives 50c. gold per day. The
Philippine Dredges, Ltd.. is operating on the Paracale
river. One boat is digging a considerable amount of
mud and vegetation, and a shallow depth of gravel.
The quartz cobbles from the boat are stacked on a
barge, and then fed to a 5-stamp mill, which recovers
about $10 per ton by amalgamation.
Sizing tests of ore crushed through a 16-mesh screen
at the Argonaut mine. Amador counts. California, show
the following result ;
Mesh. per cent.
Oa 40 13.3:;
60 lti.67
SO 11.67
100 9.17
150 6.67
200 r>.s;;
300 5.00
Through 300 31.66
100.00
Discussing the treatment id' tin ores in Cornwall.
Edward T. .McCarthy stated in the HulMiu of the In-
stitution of Mining and Metallurgy that, bearing on
the saving of tin. it has been clearly demonstrated
in tin-dredging that where the black tin is crystalline
and comparatively fine, it is fairly easy to save. The
main factors governing the saving of the tin in this
respect are: (1) plenty of area : (2) as low a gradient
of the sluice-boxes as possible, compatible with keep-
ing the material in suspense, and with the least pos-
sible amount of water almost to the point of allow-
ing the material to bank: and (3) the saving surface
to be of wood. A sample of black tin thus saved, and
as sent to the smelters at Singapore from the Reuong
dredge in Asia, gave the following screening analyses:
Total weight, grams 525.7
Screen: Grains. Percent.
On 30 4.74 = 0.90
On 60 174.36 = 33.17
On SO 237.50 = 45.18
On 120 98.75 = 1S.7S
On 200 7.60 = 1.44
Through 0.95 = 0.1 S
523.90 99.65
266
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Febw
19H
RENO, NEVADA
The Safety First Conference. — Reading and Discussion of
Valuable Papers by Mining, Railroad, and Electrical
Workers. — Practical Demonstrations and Exhibits.
One of the most unique and interesting meetings ever held
in a Western state was the 'Safety First' Conference at Reno,
on January 26 and 27. It was unique hecause it was probably
the first instance in the country where a movement arousing
such state-wide interest was started and carried to a success-
ful conclusion by state officials. These included the State In-
dustrial Commission of Nevada, and the Mechanical and Elec-
trical Department and Engineers' Club of the University of
Nevada. The meeting was interesting in that it brought to-
gether mine managers and miners, railroad officials and train-
men, power-plant superintendents and operators, members of
the university faculty and students, state officials, labor repre-
sentatives, engineers, and professional men. The total attend-
ance was six hundred. It was productive of lasting benefit
in that it focused the attention of the entire state on the
Safety First movement, leaving as a record valuable papers and
discussions.
The conference opened on January 26, in the University
gymnasium, with W. E. Wallace, of the Brotherhood of Rail-
road Trainmen and state industrial commissioner, and James
G. Scrugham as presiding officers. The following papers were
presented at the afternoon session. The Safety First Move-
ment in' Nevada.' by John J. Mullin, secretary of the Nevada
Industrial Commission. He described the organization of the
commission, and dwelt on its future work, and the cooperation
between employer and employee, that was necessary to make
the movement a success. L. E. Abbott, safety commissioner
of the Oregon Short Line, gave an interesting account of
'Safety First on the Oregon Short Line,' showing with what
enthusiasm the work had been taken up, and what splendid
results in the saving of life and limb had been accomplished
on that railroad system. Safety First in Practice,' was dis-
cussed by Frank Ingram, secretary of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers. Mr. Ingram told of the
safety precautions which had been suggested by the employees
of the railroads in the state, dwelling principally on the law
which the trainmen had succeeded in placing on the statutes
of Nevada requiring locomotives to be equipped with 1500-cp.
arc headlights. J. H. Linn, of Topeka, Kansas, gave a short
description of the safety work on the Santa Fe system, and
followed with an interesting paper on the student apprentice
system of the Santa Fe, with which he is connected as assistant
chief instructor. J. M. Guild, secretary of the Bureau of the
Union Pacific, followed with a short description of the work
on that road. H. P. Boardman, head of the Civil Engineering
Department of the University of Nevada, made some interest-
ing remarks on 'Safety in Civil Engineering.' He showed
how necessary it was in designing structures to use proper
safety factors, citing the Quebec bridge failure as an example
where all the necessary precautions had not been taken. Two
conclusions drawn from this failure were: (1) that a struc-
ture which might be satisfactory and safe on a small scale
might not be safe when constructed in a similar manner on
a much larger scale: and (2) that certain members of a
structure may be subjected to greater strains during erection
than after completion, thus necessitating corresponding greater
strength. He also mentioned the necessity of automobile
drivers exercising more Safety First precautions. A paper
titled 'The Prevention of Accidents' by C. \V. Price, safety
engineer of the Wisconsin Industrial Commission, was read
by the secretary, Mr. Price not being present. The paper
described some of the remarkable results that have been ob-
tained among eastern corporations, and then gave in detail
the necessary steps to be followed in introducing a Safety First
movement in an industrial organization.
The evening session was devoted to a demonstration of
wireless telegraphy, and of discharges of high potential elec-
tricity by the Department of Electrical Engineering and
Physics of the University, followed by motion pictures of
Safety First on the Union Pacific; The Manufacture of Steel,
loaned by the U. S. Steel Corporation; University of Nevada
Campus and Laboratory Views, and National Mine-Rescue
Demonstrations, loaned by the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
Owing to the severe storm of the 25th and 26th, many of
the delegates were delayed in reaching Reno, so the electrical
EXPLOSION OK COAL DUST AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. BUREAU OF
MINES, IIRUt'ETOWN. PENNSYLVANIA. SEPTEMBER 23, 1913.
ONE OF THE STUDIES THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING IN THE
INTEREST OF SAFETY IN MINKS.
papers were held over until the 27th. On the morning of that
day, an interesting meeting was held by railway apprentice
instructors of the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Oregon Short
Line, and Union Pacific. The meeting was presided over by
Norman Collyer. executive secretary to the president of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Co., and papers were presented by
John Edwards Bray, Nevada State superintendent of Public
Instruction, Thos. G. Gray of the Sacramento, and H. S.
Gillette of the West Oakland shops of the Southern Pacific;
Mr. Linn of the Santa Fe: and A. W. Preston, shop super-
intendent of the University of Nevada. On the preceding
day, Mr. Collyer had addressed the engineering students of
the university on the apprentice system for college men in
operation on the Southern Pacific system. At the electrical
section of the conference, on January 27, at which A. H. Bab-
cock, electrical engineer for the Southern Pacific, presided, a
discussion was held on 'Safety Regulations for Electric Power
Companies.' the leading paper being by W. K. Freudenberger,
chief engineer of the Nevada State Public Service Commission.
The principal session of the conference was the general
meeting on the afternoon of the 27th. at which Governor
Tasker L. Oddie presided. At this session, interest was mainly
centred in the discussion on electric headlights, which was
introduced in a valuable paper by .1. G. Scrugham, professor of
electrical and mechanical engineering at the University of
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
267
Nevada. Following the headlight discussion, after a demon-
stration of the talking' arc, the following papers were pre-
sented: 'Safety First in Mining,- by Thomas M. Fagan, presi-
dent of Tonopah Miners' Union. He discussed in an eloquent
manner the relation of the employee who sells his labor to the
employer and the state, dwelling particularly on features of
the Nevada Insurance and Compensation Act. Safety First at
Nevada Consolidated Copper Company's Plant,' by Lindsay
Duncan, mechanical engineer of that Company, was read by
title in the author's absence. Edward Ryan, state mine in-
spector, gave an interesting paper on Accident Prevention in
Mining,' paying particular attention to the necessity of edu-
cating employees to their own dangers. At the close of his
address, Mr. Ryan demonstrated the miner's oxygen helmet and
rescue outfit, also the pulmotor. which is used by the U. S.
Bureau of Mines. A. W. Hunsinger, of the Goldfield Miners'
Union, spoke on accident prevention, and was followed by the
Rev. Lloyd B. Thomas, Carson City. Nevada, who gave his im-
pressions as a visitor at the Safety Conference held under the
auspices of the American Museum of Safety in New York, De-
cember 10-12, 1913.
At the close of the meeting, a communication from secretary
Cameron, of the National Council for Industrial Safety, urging
the formation of a local council in Nevada to cooperate with
the national body, was read by C. W. Whitney. On motion of
John J. Mullin, secretary of the Nevada Indmstrial Commis-
sion, a resolution was passed by the convention to the effect
that it was the opinion of the conference that an organization
be formed to carry on the industrial safety work in Nevada,
and that Governor Oddie appoint a committee of nine, of
which he constitute the chairman, to arrange for and perfect
such an organization. The conference proper closed with a
banquet given by the Engineers' Club of the University to the
delegates and guests. A. A. Codd, regent of the University,
presided as toastmaster, and the speakers of the evening in-
cluded Governor Oddie; W. S. Lunsford, city attorney;
P. A. McCarran, justice Supreme Court; R. .1. Clancy, assistant
general manager Southern Pacific railroad; .1. B. Brennan, rep-
resenting the Blacksmiths' Union; J. H. Linn, of the Santa Fe;
and J. E. Stubbs, president of the University of Nevada. Mr.
Clancy's lemarks were particularly interesting to the technical
and railroad men present, as they covered a wide range of the
Southern Pacific's activities, touching on the historical side
and closing with the live subject of electric headlights. Of
the exhibits at the conference, the principal one was that of
the Southern Pacific Railroad Co., which reproduced the ex-
hibit booth that was shown at the International Exposition
of Safety and Sanitation, held in New York City in December,
at which time the Company was awarded the Harriman medal
for the best safety record of all railway companies in the
United States during 1913. The exhibit was in charge of John
C. Weigandt. assistant chief clerk to Julius Krutschnitt, chair-
man of the executive committee of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road Co. Another interesting exhibit was an electrically
operated working model of the block signal system used on
the Southern Pacific. The University of Nevada exhibited a
small locomotive, gas engine, and generator, constructed in the
University shops, also a comprehensive display of safety first
literature. Much of the credit for the success of the confer-
ence is due to J. G Scrugham, who conceived the idea of the
i -ting and arranged practically all its details, carrying it
through with honor to himself, the I'niversity, and 'he state.
The Nevada State Mine Owners' Association met at Reno
on January 28. Members were present, from all parts of the
state. An election of officers resulted as follows: President,
John G. Kirchen. of Tonopah; vice-presidents, Albert Burch,
of Goldfield, and C. B. Lakenan, of Ely; and secretary and
treasurer. W. B. Alexander, of Reno. The executive commit-
tee elected was as follows: John G. Kirchen, Albert Burch,
C. B. Lakenan. W. A. Bradley, Frederick Bradshaw, I.. G.
Campbell, and \V. II. Bradshaw. At the conclusion of the
annual meeting, there was a dinner given at which the
following were present among others: John G. Kirchen, W.
L. Alexander, George Wingfield, Fred J. Siebert, Frederick
Bradshaw, Albert Burch, W. H. Blackburn, Arthur Lowry,
L. G. Campbell, Hugh H. Brown, and C. V. Jenkins.
LONDON
Phoenix and East Poor. Minks. — Laisor Troubles in Corn-
wall, ami Miners' Objections TO New Systems.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that the Duchy of Cornwall
had been trying to exact onerous terms for a renewal of the
lease of the Levant tin and copper mine near Land's End.
I explained that the Duchy of Cornwall was in by-gone days
the private property of the King of England, but nowadays
a government department. The treatment of the Phoenix tin
mine, north of Liskeard in East Cornwall, has apparently
been different. It was stated at the meeting of shareholders
last week that the Duchy office had agreed to subscribe £7500
on mortgage, provided the directors found a similar sum.
This money is required for further development. Royalty has
a particular interest in the Phoenix mine, for did not the
present King and Queen, when Prince and Princess of Wales,
pay a visit to it for the express purpose of formally starting
operations in connection with the sinking of the new shaft?
At the most recent reorganization of affairs, in September,
1912, Bewick, Moreing & Co. were made managers. When
they assumed control at Phoenix, they arranged for £50,000
new capital, for the purpose of paying off the debentures and
liabilities, and providing funds for further development. It
is evident that this amount has not been sufficient, otherwise
new debentures would not now be issued. The property has
afforded another example of the miner-like fashion in which
the old Cornishmen conducted their operations, for it has been
proved by the present managers that no ore worth extracting
was left in the old workings. It has therefore become neces-
sary to launch out into a vigorous scheme of development at
a number of places in virgin ground, in the hope of finding
sufficient ore to keep a mill going. The directors and mana-
gers are keeping rather quiet about the performance and pros-
pects at this mine. The yearly report was not circulated to
the press, and the meeting of shareholders was held privately.
It was only accidentally that I heard that the report had been
issued and the meeting held.
The same firm. Bewick. Moreing & Co., also has the East
Pool mine, near Camborne in hand, and will have an equally
difficult job there. For years the mine yielded handsome
profits, and in recent times the crushing and concentration
departments led Cornwall in the treatment of low-grade com-
plex ore. But the yield per ton gradually fell, and in order to
reduce costs development underground was neglected. Finally
the provision of additional capital became imperative in order
to conduct a new compaign of development. This, Bewick,
Moreing & Co. undertook to do a year ago. Their efforts have
given disappointing results so far. One of the objectives at
depth was the finding of the Great lode. A lode, which is
apparently that sought, has been cut, but it is low grade. At
this mine, Bewick. Moreing & Co. have also had labor troubles,
owing to their desire to keep track of costs more closely, and
to abolish what is known as the contract system of pay, which
is in general use in Cornwall. The men refused to go under-
ground on the new terms and in the end, the regulations were
withdrawn. Under the contract system, the 'taker' of the
'pare' or gang is paid the whole of the amount earned by the
'pare', and be distributes the money among the men and boys
constituting it in such proportions as he may previously have
agreed with them. The boys he usually pays $12 to $14.40 per
month, and he justifies this low wage by a claim that he is
teaching them their work, or in other words, they are serving
a sort of apprenticeship for which he claims a part of the
value of their services, as a payment for supervision and in-
268
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7. 1914
struction. The manager of the mine has no control of the
members of the 'pare', so far as wages paid or time worked is
concerned, and frequently shifts are missed by one or other
member without penalty. This is an unsatisfactory state of
affairs, for the standing charges of the mine continue the same
whatever the output, and it is necessary to get a maximum
of shifts worked. The management of any mine is entitled to,
and indeed ought to, know the rate of pay of all employees
per shift, and how many shifts they work. The older men
were opposed to any change that involved payment for actual
shifts worked at a fixed rate, as their share for so-called super-
vision would vanish, and they were able to persuade the
younger men to follow their lead. It is always difficult in
Cornwall to abolish old customs; but it is hoped for the sake
of the industry that the attempt will be made again, after it
has been clearly demonstrated that the genuine worker would
not be a loser by the adoption of the shift system of payment.
Another difference with the men was the proposal to close all
contracts on the loth day, and at the end of each month. This
would have resulted in two pays per calendar month, the Com-
pany only holding three days pay in hand instead of two weeks
pay as at present, and would have replaced the existing four-
weekly pay, with subsist at the end of the second week. The
change was necessary to enable the general managers to figure
their costs, etc., per calendar month. The opposition of the
men was based on the opinion that this change would result
in their only having 12 instead of 13 pays, an absurd conten-
tion in view of the fact that the men were to be paid on shifts
actually worked.
NEW YORK
Tiik Guggenheim Exploration Co. and Its 'Fbiends.' — Amer-
ican Smelting & Refining Co.'s Copped Transactions. —
Trust Investigations. — Copper Statistics Questioned. — ■
British Columbia Copper Company.
Whatever the Guggenheims do is of burning interest to a
great many people, and in the advertising they get by their
'loving' friends, not a little is ascribed to them which is
more surprising to them than to anyone else. Whenever nego-
tiations for a mining property are started anywhere, it is
sure to be whispered, to the accompaniment of mysterious
winks, that "the Guggenheims are back of it." The latest
of these interesting canards is a despatch from Denver stat-
ing that the Guggenheim Exploration Co. is about to take
over pretty near the whole Rico district of Colorado, involv-
ing a $4,500,000 deal. Just how this could be brought about
without the officials of the Company knowing anything about
it is not clear, but it seems to offer no difficulties to the
reporter. What the Department of Justice is going to do
to the American Smelting & Refining Co. is another matter
of much interest, in this case to business men in general.
The hearings in the dissolution suit against the United
States Steel Corporation still drag along, but do not even
get space on the financial page any more, and it is clear that
the public has lost all interest in the matter, being pretty
well convinced now that the 'Steel Trust' is, at the worst, a
beneficent ogre. The International Agricultural Implement
Co. is also under scrutiny; but the worst charge that can
be truthfully brought against these two big organizations is
that they have combined a number of competing plants into
one organization. So many intelligent men now believe that
unrestricted competition is harmful to the public interest,
that it seems doubtful whether any public support for the
dissolution of the organization on that score alone can be
evoked. What the Department of Justice has against the
American Smelting & Refining Co. has not been made public,
but must be much the same as the two others. Meanwhile
the Company has been 'getting in wrong' to a further extent,
for the statistics of 1913 show that it advanced to the lead-
ing position in the eop]>er producing and selling business, a
position which it has long held in lead producton. The
Company sold nearly 500,000,000 lb. of copper in 1913, as
compared with 442,000,000 lb. by its nearest competitor, the
Amalgamated sales agency. The difference is really greater
than this, for Braden copper goes directly to Europe, not
appearing in the figures, while the Amalgamated agency sells
much more copper for outside companies than the American
Smelting & Refining Co. does. Whether this fresh proof of
villainy on the part of the 'smelter trust' will add fresh
fuel to the flames of governmental wrath remains to be seen.
As a matter of fact, were it not for President Wilson's anti-
monopoly policy, all three matters would probably be quietly
dropped.
I have several times referred to the suspicion with which
American copper statistics are regarded abroad, while con-
sumers here similarly allege that the European figures are not
to be trusted. The most vigorous attack on American statistics
is one published in the Ironmonger, of London, which says:
"American news is now entirely discredited after the last
returns issued by the Copper Producers' Association, which
are regarded by most as having been manipulated. If these
present figures correctly represent the position, then it is
held in many quarters that the preceding figures have not
done so. Under the circumstances, the copper market took
the returns calmly, although they were bad enough to have
precipitated a panic, and the fact that prices did not sustain
any greater deterioration than was actually the case, is prob-
ably due to the extent of the depreciation already sustained
and to there being no bull account open worth consideration.
The attitude of producers has not been such as to inspire any
confidence in the trade, for there has been a continued weak
appearance about prices and a decided tendency toward com-
petition between producing and dealing interests, all of
whom seemed to want to book business. Whether the chief
producers have much metal on hand awaiting sale is not
clear, but they are quite ready to sell, and are in a position
to give early shipment copper whenever required, a some-
what unusual circumstance, in the light of the experience
of the greater part of last year." Consumers here freely
intimate that large quantities of copper have gone to Europe
on consignment and do not appear in the statistics there.
Pascal once said that we know truth not only by the reason,
but also by the heart. In this case a good many people seem
to be somewhat affected in both organs.
The British Columbia Copper Co. has been extending its
operations for some time and has been busy exploring and
optioning properties. It has done so well in this regard that
Hayden. Stone & Co. have underwritten a new bond issue of
$1,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds, and it is reported that
the $3,000,000 company will be reorganized as one with $5,000.-
000 capital. The refinancing plan will be announced daring
the current week. As a result of this activity, British Co-
lumbia shares advanced from $2 to $4 last week. The new
smelter of the Granby at Anyox will not be blown in until
after February 1, there having been some delay in the con-
struction of a dam. The Mason Valley has had its converter
department in operation for several weeks, two 12-ft. con-
verters being in use. In addition to making a saving of
about VuC. per pound over shipping the matte to Garfield, the
converters enable the Company to utilize 50 to 60 t*ns per
day of silicious custom ore, of which there is an abundant
supply. The Mason Valley should make a better showing
this year. The suit of the United Zinc Co. of Maine against
Sydney Harwood and others to recover $1,000,000 excessive
profits alleged to have been made by them when they were
directors of the United Zinc & Lead Co. of New Jersey, has
been dismissed by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. The
fraud alleged was in the sale of Missouri lands to the New
Jersey company, which was afterward merged into the Maine
company. The Court held this merger was never authorized
and the Maine company had no right to bring the suit.
February 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
269
ALASKA
Circle
Clarence Barry has contracted with the Union Construction
Co., of San Francisco, for a 3'^-cu. ft. Close-connected bucket-
dredge, to dig 15 ft. below water-level. This dredge will be
erected on Mastodon creek, near Circle City. Probably the
most Important feature in its design was the question of econ-
omy of power production. After making an exhaustive study
of the problem both east and west, it was decided to install
two R. Wolf locomobiles. These engines give a high economy
in fuel consumption, delivering 1 b.hp. per hour from 1.06
lb. of coal. The engines use superheated steam and are
mounted directly on the boiler. The dredge will have a re-
volving screen, to remove the oversize material, the fine
passing through the screen, directly into either of two sluices.
The bucket-lines of both dredges will be made of cast nickel
chrome steel with manganese steel lips.
Fairbanks
Since quartz mining started here in 1909, the total gold pro-
duced is approximately $1,000,000, of which the Rhoads-Hall
mine has yielded $400,000. It is estimated that the 1914 out-
RIlnWM-IIAM. MINK.
put of the district will be nearly as much as t lie- total pre-
vious production. During December the Newsboy mill was
cleaned-up for $2500, which is an equal amount short of all
expenses at the mine and mill. Leslie M. Drury is manager.
Good ore is now being mined. Gravel worth $1.75 per foot
has been uncovered by Johnson brothers and Johnson on 22A
Coldstream. They have a 35-hp. plant on the claim, and
will take out a large winter dump.
No Ml
John Hrower. Charles .Mitchell, and I I Cole, of Nome,
have contracted with the Union Construction Co. of San
Francisco, to build a 3'..-cu. ft close-connectt d bucket dredge,
to dig 35 ft. below water-level. It will be erected on Bangor
creek on the Seward Peninsula. It will lie operated by distil-
late engines and will have the standard equipment of winches,
screen, stacker, and gold saving tables. The distributor will
be of the Company's special design, by means of which the
fine material is spread equally over all tin- tables. This is
a feature which has been neglected in most of the California
dredges, resulting in about 9'" ; of the gold being caught in
the upper part of the first two or three tables.
Sill SIIANA
Little work is being done on the claims just now, but about
400 cabins have been erected. Food is plentiful, including
wild meat at 10c. per pound. Flour, beans, sugar, and rice
are 50c. per pound. Several large outfits are on the way to
the camp. A moving-picture outfit is in chargf of Frank L.
Johnson. He is equipped to take and show pictures. G. P.
Sproul, who has studied the different routes to Shushana,
stated at Fairbanks that the Tanana river route is the best
one under present conditions.
Valdez
The Cameron-Johnson Gold Mining Co. is to install an aerial
tramway to convey ore from its Treasury Note claim to the
mill built last summer. The Company has 26 claims on the
right limit of Shoup glacier. Three adits have been driven
in the Treasury Note, the veins being IS, 30, and 48 in. wide,
respectively, worth $185 per ton. Rich ore has also been
opened in the Montezuma claim.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
On January 22, excavating was started for foundations of
the first unit of the Copper Queen concentrating plant. The
site is just below the Sacramento shaft. This unit will be
of 25-ton capacity to check laboratory work. Concreting the
Junction 5-compartment shaft from 1800 ft. to the surface is
practically finished. The first work was from 1500 ft. up,
and then from 1800 to 1500 ft. It is likely that development
will be resumed at the Denn. Water has been an obstacle
in this mine. Better ore is being mined by the Higgins Leas-
ing Co. Ore shipments are being sent regularly from claims
at Tombstone, the State of Maine being the largest producer.
Results of the examination of the Tombstone Consolidated
mines by engineers of the Phelps-Dodge company have not
been published yet. The Commonwealth Extension, at Pearce,
has been sold to Bisbee mining men.
A 'Safety First' smoker was held last week at Bisbee, at
which over 700 men attended. Besides serious discussions
on the subject, a good program was submitted for the
audience.
Gila County
(Special Correspondence.) — For the International smelting
plant, the American Bridge Co. will supply about 6000 tons
of steel, and work must be started within 90 days. At the
Inspiration, during the past week, two carloads of iron gates
for draining the ore-storage bins have been received and are
now being put in place of the bins, which will require 140 of
the gates. The General Electric Co. has shipped three of the
large transformers and they should soon be in Miami. The
transformers, which are shipped from Pittsfield, Massachusetts,
weigh 5000 lb. each. One of the large Pacific Electric No. 4
air-compressors has been received and unloaded near the main
shafts. Bad weather has interfered with construction work
and train service. Ore-bins are being erected at the main
shafts, and work is to be soon started on the head-frame.
The United States Reclamation Service force now has towers
of the transmission line erected up to the main east and
west shafts and is continuing the work toward Superior.
Miami. January 31.
Assessment and development work is being done on 75
claims of the Troy-Arizona Copper Co.. at Troy, south of
Globe. An option has been taken on the Renfro group of 40
claims adjoining, the price being $25,000. Leo Von Rosenberg
has 25 men on the various claims.
Pinal County
At the Kay Consolidated mine, the company is starting a
'safety first' movement. Employees who offer suggestions for
lessening risks are given cash prizes; a course of lectures
in first aid is provided; pulmotors are installed for emer-
gencies, and a helmet practice is given every month.
Yuma County
The Swansea Consolidated Cold & Copper Co., operating
the Swansea mine and smelter in the northern part of the
county, has been pronounced bankrupt. The Farmers' Ex-
. hange of Phoenix is the principal creditor.
270
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1!)14
CALIFORNIA
Amadok County
A Spaniard, on being refused work at the Kennedy mine,
attacked the foreman, Alex. Ross, with a razor. He was finally
overpowered and arrested. Mr. Ross was not seriously hurt.
A miner at the Keystone, Amador City, is suing the company
for $5071 for injuries alleged to have been received while
attending to a machine-drill.
Butte County
Floods in the Feather river interfered with power for the
three dredges of the Oroville Dredging Co., and the gold out-
put was only $3289 during the week ended January 3.
Eldorado County
J. J. Meyers and J. J. Dunn, of Georgetown, have sold a
third interest in the Emma group of mines, on the George-
town divide, to W. T. Russell, of Fresno. The mine will be
developed and a 5-stamp mill will be erected at once.
Mariposa County
The Exchequer dam, a concrete structure across the Mer-
ced river at Exchequer, was destroyed by the recent floods.
It was built about eight years ago by the Exchequer Mining
& Power Co., to supply power for several mines near Hornitos.
These included the Mount Gaines, Ruth Pierce, and No. 5.
In 1911, floods in the river damaged the power-plant, which
was only supplying the Mount Gaines at that time. Since
then the dam was not used for any purpose, but may have
been useful at a later period. Its dimensions were 56 ft. high,
10 ft. thick at the top, 40 ft. at the bottom, and 175 ft. long,
and cost $42,000. It is stated that the Bad Spur dredge, two
miles above the dam, has been washed out. The town of
Snelling, in Merced county, was partly flooded, but appar-
ently the Yosemite Dredging Co.'s boat was not damaged.
Nevada County
Moore's Flat, an abandoned hydraulicking district, is now
active through lode mining at the Black Bear, Metropolitan,
Nellie V, Golden Shipper, and Bawder's properties. The new
10-stamp mill at the Golden Center of Grass Valley mine has
started work.
Plackb County
A good ore-shoot was recently opened in the east end of
the Gold Blossom mine at Ophir. The main shaft is down
480 ft. Ore averaging $7.50 in free gold and 75c. per ton in
concentrate has produced over $500,000 from this mine. Vari-
ous causes have prevented its being operated of late years,
but J. H. Toler, one of the heirs of the Reed estate, estimates
that instead of mining and crushing 43 tons per day at a
cost of $3.75 per ton, a modern plant and methods will re-
duce the cost to $1.16 per ton. Ore reserves are estimated
at 53,384 tons, worth $160,019, and a profit of $79,943. A
rearrangement of plant will cost about $6940. A. C. Lowell,
executor of the Reed estate, is interesting Nevada people
in the Gold Blossom.
Sacramento County
The Natomas Consolidated of California reports the result
of its gold-dredging operations during December as follows:
Gross. Cost. Net.
Natoma field $176,974 $108,809 $68,165
Feather River field 49,073 24,738 24,334
Total $226,048 $133,547 $92,500
Crushed rock 24,087 14,571 9.515
Water 2,139 1,399 740
Miscellaneous income 25,958 7,971 17.9S6
Total $278,233 $157,490 $120,742
Bond interest 81,103 81,103
Net $278,233 $238,594 $ 39,638
Sierra County
Work has been resumed at the Independence mine on Wolf
creek, below the Plumbago.
COLORADO
For the mining convention to be held on February 19,
Denver has been chosen as the meeting place. Twenty-six
counties have selected delegates, and about 150 representative
mining men will be present.
Dolores County
The annual meeting of the Rico- Wellington Mining Co. was
held at Provo, Utah, on January 29. The old board of direc-
tors was reelected, including Jesse Knight as president. Large
shipments of copper and some zinc ore were made in 1913,
and at present 20 tons of copper ore is being shipped daily
to Salt Lake smelters. The Company's Indebtedness is now
$51,000, $50,000 having been paid off during the term.
Gilpin County
This county is said to be quite active in spite of the win-
ter, and numerous small claims are being developed. Deeper
work is to be done at the Bates mine in Chase gulch. Ore
shipments to the Polar and Iron City mills have yielded
high gold returns. The Castle Rock is also producing good
ore. Shipments from the Pittsburg, in Russell gulch, have
yielded 2.16 to 10.54 oz. gold, 3.84 to 10.20 oz. silver, and
4.8 to 19% copper. Development at the Homer, Columbia adit.
Cecil lode, and East Notaway is producing satisfactory results.
Lake County (Leadville)
A large tonnage of iron ore has been opened in the Henri-
ette mine. Carbonate hill, and shipments are being made.
The daily output of iron, lead, and carbonate of zinc ores is
50 tons, but this is to be increased. Development in the
Eureka, Lackawanna gulch, is excellent, several hundred
feet of ore being opened in the main adit. Lessees at the
Little Johnnie, Breece hill, are getting satisfactory results. The
Walker adit, at South Evans, is being driven 400 ft., the
present rate in hard ground is only 2 ft. per day. This place
is at a high altitude, and miners do not stay long. The
District mill, lower California gulch, is working full time.
A tube-milling oil-flotation process is being tried on the zinc
tailing from the Horrigan lease on the Maid of Erin dump.
W. H. Campbell, of the Jolly Leasing & Milling Co., states that
there should be a change in the smelter charges on iron ores.
At present the smelters demand 40% excess in all iron oxide
ores. Most of the large iron orebodies in the district con-
tain 3 to 4 oz. silver per ton. and a good deal of silica,
and he considers that on a basis of 35';<r iron there would
be a revival in mining at Carbonate and Fryer hills. The
Denver City shaft, Yankee hill, is completed, and properly-
equipped for work. The Mt. Champion mill, Half Moon
gulch, is being overhauled. A wide vein has been opened
in the Siwatch adit.
OubaY County
A snowstorm of four days' duration shut down every mine
in the county for some time during the last week of Janu-
ary. A flume and transmission wires of the Ames power-
plant in San Miguel county were carried away, and power
was cut off. A snowslide knocked over a tower of the Atlas
tramway, and part of a shed at the Camp Bird, while a
considerable amount of minor damage was done.
San Miguel County
The Liberty Bell Gold Mining Co. has recently acquired,
under lease and bond, some property in the East Mill Creek
district, the purchase price being $10,000. The claims con-
tain gold-bearing veins, and will be prospected by an adit
in Cornet Creek basin.
A fierce storm throughout the county did little damage to
mining plants, which operated practically the whole time.
Febmary 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
271
The Idaho and Butterfly snowslides tarried away power-lines
and flumes of the Western Colorado Power Co. The Pan-
dora slide started off with the Bob Tail slide and destroyed
two towers of the Tomboy tramway and some cables. These
slides rushed to within 300 ft. of the Pandora mill of the
Smuggler-l'nion company, and damaged the Pennsylvania
snowsheds and tramway.
Teller County (Cripple Ckkkk)
On No. 11 level of the Gold Coin shaft of the Granite com-
pany, the main Granite vein has been opened over 100 ft.
so far, and yields rich ore. Dan McCarthy is superintendent.
Dividends amounting to $45,000 and $26,185, respectively, have
been paid by the Vindicator and Mary McKinney companies
during the last week of January. Lessees at the Isabella
mines are satisfied with their conditions, and have published
a statement to that effect.
The January gold output of the district was $1,285,536.
from 86. 213 tons of ore.
IDAHO
Lemhi County
A car of rich gold ore has been sent to Salt Lake City
from the Allie mine at Gilmore. The vein Is 2'j ft. wide,
and has been driven on 40 ft., and a raise driven 50 ft. The
face gives high assays at present. This is an old silver-
lead district, which was almost abandoned except for several
prospectors, mainly on account of transport arrangements
over 80 miles of road. Three years ago the Pittsburg-Gilmore
railroad was constructed to the district, and it became active
as a silver-lead ore producer, according to Robert Bell, inspec-
tor of mines. The principal work has been done at the
Pittsburg-Idaho, Latest Out. and Allie mines. The formation
of the district is ancient limestone underlain by Cambrian
quart/.ite. E. C. Ross is manager of the Allie mine.
SlIOSIIONK Col' NTY
The Idora mill, near Sunset, and 1600 ft. below the mine,
has resumed work after a temporary shut down for overhaul.
The mill has a capacity of 100 tons per 24 hours, and is con-
nected with the mine by aerial tramway. Concentrate from
the mill Is hauled !i miles to Pilchard. The mine is look-
ing well, as is also the Tuscumbia, which is under option to
the company. M I). Winder is manager. John Mocine has
been appointed manager of the National Copper Mining Co.
at Mullan, in place of Charles McKinnis, who is in bad health.
At a depth of 400 ft., the crosscut from the bottom of the
Sunset mine shaft has cut the vein. The ore contains lead
and zinc. This property is owned by W. A. Clark, of Montana.
On February 4 the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining & Con-
centrating Co. paid dividend No. 197, of $81,750. This makes
the total amount of dividends paid $14,892,750.
There has been further litigation with the Stewart Mining
Co. This was the suit of this Company against Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., owner of the Ontario property, for the purpose
of getting title to orebodies in the Ontario lode claim, the
apex of which was claimed by the Stewart company. It was
admitted that the same vein was in the Ontario and Stewart,
but in the latter it was faulted. The question for the court
to decide was whether the particular fault to which refer-
ence was made by parties to the suit constituted a part of
the apex of the vein which extended across both the Stewart
and Ontario properties, or whether it was only a side or
edge of the vein. In his decision, Judge F. S. Dietrich held
that it was no part of the apex, and the complaint was
dismissed. Both properties contain high-grade ore, and the
case was one of the most bitterly contested ever tried in the
Coeur d'Alene district.
The American Smelting & Refining Co. has secured con-
trol of the Stewart Mining Co. by buying 471,000 shares of
the latter's stock. The former Company is also negotiating
for another 68,000 shares.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
'Rock' shipments from different Calumet mines during the
third week in January were as follows: Calumet & Hecla,
8790 tons; Osceola, old mine, 960; South Kearsarge, 1200;
North Kearsarge, 920; total for Osceola Consolidated, 3080;
Ahmeek, 1480; Mohawk, 1400; Wolverine, 1400; Centennial,
440; and Allouez, 840 tons. At the Ahmeek stamp-mill, two
heads are working three shifts, crushing 1700 tons of rock
per day. Four heads at the Osceola are crushing 2800 tons.
The Mohawk is employing 200 men, and the one-man drill
is used exclusively.
The past week has seen a number of additional mines enter
the list of the normal producers. Those mines which are
now working full handed and producing copper at the rate
before the strike are as follows: Superior, Calumet & Hecla,
South Kearsarge, Osceola, North Kearsarge, Allouez, Winona,
Centennial, and Victoria. The mines which are working
normal forces, but which are not producers of copper, are
as follows: White Pine, Mayflower, Old Colony, Keweenaw,
New Arcadian, New Baltic, Oneco, Hancock Consolidated,
Naumkeag, South Lake, North Lake, Indiana, Wyandot, La
Salle, Houghton Copper, and St. Louis. The mines which
are operating over 75'/r normal rock output and expect to
be in normal condition again within a few weeks are the
Baltic, Trimountain. Champion of the Copper Range Consoli-
dated, the Quincy, nearly normal, Ahmeek, and Wolverine.
Mohawk is about half of normal in rock production now.
The influx of new men to the district continues. Quite a
few of the men from the iron mines are coming to the copper
district, feeling that the Finnish socialists there will attempt
to stiike in the near future.
MISSOURI
Greene County
Ore has been found at a shallow depth near Springfield,
and the district is quite busy. The first shaft has been
sunk south of tlu> James river. The Gumbo district is pro-
ducing ore, which is sent to smelters in Kansas and Illinois.
Jasper County
The Napoleon mine is producing from 30 to 60 tons of
zinc ore per week, and is one of the steadiest properties at
Joplin. Last year a large tonnage of zinc and lead ore was
produced. Work is carried on at a depth of 150 ft. Drilling
at the south part of the lease showed rich ground at 115 to
125 ft., and down to 155 ft. The Napoleon Lead & Zinc Co.
is composed of Joplin men. It has a lease on 40 acres of
the Nap Perry land. A modern concentrating plant is at
work. Of the 4745 tons of zinc ore from the Missouri-Kansas-
Oklahoma district during the past week, 1570 tons was from
272
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
the Webb City-Carterville sheet-ground area. It also sent
out 486 tons of lead ore. Despite low prices, the operators
are keeping their mills running. The Galena-Joplin Lead &
Zinc Co. has its shaft down 167 ft., but continuous pumping
is necessary. Drilling has proved ore under limestone over
a good area. W. C. Kramer has secured a lease on the
Bonanza land, and will probably start drilling shortly. A
new 250-ton mill is being erected by C. C. Yoder and asso-
ciates. Large pumps are now at work in the Dallas mine.
About $5000 was spent last fall on the Symmes mine plant.
MONTANA
Madison County
It is stated that a new company has taken options on
20,000 a«res of ground in Ruby valley, near Twin Bridges,
for dredging purposes. The options are for the current year
only. Prospecting is to start soon, according to H. F. Jack-
son, representative of the company. Charles P. Helman, of
the El Oro Dredging Co. of Oroville, California, has author-
ized this work to commence. He spent some time in this
district last summer and fall.
Silvebbow County
Development of the Edith May vein at 2600 ft., in the North
Butte, is very promising for further discoveries. At 2000 ft.
the Butte-Alex Scott drift has cut the vein. A shoot of 4
to 5% copper was recently cut in the Alex Scott. The prop-
erty is producing 150 tons of ore per day from the 1900-ft.
level. Seventy men are employed. The Butte-Ballaklava
shipped 2300 tons of ore in December. The largest ore-shoot
is at 1400 ft., where it is 10 ft. wide, against 5 ft. at 1200 ft.
and 10 ft. at S00 ft. It is intended to cross-cut from the
1600-ft. station. Last week the miners entered the old 1200-
ft. level stopes which were filled with waste, the result of
litigation with the Anaconda company. The Butte Ballaklava
is working a southeast extension of the North Butte's Jessie
vein. Forty-five men are employed. The large flow of water
in the Butte & Zenith, six miles west of Butte hill, is now
under control, enabling further sinking to be done. Cross-
cutting is under way at 2400 ft. in the Tuolumne, and the
Jessie vein will be cut about February 23. About 100 tons
of ore per day is being mined from a wide shoot at 800 ft.
A station is to be cut at 2200 ft. in the Pilot-Butte, and cross-
cutting done to cut a 2V,-ft. shoot opened at 1800 ft. The
Anaconda company's suit against the Pilot-Butte is set for
March. The former claims ownership of the South vein,
which is alleged to apex in its Emily ground, adjoining the
Pilot-Butte.
NEVADA
Chubchiix County
It is stated that at the Goldbanks Quicksilver Mines Co.'s
property, 35 miles south of Winnemucca, in Pleasant valley,
an area of 1000 by 3500 ft. contains cinnabar. A gravity
tramway to a 12-ton retort is nearly finished, the furnace
now being heated up. The annual meating of the Nevada
Hills Mining Co. was recently held at Reno. Development
in the mine at Fairview covered 6243 ft. during the past
year. The mill treated 41,919 tons of ore averaging $13.77
per ton. The net yield was $510,414. The total expenditure
was $333,448, equal to $7.95 per ton. The profit was $176,966.
E. A. Julian is general manager.
Elko County
The Eureka & Palisade Railroad Co. will construct a line
to the mining cam]) of Bullion. It will be 14 miles long
with 2 and 4% grades. There is a large tonnage ef profitable
ore opened in the various claims.
Esmkbai.da County
The Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co. reports as follows for
January: Ore treated, 30,249 tons; gold recovered, $336,000:
operating expenses. $1 SO, 000; and net realization, $156,000.
Nyk County
Work is to be resumed at the Manhattan Consolidated mine.
Water is being taken out by a Cameron pump. The ore from
this property is rather refractory, and the California Extrac-
tion Co., of Oakland, is experimenting with it. It is said
that the Clancy process is being installed at the Associated
mill. Good ore has been opened in the Wittenberg-Mushett
lease on the Manhattan-Dexter property, at 300 ft. A winze
is being sunk to prove the extent of the shoot. A heavy
snowstorm visited Manhattan during the last week in Janu-
ary. The West End will pay a dividend of 10c. per share
in March, equal to $178,848. The ore production of Tonopah
mines last week was 11,005 tons, valued at $265,210. A re-
duction in power and light rates will be effective in the
district on March 5. The last quarterly report of the Tono-
pah Mining Co. shows the following: Gross value of mill
products, $667,747; net earnings, $358,694; sundry income and
dividend ($54,220) from Tonopah & Goldfield railroad made
a total of $436,678; exploration, $19,425; and defense of Brown
process litigation, $6592, leaving net income of $410,660. Div-
idends of $250,000 each were paid on October 21, 1913, and
January 21, 1914. The Company has organized the Tonopah
Placers Co., with a capital of $1,000,000, to work the dredg-
ing areas acquired at Breckenridge, Colorado.
Stobey County
The 2700-ft. level at the Comstock has been drained, the
water being 5 ft. below the station. This is the first time
for 30 years that anybody has been to that depth. The drift
leading from the station to the Ophir, Mexican, Union, and
Sierra Nevada mines is in good condition. Great hopes are
held for satisfactory development at 2700 ft. The Starrett
pumps have done excellent work in unwatering the area, A.
M. Walsh and Leon M. Hall are superintendent and engineer
respectively of the United Comstock Pumping Association.
UTAH
Summit County
Three feet of shipping ore has been opened on the 1550-ft.
level of the Silver King Consolidated, at Park City. This
makes three faces at this depth where ore is being mined.
The Thompson-Quincy mine is being worked as usual in spite
of the fire at the Daly West in December. Good ore is being
mined.
Salt Lake County
The old Yosemite mine at Bingham is again active, and
a carload of lead ore has been extracted from the 500-ft.
level. The mine, down to 2000 ft., has been drained by the
Mascotte adit. A settlement of 37 tons of ore from the
City Rocks workings of the Michigan-Utah gave the following
result: gold, 65c; silver, $25.76: copper, $1.47: and lead,
$11.22; a total of $39.10 per ton. Twenty-five men are em-
ployed at the property.
WASHINGTON
Stevens County
The eighth annual meeting of the United Copper Mining
Co. was held at Spokane on January 28. Conrad Wolfe is
president. He stated that $67,000 was spent last year in
development, installing electric equipment and enlarging the
mill. The lower adit was driven 3700 ft. during 1913. A
two-compartment shaft is below the 600-ft. level, and will be
sunk 400 ft. farther. Both the adit and shaft should be
finished in about 60 days. Generally the mine is in good
condition. Statements of ore production and metal output
will be published shortly by the Company.
Spokane County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Reata Mining & Milling
Co. has been organized by Spokane men. with a capital of
$1,500,000. The mining claims to be developed are near the
February 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Deer Creek mines, 4% miles northwest of Spokane. About
2000 ft. of work has already been done, and 10,000 tons of
ore is ready for shipment. The Providence claim has pro-
duced ore worth $50,000. Silver predominates in the ore,
the lowest grade being 10 oz. per ton.
Spokane, January 28.
CANADA
British Columbia
Shipments of ore from Rossland mines to the Trail smelter
for the week ended January 21, also for the year to that
date, are as follows: Centre Star, week 3710 tons, year 10,565
tons; Le Roi, week 795, year 3551; Josie (Le Roi No. 2),
week 212, year 1330. During the last week 477 tons of ore
from the Ben Hur mine, Republic, has passed through Ross-
land, also 53 tons consigned from the First National Bank
at Colville, Washington.
The Second Relief mine at Erie lias been sold to Minneap-
olis people for $300,000. A. H. Elftman is the principal holder
in the new concern, and Litchfield & Hanson were the for-
mer owners. Spokane people are interested. The present
gold output is between $10,000 and $12,000 per month. The
British Columbia Copper Co.'s gross earnings in 1913 were
$1,240,000. New holdings, costing $275,000, were acquired
during the past year, and a new concentrating plant will
be erected to treat the ores from these properties. The Green-
wood smelter can handle the extra product. A bond issue of
$1,000,000 will be used to pay for new works.
Ontario
During December the Hudson Hay mill treated 1945 tons
of ore averaging 23.6 oz. per ton, with SK.7',; recovery, the
residue containing 2.8 oz. per ton. The output was 49.721 oz..
silver. Thirty feet of ore, worth from 3000 to 4000- oz. per
ton and 2 in. wide, has been opened in a branch stringer
from the Fleming vein on the 150-ft. level of the Crown Re-
serve mine. It is consistent in the few feet opened to date.
The new development is from the workings driven shortly
after the draining of Kerr lake.
During 1913 development at the Wettlaufer Lorrain mine
covered 1390 ft., and 982 ft. of diamond-drilling; but results
were disappointing. Ore produced yielded 252,864 oz. silver,
and the reserves contain only a few thousand ounces. The"
year's profit was $3X,042, against $320,249 in 1912.
Thirty-one mines were on the shipping list at Cobalt in
1913, against 27 in 1912. The amount sent out last year was
20,916 tons, and a total of 179,934.31 tons since 1904. Dur-
ing December the Buffalo mill treated 7199 tons of ore aver-
aging 23.27 oz. |>er ton. Silver recovered was 128,997 oz. A
vein has been cut at 280 ft. in the Bailey, and it is figured
to be the No. 1 vein, but contains low-grade ore at present.
The Hunton, Home & Stevenson claims at Kirkland Lake
have been acquired by Knglish people, headed by H. Cecil.
The Hunton claims include two 40-acre properties about %
mile south of the Teck-Hughes. The deal, on a cash and
share basis, will amount to about £200.000. Knglish capital
is flowing freely into the Kirkland Lake district of late.
It is pro|K>sed to amalgamate all the mines at Pearl I^ake
under one company. These include the Mclntyre, which is
treating ore, and the Pearl Lake, Jupiter. Plenaurum, Schu-
macher, and Vipond, which are not being operated. Central
equipment will be an advantage to the group. The Foster
Leasing Co. is preparing to develop Its ground under Glen
lake. Nearly half of its 40 acres is situated there.
The International Exploration Co., of Buffalo, has an option
for $160,000 on the Le Blanc property at Keniwisek, near
Hurricanaw, and probably this will be completed. On ac-
count of proper bridges to the mine, development is tem-
porarily held up. At 46 ft. depth In the Clark claims, 40 in.
of quartz assays $5126. and 30 in. of quartz and schist aver-
ages $32.87 per ton. On the hanging wall is porphyry assay-
ing $3.31 per ton.
J. C. Pyi.e is down from Butte.
W. C. Ralston is in New York City.
E. H. Nutter has returned from Butte.
E. H. Leslie is at Bartlesville. Oklahoma.
C. G. Taili.ki k is now at Dayton, Nevada.
Edward J. O'Connej.l is in San Francisco.
F. L. Sizeh is in San Francisco for a few days.
L. D. Ricketts was in Salt Lake City this week.
A. Chester Beatty has sailed for the Mediterranean.
F. R. Mann has moved from Globe to Superior, Arizona.
Albion S. Howe is expected in San Francisco from Costa
Rica.
R. Noblett has gone from Bisbee to Pilares de Nacozari,
Sonora.
Clement A. Foster, of Haileybury, sailed from New York for
London.
Lester A. Greene is expected from New York and Chicago
next Thursday.
D'Arcy Weatherhe passed through New York last week on
his way to Cobalt.
E. T. Stannard has returned from Chile and is at Bing-
hamton, New York.
W. G. Anderson left San Francisco on February 1 to inspect
mines in eastern Ontario.
E. C. Converse was married to Miss Edith M. Dunshee in
New York on January 30.
William J. Priestly. Jr.. who has been in I^atouche, Alaska,
is now at Seattle, Washington.
R. S. McCaffehy has been appointed professor of metallurgy
in the University of Wisconsin.
Askin Nicholas is manager of the Block 14 wolfram mine,
at Torrington, New South Wales.
David McCi.ire has left San Francisco for a trip through
the mining regions of South America.
J. M. Kubie formerly at Philadelphia, is now at 625 I. W.
Hellman Bdg., Los Angeles. California.
F. G. Cottrei.i. has been in Butte in connection with the
Bureau of Mines work on smelter fume.
Harry Nelson has resigned as superintendent for the Golden
Cycle and will be succeeded by Jasper T. Robertson.
A. G. Ill brows gave a lecture at Porcupine, Ontario. Janu-
ary 29. on the prevailing rock formation in Canada.
P. A. RonniNs will sail from New York for the Mediter-
ranean, and will spend three months in Europe and northern
Africa.
C. M. Eye has just completed a 200-ton mill for the Imperial
Reduction Co., near Ogilby, California, where he has charge
of the mining property.
M. J. Stafford, field engineer with the construction depart-
ment of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co., has resigned
and will leave for the Pacific coast.
Forbes Richard has been examining mines in the Pioneer
district, Nevada. He will visit Pasadena, Catalina, and the
Grand Canyon before returning to Denver.
V. A. Stout has returned from a trip East and will be in San
Francisco, where he will be the Pacific, coast representative
for the New York Engineering Co. and the Hardinge Conical
Mill Company.
B. M. Snyder, of Los Angeles, Alex. Wise,
Cameron, of San Francisco, have been assisting
ston in making an examination of the Zeila mine,
California.
Dorsey Lyon and R. M. Keenly, of the l*. S. Bureau of
Mines, have been detailed to take charge of the metallurgical
research station at Salt Lake City established in cooperation
with the University of Utah.
and Donald
R. ]•:. Cran-
at Jackson,
L>74
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
CONSOLIDATED MINING & SMELTING COMPANY OF
CANADA, LTD.
Tins Company operates about 15 different mines, and a
smelter at Trail, British Columbia, and the report covers
the 15 months ended September 30, 1913. R. H. Stewart, gen-
eral manager, states that the Ottawa at Slocan City, the
Silver King at Nelson, the Lucky Thought at Silverton, and
some properties on the coast were under development during
the period, these being new additions to the existing work.
There was 3S.741 ft. of 'narrow' work, and 35,288 ft. of dia-
mond-drilling done in the following mines: Centre Star, Le
Roi, St. Eugene, Sullivan, Molly Gibson, Silver King, Number
One, Highland, Maestro, Libby, Tiger, Richmond Eureka, Ot^
tawa, Lucky Thought, and Silver Dollar. The total develop-
ment to date in the various properties operated is 418,052 feet.
The Company's mines in Rossland show an encouraging in-
crease in the amount of ore developed, a considerable part
of this increase being due to tonnage developed in the Le
Roi. Development in depth from the War Eagle mine con-
tinues to prove encouraging, a large body of ore, of good
grade, having been opened on No. 14 level. A cross-cut from
the Centre Star shaft is now being driven to reach this vein
at a depth of 300 ft. below this level, and should reach the
vein early in 1914. Development in the Le Roi mine has
been satisfactory in finding new ore. A dispute regarding
the rights to mine certain veins apexing near the north
boundary of the Le Roi, where it adjoins the property of
the Le Roi No. 2, was settled by an agreement between the
two companies, involving an exchange of certain parts of the
properties of both companies and the substitution of definite
planes for extralateral rights. This agreement should do away
with any cause for disputes of
this nature with the Le Roi No.
2 company in the future. At
Kimberley, development of the
Sullivan group has been satis-
factory in opening new ore,
and the mine should continue to
produce for a good many years
to come. At Movie a small ton-
nage has been shipped from the
St. Eugene mine, but no large
bodies of new ore have been
discovered. The Molly Gibson
mine was closed down for about
six months last winter, owing to
snowslides. which carried away
a considerable part of the tram-
way. The tramway has been
repaired and development is
proceeding satisfactorily. The
cross-cut tunnel mentioned in
last year's report has opened
considerable new ore, much of
it of good grade, and the mine
looks better than ever before.
Owing to its situation, develop-
ment is necessarily slow, but the
mine should, in time, be a producer of considerable profit.
At Sandon there have been no new developments in the Rich-
mond Eureka group, which still continues to produce a small
tonnage. At Ainsworth, the Number One mine has been pro-
ducing ore comparatively steadily, and developing with favor-
able results. The Highland group is also being developed
with fairly satisfactory results. This mine has also com-
menced producing. The Maestro, Libby, Banker, and Tiger
properties adjoining or close to the Highland and Number
One groups, and which the Company has under option, have
developed to a small extent and some ore has been produced
under lease. Labor troubles prevented full work at the Silver
Dollar at Salmo. At Boundary Falls the Number Seven sup-
plied silicious ore for the smelter part of the time. In the
Phoenix camp no work was done. Mining activity increased
in the Kootenay district, ore shipments to the smelter being
97,823 tons against 47,257 tons in the previous term.
Operations at the smelter for the term were as follows:
Ore from all mines, tons 407,124
Gold, ounces 186,017
Silver, ounces 3,224,408
Lead, pounds 4H,325,252
Copper, pounds 3,454,814
Gross value $8,335,668
Covering the period of 1894 to 1913, inclusive, results were:
Ore smelted, tons 3,551,051
Gold, ounces 1,332,929
Silver, ounces 23,449,031
Lead, pounds 299,295,896
Copper, pounds 54,244,797
Gross value $60,502,672
Revenue from all sources in 1912-13 $ 9,148,714
Ore, lead, and bullion purchased 3,151,325
Development 598,240
Mining, smelting, and general expenses 3,110,794
Freight on Company's ore 71,046
Ore and smelter products 868,112
Development, written off 146,019
Depreciation 193,256
Directors and sundries 11,554
Profit 998,367
Dividends (3, equal to 8%) 464,352
Credit of profit and loss 1.717,650
At the Le Roi experimental mill, tests have been carried
EI.UI. SMELTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA.
out on concentration. The head-frame at the War Eagle was
burned, but did not stop ore supplies. At Ainsworth was in-
stalled an aerial tramway 9000 ft. long, from Number One
mine to the lake. Several improvements were made at the
Highland and Kimberley mines. At the Trail smelter one
of the copper furnaces was lengthened to 35 ft., preparation
was made for installing a new lead furnace, and for rebuild-
ing the lead furnaces.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
New York Metal Market Review
All of the important metals finished 1913 with consider-
able activity. January opened quiet, but with a better feel-
ing, which grew in force as the month progressed. Copper
was affected only temporarily by the unfavorable statement
for December, issued January 8 by the Copper Producers'
Association, and toward the third quarter of the month elec-
trolytic advanced under a good demand. Lake was nominal
throughout January. In spelter, there was an excellent buy-
ing movement, . following greater activity at the sheet mills.
Lead quotations were between 4.10 and 4.15c. per pound, New
York, from January 1 to 28, and the heaviest buying was in
the third quarter of the month. Antimony was uninterest-
ing, although there was an effort to force sales. In tin, there
was some heavy purchasing, under which prices advanced.
Quotations for aluminum showed no variations in January,
and on the whole the metal was quiet. The feeling in all
lines is that a betterment in business conditions is on the
way, but that it will come slowly.
COPPER
The review of December covered the market' to December
23, on which date there was no indication of impending
activity, and it was thought that 1913 would finish with the
dullness that had so long prevailed. On December 26, 27,
and 28, however, buying was heavy, and millions of pounds
were sold, about 75% being for export, according to report.
One result was that electrolytic, which had been quoted at
14.37'/oC. cash prior to the movement, went to 14.871/.'C. on
January 2. Lake was nominal on that day at 15.12'ic. cash.
The Waterbury average for December was 15c. Total exports
in December were 30,503 tons. Total exports for 1913 were
382,660 tons. Immediately after the subsidence of buying
in the last days of 1913, dullness set in again, and while
prices held for the first week of 1914, they were nominal.
On January 8 the market suffered a hard blow when the
Copper Producers' statement for December appeared. It was
a great disappointment to the trade, inasmuch as while it
was not expected to be favorable, no one figured that domestic
deliveries would be as low as 21,938,570 lb., or that surplus
stock would rise to 91,438,867 lb., an Increase of 43,509,438
lb., the largest increase In the history of the records. In
the face of the statistical showing and the lack of demand,
electrolytic dropped to 14c. cash, New York, by the middle
of the month, with Lake nominal at 14.50c. The last prior
sale of Lake was at 15.12 '.jc, and then it was to be had
only from one or two producers. At around 14c. some
activity started in electrolytic with Europe again figuring
in the bulk of sales, though domestic consumers took more
than they had for some weeks previously. Prices advanced
under the demand, and by January 21 electrolytic was quoted
at 14.37M-C. cash and Lake was nominal at 14.75c. cash.
With the better buying referred to came an improved feel-
ing which survived the activity and lasted to the end of
January. It was justified, as in the third week of the month
came another buying movement which., while not heavy, was
fair, with Europe again the largest purchaser. Quotations
advanced until on January 28 electrolytic stood at 14.50c.
cash. New York, with Lake at 15c, although in the latter
there had been little or no action. Few resale or specula-
tive lots of electrolytic were in evidence ;it this time, holders
of such metal evidently believing that they could obtain
full prices by not pressing sales, despite the dullness then
prevailing. The exports up to and including January 30
were heavy, amounting to 33,690 tons. The quotation on
January 30 for electrolytic was 14.62%c. cash, delivered. New
York.
SPELTER
This metal took on added strength under the stimulus
of better inquiry and improved buying at the very end
of 1913, as did copper, and quotations advanced to 5.35c.
New York and 5.20c. St. Louis, on December 29. These new
prices caused the base price of sheet zinc in carload lots to
be advanced 25c. per 100 lb., to $7.50 per 100 lb., less S',
discount, f.o.b. cars Peru, Illinois. Later in the month this
advance was lost. In most of January there was little doing.
and by the end of the second week quotations had dropped
to 5.25c. New York and 5.10c. St. Louis. After January 15.
however, the market became firm again, and with the reports
of increased production of sheets there came an excellent
demand with buying good on January 22. 23. and 24. Prices
moved upward again, and by January 27 the New York quo-
tation was back to 5.35c, although buying had eased off. The
quotation on January 30 was 5.40c. New York.
LEAD
In lead, also, there was an improvement in the final days
of 1913, the American Smelting & Refining Co., on December
29, advancing its price 5 points to 4.15c New York. At the
low price which had been prevailing, the big interest had
been taking most of the business and probably more than
it wanted to at these figures. Meanwhile the western quota-
tion eased off until January 9, when the New York price
was again made 4.10c. New York by the American Smelting
& Refining Co. This drop was a surprise to the New York
trade, as it was generally believed that an advance was in
order. The St. Louis price on January 15 was 3.97VjC About
this time good inquiry appeared, some of it from abroad,
although the New York price, 4.10c, was not low enough
to permit of profitable sales for export. Metal could have
been shipped at 3.95c. f.o.b. New York, but the price at this
port, as noted, was 15 points higher. The margin was rather
close, but it excited no uneasiness for the reason that pro-
ducers have shown little desire to export their metal. Be-
tween January 21 and 28, the market was exceedingly active
at 4.10c. New York level, and under the demand the St. Louis
price crept up to 4.02'{.c, and all the indications were that
the eastern price would advance accordingly. In the good
buying referred to, both consumers and dealers took metal.
Quotations in London had sagged toward the end of the
month, but this did not disturb the American market. The
quotations on January 30 were 4.10c New York and 4.02'/jc.
St. Louis, with independent producers asking a few points
more.
ANTIMONY
The market was unsatisfactory throughout January, as it
had been for several months. At the end of 1913 the situ-
ation was easier, because of a disposition to give conces-
sions to induce buying. Little success was met in the en-
deavor. January opened with Hallett's at 7 to 7.25c, Conic
sob's at 7.45 to 7.60c, and Chinese and Hungarian grades at
6 to 6.50c On January 30, Hallett's was practically un-
changed, but Cookson's had dropped to 7.25 to 7.35c. Other
brands were still 6 to 6.50c Government statistics showed
that importations had fallen off heavily in the latter part
of 1913, but there was a large stock on hand, and condi-
tions indicated a desire to liquidate the accumulated metal.
Much of tins stock had been landed prior to the new tariff
becoming operative.
The annual report of the Mary McKinney Mining Co. shows
the following:
Development, feet 2,901
Stoping, cubic feet 58,277
Company's ore sales $293,434
Lessees' ore sales 52,662
Total earnings 348,092
Total expenses 235,902
Net profit 112,190
Dividends 104.740
!76
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco is not a primary market for the common
metals except quicksilver. The prices quoted below therefore
represent sales of small lots and are not such as an ore pro-
dcer could expect to realize. Ore contracts usually call for
settlement on the basis of Eastern prices, less freight and
treatment charges. The prices quoted are in cents per pound,
except in the case of quicksilver, which is quoted in dollars per
flask of 75 pounds.
San Francisco, February 5.
Antimony I) — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15 ^£ — 15%c
Pig lead 4.40 — 5.35
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 41 — »2%c
Spelter 6 V4 — 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 \z to Sc. per pound.
EASTERN MET A I, MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
New York. February 4. — The past week has shown a steady
increase in copper prices from 14.50 to 14.70c. per lb. Present
demand is strong, and prices are advancing. The Copper Pro-
ducers' report is due on February 9, and an increase of between
1,000,000 and 20,000,000 lb. in stocks is expected. January copper
returns are as follows: Anaconda, 24,400,000 lb.; Chino, 6,131,840
lb.; and Copper Range subsidiaries, 3,276,000 pounds. German
consumers have bought copper at 14.70 cents. Lead and spelter
are firm at 4.15 and 5.25c. respectively. In London, tin is
strong at £187 10s. for spot. Large speculation in various
stocks is still being indulged in in London, and markets are
huovant.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of One silver.
Date.
Feb.
57.25
1 Sunday
Average week ending.
Dec. 24 57.77
•• 31 57.52
Jan. 7 57. 5U
" 14 57.75
" 21 57.58
" 28 57.60
Feb. 5 57.46
1913.
63.01
61.25
57.87
59.2 6
May 60.21
June 59.03
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
Monthly averages.
1914.
57.58
1914.
1913.
July 58.70
Aug 59.32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88 ....
Nov. 58.76
Dec 57.73 ....
Throughout the week ended January 15, according to Pixley
and Abell, some Indian covering has been going on, and. In
addition, about £100,000 has been bought for this week's steamer.
As some shipments have also gone to the Continent, stocks
in London are still about £1,800,000. The China banks have
been quiet, but gave some support to the market earlier in
the week. In view of the Chinese New Year,, which commences
on January 20 and lasts until the 29th, inclusive, it is doubt-
ful whether China can prove a great source of strength to
this market at present. In spite of this, however, Bombay will
probably want more silver for the settlement steamer, leaving
next week, and there are still some bears to be covered. As
American sales are falling off, possibly owing to large pur-
chases for the United States Mint, and also to the Mexican
troubles, and as stocks in London are largely under control,
the general appearance is not unhealthy.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more: Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 29 M-50 Dec.
■• so 14.50
:;i 14.55 Jan.
Feb. 1 Sunday
.1 1.65
. 1 I . r, :,
.1 1.70
Average week ending
-1 1 1.2S
31 14.56
7 It :'.'.'
14 13.97
21 1 1.03
2S 14.35
4 11.59
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
Jim-' 14.
191::.
.16.51
.14.93
. 1 1.72
. 15.22
.15.42
Monthly averages.
191 1
1913.
July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept. . .■ 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15. OX
Dec 1 1.25
The copper market strengthened considerably last week,
though without large sales. On Monday orders were few and
on Tuesday some dealers did a good business, while others
did not. On Wednesday, January 28, word came that the
London agencies were asking the equivalent of 14%c. for 30
days' copper and doing fair business. The same price was
asked in New York the next day, but sales were small and
also on January 30. Some Calumet & Hecla and Quincy cop-
per sold at 15c. Exports of copper for the week ended Janu-
ary 29 totaled 8473 tons; since January 1, 33,690 tons; same
period last year, 23,048 tons.
Lead is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds, New York delivery.
Date.
Jan. 29
" 30
" 31
Feb. 1 Sunday
4.15
4.15
4.15
4.15
4.15
4.15
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
4.34
4.33
Monthly averages.
1914.
4.11
Average week ending
Dec. 24 4.«2
" 31 4.15
Jan. 7 4.15
" 14 4.10
" 21 4.10
" 28 4.10
r eb. 4 4.15
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1913.
4.35
4.60
4.70
4.37
4.16
4.02
1914.
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco. Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly In this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect t6 pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb-
are given below:
Week ending | Jan. 22 39 00
Jan. 8 39.50 " 29 39. 00
15 39.50 I Feb. 5 39.00
Monthly averages.
1913. 1914. 1913. 1914.
39.37 39.25
41.00
Jan. .
Feb. .
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
1913.
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Dec 40.00
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands. St. Louii
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 29.
" 30.
'• 31.
1 Sunday
3.'. '.'.'.'.'.'. '.
. . 5.25
. . 5.25
5.25
5.25
5.25
Average week ending
Dec. 24 5.15
" 31 5.13
Jan. 7 5.02
" 14 5.08
" 21 5.05
" 28 5.20
Feb. 4 5.25
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
1914
6.88
5.11
6.13
5.94
5.52
5.23
5.00
1913.
July 5.11
Aug 5.51
Sept 5.55
Oct 5.22
Nov 5.09
Dec. . .■ 5.07
1914.
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin, since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1913.
.Ian 50.45
Feb 4 9.07
Mch 46.95
Apr 49.00
May 49.10
June 45.10
1914.
37.85
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
1914
ALUMINUM
Throughout January the market for aluminum was dull but
steady at 18.50 to 19c. for both domestic and foreign, prompt
delivery metal, 98 to 99rr pure. This range of price applies
to large purchases, smaller quantities running proportionately
higher. Government statistics issued January 20 show that
the imports of aluminum in November 1913 were only 1.055.869
lb., whereas in the same month of 1912 they were 3,743.210 lb.
In the early months of 1913 the imports were large, and the
total for the 11 months ending November 1913 were 21.830,972
lb., as against 1S.956.16S lb. in the first 11 months of 1912.
Near the close of the month IS.371-2C was bid for a large quan-
tity, but was refused.
February 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Tin in January
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
February 5.
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s « 97]
Unlisted.
Asa. ones, 80
General Petroleum 6s... -
Listed.
Amalgamated Oil...
Associated Oil
E. I. du Pont pfd_...
Giant
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd..
Pacific Crude OIL...
Sterling O. A D„
Bid
«i
68*
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
A Ik
98]
Natomas Consol. 6s
. 2&i
—
Pac. Port. Cement 6s
. —
100J
45
STO
Santa Cruz CementSs..
—
90
CKS
Ask
Listed.
Bid
Ask
8*1
Union Oil
. 62
—
424
Unlisted.
90
Noble Electric Steel
M
Natomas Consol
. li
. 50
Riverside Cement
35c
Santa Cruz Cement
—
49,
13
Stand. Port. Cement .
. 10
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange
February 5.
Atlanta I .17
Belcber JR
Belmont. 7.75
Big Four.. 14
Con. Virginia 1«
Florence. .58
QoldfleldCon 1.60
Ooldneld Oro .11
Hall/ax 1.10
Jim Butler 1.00
Jumbo Extension. 21
ilacNamara 11
Mexican 1.10
Midway «
COPPER SHARES BOSTON
• By courtesy of J. O. Wilson. Mills Building.)
February 5.
Mlzpah Extension
Montana-Tonopah ...
Nevada Hills
1 .45
1.10
.39
North Star
.43
Ophlr
Pittsburg Silver Peak
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
.18
.36
.40
.. .06
Tonopah Extension ...
Tonopah Merger
1.90
.69
Tonopah of Nevada ....
7.00
Victor
30
West End
... 1.40
Yellow Jacket...
35
Bid Ask
Allouex t 40J 41
Ariz. Commercial 51 5J
Butte 4 Superior 354 35}
Calumet A Arizona 68] 69
Calumet A Hecla 446 452
Copper Range 40 40]
Daly West 24 3
East Butte 12] 12*
Franklin 4} 4(
Oranby 89] 90
Oreene Cananea 41 it.
Isle-Royale 224 23
Mass Copper 3 3]
Bid Ask
Mohawk :.f 44] 45
Nevada Con 16] 16]
North Butte 30 30]
Old Dominion 52 53]
Osceola 83 83]
tjulncy 61 63
Shannon 6] 7
Superior A Boston 2j 24
Tamarack 36] 37
U. S. Smelting, com 42] 43]
Utah Con 10 10]
Winona 4] 4]
Wolverine 46 47
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. F. Hutton & Co.,
February 5.
Ask.
Kohl Building.)
Bid
Braden Copper... 7% 7%
Braden 6s 152 167
B. C. Copper 3% 4 %
Con. Cop. Mines.. 2% 2%
Davis-Daly 2% 2%
Dolores 1 2
Ely Con 4 5
First National... 3V4 3%
Glroux 1 !4 1 Vfe
Hollinger .17 19
Iron Blossom .... 1% 1 Vt
Kerr Lake 4% 5
La Rose 1 % 2
11. y.
Dar.
Am .
Miis. in V
McKinli ■>
Mines Co
Niplssing
< (hi. i Copper
San T..y . . .
Stan. I. Oil of
Tri Bullion .
Tuolumne . .
United Cop. .
Wettlaufer
Yukon Cold
Bid.
3H
1'.
%
7c,
2%
Ask.
4
1V4
3%
1%
hi
20c.
324
•4
%
\
9c.
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE!
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Ruildlng.)
February D.
Bid Ask
Amalgamated • 77 77j
Anaconda. 37| 37]
A.S. Alt 69! 69]
Calif. Pet 30 30]
Chlno 43 434
Guggenheim Ex 01 51}
Inspiration 17| 18
Mexican Pet 62 81
Bid Ask
Miami S 23J 23J
Nevada Con 16] 16]
Quicksilver, com 2} 2]
Ray Con 19] 20
Tenn. Copper 35 86]
U. S. Steel, pfd 110] 111]
U.S. Steel, com 85] 65]
Utah Copper 65] 65]
There was fair buying at the latter end of 1913, a final
flurry which ceased when prices went up. December deliv-
eries totaled 3100 tons. The total deliveries for 1913 were
43,900 tons, a decrease of 5600 tons compared with those of
1912. The total visible supply December 31, 1913, was 13,89:1
tons, which was 2916 tons above that of December 31, 1912.
In stocks and landing, December 31, 1913, was 2199 tons. In
the first week of 1914 there was only a moderate business.
with the price on January 7 around 36.60c. In the next week,
January S to 14, quotations hovered between 36 and 37c,
but business was lacking. In the week of January 15 to 21
the market showed more life, both inquiries and sales becom-
ing more frequent and with dealers doing some of the buying.
Between January 15 and 21, quotations reached and exceeded
37*c, the price on the latter date being $37.S5c. The price on
January 30 was 40c. The arrivals in January were 3235 tons.
Current Prices for Ores and Minerals
(Corrected monthly by Atkins. Kroll & Co.)
The prices are approximate, subject to fluctuation, and to
variation according to quantity, quality, and delivery required.
They are quoted, except as noted, f.o.b. San Francisco. Buying
prices marked *.
Mln. Max.
Antimony ore, 50*, ft ton *S18.00 120.00
Arsenic, white, refined, ft lb 0.02J 0.03]
Arsenic, red, refined, ft lb 0.08 0.084
Asbestos, chrysotlle 100.00 350.00
Asbestos, araphibole 5.00 10.00
Asphaltum. refined, ft ton 11.50 20.00
Barium carbonate, precipitated, ft ton 40.ro 15.00
Barium chloride, commercial, ft ton 40.00 42.50
Barium sulphate (barytes), prepared, ft ton 20.00 30.00
Bismuth ore, 15* ft ton *250.00 upward
Chrome ore, according to quality, ft ton 10.00 12.50
China clay, English, levigated, ft ton 15.00 20.00
Cobalt metal, refined, f. o. b. London, ft lb 2.50
Coke, foundry, ft 2240 lb 15.00 20.00
Diamonds:
Borts, according to size and quality, ft carat 2.00 15.00
Carbons, according to size and quality, ft carat 55.00 so.00
Feldspar, ft ton 6.00 25.00
Firebrick:
Bauxite, ft M 175.00
Magneslte, ft M 190.00 275.00
Silica, ft M 50.00 56.00
Flint pebbles for tube-mills. Danish, ft 2240 lb 21.00 22.rtf
Fluorspar, ft ton 10.00 15.00
Fullers earth, according to quality, ft ton 20.00 30.00
Gllsonlte, ft ton 35.00 10.00
Graphite:
Amorphous, ft lb 0.01) 0.024
Crystalline, ft lb 0.04 0.13
Gypsum, ft ton 7.50 10.00
Infusorial earth, ft ton 10.00 15.00
Iridium 55.00
Magneslte, crude, ft ton 5.00 7.50
Magneslte, dead calcined, ft ton 20.00 26.00
Magneslte, brick (see firebrick).
Manganese ore, oxide, crude, ft ton 10.00 15.00
Manganese, prepared, according to quality, f ton 30.00 70.00
Mica, according to size and quality, ft lb 0.05 1.00
Molybdenite, 95* MoS,, f ton 500.00 750.00-
Monazite sand (5*thoria), ft ton 150.00 200.00
Nickel metal, refined, ft lb 0.45 O.BO
Ochre, extra strength, levigated, ft 100 lb 2.00 2.60
i ismlrlditiiii. ft oz 25.00
Platinum, native, crude, ft oz 30.00 45.00
Sllex lining for tube-mills ft 2240 lb 35.50 37.60
Sulphur, crude, ft ton 20.00 25.00
Sulphur, powdered, ft ton 30.00 16.00
Sulphur, 80*, ft ton l(i.50 ia&0
Talc, prepared, according to quality, ft ton 20.00 60.00
Tin ore, 60*, ft ton 450.00 500.00
Tungsten ore, 66* 426.00 460.00
Uranium ore, 10* mln. 25.00 per unit
Vanadium ore, 16*V,o0, ft ton 150.00 180.00
Wolframite (see tungsten ore).
Zinc ore,.50 * up, ft ton '15.00 20.00
!78
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 7, 1914
Current Prices for Chemicals
(Corrected monthly by Braun-Kneeht-Heimann Co.)
Prices quoted are for ordinary quantities in packages as
specified. For round lots lower prices may be expected, while
in smaller quantities advanced prices are ordinarily charged.
Prices named are f.o.b. San Francisco and subject to fluctuation.
Other conditions govern Mexican and foreign business.
Mln. Max.
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66°, drums, ft 100 1b J0.85 (1.10
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66°, carboy, ft 100 lb 1.25 1.76
Acid, sulphuric, U. P., 9-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.13 0.18
Acid, sulphuric, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb 0.09} 0.12
Acid, muriatic, com'l, carboy, ft 100 1b 1.85 3.00
Acid, muriatic, C. P., 6-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.15 0.20
Acid, muriatic, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb 0.10} 0.15
Acid, nitric, com'l, carboy, ft 100 lb 6.00 6.50
Acid, nitric, C. P., 7-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.16 0.22
Acid, nitric, C. P., bulk, carboy, * lb.* 0.12} 0.15
Argols, ground, bbl., ft lb 0.10 0.2D
Borax, cryst. and cone, bans, ft 100 lb 3.00 4.35
Borax, powdered, bbl., ft 1001b 3.38 4.50
Borax glass, gd. 30 mesh, cases, tin lined, ft 100 lb 10.50 13.50
Bone ash, 60 to 80 mesh, bbl., ft 100 lb 5.60 6.50
Bromine, Mb. bottle, ft lb 0.55 0.65
Candles, adamantine, 14 oz., 40 sets, ft case. 4.60 4.80
Candles, adamantine, 14 oz., 60 sets, ft case 6.25 5.46
Candles, Stearic, 14 oz., 40 sets, ft case 5.00 5.20
Candles, Stearic, 14 oz., 60 sets, ft case 5.70 5.90
Clay, domestic Are, sack, ft 100 lb 1.50 2.00
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 100-lb. case, ft lb 0.18 0.22
Cyanide, 98 to 100%, 200-1 b. case, ft lb 0.18 0.22
Cyanide, 129%, 100-lb. case, ft lb 0.22 0.25}
Cyanide, 129%, 200-lb. case, ft lb 0.22 0.25
Lead acetate, brown, broken casks, ft 100 lb 9.00 10.60
Lead acetate, white, broken casks, ft 100 lb 10.60 10.75
Lead acetate, white, crystals, ft 100 lb 12.50 13.25
Lead, C. P., test., gran., ft 100 lb 13.00 15.00
Lead, C. P., sheet, ft 100 lb 15.00 18.00
Litharge, C. P., sliver free, ft 100 lb 11.50 13.50
Litharge, com'l, ft 100 lb 8.00 9.50
Manganese ox., blk., dom. in bags, ft ton 20.00 25.00
Manganese ox., blk., Caucasian, In casks, ft ton 39.00 50.00
(85% Mn02— 3% Fe)
Nitre, double ref d, small cryst., bbl., ft 100 lb 7.00 8.00
Nitre, double ref d, granular, bbl., ft 100 lb 6.50 7.50
Nitre, double refd, powdered, bbl., ft 100 lb 7.25 8.00
Potassium bicarbonate, cryst., ft 100 lb 12.00 15.00
Potassium carbonate, calcined, ft 100 lb 7.50 9.00
Potassium permanganate, drum, ft lb 0.10} 0.13
Silica, powdered, bags, ft lb 0.03 0.05
Soda, carbonate (ash), bbl., ft 100 lb 1.50 1.76
Soda, bicarbonate, bbl., ft 1001b 2.00 2.60
Soda, caustic, ground, 98%, bbl., ft 100 lb 3.00 3.26
Soda, caustic, solid, 98%, drums, ft 100 lb 2.50 2.75
Zinc shavings, 850 fine, bbl., ft 100 lb 12.00 13.00
Zinc sheet, No. 9—18 by 84, drum, ft 100 lb 10.20 11.00
•Extra chaige for packing nitric acid for shipment to conform to
regulations.
A New Classifying Jig
A new machine is now being put on the market known as
the 'Shields & Thielman combined classifier, jig, and slime
separator.' It was originally developed at the Quincy mine,
Hubbell, Michigan, by James W. Shields and in that mill
has replaced all trommel screens, bull jigs, middling jigs.
Hancock jigs, Woodbury jigs, and Richards pulsating classi-
fiers. The exclusive manufacture of this machine is now in
the hands of Chalmers & Williams and many separators are
being placed in mills as a result of their efforts. The following
information is supplied by that firm:
The separator is really a 16-compartment jig and has 4
sections, each being divided into 4 compartments and each
compartment having its own independent plunger. Each of
these 16 plungers, which are made of bronze and work in
cast iron cylinders, can be adjusted separately so as to give
the amount of throw best suited to the work. The compart-
ments in which the plungers work are bored like cylinders,
the lower ends of each being opened to the compartment
under its respective screen. There are vertical screens be-
tween each compartment, which classify the material as it
travels from the feed to the tail end of the machine. It will
classify and jig a mixed feed direct from the crushers from a
size of H/i in. down to as fine as 100 mesh. The slime passes
out from the tailing end of the machine, while classified con-
centrate, middling, and tailing are delivered from each sec-
tion separately.
The machine occupies a floor space of 12 by 4 ft., a head
room of less than 7 ft., and is handling successfully from
450 to 500 tons of ore for 24 hours. It will handle any ore
that can be treated on jigs and requires but 4 hp. to operate.
Above the bed is a system of chats, which are adjustable, per-
mitting the removal of concentrate, middling, and tailing
above the screen as well as the hutch product below.
Commercial Paragraphs
Dredging is becoming more popular in the Malay States
tinfields. Following the success of Malayan Tin Dredging,
Ltd., and the Kamunting company, the Ipoh Tin Dredging,
Ltd., has ordered a bucket dredge. It will be a Werf Conrad
boat and delivery was promised in six months, the price
being £24,000.
United States Bureau of Mines rescue cars carrying the
helmet types of mine-rescue apparatus have just been re-
equipped with the mouthpieces and corrugated tubes that are
used with the Fleuss apparatus. The same change has been
made on the Illinois rescue cars. This is an interesting con-
firmation of those who have maintained that the helmet itself
was unnecessary and expensive and even, because of possible
leakage around the face, a source of danger.
Sy.mons Bros. Co. are manufacturing a pulsating screen
which makes a radically new application of certain old prin-
ciples. The three things essential to a screen are: (1) to
keep the openings clean; (2) that the travel of the material
over all the screen surface should be at the right pace; and
(3) a simple, strong construction. The Symons pulsating
screen is a horizontal, step screen, the body being carried
on springs. As the screen is forced downward and back-
ward the springs are compressed. They are then suddenly
released, with the effect that the screen springs upward and
forward, feeding the material evenly over the surface and
giving a jig-like motion. The stone particles are partly
thrown out of the screen openings and partly pass through.
The travel is in a series of short, rapid jumps. The body is
supported upon two shafts by hanger arms, and the whole
construction is designed for rigidity and strength.
The Plumb pneumatic jig. now being introduced by the
American Zinc Ore Separating Co., is the invention of A.
M. Plumb, who has been engaged in treatment of complex
zinc ores for twenty years. He was one of the engineers
who helped develop the old Blake-Morsher machine into the
present successful electrostatic separator. The Plumb jig
uses the same principle as the Richards: that is, the intro-
duction of a pulsating motion into a current, in this case
air instead of water, by means of a rotating valve. This
causes the crushed rock- and mineral to dance on the screen
as in an ordinary jig. The result is the' building up of a
bed of the heavy mineral on the screen and by suitable
arrangement of outlets this automatically discharges as the
weight of the column on the screen becomes more than that
in the discharge. The machine is simple and compact and
is reported to make remarkably clean concentrates.
The railway operated by the El Oro Mining & Railway Co.,
Mexico, earned 1*524, ITS during the past fiscal year. The cost
of operation was f*2SS,211, and the profit was 1*2:15,967.
Gold production In India in 1913 totaled 589,311 oz.. av-
eraging about $18.50 per oz.. against 584.S38 oz. in 1912.
'Science has no enemy save the ignorant."
Whole No. 2795 'SKSt1?
San Francisco, February 14, 1914
THKEE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
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MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ESTABLISHED MAY 24, I860
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T. A. RICKARD Editorial Contributor
EDWARD WALKER - - - - - Correspondent
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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Entered at San Francisco Postoflice as Second-Class Matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL! Page.
Notes 279
Fostering Foreign Trade 280
ARTICLES!
Salted Placers of Santo Domingo I. W. Ledoux 280
Messina Copper Mine, Northern Transvaal
Owen Letcher 283
The Technology of Turquols loseph E. Pogue-28.r>
Grinding Short" Zinc Shaving I. H. Tregloan 28,
Accident Prevention at the Nevada Consolidated
Lindsay Duncan 288
The Globe Mine and Mill Wallace .Margregor 290
Antimony: Its Ores, Metallurfcv. and Uses...L. C. Mott 292
A 8mall Air-Blast ;,',;" 293
Transportation and Government Regulations in Boliv-
Ian Tin Fields G. W. V\ epf er 294
Granulating Copper Matte R. L. iiallett 296
Dredging at Oroville M. W. von Rernewltz 297
Copper Producers' Association Report 312
i.uggenhelm Exploration Co 313
Gold Production In Western Australia 313
A Tube-Mill Test at Butte 316
DISCUSSION:
California Miners and the Exposition
F W. Bradley Arthur Goodall. Louis Rosenfeld.
John F. Davis. S. A. Knapp 29S
Water In Veins -J- A. ,ni(,kard 298
The Rand Banket F. It Hatch. II. 1 • oster Rain 299
CONCENTRATES 301
SPECIAL CORRKSlM>MiK\< i: 302
GB1VBRAL HIMVt; m:\v- 307
DEPARTMENTS!
Personal ij J J
The Metal Markets %\%
The Stock Markets «>J
Company Reports JJJ
Recent Patents *J»
Commercial Paranrai.lis ilb
EDITORIAL
A USTRALIA is not content with the building of one
■**■ transcontinental railroad, that now under (•(in-
struction from South Australia to the west coast, but
has also undertaken a main north-south line. A piece
of road 54 miles long in the Northern Territory, and
ultimately to form a part of this second main line, has
just been authorized. The total distance to be tra-
versed is 1063 miles.
"PREE COINAGE of silver has recently found an ex-
A ponent in the person of Sr. Vietoriano Huerta, who
is trying to recoup the coin shortage which resulted
from the heavy exportation of silver coin previous to
that being forbidden by the Mexican government. I'n-
doubtedly the results of this policy will be watched
with great interest by its erstwhile champion of •'cross
of gold and crown of thorns" fame.
T"\IRECTORS of corporations are held to have large
^ power in an opinion recently delivered by Mr.
Justice Cardoza of the New York Supreme Court, in
which he is quoted as saving: "The business of a
corporation is to be conducted by its directors. They
are not required to follow the recommendations of
stockholders. Still less are they required— if, indeed,
they are permitted — to abdicate their functions and
surrender to a stockholders' committee the right to
control their discretion." This raises the question as
to just why there are stockholders. It is. unfortu-
nately enough, common for minor stockholders to be
ignored by those holding a major interest, but that
directors "are not required to follow the recommen-
dations of stockholders" appeals to us as novel.
TiyriXOR STOCKHOLDERS in the Mining Science
■"■*• Publishing Company received short shrift at the
final meeting of that corporation at Denver in Decem-
ber. Our Colorado contemporary had fallen on evil
days in a business way. and, as debts were proving em-
barrassing and collections slow, the principal stock-
holders arranged to turn the property over to the
Union Printing Company. Motions calling for a state-
ment of receipts and disbursements and for the appoint-
ment of a committee to audit the book's and accounts
were promptly voted down and the original plan as
promptly put through. We do not remember to have
seen a more cynical exhibition of the art of freezing
out minor stockholders, and now that it has been ac-
280
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
complished, Mining Science appears as usual, with no
signs of being bankrupt. We cannot believe that the
engineers whose names appear on the title page have
read the minutes of the stockholders' meeting of De-
cember 17, and we suggest to our friends, Messrs. D. W.
Brunton, J. W. Finch, Ilowland Bancroft, Cassius A.
Fisher, Victor G. Hills. Thomas B. Stearns, and the
others who are listed as members of the 'Editorial
Counsel,' consideration of the philosophic comment of
Old Daddy Do Funny 's angle worm :
"I could stand de hook," says de angleworm,
"An' a lily-brook wouldn't make me squirm,
But I can't help wrigglin' ag'in' my fate —
It breaks me all up to be used for bait."
Fostering Foreign Trade
From time to time we have frequently called atten-
tion to the many obvious ways in which the Depart-
ment of Commerce and other governmental agencies
could render more effective service in developing and
building up the foreign trade of this country. It is
with peculiar pleasure, therefore, that we record that
one of the necessary steps has already been taken and
another bids fair to quickly follow. The new banking
"act has been much discussed, but too little attention
has been given to one of its most important features :
the section permitting national banks to establish
branches abroad. In the past, national banks have
not been permitted to establish branch banks in other
cities, apparently on the theory that such an arrange-
ment would permit one community to draw away
money from another.
An equally important matter is the need for com-
mercial attaches to embassies for the purpose of scien-
t ifieally studying the possibilities of foreign trade ; a
need to which we have frequently called attention.
Even the smaller European countries have their at-
taches in every important commercial field, and, in a
letter to the London Times, an Englishman not long ago
urged the necessity of the British government increas-
ing its commercial staff in China to three attaches and
twenty subagents in order to keep its work upon
a par with that which' the effective German organiza-
tion is now doing. "We have not even one commercial
agent in China, and yet some of us wonder why our
trade there does not increase faster. A bill has re-
cently been introduced into Congress with the support
of Mr. William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce,
providing for the appointment of fourteen commercial
attaches, at a salary of $4000 to $5000 per year, to
posts in the leading commercial nations. This some-
what tardy recognition of an obvious need deserves
the instant and hearty support of everyone interested
in foreign commerce and also the backing of those
who have no foreign interests, for whatever benefits
some of our people is not without its effect on the
nation as a whole.
Whether any real benefit will be derived from the
work of the attaches will entirely depend upon the
considerations which govern their appointment.
Salted Placers of Santo Domingo
By J. W. Ledoux
At frequent intervals during the past ten or more
years there have been brought to the United States
propositions for the investment in mines in Santo
Domingo. The most lurid prospectuses and statements
have been presented, representing that fabulous wealth
exists principally in the shape of gold quartz veins
and placer deposits. These placer deposits have been
generally represented to exist in the red soils of the
plains, or highlands, between the rivers at the foot-
hills of the mountain ranges.
Many |>eople of means have been induced to invest
in leases and concessions, and several mining engineers
of experience have been sent down to make investiga-
tions and verify the claims of the promoters. In near-
ly all cases the engineers have come back with more
or less favorable reports, and findings averaging $10
to $20 per yard have been reported for areas covering
thousands of acres. The accounts of these deposits
have not always referred to the same locality, but the
most advertised region is that in the vicinity and
within 20 to, 50 miles of the City of Santo Domingo.
covering the mountainous region at the headwaters of
the Nigua, Jaina, Isabella, and Ozama rivers.
There are no roads in this vicinity, simply mountain
trails, and no mining operation on any considerable
scale has as yet been started, but stories are told of
fabulous wealth in gold extracted by the Spaniards
several hundred years ago, and there are many evi-
dences of their old workings, especially on the high-
lands: but reliable tests have been made at and in the
vicinity of these workings, none of which has shown
commercial gravel to exist. The fact that during all
this time no one has had the faith or enterprise to
install sufficient plant to mine on a large scale is fair
evidence that nothing of material value has as yet
been discovered. I was informed of a large stock
flotation scheme, known as the 'A. L. Brown' episode.
some years ago. when the most gigantic deception was
practised by a Santo Domingo resident on many Amer-
ican investors, and the fraud was afterward discov-
ered.
Another story that is current states that this same
resident of Santo Domingo sent a sample of red soil
to a firm in the United States with an inquiry as to
its suitability for paint. This firm had their chemist
analyze the soil, and he reported that it contained
considerable gold. The firm then wrote to the man in
Santo Domingo for a larger sample and inquired
whether he had much of this same kind of soil. A
second large sample was sent, and tested in the same
way, and found to contain even more gold than the
first. The firm then started negotiations with the
Santo Domingo man which resulted in an option or
agreement to purchase for a large sum of money and
the payment down of a large sum. They then started
operations and soon discovered that there was no gold
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
281
of any account where the material came from. They
then sued the Santo Domingo man for fraud in the
Dominican courts and were non-suited on the ground
that he did not pretend that there was gold in the
soil, and that his negotiations were carried on entirely
on account of the possible prospective paint value.
About a year ago this Santo Domingo man and sev-
eral associates interested some Philadelphia people in
property along the Jaina river, and these people sent
a reputable mining engineer down to examine the prop-
erty. The engineer, on account of his general knowl-
edge of the country and previous experience in sim-
ilar formations, prior to making the examination, was
extremely skeptical as to the presence of any gold
gravel of value, and so advised his principals. Nev-
ertheless, he made the investigation and found that
several of the streams emptying into the Jaina river
contained gold, for there were many natives, especially
women, who made a business of panning gold on these
streams. His investigations showed that the river bed
was narrow and steep for miles, and suddenly widened
out into a large deposit of gravel, which would afford
excellent ground for dredging, providing it contained
gold, and as it was close below the mouths of these
gold-bearing streams, he thought it was worth a trial.
He, therefore, obtained a drill capable of testing the
ground, and when he commenced work had only 15
days to make the test, when it was necessary to make
a considerable payment for the concession. He sank
some half dozen holes, as well distributee! as possible,
to test the ground and found gravel averaging over 50c.
per cubic yard for an average depth of about 30 ft.,
and on these findings took the chance of wiring his
people to make the first payment. Soon afterward he
started other drillings to test this gravel deposit com-
pletely, and eventually sank some 100 holes. 500 to
1000 ft. apart. The average value of the gravel
amounted to over 30c. per yard. During this operation
it was found necessary to purchase other concessions
on account of conflicting claims and so as to secure
entire right to the use of the river. The payments nec-
essary to be made on these concessions covered a
period of over a year. and. in all. these people paid
some $130,000 for the properties and spent about
$60,000 in tests and borings.
In order to make doubly sun' of these results before
installing the dredge, corroborative tests were made
with test pits and independent drillings. This revealed
the fact that the findings of the original tests were
erroneous, and finally one of the workmen confessed
that the native foreman on the work, the women pan-
ncrs, and others had persistently salted the samples
from the beginning, the final outcome being a total
loss of a large sum.
The man notorious in the paint episode induced
some Philadelphia people to investigate a concession
known as the Bnena Ventura, which adjoins the Jaina
river, and told them the gravel would average at least
$2 per yard for thousands of acres. One of these men
happened to have some 15 years' prospecting experi-
ence in South America, Nicaragua, and the western
part of the United States, and was familiar with sluic-
ing, panning, and all operations connected with placer
gold. He was engaged to make the investigation in
June 1913. During his first week on the property
he was very favorably impressed, as he obtained re-
sults averaging some $10 or more per cubic yard. Then
he did some drilling and digging independently when
the natives were not around, and was surprised to
find that he got no gold. After this he tested some
of the original drillings and found no gold, and after
two or three weeks' work was convinced that his orig-
inal work had been salted in every case. This he re-
ported to his people in the United States, and as the
alleged owner of the concession was in Philadelphia at
the time, he was asked to pay back all the money that
they had spent. On his refusal, he was arrested and
the case brought before the Grand Jury, and before
letting it go too far, he settled the ease by paying the
people what they demanded.
In the latter part of July 1913, some Philadelphia
people, who formed a corporation known as the Jaina
Mining & Improvement Co., employed me to go to
Santo Domingo and investigate a concession known
as the Pedro Bran, which adjoins the Buena Ventura.
and is alleged to be owned by the same man. He had
leased to this Company the portion of this concession
adjoining the Jaina river on the basis of 25', royalty
and a payment down of $4000. One of the members
of this Company had previously been to Santo Do-
mingo in January 1913 and was thoroughly acquainted
with the owner of the concession, and had made numer-
ous borings and tests and found extremely high gold
content, amounting to an average of $30 or more per
cubic yard. He had later reported this to his son. a
man of over forty, who. being very skeptical, went
down with his father to corroborate the tests of the
former. The second tests, made some time in May.
were even more favorable than the first ones. 1 went
down in August in company with both of these men
and another young man, a son of one of the members
of the new company. During the first four days augur
borings were made near the places which had been
previously tested by this man and his son. The high-
est value was $43.2(1 per cubic yard, and the average
of the first ten holes, which covered a distance of
about three miles, was over $12 per cubic yard. I then
continued the investigation alone with native em-
ployees, and sank' some 80 holes, covering a territory
four miles long and two miles wide, the average being
over $11 pei- cubic yard.
On account of a. revolution being started at this
time, and some other positive reasons which cannot he
stated here, it was necessary to wind up the work be-
fore the investigation was satisfactorily completed, and
for this reason I spent the last two days in making-
borings and panning the material without the aid of
anyone. Although 1 had up to this time heard none
282
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
of the stories above outlined, I was extremely suspi-
cious of the results, and these suspicions were con-
firmed when I failed to find any gold in my own pan-
nings. I then went to the United States and made a
complete report of the matter, and also stated my sus-
picions, and recommended that 1 be sent down again
with one or more reliable men. My suggestions were
adopted by the Company. I therefore took one reli-
able man and went down, thoroughly prepared to test
the around by means of an improved 'Long Tom,'
which required a hose stream and the use of rakes to
disintegrate the clay and concentrate the gravel, which
was constantly passed through a sluice containing rif-
nes. Two pumps were sent down, one to work by hand,
requiring four men; the other to work by gasoline.
The gasoline pump had a capacity of 125 gal. per min-
ute against 25 ft. head, and the other was a diaphragm
pressure pump, good for 75 gal. per minute under any
pressure up to 50 lb. It was decided to make the pre-
liminary tests by the hand pump.
In one of the original tests there were seven augur
holes drilled to an average depth of about 6 ft. and
covering a space of about 50 ft. in length. These
showed over $20 per cubic yard. The reason so
many shallow holes were sunk here was that rock
or boulders were encountered, and an attempt was
being made to sink a deep hole. To verify these find-
ings, a trench 3 ft. wide, 6 ft. deep, and covering the
entire ground where the holes were dug, was excavated,
and the material was hauled by means of an ox-cart
to the 'Long Tom,' which was placed on a small stream
about half a mile distant. Not a color of gold was
found. In order to be certain that the apparatus was
not losing gold, a given amount of fine lead filings was
mixed with the material, and in every case it was re-
covered in the pan. We then sank test-pits around
other holes and panned average samples of the mate-
rial, and in this way re-tested 13 more of the original
holes which had given the highest results. These were
scattered over an area of three miles long and two
miles wide. Not a particle of gold was found in any
one of them, and the pans in the majority of cases
contained from four to twelve particles of lead, pur-
posely placed there to verify the panning, and which
was in all cases recovered.
I then went to Santo Domingo and confronted the
owner of the concession with the statement that his
employees had previously salted nearly all the holes.
and advised him to pay back to the Philadelphia com-
pany all the money it had cost them. This man denied
having anything to do with any salting operation and
stated that while he was willing to pay back all the
money, that he was not financially able to do so. I
then took the matter up with the American Minister
and gave him a complete report of the facts.
During my first visit in August, in looking over the
documents and papers concerning the concession, I
found that this man had, both as individual and as
president of the Barrero Mining Co., which was alleged
to be the assignee owner of the Pedro Bran concession.
made a lease to some Philadelphia men of this same
property. The lease provided that substantial machin-
ery capable of handling 1000 yd. per day should be
installed as soon as possible, and that preliminary
work must be begun prior to September 13, 1913.
Therefore, the lease to the Jaina Mining & Improve-
ment Co., and the money paid on account of same, was
a fraudulent transaction while this previous lease was
in existence. One of the parties to the lease came to
Santo Domingo and began preliminary work about
September 3. 1913. and while it was claimed that he
got on the wrong property, he and his men swore dif-
ferently. During their operation, however, five of the
employees died suddenly with what was alleged to be
fever, but it was afterward rumored "around the city
that they had been poisoned. While fever does exist
at times among the natives, the fact of so many people
dying suddenly within a couple of weeks in the same
locality was remarkable.
The alleged owner of the Pedro Bran concession, the
Bueno Ventura concession, and the president of the
Barrero Mining Co. was Ely Dorsey, a man who was
originally supposed to come from Virginia and who
has been living in Santo Domingo for many years. He
was also the owner or part owner of nearly all the
other concessions in this neighborhood. Intimately
associated with him is one Pardo, the Santo Domingo
agent of the Clyde Line, and I am informed that the
following parties were more or less interested in the
concessions known as the Ozama, Cuallo, Jaina, and
Santa Rosa: Ely Dorsey, Pardo, Gonzales, Vincante
Francischini, Rodrigues, Leonti Vasquez, and others.
I only know of my personal knowledge that my sam-
ples were salted by employees of Ely Dorsey.
The purpose of this recital is to warn prospective
investors from undertakings of this character. They
would be a good deal safer in playing a 'three-card
Monte' or 'shell game' against an expert swindler.
It might be interesting to state the probable man-
ner in which this salting was done. From the best of
my judgment, due to inspection and statements made
by some of the Dominicans, the natives engaged in
the work carried in their pockets small pellets of clay,
prepared fresh each day, and about the size of homeo-
pathic pills. Each one of these contained a few par-
ticles of gold. At convenient times these were secreted
between the fingers and released among the dirt which
was to be panned. The women who did the panning
and who also performed their part in the salting when
necessary, carried the particles of gold in the pocket
which contained their smoking pipe, and as they were
incessant smokers and always smoked before panning,
took out a few particles of gold with their pipe and
readily dropped it into the pan without discovery.
As this operation has been going on for a eood many
years, there is no doubt that they are as skillful and
dexterous as a magician or sleight-of-hand performer.
A man who is not informed in advance of all these
possibilities has very little chance of discovering the
saltins.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
283
Messina Copper Mine, Northern Transvaal.
By Owen
Interest in the cupriferous deposits of the Union of
South Africa has hitherto centred mainly in the
mines of Namaqualand. in the Cape Colony. During
the last two or three years, however, the Messina mine,
situated in the extreme northern part of the Transvaal,
a mile or two to the south of the Limpopo river
(Transvaal-Rhodesian border) has attracted much at-
tention by reason of the ambitions development policy
initiated, the substantial shipments of concentrated
ore made, and the plans of the management to increase
production. This property is in a sound position to-
day, and that it is about to take a position of greater
importance in the list of productive mines of the Union
than it has hitherto held seems undeniable. Substan-
tial reserves of ore have been blocked out. a new 250-
ton concentrator has just been completed, and a short,
time ago smelting operations— the first to be conducted
250-TON CONCENTRATOR UNDER CONSTRICTION.
on anything approaching a large scale in the Transvaal
— were commenced at the mine. The .Messina copper
deposits lie in the centre of a huge granite area which
extends beyond the Limpopo river into Southern
Rhodesia. In this formation are numerous ancient
workings, which indicate that this district was at one
time the scene of an active industry in the mining and
smelting of copper ores by native workers. The exist-
ence of these ancient workings scattered throughout
South Africa has been known for many years. Those
in the northern Transvaal were discovered by early
hunters and prospectors; but it w;is not until 1902,
after the termination of the Boer war. that active
prospecting operations were attempted. At that time
the region in the neighborhood of the Limpopo river
was looked upon as a death-trap to white men, owing
to malarial fever being prevalent during the rainy
season: the country was infested with wild animals,
and had but few native inhabitants. There were no
Letcher
roads; water was scarce, traveling and transport was
difficult owing to dense bush ; and the nearest base
for stores and supplies, by the only available route.
was the town of Pietersburg, the northern terminus of
the Central South African Railways, about 140 miles
south of the copper district. Owing to the enterprise
of the Messina company these conditions have been
vastly altered.
Character of the Ore
The principal rocks of the district are granite,
gneiss, and schists, with masses of quart/, and horn-
blende. The copper-bearing belt or zone is character-
ized by lines of fissuring. The chief discoveries of
copper-bearing lodes so far are confined to the lines of
old workings that generally follow the shear-zones
which have been traced at Messina, running about
north and south, for over 15 miles. The copper occurs
as carbonates and sulphides, chiefly redruthite, bornite,
chalcopyrite. and malachite.
The lodes run about parallel. The distribution of
the ore is somewhat irregular, rich shoots occurring
along the strike extending over 150 ft. in length, with
intervening zones of poor .or barren ground. The
width of the orebodies varies in size from a few indies
of compact ore up to 30 ft. or more, with rich masses
of almost solid copper minerals that have been found
to extend continuously in depth, from level to level.
without showing any appreciable decrease in width
or value.
Two main shafts, and a number of small pits, have
been sunk on the property. In the old main 3-com-
partment shaft the principal ore-shoot, known as the
Bonanza, was intersected at a depth of 764 ft., and the
shaft continued in solid ore to the bottom. The 900-ft.
level has recently been opened, where the ore is found
to be of good value. Three lodes are now being worked.
The north lode, which has proved to be the best ore-
carrier, has been developed by continuous drifts along
the strike for over 1500 ft. A new three-compartment
shaft is down to the 700-ft. level and will be sunk to
a depth of 1000 ft. A new hoist, with a capacity for
at least 2000 ft., is being installed.
Preliminary exploitation of the lenticular cuprifer-
ous deposits of Messina commenced shortly after the
end of the Boer war. and so satisfactory were the re-
sults that early in 1905 a company was formed, with a
capital of £250.000. to acquire and work the Berken-
rode. Vogelzanpr. Tempelhoff, and Maryland 'farms.* At
first, ore was roughly sorted by hand: but in 1909 a
concentration plant commenced operations, and there
was a consequent substantial increase in output. From
the end of June. 1906. and up to the middle of last
year, the Messina company mined 76.135 tons of ore
284
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
and produced 10.861 tons of concentrate averaging
•32.7% copper. Productive work has of recent months
been restricted, and energies concentrated on develop-
ment and construction of additional plants in antici-
pation of the extension of the railway from Pieters-
burg to the Limpopo. The line has now been extend-
ed almost to the mine, and the Company is taking ad-
vantage of the facilities provided by the administra-
tion and the nearness of the railroad to the property.
Shipments and Ore Treatments
The shipment for last June. 462^ tons of concen-
trate, averaging about 40% copper, constitutes a record
for the mine, and it should be noted that this result
was obtained with an old mill of comparatively small
•apaeity. A word regarding the grade of concentrate
produced may here be in place. An examination of
shipments during different periods reveals the fact
that there has been a steady diminution in metallic con-
tents per ton since li)()(i. Thus in that year the aver-
age assay of the 280 tons of concentrate produced was
66% copper. In the next year, from July. 1906. to the
end of June 1907, the average was 60.66. The next
year the copper had fallen to 58.3%. and in the nexl
period it was 52.3%. This decline in grade has con-
tinued, and is, of course, due to ability to work ores
of lower grade as the years have gone by and the mine
and its equipment have become established. In the
earlier days of the property the highest grade ore was
hand-picked and shipped- to Pietersburg in donkey-
wagons. Lower grade ore, which can today be worked
at a profit, would have been shipped at a loss under
the primitive conditions obtaining at the mine a few
years ago. With railway facilities near the mine, costs
are reduced and the Company can thus earn substan-
tial profits from ore hitherto regarded as unprofitable.
With the new concentrator at work the rate of pro-
duction will be increased, and this will tend toward
still further economy in operating expenses.
Careful laboratory experiments have been conducted
for some time on the Messina ores for the purpose of
obtaining a definite knowledge of the most economical
method of treatment, as well as the probable smelting
cost. The treatment of the high-grade copper ores by
concentration has presented no difficulties. For years
regular shipments of concentrate have been made to
Swansea, where this product has commanded a ready
sale at the highest ruling market prices, owing to the
purity and good quality of the metallic contents. A
considerable quantity of material has been produced
each month, known as 'jig middling', containing from
10 to 15% copper, which has been accumulated for
re-treatment, either by re-grinding and further 'con-
centration, or by smelting. In connection with the new
concentrator which has a capacity of 250 tons of ore
per day. provision has been made for a re-grinding
plant to deal with the present middling product. In
addition to this, treatment by smelting was some time
ago decided upon to turn to profitable account the
large stock of accumulated middling, and also to
handle the lower grade carbonate and sulphide ores
which are not so susceptible of mechanical concentra-
tion as the more massive sulphides. The character of
the ores to be treated, and the nature of available fuel
and Muxes, have been carefully considered in prepar-
ing the design and size of the most suitable furnace.
Inasmuch as fine ore, concentrate, and middling had
to be treated, it was considered advisable to erect
furnaces of the reverberatory type, such as are used
in Wales for smelting copper ores. Two furnaces
have been erected, each having a hearth 23 ft. long by
11 ft. 6 in. wide, with both furnace flues leading to a
70-ft. chimney lined with fire brick. The fire-boxes
have been arranged for burning coal. The slag is
drawn into sand-baths and the matte containing the
copper, is tapped into iron moulds. The ironwork for
the construction of these furnaces has been supplied
by Fraser & Chalmers. Ltd. The firebricks which
comprise the bulk of the furnace material have
been obtained from local makers, and are suitable for
this class of work. Special silica firebricks have been
REVERRERATORY FURNACE. MESSINA.
imported from Wales for a start, although it is ex-
pected that a suitable quality of brick will yet be made
in this country. The capacity of each furnace is about
20 tons of ore per day. for which amount the fuel con-
sumption will be from 7 to 8 tons of small coal. Fuel
from the .Messina company's coal mine, about 20 miles
south on the new railway line, has been found quite
suitable. The limestone which is mixed with the ore
for fluxing purposes is found in the neighborhood of
the mine. The first furnace was started up with a
charge of middling, mixed with some roasted copper
pyrite containing about 15% copper, and about 5% of
lime was added. This charge was successfully reduced.
producing a matte containing 65% copper, with 1.5%
copper in the slag. Since the initial charge was put
through, the composition of the charge has been varied
as regards copper content, lime, method of firing, etc.
with highly satisfactory results, indicating that the
Messina ores can be reduced by this method of smelt-
ing to give an average grade of 50% copper matte.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
285
This practice is along the lines of the laboratory ex-
periments. It is expected that the two furnaces will
produce about 150 tons of copper matte per month,
which at present will be shipped with the mill concen-
trates. Additions to the smelting plant are already
contemplated. A roasting furnace and two additional
reverberator}' furnaces will be erected in the near
future. The treatment of the matte is also under con-
sideration and, with the addition of a refining furnace,
blister copper will ultimately be produced, and ingots
containing 96% copper will be shipped.
During August No. 1 furnace turned out 76 tons of
matte containing a trifle less than 51% copper. These
operations indicate the commencement of serious
efforts on a large scale to establish an important cop-
per producing industry in the northern Transvaal.
The Messina company, it will be recalled, is controlled
by A. M. Grenfell and his associates. Part of the stock
is owned by Camp Bird Ltd. and so the mine is affili-
ated with an American enterprise.
The Technology of Turquois
By Joseph
Turquois or turquoise, is from the French, meaning
Turkish stone. It is generally supposed to have been
so called because the mineral originally came to Eu-
rope through Turkey. It is more probable, however,
that the important locality near Nishapur, in Persia,
was once regarded as within the limits of vaguely de-
fined 'Turkey' and the term had reference to the source
of supply.
Turquois is a mineral of superficial origin and is
never found in quantity at depths exceeding 100 feet:
In consequence, its mining is comparatively simple
and inexpensive, for deep shafts and extended tun-
nels are unnecessary. Deposits, however, are usually
confined to arid or desert regions, and many difficul-
ties are encountered in mining them, due to excessive
heat, lack of water and timber, and distance from
supplies.
Before the advent of gunpowder, the mineral was
mined by crude tools, and in sonic instances its ex-
traction was probably effected by suddenly cooling
the heated rock with water. Modernly, however, the
materia] is obtained with the aid of blasting. Where
the workings are restricted, a trench or shallow pit
usually suffices: but with more extensive operations a
shaft is sunk and drifts are driven along the vein.
The loosened rock is broken into portable shape and
carried to the surface in buckets hoisted by rope and
windlass. After further crushing, it is hand picked,
with the rejection of all unsuitable material.
Turquois mines, as a rule, are not fitted with mod-
ern mining appliances, due in part to the isolated re-
gions in which many deposits occur, and in part to
the frequently temporary nature of the enterprise.
Cutting
Turquois comes from the mines in rough pieces or
nodules, and must be cut and polished before it is
adapted for ornamental use. This is rarely done at
the mine; the selected material is usually shipped to
some trade centre, where the work is done by lapi-
daries. The most characteristic cut for turquois. as
for opaque stones in general, is the caborhon. consist-
ing of flat bottom and polished convex top. Recently,
sonic stones have been prepared with a dull, so-called
E. Pogue
'satin finish.' with good effect. The shapes of eabo-
chon stones range from elongated oval to circular, and
the convexity or arch varies from nearly flat to dome
shape. The turquois is fashioned into other forms
also, such as the pendant, heart, table, keystone.
truncated cone, etc., and is sometimes elaborately
carved.
The mineral is comparatively soft, and is readily
worked. In the United States the customary proce-
dure is as follows. A suitable piece, either selected or
sawn from a larger mass by means of a revolving
metal disk dressed with an abrasive, is cemented to
the end of a slender wooden or ivory holder, and this
is pressed against a rapidly rotating wheel or Map'
of lead or tin on which emery or carborundum pow-
der is spread. The abrading material works its way
into the metal surface, which then readily 'bites' the
turquois as a file does steel. The wheel is adjust-
able to a lathe head and is rotated by foot power or
a small motor. The turquois is kept moving until
the desired shape is given the specimen. The cutting
wheel is then replaced by one of wool, flannel, leather,
or silk, against which the gem receives its final finish
and polish.
Turquois Matrix
The stones introduced to the trade are either pure
turquois, that is, unaccompanied by foreign matter, or
turquois matrix, in which the mineral is cut with at-
tached country rock, quartz, limonite, or other im-
purities. Attractive patterns and color contrasts are
often yielded by the latter, but matrix never com-
mands the price of the pure turquois. Much material
unfitted for pure gems is suitable and used for mat-
rix. Cobweb matrix is a term used to distinguish a
blue ground with markings of cobweb pattern. Mot-
tled matrix is turquois matrix showing two shades of
blue or green.
Imitations of turquois are of three kinds: blue glass
or enamel, artificial compounds closely resembling tur-
quois in composition, and other minerals either resem-
bling turquois naturally or made to do so by stains
or dyes.
Olass imitations are the most frequent counterfeits
286
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14. 1914
of turquois and are commonly seen in cheap jewelry.
Some are crude and obvious, but others are skilfully
made and require careful scrutiny to distinguish. In-
variably, however, they, have a glassy look, are slightly
harder than the real mineral, and differ from it in
specific gravity. The margin is usually minutely splin-
tered from the grinding, and the small, broken surfaces
have a shell-like shape, characteristic of glass. The
stone, moreover, is apt to contain air-bubbles or faint
flaw lines, indicating that the mass was once molten;
and a fragment heated in a hot flame melts to an
enamel, while turquois flies into pieces.
Synthetic turquois, the most successful substitute
for turquois, is prepared by mixing precipitated hy-
drated phosphate of aluminum with copper phosphate
and subjecting the mass while damp to hydraulic
pressure. The product closely resembles the mineral
in all its properties and is consequently difficult to
detect. The best test is to heat a small fragment in
the tip of a hot flame or in a covered crucible; the
substitute fuses to a slag, whereas the genuine will
fly to pieces. During the past twenty-five years, stones
made in the manner described have come upon the
market in considerable numbers, particularly in Eu-
rope.
Substitutes
Blue chrysocolla is a hydrous silicate of copper
which ranges in color from green to turquois-blue. In
its pure state it is too soft for cutting, but when sil-
icified or intermixed with quartz it becomes available
as a semi-precious stone. Blue specimens may be con-
fused with turquois. but the criteria given for copper-
stained chalcedony hold also for their distinction.
Chrysocolla from the Ural mountains has been cut to
some extent, but only recently, and then only slightly
has the mineral been so utilized in this country.
Odontolite, which was often confused in the Middle
Ages with true turquois, is fossil bone or ivory im-
pregnated by phosphate of iron, and possesses a blue
or green color resembling that of mineral turquois in
daylight, but appearing a dull gray by artificial light.
Close examination reveals an organic structure which
at once distinguishes it from turquois. It is seldom
encountered nowadays and has small value.
Copper-stained chalcedony, sometimes known as blue
chrysoprase. at times resembles turquois and may be
mistaken for it. Its greater translucence. superior
hardness, and vitreous appearance serve to distinguish
it, however, and a fragment, unlike turquois, will with-
stand a high temperature.
Blue dyes have recently been found for chalcedony
and agate by means of which the delicate shades of
turquois may be reproduced, and in 1900 the English
and French markets were plentifully supplied with
stones of this character. Good imitations of this kind
are difficult to distinguish without careful examina-
tion ; they are harder, however, and show greater
translucence about the girdle than the opaque turquois,
and give none of the chemical tests of the latter. A
fragment will also withstand a high temperature with-
out flying into pieces. When the coloring is not skill-
fully done, the specimen presents a crudeness that at
once discloses its spuriousness.
Lapis lazuli and azurite in rare instances might be
confused with turquois, but in general the blues of
the former are so intense and entirely different from
those of turquois as to obviate deception. If green
turquois were prized by civilized peoples, it would be
open to substitution by several minerals, for mala-
chite, irreen chrysocolla, variscite. and green chalce-
dony in some instances resemble it closely, but its
slight value renders such replacements without pur-
pose.
Improvement in Color
From time to time turquoises come into the trade
which have had their color deepened or otherwise im-
proved by artificial means. As such stones are apt
to revert to their original shade upon continued wear,
they are not sold except in attempts to defraud. Grease
and moisture temporarily heightens the color of pale
stones, but such expediencies do not produce suffi-
ciently lasting effects to be of importance.
The principal procedure to be anticipated is the
use of a prussian blue dye. Stones so treated may be
detected by washing in alcohol, wiping and soaking
in ammonia, whereby the dye is dissolved; or by scrap-
ing the superficial coloration from the back of the
stone with a steel blade. If the turquois is valuable.
it is preferable to build a small wall of wax on its
back and partly fill the depression with ammonia, as
the solvent effect can thus be noted at one point only
without harm to the specimen. A stained stone is
duller by artificial light and more inclined to show a
grayish aspect than a stone whose color is original.
The turquois requires constant care on the part of
the wearer in order that its beauty may not be im-
pared. Its comparative softness and tendency to fade
afford ample opportunity for its delicate tint to be
marred by carelessness. It should never be worn in
contact with other stones, nor permitted to come in
contact with perspiration, soap lather, or strong gases.
Perfumes are said to have a harmful effect upon its
color. Its surface should be kept away from acids
or grease of any kind, and should be carefully wiped
with chamois skin after handling. The wearer should
always remember to remove turquois rings before
washing the hands.
Production
In discussing the turquois deposits of the world, it
will be necessary to consider but four regions which
have furnished practically the world's supply of this
mineral since the beginning of time. These are the
Sinai peninsula : the deposits near Nishapur in Persia :
scarcely known localities in central Asia (Tibet and
China) ; and the mines within the southwestern por-
tion of the United States.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
287
But little can be said of the product ion of the Sinai
deposits. The mines were extensively and systemat-
ically worked under Egyptian control from the first
to the twentieth dynasty, and during this period a
great quantity of gem material was obtained. At in-
tervals, for many thousand years, the natives of the
peninsula secured turquoises here, part of which
reached Egypt and the Continent. Since 1885 the
Sinai stones have occasionally made some impress upon
the turquois trade (being known as Egyptian turquois),
but this source has never assumed any great impor-
tance in modern times.
It is impossible to approximate the total produc-
tion of the famous mines near Nishapur in Persia. It
is neither known when first they were operated, nor
are there records, until recently, of their output. It
is certain, however, that for the past thousand years
they have supplied nearly all the turquois used in
Europe and until two decades ago in America. Their
production, therefore, must have been enormous,
amounting to millions of dollars. For the past 30
years the output has varied considerably, but prob-
ably $100,000 is a fair estimate of the annual exports
to Europe, though this figure greatly undervalues the
retail worth of the stones after cutting.
Information is lacking whereby the extent of the
production in central Asia may he judged. It is
known that this mineral has found wide application
since remote times in Tibet and that this country has
furnished great quantities of material. Recently, tur-
quois matrix resembling that employed in Tibet has
appeared on the London and Paris markets. During
the past 200 years central China has produced consid-
erable turquois, most of which has been exported to
Mongolia and Tibet. Moderaly, considerable turquois
is used in the northern provinces of India, and both
Tibet and Persia have contributed to this supply.
Deposits in the United States
The productive deposits of turquois in the United
States are confined to five states: New Mexico, Ari-
zona, Nevada, Colorado, and California; and practi-
cally every locality, that has in modern times yielded
this precious stone, was exploited of old by the In-
dians. In the Cerrillos hills of New Mexico, in par-
ticular, are extensive excavations made in pre-Spanish
times. These workings alone supplied immense quan-
tities of turquois to the aborigines of the Southwest
and were probably the chief source of the turquois so
abundantly used by the ancient Aztecs and allied
peoples.
The recent domestic production has been very irreg-
ular. During certain years a lar<_'e output has come
from a few important mines, while in other years
many deposits have shared in the production. Of late,
turquois matrix has been in great demand, and the
large quantities mined have resulted in an overpro-
duction. For this reason, and because turquois is tem-
porarily out of vogue, many mines are at present
closed. According to statisties gathered by the l'. S.
Geological Survey, the value of the production in the
United States from 1883 to 1911 was $1,946,460. The
figure quoted represents the value of the rough tur-
quois as purchase by dealers. The value of the cut
gems would be several times as great.
Value
The turquois varies so considerably in value that it
is impossible to assign precise rules whereby one can
accurately appraise a given specimen. To do this suc-
cessfully requires both skill in judging quality and
knowledge of market conditions.
At present turquois is somewhat out of fashion in
the United States and not very popular. In conse-
quence its market value is down, and $10 per carat
for the best quality is a good price. This applies
only to stones of few carats weight; larger ones of
the finest grade are worth more per carat. Inferior
stones can be assigned no fixed value. Turquois mat-
rix, according to quality, brings about $1 per carat.
Frequently, however, matrix stones are sold without
specific reference to weight and command from 50c.
to $5 each. In Europe the best quality turquois is
worth about $12.50 per carat.
Grinding Short Zinc Shaving
By .1. B. TiiKui.o \x
A small tube-mill, made from an oil lank such as oil
is shipped in. has recently been installed at MacNamara
mill. Tonopah, to grind the short zinc from the zinc
boxes. The mill runs about 6 r. p. m„ and is driven by
a belt around the tub.'. On each end is bolted a 4lj-in.
fiangc, into which a short 4' j-in. nipple is screwed and
keyed, forming the bearings, the feed, and discharge.
The inlet, nipple is reduced to l'-j in., through which is
a 1-in. feed pipe for solution. A few pebbles are used
in the mill to grind the zinc a little, and when working,
rich solution is allowed to run through and discharge
to a pipe leading to the first cell of a zinc box. One
test showed 66% of the metal in solution was precipi-
tated in passing through the mill, and the precipitate
coming out assayed Xi", bullion. Some very hue zinc
is left in the null, but the troubles with short zinc in
clean-ups are over. The idea originated at the Tonopah
Extension plant, where a barrel, containing a few peb-
bles set at an ancle of 40°, was slowly revolved by
gearing. Results show that there is no i I of any
acid treatment. It is used only a few days each month
at the MacNamara. and prevents the short zinc from
being coated with white precipitate. It also reduces
the cost of cleaning the zinc boxes by about 25 per cent.
The following measurements of different material
equal 1 ton weight: Sand, 25 cu. ft.: earth, 18 cu. ft.;
clay, 17 cu. ft.; quartz, 13 cu. ft.: earth before digging,
18 cu. ft.; when dug, 27 cu. ft.; and broken quartz. 20
cubic feet.
288
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14. I!tl4
Accident Prevention at the Nevada Consolidated
By Lindsay Duncan
* Accident prevention in a large industrial plant is
a business by itself and requires for its successful pro-
secution as much care, forethought, and energy as
would be required by any other department.
The Nevada Consolidated has attacked the problem
vigorously and spared neither time nor money in its
effort to effect a material reduction in the tale of
death and suffering which has been the inevitable
accompaniment of modern industry. The first step
was to obtain accurate data of the accidents, and this
was done by requiring each foreman to file a report
of every accident however trivial, answering the three
questions :
(1) What happened? (2) How did it happen?
(3) Could it have been prevented? These reports
were studied and an earnest effort was made to prevent
the recurrence of the same type of accident.
One difficulty which arose was that of meeting new
conditions. The metallurgy of copper has advanced
rapidly during the last few years, and practice at Me-
Gill has kept well abreast of modern methods, with
the result that processes have changed greatly during
the past six years and new types of accidents have
arisen, requiring new safety devices. Thus the huge
new basic converters, each of which can blow to
blister copper 200 tons of matte in a day, have develop-
ed possibilities for accidents which did not exist in the
smaller acid converters, and have necessitated a whole
new line of safety appliances.
Underground Risks
In taking up briefly the various methods of safe-
guarding our employees. I will describe a few of the
characteristics of the work in each department. In
the Veteran mine a top-slicing system is used whereby
the ore is taken from tfie top of the deposit, dumped
down raises into ore-bins on the main haulage level at
the bottom of the orebody, then trammed to the foot
of the shaft, where it is elevated in five-ton skips to
the surface. Signs, marked 'Fire Escape', with an
arrow pointing the direction of travel, are placed
underneath an electric light at all cross entries. At
the mouth of the drift leading to the fire escape itself,
a large red light is placed. The fire exit is downcast,
while the main shaft is upcast. In the fire exit are rest
platforms every eighteen feet, on which four or five
men can stand at one time. Fire drill is held every
two weeks, when all the new miners are required to
use the fire exit in leaving the mine.
Three complete Draeger rescue outfits are kept at
the head-frame and a selected body of men are trained
in their use. A man equipped with one of these
♦Read before the Industrial Safety Conference, University
of Nevada. January 27.
helmets can travel and work in a poisonous atmos-
phere for a long period of time. Their use and availa-
bility in the ease of a mine fire would doubtless mean
the saving of lives which would otherwise be lost.
The cage in the main Veteran shaft is, of course,
equipped with safety-dogs ; but in order to be sure that
the safety devices are operative, once a week the safety
devices are tried, to prove conclusively that everything
is in working order.
Risks in Open-Pit Work
Most of the Nevada Consolidated ore is mined by
steam shovels at Copper Flat. The risks incidental to
nnning of this nature fall readily into four classes:
(1) those due to the operation of steam shovels and
churn drills; (2) those due to blasting and handling of
explosives: (3) those due to transportation of ore and
over-burden : and (4) shop accidents.
Most of the accidents on the shovels and drills have
been due to men getting caught in the machinery. To
prevent this, all gears, on both the shovels and drills,
have been housed. On the shovels, the crowding and
swinging engines are completely enclosed, and also the
moving parts of the main engine. The crane-man's
seat has been changed from underneath the boom to
the bull-wheel, so that now there is no chance for a
chain to strike him should it break ; and the steam pipe
to the crowding engine is run inside the boom and
strongly bracketed to prevent its being jarred loose
and scalding him. Both drills and steam shovels are
well provided with steps and grab irons, which are
always kept in good repair and are at once replaced
when damaged. The shovels and drills are worked
two shifts, and between shifts there is a fireman on
duty at each machine. This effectively prevents
malicious or irresponsible persons from deranging or
starting the mechanism. In case of serious accident
the locomotive crane, which is under steam twenty-
four hours of the day, can start at once for a wreck
and quickly lift cars, timber, rocks, or whatever might
be upon an injured man.
Powder handling and blasts have been a prolific
source of injury. The Company has appreciated this
and in the booklet of rules, issued to each employee of
its mining department, sixteen out of the sixty-eight
paragraphs are devoted to shops, shovels, and drills;
eighteen to train service : and thirty-four to blasting,
the use of explosives, and warning signals for blasts.
In general these regulations lay down the approved
methods of blasting and handling of explosives and
counsel safety in every line.
Each shovel and each drill is equipped with a high-
grade whistle, one of a different tone being placed on
each machine. These whistles are inspected and kept
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
289
up the same as a piece of machinery. Loading, firing,
and handling explosives, is done by certain particular
employees who are known as 'powder men' and wear
distinguishing badges. No others are permitted to
officiate, and any unauthorized person handling
powder would be at once discharged from the Com-
pany's service.
Safety precautions for the train service at the mines,
and also at the smelter, are patterned very closely
after standard switching practice. Equipment is care-
fully inspected and promptly repaired; all accidents
to equipment, however trivial, are reported and in-
vestigated; approved danger signals and semaphores
are installed, and as far as possible only experienced
men are employed.
Surface Work
Shop accidents are guarded against (1) by making
the machinery as nearly fool-proof as possible and then
preaching Caution — First, Last, and Always. By way of
illustration, all emery wheels are eased, circular saws
have protectors, all gears are housed, safety set-
screws are used throughout, goggles are provided for
workmen whose eyes are exposed, motors and switches
are fenced in, etc.
Unloading the ore on the concentrator trestle has
always been a prolific source of accidents. Ore is re-
ceived in 55-ton hopper-bottomed steel cars, run-
ning in trains of twenty-one or twenty-two cars each,
as many as ten trains a day arriving from the mines.
The ore as loaded by steam shovels is frequently in
lumps several feet in diameter and in the winter season
an entire car is sometimes frozen into a solid mass.
The ore in fully two-thirds of the cars has to be blasted,
and this is done by a special crew carefully instructed
in its duties and acting under a definite set of rules
for the handling of explosives.
The tops of the bins are protected by heavy iron
gratings which effectively prevent any one from fall-
ing in while the ore is being discharged. Before the
'-.'ratings were installed several workmen were injured,
both by falling into the bins and going to sleep and
then forgetting to wake up before ore was dumped.
The stairs, working platforms, and walk-ways of the
mill are thoroughly protected by hand-rails. Project-
ing set-screws on shafting have been removed, and no
loose flooring or open hatchways are permitted. In a
plant of the size of the Steptoe plant, these simple
precautions entailed a vast amount of labor and ex-
pense.
The shops of the Company are very complete anil
include a pattern shop, foundry, tin shop, garage, paint
.shop, machine shop, blacksmith shop, structural shop,
pipe shop, and planing mill- In these shops about 150
men are employed, a fairly large industry in itself.
Every emery wheel has a heavy steel plate protector
fitted around it. and the saws and planes in the wood
shop are similarly protected. Most of the machines
are motor driven, and where belts are unavoidable they
are boxed in wherever it would be possible for a
workman to come in contact with one. Drip pans are
provided to catch the oil from machines so that there
can be no slippery places to invite falls. Metal cans
with self-closing lids are conveniently placed to re-
ceive oily waste. Several chemical fire-extinguishers
of approved type are in each building, and on several
occasions incipient fires have been extinguished by
promptly using them.
The power plant is rated at 10,000 lip. and is
actually generating an average of 7000 lip., which is
an unusually large output for a plant of this rating.
In fact 25 to 30% is the usual ratio of output to
capacity, and the 70% output at McGill is an indica-
tion that the power plant is worked well up to capacity.
The plant consists of nine direct connected engines and
eighteen water-tube boilers; ten of the boilers are
in the flues of the reverberatory smelting furnaces and
utilize the waste heat of the gases.
The power bouse is the original home of the hand-
rail in McGill. and it is encountered on all sides. The
switchboard is surrounded by a railing within which
no one is permitted except the operator. The metal
steps leading to the main engine bearings are not only
supplied with hand-rails but the treads are also of rub-
ber studded with lead. This is the same material
which has been adopted by the Pullman Car Co. as a
standard for the car steps. The stair and hand-rail
habit has percolated thoroughly through the entire
power plant : fly-wheels, generators, vacuum-pumps,
condensers, economizers, feed-water heaters, and boil-
ers are all so equipped.
The steam lines are all strongly anchored and well
supported and a leaky steam joint is not tolerated.
Superheated steam at high pressure is hard to handle
and as a result no liberties are taken with it.
Danger Signals
In case of men working on an electric line, the switch
is opened and a sign, "Danger: Men are working on
this line," is hung on the open switch. The switch
cannot be closed until the man who has been working
on the line, and no one else, removes the sign.
The automatic stokers have been a fruitful source of
injury to the fire-room labor. Only recently one of
the ash-wheelers, in an idle moment, availed himself of
the temporary absent f the fireman and essayed to
start one of the stokers 'to see what would happen.'
He not only saw what happened, but felt one of his
fingers depart.
In the smelter, sheet iron protectors have been placed
along all elevated hot metal and calcine tracks, to pre-
vent men passing underneath from being burned. All
charge hoppers are protected by gratings: hand rails
are liberally used and walk-ways and stairs are of
substantial and permanent construction.
Signs and warnings in English. Greek, and Slavish
are liberally used, and respirators and goggles are dis-
tributed to the workmen whose occupations make them
necessary.
290
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14. 1914
In the industrial ear system, which is used to carry
concentrate from the mill to the roaster, calcines from
the roaster to the reverberatory furnaces, matte from
the furnaces to the converters, and slag and secondar-
ies from the converters back to the reverberatories,
many safety devices have been placed, both on the
cars and the locomotives. These include chains to
prevent slag pots from dumping during transmission,
grab-irons and steps, steel running boards, and wooden
treads to prevent slipping. An earnest endeavor is
made to keep the track up to modern standard.
Manganese steel frogs are used on account of better
wearing qualities, cast iron frog fillers are used to pre-
vent a switchman catching his foot and being thrown
in front of the train. Safety niches have been placed
in trestles and places where the trains run with nar-
row clearance to lessen the danger of a switchman
being caught.
The Nevada Consolidated has organized a regular
Safety Department under W. H. Droll as safety en-
gineer, and to him I am indebted for much of the in-
formation contained in this paper. The Safety Depart-
ment suggests changes and protective devices, and in
general makes it its business to investigate and report
on all accidents which occur, or which might occur,
around the plant.
The Globe Mine and Mill
By Wallace Macgrkgor
The properties of the Globe Consolidated Mining
Co. are situated near Dedrick, Trinity county, Cali-
fornia. The mill commenced operations on November
25, 1913, and at the mines and mills 50 men are em-
ployed. The Company owns three groups of mining
locations above Dedrick, namely, the Globe, Chloride,
and Bailey claims. The Globe mine was located on
July 29, 1890, and after being worked for several
years, and the subject of considerable litigation, it
became the property of the Globe Consolidated com-
pany in 1909. Robert Woodburn worked the mine
from 1S91 to 1899. and operated a 5-stamp mill under
great difficulties at the mine, which is situated just
over the ridge on the other side of Dedrick. Heavy
snows fall at that altitude, and little progress was
made then. The Chloride claims were located in 1889
and were first worked with a Huntington mill. The
Bailey claims were located the same year, but soon
after passed into the possession of the owners of the
Chloride group, and the ore from the Bailey mines was
crushed in the Chloride mill. About 1897 the Chlo-
ride Bailey mines passed to the Chloride Bailey Gold
Mines Co., and later were sold to the Trinity Gold
Mining Co.. which equipped the property, worked the
same, and then bonded the property to II. M, Hall, who
later transferred his interest to the Globe Mining Co.
The present Company bonded the united property
from the Globe Mining Co. in the latter part of 1911.
and next, year began extensive development and equip-
ment of the property held by them under bond. The
Company's holdings consist of 36 quartz locations. 3
placer-mining claims, a number of millsitcs. lots in
Dedrick, and power and telephone lines.
The orebodies of the Globe mine are well developed,
uniform in value, and have extended to a considerable
depth. There is a large amount of ore in sight
as shown by development work done by adits, shafts,
and cross-cuts. The Chloride mine, on the opposite
side of the mountain, has always contained high-grade
ore. and the necessary development to be done will
undoubtedly open a large body of high-grade ore. The
Bailey mine contains ore of good milling value.
The properties have never before been equipped
with a plant sufficient to properly handle and extract
the gold from the large orebodies. The present equip-
ment is the latest for the treatment of gold-bearing
quartz, and the mill has a capacity of 100 tons of ore
per 24 hours. The mine and mill are operated with
three 8-hour shifts. The ore now being crushed is
taken from the Globe and Brown Bear elaims. Rich-
ard James is foreman at the mine.
The ore is taken out through a cross-cut at the
Globe mine and transferred to the ore-bin at the top
of the main aerial tramway. 6000 ft. long, with a 2500-
ft. drop and 35° slope. It is then conveyed to the
mill in buckets of half-ton capacity each. On arriv-
ing at the mill it is dumped into an ore-bin. weighed,
crushed, sampled, and delivered to the storage bin
behind the stamp-mill. The return buckets on the
aerial tramway carry all necessary timber and freight
to the mine.
The mill is a 20-stamp, all-sliming, cyanide plant,
with a capacity of 100 tons per day. It covers an
area 225 ft. long and 66 ft. wide, on the steep slope
of the mountain, and consists of eight distinct sec-
tions under cover, namely, crushing, sampling, stamp-
ing, separating, tube-milling, agitating, filtering, pre-
cipitating, and pumping. It is the finest and best
equipped plant of the kind in the state, and was con-
structed by J. W. Rutherford.
The plant is driven by water-power, the water be-
ing conveyed from Canyon creek through a ditch 6800
ft. long and 3700 ft. of 20 and 18-in. pipe, and is
brought to the mill under a head of 600 ft. In each
department of the mill there is a separate water-wheel
which furnishes power to that department.
The ore is crushed in cyanide solution through coarse
screens. There are no copper plates used. From the
batteries the pulp goes to a Dorr classifier and the
coarse sand is separated from the slime. The sand
Febniarv 14. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
291
goes to the tube-mill for regrindhig, and the slime
goes to thickening tanks for settling. The reground
sand returns to the classifier by a bucket-elevator for
reclassification. The final product is next agitated in
Dorr agitators. After several hours of agitation, the
pulp is transferred to more thickeners, the clear solu-
tion overflow containing the gold. This is precipitated
by zinc shaving. The thickened pulp is sent to an
Oliver filter which extracts the balance of the cya-
nide solution and dissolved gold, the waste pulp being
transferred by belt-conveyor to the dump. The spent
solution from the zinc-boxes flows to sumps, where it
ferred to a site near the mill. There is also a saw-
mill with a capacity of 10,000 ft. per day, together
with all necessary equipment, driven by water power.
The logging is done by a water-power hauling system.
This sawmill was used for making the lumber for
the mill, boarding-house, office, and other company
U.HI W. TRAM KKOM MINK TO MILL.
TIIK GI.OIIK Mil. I. AMI i YANIHK PLANT.
is made up to strength and pumped back to the bat-
tery tank, to again enter the continuous circulation
through the plant.
The tailing discharged on the dump contains from
40 to 70c. in gold per ton. The value of the spent
solution in the sumps is 5c. in gold and about 25c.
in cyanide per ton. This is saved in the continuous
circuit solution. No cyanide escapes from the mill, and
no cyanide is discharged with the residue. H. S. Pay-
son is mill superintendent.
The property is also equipped with an electric power
and air-compressor plant, I be latter furnishing power
for drills and will also furnish the necessary power
for the air hoists. A new compressor is to be installed
near the mill. The electric plant will also be trans-
buildings, and also for mining uses. The timber was
obtained from the National Forest, and during all the
time of the manufacture of the same the business re-
lations between the Company and the Forest Service
officials were very pleasant.
The Globe Consolidated Mining Co. is incorporated
under the laws of Arizona. J. R. Goodhue, of Derby
Line. Vermont, is president, and T. XI. Craig, of Sher-
brooke. Canada, is treasurer.
Rubber exports from the Amazon district. South
America, during October 1913, were fi. 995. 915 lb., com-
pared with 9,032,657 lb. in the same month of 1912.
Prices were low and financial conditions at Para were
unpromising.
292
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14. 1!H4
Antimony: Its Ores, Metallurgy, and Uses
By L. C. Mott
*The beginning of the antimony industry in America
was at the plant of the Mathison Smelting Co., in San
Francisco, established some time in the 80 's and re-
moved to Staten Island, New York, about 1893. The
San Francisco plant obtained its ores from Nevada
and various mines scattered throughout southern Cali-
fornia. The high freight rates then in effect made the
industry a purely local one; but the local market not
being of sufficient importance to induce capital to go
into it on a large scale, it became necessary for Mathi-
son and company to move to Staten Island, New York,
where they erected a plant to treat foreign ores. This
plant continued for some time to treat ores from
Mexico and other parts and finally went out of busi-
ness. At the present time all the antimony produced
in the United States is that obtained from the lead re-
fineries as a by-product, and only amounts to about
one-tenth of the antimony consumed in this country.
Source of Antimony Ores
France, Algeria, Italy, Mexico, China, and Australia,
besides several other countries, produce 'antimony ores.
For a great many years France was the largest pro-
ducer, but of recent years China has taken the first
place. The antimony mines of the different European
countries are rapidly nearing exhaustion. The ores
being treated at present are of low grade. The largest
deposits of China now worked are situated in the far
inland provinces. These ores are roughly concentrated
by liquation and shipped to the markets of Europe and
America. England, France, and Germany are the
countries producing the refined metal at present time.
The only country that the United States need fear as
a future competitor for antimony ores is China; but
with a better understanding of the metallurgy of
antimony, and with the present better means of trans-
portation, many of our western antimony deposits
should be able to produce this metal at a lower price
than that at which it can be imported into this country.
Of the ores of antimony, those most commonly
found are those which contain the sulphides or the
oxidized sulphides of antimony. There are two com-
pounds of sulphur and antimony, the trisulphide and
the pentisulphide. The trisulphide is known in both
the crystalline and amorphous state. The crystalline
sulphide is the ore found in nature and is known as
antimony glance, or stibnite ; it has a metallic lustre
and a grayish black color. The amorphous trisulphide
can be obtained by artificial processes and is of a red
or orange color according to its method of prepara-
tion. Kermes mineral, or the red trisulphide, can be
prepared by boiling antimony glance with carbonate of
♦Abstract from a paper read before the Los Angeles section.
American Chemical Society.
soda or potash. The passing of sulphuretted hydro-
gen through a solution of antimonious salt precipitates
the orange colored trisulphide. Antimony glance, or
stibnite, contains 71.4% antimony and 28.6% sulphur.
It is seldom entirely free from other metals such as
arsenic, lead, or zinc.
Native antimony is occasionally found, but never in
large enough quantities to be of commercial import-
ance. Antimony oxide (Sb203) is the most important
source of antimony apart from the sulphide. It is
dimorphous, the cubic form being known as senarmon-
tite and the rhombic form as valentinite. It contains
83.4% antimony and 16.6% oxygen. It is the product
of the weathering of antimony sulphide and occurs in
the upper portion of antimony ore deposits. It seems
very probable that the only situation in which one
could expect to find extensive bodies of the oxides
would be in or near limestones or similar formations.
There are numerous minerals in which antimony oc-
curs, but not in sufficient quantity to make them a com-
mercial source of the metal. Among these minerals
are: antimony ochre or cervantite (Sb204), and anti-
mony blend, or pyrostibite (2Sb2S3.Sb203) which con-
tains 75% antimony, 20% sulphur, and 5% oxygen.
Many of the ores of gold, silver, copper, and lead con-
tains varying quantities of antimony.
The development of the metallurgy of antimony has
been slow for various reasons, the principal one being
that until recent years the consumption was not suffi-
ciently great to induce a careful search for new meth-
ods. A plant that produced a thousand tons of the
metal per year was the exception rather than the rule.
The small furnaces that were developed in Europe for
the smelting of lead and copper ores were very crude
and inefficient compared to our modern American
plants. As long as the antiquated methods were suffi-
cient to produce all the metal that was needed, there
was but little incentive to improve; but under the spur
of increasing uses and needs there has recently been
a rapid advance.
Early Method of Treatment
The old method for the treating of sulphides, and
one that is still in common use in some parts of the
world, consisted in melting them in silica or graphite
pots. The ore was introduced into a small pot usually
holding not more than 50 lb. This pot had small holes
in the bottom and was placed directly over another
smaller pot which was sunk in the sand to keep it away
from the direct flame. A roasting stall or furnace was
built about the upper pot and a small fire started -. after
several hours the antimony sulphide would have
liquated out and run into the lower pot. The extraction
was poor and the fuel consumption high. This liquated
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
293
material then had to be re-smelted with light iron scrap
and salt to remove the sulphur. This was done in
graphite crucible. The product was known as 'singles'
and contained about 91% Sb, 8% Pe, and 1% S. This
was again re-smelted, the new charge consisting of
about 93% singles, 5% liquated antimony sulphide, and
2% salt. After about one and one-half hours heating
it was stirred with an iron rod and carefully poured
under a slag cover. The product was known as
'doubles', and contained about 98% Sb, 0.2% Fe, 0.2%
S, with various other small impurities. To purify
further it was necessary to add potash and sulphide
of antimony and re-smelt.
As the demand for antimony grew larger it also be-
came apparent that some new and more economic
method of production had to be obtained. About this
time a method was perfected for the treatment of sul-
phide ores under an iron bath in a reverberatory
furnace. The furnace did not differ greatly from a
small modern reverberatory. In this process, first, a
bath of ferrous sulphide was smelted on the hearth of
the reverberatory furnace ; next, the antimony sulphide
ore was dropped into this and rapidly rabbled so that
the ore was thoroughly mixed with the bath. At this
point wrought iron scrap was added in sufficient quan-
tity to precipitate the metallic antimony. The tempera-
ture was kept fairly high ; the antimony was tapped
from under the sulphide cover into moulds. The great-
est objection to this kind of a furnace was that it pro-
duced a product that had to be refined further.
The Direct Process
A little later two Frenchmen, taking advantage of
the easy volatilization of antimony, evolved a process
that produced a commercial product direct from the
ores which could be easily and inexpensively reduced
to the metal. They worked along different lines, but
the basis of their ideas and patents was the introduction
of ores with either coal, coke, or charcoal direct into a
shaft furnace. The furnace was connected by a series
of cooling and condensing flues with an exhaust fan.
Most of the metal was precipitated as an oxide in the
flues and the remainder blown through a coke-tower
over which water was sprayed. The cardinal principle
of both of these processes was the formation of the
volatile oxide by controlling the volume of air. This
was done by varying the speed of the fan and controll-
ing the thickness of the ore charge. One of these meth-
ods claims to recover 95% of the antimony in the ore
and to produce a product that is 99.6% pure. This pro-
cess has proved eminently successful in France. Such
troubles as are encountered are purely mechanical and
are easily overcome. The process has, moreover, this
great advantage that one can successfully treat ores
containing other valuable metals. Lead, copper, gold,
and silver are left with the scoria and can later be ex-
tracted. Arsenic, the great bogy of antimony, would
be eliminated as it is more volatile than antimony and
would be carried farther along before being precipi-
tated.
This process of smelting oxide ores was none other
than that used in a modern lead furnace, but it had
to be modified to some extent before it worked suc-
cessfully. The column w*as raised and the blast pres-
sure was higher than that of the average lead smelter
blast, but in all there was not any great change. The
product was not pure, ranging from 93 to 97%
antimony, and had to be sent to Europe for refining;
but it was a great improvement over the old pot method,
and thoroughly demonstrated that the oxides could be
smelted. The reduction of the precipitated oxide to
metal in the volatilization process was obtained by mix-
ing with soda ash and coke breeze, or charcoal, and
slowly melting in pots or in a reverberatory furnace.
Antimony is used largely for type metal. English
type metal, for example, contains 25% antimony.
Antimony is used in the manufacture of babbitt and
other anti-friction metals, the amount used varying
from 11% to as high as 25% antimony. It is used in
pewter, which contains 11% antimony. The anti-
friction match, which has come into such universal use
of late, contains 25% antimony sulphide in the heads.
and the smear on the box 53%. It is used in medicine
in the form of tartar emetic, and other products of
pharmacy. Large quantities are used in calico print-
ing and dyeing. It is used largely in the ceramic arts.
A patent has recently been issued covering the use of
antimony in the place of tin for the manufacture of
bath-tub enamels. It is the base of a very high-grade
paint, both in the form of the oxide and the amorphous
trisulphidc. the latter being used for ship paint.
Large amounts of antimony sulphide are used in vul-
canizing rubber, especially for automobile tires, it
having the advantage of not changing by weathering
or sunlight.
The latest statistics show a consumption of about
24,000,000 lb. of antimony and its salts in the United
States in the year 1912. All of this, apart from that
contained as a by-product of the lead refineries, dross,
and old metal scrap, is imported from abroad.
A Small Air-Blast
Below is a figure illustrating a simple small air-
blast run by water and used for ventilating a 3000-ft.
»-:■. mriurii: tut
TO F*CI OF WBKIK5S
adit with raises and drifts. A smaller blast of the
same sort might be used for a blacksmith forge. The
apparatus can be easily improvised at any mine.
294
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
Transportation and Government Regulations in Bolivian Tin Fields
By G. W. Wepfer
All the South American countries have adopted the La Paz was due to the discovery of the great mineral
metric system, but in practice they use mostly the old wealth of the country. The Spanish statistics were
Spanish system. The following conversion table shows started in Potosi in 1545, recording accurately the
the relation between the old Spanish units and the production of gold and silver mining in Bolivia. The
present standards : Spanish silver production from 1545 to 1800 ; that is,
1 metric ton = 10 metric quintals = 21.734 Spanish quintals. in 255 years, amounting in U. S. Cy. to $3,339,262,000.
l Spanish ton = 20 Spanish quintals = 920.80 kilos = 2000 The production from 1800 to 1825 (the date of Inde-
libras. pendence) was $67,104,000, and the total Spanish silver
l English ton = 101 5.938 kilos = 2240 lb. English = 20 cwt. @ production, 1545 to 1825, in U. S. Cy., $3,406,366,000.
112 lb *»▼»»>
. . *. . , ,„„ , ., „„„,-,,, ™ ,• i. The Spaniards were not laggards, thev worked fast, not
1 metric quintal = 100 kilos = 220.47 lb. English. v aa ' '
l Spanish quintal = 46 kilos = 101.40 lb. English (accurate, knowing how long their stay would last. They wanted
101.4116 lb. English). to get the most of the treasure in shortest time. This
1 English quintal = 50.7969 kilos =112 lb. English. js also evident from their manner of mining. Trained
1 hectare = 10,000 square metres = 2.471 1 acres = 1 perte- men were sent out to hunt for natjves to work in the
nencia. mines and for women to cultivate the fields and to
1 cajon = 50 Spanish quintals = 50 X 101.4 = 5050 lb. English
(sav 5000 lb. avoirdupois). raise crops for the population to Live upon. The old
i marco (weight) =5070.58 : 10,000 x 0.507058 lb. avoirdupois records in connection with mines always speak of two
(say = % lb. English). special classes of men, the Conquistadores and the
The contents of silver in ore is not given in per cents. Jesuits. The Conquerors were the Kulers, the Jesuits
but always in the number of marcos per cajon of ore. were the mining engineers. At the time the Spaniards
The superintendent of the Bolivian Customs states had to leave- they liad more thiU1 10,000 silver mines,
that the amount of tin exported in 1912 amounted to a11 producing. There were 5000 tunnel mines on Mount
the value of $23 289 732. Potosi. Many times great difficulties were experienced
with fiows of water in the mines, but these were over-
Bolivian Export Duty on Tin come and no mine was lost or had given out.
1. , ,, • ,. a, -, . • i • i • i * • l Sr. Jose Maria Dalence was requested by the govern-
Based upon the price oi Straits tin, which is obtained . . . , ...
, ,. T -, ., i- , . „ nient in 1848 to visit all the mining districts and report
every two weeks from London the corresponding duty ...
, n t , i on the condition of the mines. He has published his
remains unchangeable tor two weeks. . . r .
report in a book entitled Bosquejo Estadistico de
Concentrates. Tin bars. ,-, ,. . , . 10-i i a c i • ±-~ i_
_ , „„„, ^ „ ,„„, Bolivia , in lool, and alter caretul investigation he
Price of straits Duty per 100 kg. Duty per 100 kg. ' . °
tin in £ per ton % Bs Bs $ "ave detailed reports which show the number of silver
Up to 100 0.80 2.00 3.25 1.30 mines abandoned. 10,000 ; the number of silver mines
100 to no 0.88 2.20 3.50 1.40 operating more or less feebly, 135 ; and the total mira-
HO to 120 1.14 2.85 4.37 1.75 ber 0f s;iver mineSj 10,135.
120 t0 13° iA0 35° 524 21° The Bolivian government statistics state that these
130 to 140 1.66 4.15 6.11 2.45 *
0 5„ 192 4 80 6 98 979 figures hold good to the present date and the reason
150 to 160 2.18 5.45 7.87 3.15 of the increased production is mainly due to improved
160 to 170 2.44 6.10 8.74 3.50 methods ill working. Regarding gold mines, Sr.
170 to 180 2.70 6.75 9.61 3.85 Dalence gives the number of mines abandoned as 1300 ;
180 t0 19° 2-96 7M 1048 42° gold mines in operation, 13 ; total number of gold mines.
190 to 200 3.22 8.05 11.35 4.54 ° ' . °
200 to 210 3.48 8.70 12.22 4.90 1313- The condition of these gold mines has not
210 to 220 . 3.74 9.35 1309 4.24 changed since the time of Sr. Dalence. Any of these
220 to 230 4.00 10.00 13.96 5.58 abandoned mines can be obtained for working on
230 to 240 4.26 10.65 14.85 5.94 perpetual leasehold; that is, as long as the taxes are
240 to 250 4.52 11.30 15.70 6.28 i(J The mine tax amounts to Bs. 2 ($0.80) per
250 to 260 4.78 11.95 16.57 6.63 . /,nnnn 0.711 .,
260 to 270 5.04 12.60 17.44 6.92 heCtare (10'000 Sf*Uare m°treS = 2A'U &CT^ eVerV
270 to 280 5.30 ' 13.25 18.31 7.32 six months. A certificate also has to be obtained for
280 to 290 5.56 13.90 19.18 7.67 all the hectares contained in the mine ground. This
290 to 300 5.S2 14.55 20.05 8.02 certificate costs Bs. 10 ($4). The Spaniards, after
300 and up 6.08 15.20 20.92 8.37 burying their treasures of gold and silver, left the
In this table the value of the Boliviano is taken at mines in a body. A few stayed behind as caretakers
$0.40 gold. until the others would return. These few men were
In the article published last week I gave the begin- murdered by the Indians in retaliation for the treatment
ning of the mining industry as 1548. The settlement of the Indians had received. The portals of the mines
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
295
were closed, the reduction works were destroyed, and
the Indians placed guards on outposts, that no white
man might come near to take notice of the changes.
The Spaniards had no wagon roads, only trails. When
the rainy seasons came the trails were overgrown with
bushes and trees. The farms were not cultivated so
that the Indians could not find sufficient food and mi-
grated to other parts of the country.
Records of Lost Mines
At the town hall in the city of Potosi which had a
population of 200.000 before the city of Boston, Mass.
was founded, the production records were kept of all
the mines, so that the 'Royal Fifth' could be collected
and year by year could be sent to the treasury of the
king of Spain. This record is now in the government
archives at La Paz. From this record it is found that
in the province of Inquisivi there are 160 abandoned
mines and only five in operation, mines which accord-
ing to record had furnished bonanzas in their days.
Sr. Dalence, provided with old maps, endeavored to find
some of these abandoned properties in the mining
district of Chuquicamiri, especially tin- great mine .of
'San Juan Bautista'. which was destroyed by the In-
dians after the revolt of the 12th of June. 1666. but
was not successful. The whole district was depopu-
lated and no guides could be found to aid in their dis-
covery. There is a standing reward offered by the
Government for the discovery of these mines, yet no
prospector could be found witli sufficient means to re-
locate them. There are good stage roads built and
maintained, as the road from La Paz to Chililaya (the
harbor Puerto Perez) Lake Titicaca which is 45 miles
long; La Paz to Oruro. 150 miles: Oruro to Cochabam-
ba, 123 miles: Orura to Laguinillas. 135 miles: Cocha-
bamba to Sucre, 195 miles ; and Potosi to Sucre, 77 miles
long. Roads from 1'yuni to Tupi/.a. and Tupiza to
Tarija, and others are in course of construction. The
roads are built as in the I'nited States. Every citizen
has to work for two days on the public highways, or
pay the road money, which amounts every year to Bs. 1
($0.40). The Indians build practically all tin- roads.
Concentrates and bars are generally conveyed by
llamas from the mines to railway stations and placed in
charge of agents. These agents consign the same to
shipping agents at the sea ports of Antofagasta,
Mejillouea, Arica, or Mollendo with instructions. The
seaport agents, advised by naval gazettes of coming
ships in advance, contract for space for concen-
trates or bars, so that as soon as the ship arrives, the
freight is put on board without delay. Small mine
owners with only small funds consign their freight to
the nearest commission merchant, who attends to all
the shipping by his own agents, and who also advances
the freight charges, etc.. for which services he charges
a high commission, as he has to wait for his money until
the concentrates 6r bars are sold in the United States
or Europe.
Besides the direct railways from Oruro to Ouaqui on
Lake Titicaca there are two other ways to ship concen-
trates or bars to Lake Titicaca. The Peruvian Cor-
poration, Ltd., of London and Lima owns the railway
from Mollendo to Puno on Lake Titicaca. and all the
lake steamers, and has received from Bolivia a fran-
chise to maintain steamships and barges on the
Desaguadero river. This river is navigable for 350
miles from the Lake Titicaca, port Desaguadero, to
near the city of Oruro. This corporation will accept
the concentrates and bars of copper, silver, and tin at
any point from near Oruro and deliver the same at the
Port of Mollendo. The second opportunity is the con-
veyance of freight by llamas to Lake Titicaca at the
port of Chililaya, and from there by the Peruvian Cor-
poration across the lake and down to Mollendo. This
route takes more time but is the cheapest.
A llama will carry 100 lb. and costs nothing for feed.
A donkey will carry 150 lb, but has to be fed and the
feed has to be taken along. The comparative cost, for
example, from Oruro to Arica on the coast is :
Per 100 lb. per llama.- requiring 30 days, about $1.25
U. S. Cy.
Per 100 lb. per donkey, requiring 12 days, about $2
U. S. Cy.
Per 100 lb. per mule, requiring 5 to 7 days, about
$2.75 U. S. Cy.
The descent from the Western Cordillera is very
steep and this part of the railway was expensive to
build and place in operation. It is a question whether
the railway can establish a freight rate that can com-
pete with pack animals and with the rates of the Peru-
vian Corporation.
A case is known where a custom smelter has been
re-located near a railway, the respective mines of cop-
per and silver being further up in the Cordillera. This
Company built an expensive railway to the mines
and now at the lowest possible freight rate the Com-
pany finds that it cannot in every case compete with
the llama, which takes a shorter and steeper trail.
Alluvial Washings
There is but very little done in placer mining, and
what there is. is done by small parties with but little
capital and is not conducted in a systematic way. There
are large masses of debris rich in tin, and sometimes
tin and gold at the foot of ravines where the placer de-
posits occur. In the summer mountain torrents rush
down these ravines and in the winter, at high altitudes,
the sun will only melt the ice for about three hours a
day. which furnishes enough water for washing.
Where there is a moderate amount of water the ground
is dug up and the larger pieces, or whatever can be
sorted out by hand, is recovered. The fine material is
washed in a hand jig which can be used to advantage
for this work. In the winter and when there is not
water the material has to be carried by llamas to the
nearest place where water can be had for the washing
of this material. Most of the work has to be done in
winter, as when the torrents appear nothing can be
296
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
done. The great mass of tin placers will be left un-
touched for the future times.
Dumps of tailing, heaps of waste of low-grade ore
and scoria, are also a great asset for future times. No
mine taxes have to be paid on these deposits. They
only have to be registered. These dumps contain all
the tin from silver mines which was thrown out by the
Spaniards together with low-grade silver ore. Then-
are large slag heaps everywhere; at Oruro are the
large accumulations of slag with 30 per cent of tin
and 20 per cent of lead and silver. Most of the tin is
shipped in the form of concentrates, only a few com-
panies ship the tin in bars. Besides these, there are a
number of small custom smelters which smelt the ores
of small producers. These furnaces are small water-
jacketed furnaces. They use charcoal fuel and iaquia
(the dung of llamas). Taquia, used for the roasting
and smelting of ore, is cheap. It is collected by Intliaiis
and is sold for a few centavos per hundred weight.
In the Chorolgue district, North Chichas, Depart-
ment of Potosi, 175 tons of concentrate give about 105
tons of bar tin. Tin bars as a rule are very low grade
and are merely made to reduce freight cost. Where
tin bars are made which have to be carried by llamas,
each bar has to weigh not more than 50 lb., so that the
llama carries in the pocket of the pack-saddle on each
side, one bar. making together 100 lb. as the load for
one animal.
Granulating Copper Matte
By R. L. Hallett
•The process described was installed by B. II. Ben-
netts at the Humboldt plant of the Consolidated Ari-
zona Smelting Co., Yavapai county, Arizona. The
blast-furnaces were charged with a low-grade copper
ore and the resulting matte was so low in copper that
a second concentration was necessary. The original
method of operation was to make a regular matte-run
concentration in the blast-furnace, as is usually done.
The matte resulting from this run went directly to
the converters, but the operation was costly and the
matte not quite as high in copper as was desired. The
object of this article is to describe briefly the method
which was used in place of the blast-furnace concen-
tration for treating the first-run low-grade copper
matte.
The matte was taken directly from the blast-furnace
settler in the molten condition and granulated with
water. The granulated matte was roasted in Edwards
furnaces and then charged hot into the reverberator}'
furnaces. This gave a reverberatory matte high in
copper and desirable for treatment in the converters.
The cost of granulation and roasting was not exces-
sive, and this method of treatment was found to be
a profitable one. The apparatus used and the method
of operation will be understood from the aecompany-
*Al)Stract from the Colorado School of Mines Magazine.
ing figure, which is a vertical section of the granulating
unit. The molten low-grade matte, from the settler,
was brought by the electric crane and poured into an
old V-shaped cast iron slag pot supported by a steel
framework. Four tons of matte was poured at one
time. The matte ran through a l]/8-in. hole in the
bottom of the slag pot into a short launder, and from
there into a long one leading to the settling tank.
Two streams of cold water, one above the other, issu-
ing from fish-tail nozzles, struck the stream of matte
as it fell from the short launder, solidifying and
granulating it and carrying it into the settling tank.
The granulated matte settled perfectly in the settling
tank and the clear water overflowed continuously. The
water was turned on only when matte was being
SECTION OF GRANULATING DEVICE.
poured. When the settling tank was full, the water
was thoroughly drained by removing plugs from a
vertical row of screen-covered holes down one side of
the tank. The settling tank was made of wood, with
a hopper bottom, and discharged into a car. The dis-
charge hole was covered by a swinging door, battened
down and made tight by means of a heavy rubber
gasket. The water for granulation came from a high-
pressure pump, through a 4-in. pipe which fed the two
3-in. pipes connected with the nozzles. The water was
under a pressure of 60 lb. per square inch, and 900
gal. of water was required for granulating one ton
of matte. The pump was automatically regulated to
deliver constant pressure by means of a Fisher gov-
ernor. The short launder was an iron easting, and the
long one was lined with cast iron. The matte was
granulated to about C'i in. and under. There was
practically no oxidation during granulation, the sul-
phur content decreasing only about 0.3%. After drain-
ing off the water, the granulated matte was drawn into
cars and taken to the roasters.
In the smelting of low-grade copper ores this process
is worth considering, and under favorable conditions
it may be found the most desirable method of treat-
ing the first run of low-grade matte. Granulation can
be used for lead matte as well as for copper.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
297
Dredging at Oroville
flelman, superintendent of the El Ovo Dredging ('■>.,
and who marked in the areas remaining to be dredged
in the accompanying cut, I studied the present situ-
ation at Oroville. There are 16 dredges working, but
By M. W. vox Berxewitz
To obtain a proper idea of the amount of work done, it is safe to say that within six months there will be
MAP
OF OROVILLE DREDGING DISTRICT
Jfc-^
AREAS REMAINING TO BE DPEDGEO
being done, and to be done in this well known district, only 13, as one boat owned by each of the Oroville,
one has to cover the area in an automobile or buggy, Ophir. and Pennsylvania companies will soon have fin-
and be careful he does not get lost among the 21 square ished its respective area. Narrow strips of gravel are'
miles of dredge tailing. In company with Charles still left on each side of the field, as indicated.
298
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to ins own. believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
California Miners and the Exposition
[The discussion of plans printed under the above title
in the Mining and Scientific Press, January 31, has called
out the following interesting letters, addressed to Mr.
van Barneveld. We print tlieui in the hope that they
may serve to stimulate further interest in the project. —
Editor.]
My dear Sir — 1 have read with interest your sug-
gestions, in the last issue of the Minintj and Scientific
Press, for a collective and consolidated California min-
ing exhibit in the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy.
Because of no appropriation for a state exhibit, I
fully agree with your conclusions that the counties
should merge their efforts in a thoroughly represen-
tative and general educational exhibit, rather than in
the usual scattered form of individual county fair ex-
hibits that leave no lasting impression. 1 sincerely
hope the mining counties and the mining industry of
the state at large will cooperate with you in carrying
out your suggestions, which I feel confident are the
very best possible under the circumstances.
F. W. Bkadley.
San Francisco, February 3.
Dear Sir — I have read with interest your article in
the last issue of the Mining and Scientific Press, entitled
•California Miners and the Exposition.' I am heartily
in accord with your views in this matter, and I very
much hope that you will succeed in your effort to per-
suade the counties to cooperate in the carrying out
of your plans.
Arthur Goodall.
San Francisco. February 3.
Dear Sir — I have just read your article. 'California
Miners and the Exposition,' in the last issue of the
Minimi and Scientific Press, and wish to say that the
method of making exhibit as proposed by you I feel
sure is to the best interests of the mining counties of
the state, and will prove of most interest.
Louis ROSKXKIOLI).
San Francisco, February 2.
Dear Sir — Your splendid article in the Minimi and
Scientific Press for January 31, 1914, entitled 'Califor-
nia Miners and the Exposition,' has been called to my
attention, and I have read it with delight. It has in
it the elements of proportion, completeness, and com-
mon sense, that are quite refreshing after the many
suirpestions of disorganized county exhibits that have
been exploited. Unless we have at the Panama Expo-
sition an educational exhibit in some such concrete
form as you suggest, in some way coordinating the
exhibits of the respective phases of the mining indus-
try, such as placer mining, copper mining, oil mining,
gold-quartz mining, etc.. the exhibition will have no
attraction for the general public, and will be void of
educational effect. To have no collective exhibit, or
no exhibit that could be put forward in some such
spectacular form as you suggest, would mean an aggre-
gation of isolated county exhibits, interesting, it is
true, to men who are familiar with the details of the
mining industry, but a matter of utter weariness and
no educational value to one who is not a mining man,
and if too extensive and too multiplied in character,
of no absorbing interest even to a mining man. By
all means, no matter what individual exhibits certain
mining counties may feel constrained to make, on ac-
count of local conditions, let them all cooperate in
sufficient degree to bring about the splendid collective
educational exhibit foreshadowed in vour article.
Jonx F. Davis.
San Francisco. February 3.
Dear Sir — I have read with interest your recent ar-
ticle relative to an exhibit of the mineral industry
of California. The suggestion made appears to me
to be a good one, especially to attract the attention
of people who know nothing of these matters and
who might by this pictorial representation get a gen-
eral idea of the industry. For those who are looking
for investment, there should in addition be provided
statistical information, so arranged and presented as
to attract and hold their attention, until they become
interested enough to make inquiry and obtain more
definite information. This could be done by project-
ing on a screen pictures of dredges in operation, of
hydraulic operations, stamp-mill interiors, underground
flashlight pictures, mine hoists in operation, drag-line
machines, washing plants, cyanide operations, oil wells.
drilling, spouting, and pumping, pipe-lines, loading
racks, trains of oil cars, refineries, and finished goods
in packages, interspersed with statistical statements
as to individual and collective outputs, profits, and
details of men employed: in fact, a complete picture
show, depicting all the different operations actually
proing on. In no other way that I can suggest, can any-
adequate and rapid idea be given of the nature, extent.
methods, and value of the mineral industry.
S. A. Kwapp.
San Francisco, February 3.
Water in Veins
The Editor:
Sir — The letter from James F. Kemp, appearing in
your issue of December 13. is so disarming that not
much appears left for me to say. However, in order
to complete the record I venture to point out that in
my friendly protest I did not claim priority so much
as recognition. T have no further quarrel with my
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
299
friend at Columbia University on the score of priority.
He is deservedly welcome to it, but does that explain
why he, with Messrs. J. W. Finch and \V. H. Emmons,
should have failed to refer to my numerous writings
on this particular subject? Obviously, not. It was
probably an accidental oversight, and I am content to
leave it at that.
T. A. Rickard.
London, January 21.
The Rand Banket
The Editor :
Sir — Although I have already contributed to this
discussion, I shall be obliged if you will allow me to
make the additional remarks contained in this letter.
I have no desire to enter into polemics on the subject
of priority, but the last of Mr. IIoi wood's articles (pub-
lished in your issue of December 27 I contains a passage
which must call for comment on my part, since it is
implied therein that my ideas on the Rand banket
owe their origin to a perusal of Mr. Ilorwood's paper.
The passage referred to is on page 1006 and reads as
follows: "Since the writer has in the above papers
emphasized the similarity of the bankets to ordinary
gold-quartz veins — others have gradually adopted the
same view; for example, Hatch wrote in 1911 as fol-
lows: 'The origin of the gold in the Witwatersrand
banket has been referred to as one of the greatest
riddles of modern times, but evidence is slowly ac-
cumulating to prove that the Rand banket is not a fossil
'placer', but rather that its gold lias an origin similar
to that of quartz veins' " ('Types of Ore Deposits').
That my ideas on this subject were not borrowed
from Mr. Horwood (who came mil to the Hand as my
assistant in 190:1 or 1904 and first wrote on the subject
in 190")). but rather the reverse, will be made suffi-
ciently clear, I think, by a quotation of the following
passage from my paper on the 'Geology of the "Wit-
watersrand" lead before the Geological Society of Lon-
don in 1897.*
"Examination under the microscope shows that the
cementing material of the conglomerates consists of
a mosaic of minutely granular but distinctly crystal-
line quartz. The rock is so firmly knit together by this
secondarily deposited silica that, when broken, the
fracture passes irrespectively through pebbles and
matrix. In places the newly deposited quartz lias
grown on to the pebbles in such a manner as to obliter-
ate their original margin and to produce a rock re-
sembling a homogeneous and glassy variety of vein
quartz. Of other minerals, finely divided iron pyrite
is the most common, being disseminated through the
matrix of the rock in fine crystalline particles; and
native gold, when present, is in intimate association
with this mineral. Galena, blende, and copper pyrite
occur, but rarely. In the surface rocks, down to about
100 ft., the sulphides of iron are replaced by the oxides
of that metal. The silicification. or more generally the
•8ee Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc., Vol. 54, p. 80, 1897.
mineralization, of these conglomerates is, in my opinio]],
the result of secondary processes of infiltration and
crystallization. It is significant in this connection that
when most mineralized the conglomerates are often
seamed with veins of white quartz ; and there can be
little doubt that these veins were formed in connection
with the mineralization of the conglomerates. There
is no reason for ascribing a special method of origin
to the gold; and I hold, therefore, that the gold has
been introduced with the pyrite with which it is in
intimate association, as a part of the general process
of mineralization, and I cannot agree with those authors
who describe the conglomerates as deposits in which
the gold was either pre-existing (alluvial gold) or was
introduced contemporaneously with the deposition of
the pebbles and sand."
Thus, already in 1897. not only did I point out that
by intense silicification the banket had assumed tin-
character of a quartz vein, but I also drew attention to
the intimate genetic connection of the gold with the
pyritization of the beds.
F. H. Hatch.
London, January 12.
The Editor:
Sir — In the Mining and Scientific Press for January
31, Kirby Thomas, in writing of the Rand Banket and
the relations of the ore deposits on the Rand to dikes,
brings out some interesting and significant facts re-
garding the veins at Cobalt and Kirkland Lake iu
Ontario. He cites various other regions within which
deposits supposed to the 'unique' may conceivably have
been formed in connection with the intrusion of
igneous dikes and ends by asking whether such a
genesis cannot be conceived in connection with the
Wisconsin lead and zinc deposits. It can, but gratu-
ituously; just as anyone can imagine for himself a rich
Uncle in the Klondike. Hut such imaginations bring
but small heritage.
Writing in 1910.1 I summarized the objection to such
a hypothesis as follows: "Their derivation through
igneous agencies is excluded by (1) the known absence
of any intrusive or extrusive igneous rocks of as late
or later age than the rocks in which the ores occur:
(2) by the presence under the area of unbroken sheets
of artesian water in sedimentary beds, precluding the
rising of heated solutions from depths into these beds
without dissipation ; (3) the absence of faults or fissures
reaching down into the lower beds, an absence con-
firmed by the presence, as stated, of underlying artesian
waters; and (4) by the positive and sufficient evidence
of the origin of the ores by other agencies." Fuller
details were published in the report on the 'Zinc and
Lead Deposits of the Upper Mississippi Valley,'- and
other papers on the region. It is to be remembered
that the region is one that has been studied in much
detail and in which mining and geological work have
• 'Types of Ore Deposits,' p. 100.
=U. S. Geol. Surv. Bull 294, pp. 128-129.
300
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
been conducted for more than a century. It is also
driftless and there are excellent rock exposures, so
that however much we may differ as to interpretation,
there should be no room for differences of opinion as
to such fundamental facts as the presence or absence
of igneous rocks in the region. While I recognize that
evaluation of evidence is largely personal, the facts in
this case have seemed to me to be singularly clear and
open to but one interpretation ; namely, that the ores
are sedigenetic in type. Furthermore, it may be asked,
why should they be considered 'unique'? To me it is
as natural for a deposit of that type to be derived
from the action of the agencies that produce sedi-
mentary rocks, as for the veins at Cripple Creek, for
example, to be related to a volcano.
If I had had any lingering doubt in the matter it
would have been set at rest when I studied the fluor-
spar deposits of southern Illinois.' Here, in the midst
of the great Mississippi Valley is a district in which
veins are found that are related to igneous rocks, here
evidenced by dikes of lamprophyre and miea-perido-
tites. The veins contain lead and zinc, as do the other
and common types of deposit in the Mississippi Valley
limestones, but they are different in almost every other
particular. " They are true veins of fissure type, fluor-
spar is the most important gangue mineral, the galena
is argentiferous, and in minute detail they resemble the
common type of lead vein in the Cordilleran limestones.
It is almost as if Nature had set this district in the
great valley for the purpose of affording the exception
to prove the rule. When one studies the Ozark region
it is necessary to admit certain things in the general
geology that point to such a possibility as Mr. Thomas
suggests, but even here it is distinctly a possibility
only, and the deposits link themselves in character
with those of Wisconsin, which form one type, rather
than with southern Illinois, the other.
The Ozark uplift is a broad, low. elliptical dome. Its
northeast-southwest axis is about 300 miles long and
the minor axes are perhaps two-thirds as long. The
dome rises to 1000 to lo00 ft. above sea-level, roughly
500 to 1000 ft. above the surrounding country, which
rises gently to the west. It is clear that no stratum
concerned is competent to support such a dome, and
careful physiographic studies indicate that it is in fact
a warped peneplain, presumably in isostatic equilibrium
with the low land around. If so. it must have been
bowed up by the influx of material under it at some
depth, though, if this be ordinary adjustment in the
zone of flowage. the depth is probably too great to per-
mit the influence of the material so transferred to have
been felt at the surface. An alternative hypothesis is
that there has been an actual introduction of liquid
igneous rock under the area and in the skin of the
earth: that, in fact, the Ozark uplift is an enormous
laccolith. Supporting such a hypothesis is the fact
that igneous rocks have in fact found their way clear
to the surface, on the south in Arkansas: on the south-
3U. S. Geol. Surv., Bun. 255.
west on Spavinaw creek, Oklahoma; on the east in
southern Illinois and western Kentucky; and in the
heart of the Ozark country in Camden county, Mis-
souri, where E. M. Shepard some years since found a
dike of graphic granite. I do not cite the igneous rocks
of southeastern Missouri, which are clearly of pre-
Cambrian age, while the dome, and the ore deposits
which were formed after it, cannot be older than late
Cretaceous, and presumably are of Tertiary age. It is
true that the igneous rocks cited are by no means all
of the same type, it is not even known that they show
consanguinity, as J.- P. Iddings has phrased it, nor
are their ages certainly known. J. C. Branner was
able to determine with fair certainty that some of the
Arkansas dikes are of post-Cretaceous age. In Illinois
others cut and coke coal beds that belong to the Car-
boniferous. Since the close of the Cretaceous marked
a great change in the region in many particulars, it is
at least logical to assume that the rocks were in the
main intruded then or shortly after. At any rate the
region is one within which igneous agencies were
sufficiently active to cause intrusions not far below the
surface and not long, geologically speaking, before the
ore deposits of the region were formed. So much may
fairly be said for Mr. Thomas' hypothesis.
It is one thing, however, to determine a "might have
been' and another to prove a 'was.' When search is
made for definite evidence connecting the ores with
the supposed igneous rocks it uniformly fails. Unless
one start with the fixed hypothesis that there can be no
deposits without igneous agencies being active, it is
difficult to see how the evidence can be interpreted in
favor of an igneo-genetic or igneo-sedigenetic origin
of the ores. The deposits in content, character, antl
every critical detail show kinship to those of Wiscon-
sin and just as certainly show contrast with those of
southern Illinois. There is the same practical absence
of silver in the galena, total absence of arsenic and
antimony, and the same simple gangue of calcite and
dolomite, as contrasted with the fluorite and silicified
beds of southern Illinois. H. A. Wheeler has found
one vein' of galena in southeastern Missouri that is
argentiferous, but this very fact sets it off as different
from the common lead deposit of the region, and my
recollection is that the evidence that it is the same age
as the others, is decidedly weak.
Mr. Horwood, in his series of articles on the Rand
Banket, has given detailed evidence supporting the
view that the gold ores of the Rand are intimately
related to the intrusive rocks. Mr. Thomas has cited
facts of the same sort in connection with the occurrence
of the ores of Ontario. Similar evidence is considered
ample to connect the southern Illinois veins with other
igneous rocks. It would seem but logical to count the
failure of such evidence, against any assumption of
such a connection in the case of the zinc and lead de-
posits of Wisconsin and of the Ozarks in general.
H. Fosteh Bain.
San Francisco. February 2.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
301
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
Magnesite contains about 52% carbon dioxide.
Coal in tbe United States yields an average of 7.53
gal. of tar per ton.
If porphyry copper ore is exposed to the atmosphere
it starts to oxidize.
Eucalyptus oil for flotation purposes costs 14 to 18c.
per pound in Australia.
The graphite of Pennsylvania is believed generally
to be of organic origin.
Crucibles used in melting materials with high melt-
ing points are usually made of 3 parts of graphite.
2 parts of clay. 1 part of sand, and smaller amounts
of kaolin.
Crushing rolls have an $c/< higher output per horse-
power hour than does a dry-crushing ball-mill, accord-
ing to Philip Argall. This advantage is materially
lessened when allowance is made for the fact that
the ball-mill grinds, elevates, and screens, in one oper-
ation.
Winzes or passes should be properly covered when
not in use. especially if a staging has been built over
them for the purpose of driving a raise. Recently in
a Western Australian mine this was being done, the
stage collapsed and one man was thrown down a pass
and killed.
Bournonite is a lead, copper, antimony sulphide hav-
ing the composition (PbCu1),Sb2S11. According to F.
R. Van Horn, it occurs abundantly at Park City, Utah,
though its presence has been overloked owing to its
similarity to tetrahedrite. which is relatively scarce at
Park City.
Speed of the 'runner' of a centrifugal pump must
be in definite ratio to the height required to lift the
pulp. With an excessive spied and a high peripheral
velocity, the scouring effect on lining is so great, and
the internal friction so largely increased, that the
simple pump is unsuitable for lifts above 25 or 30
feet.
Pipes used for the conveyance of cyanide solution
are liable to rapid internal incrustation, and supposed
pump troubles are often traceable to this cause. In
order that such piping may be easily removed for
periodic cleaning, it should l>e laid, wherever possible,
above ground; and every effort should be made to
avoid cementing in of pipes in foundations or under
concrete flooring.
Extralateral rights under agricultural ground can
he claimed by owners of mineral claims outside the
land in question, if the mineral claim was located
first: not otherwise. In other words, a claimant under
agricultural law takes title subject to accrued rights
but with this exception he owns all the mineral under
his ground. He has no right to follow outside his land
any veins or lodes.
The terrestrial atmosphere consists of a mixture of
gases that may be divided into two distinct classes,
namely. (1) the elementary gases such as nitrogen,
hydrogen, oxygen, and the gases of the argon group:
and (2) the compound gases such as vapor of water,
ammonia, ozone, carbonic acid gas. and others. The
first group is practically a fixed quantity, but the
others varv greatlv.
Mica does not enjoy a free market in the United
States. The large consumers have their own sources
of supply or buy on long-time contract, and there is
little general trade. Some sheet mica is bought for
export, and clear stock in sizes 2 by 3 inches or larger
can be sold to advantage. San Francisco prices range
from 75c. to $1 per pound for the minimum size, de-
pending on the quality of the material.
The theoretically correct form for a surface con-
denser is one having a triangular cross-section, the
steam being admitted over one of the sides, and the
amount of surface exposed to the steam diminishing
in proportion to the decrease in the quantity of steam
to be condensed. The air and non-condensable vapors
should therefore be taken off at the apex of the tri-
angle opposite the entering steam. In this manner
practically all of the tubes will at all times be sur-
rounded by steam and will do approximately an equal
amount of work: thus the efficiency of the tube sur-
face as a whole will be increased.
Oil production of California during 1913 was greatly
benefited by increased technologic developments, by
which the oils were topped and dehydrated with much
greater efficiency. These developments included the
successful introduction of the Oottrell electric dehy-
dration process. The adoption of the Trumble and
Dyer topping and dehydrating processes, and the
great advance in methods for obtaining gasoline from
natural gas were among the striking achievements of
the year; but while less spectacular, " the economies
effected by many minor improvements in the great
refineries at Point Richmond, Oleum, and El Segundo
contributed perhaps equally to the general problem of
efficient refining. In the United States, according to
the U. S. Geological Survey, there was unusual
progress in many parts of the country during the
year in petroleum refining, especially in the dehydra-
tion of heavy crude oils, in obtaining gasoline from
natural gas and synthetically from heavy oils, and in
obtaining many special products from crude oils.
302
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14. 1914
Special Correspondence
BUTTE, MONTANA
North Butte Acquires Mobk Property, — Development in the
New Area. — Anaconda and Great Fai.es Plants. — Costs
at Butte. — Butte & Superior Mill Products.
With the daring characteristic of its president, -Thomas F.
Cole, the North Butte Mining Co. has recently invested a large
sum in the purchase of new mining ground in Butte. Over
$1,500,000 in cash, and 20,000 shares of North Butte stock is
to be given for 700 acres of undeveloped mineral ground in
the eastern part of the district. If the copper veins in this
section can be shown to be similar in value to those on Ana-
conda bill, the area of Butte's productive copper zone will be
greatly increased. The only developments of importance in
that area are those of the Bullwhacker Copper Co., and of the
Butte & Duluth Mining Co. These mines show a different
kind of mineralization from that of Anaconda hill. They are
east and west veins, but as a rule are small. The main zone
of profitable ore formation strikes north and south along a
wide fault zone, with the copper in a disseminated condition,
as silicate and sulphide in the adjacent granite. This dis-
seminated mineralization would be called porphyry ore in
other copper states. It gives promise of extending over a
large area and of being profitable.
An important and significant change is gradually taking
place at the reduction works at Anaconda and Great Falls,
Anaconda is soon to get all the concentrating ore, and the
Great Falls plant will be limited to smelting first-class ore and
concentrate. There are several good reasons why Anaconda
should get all the concentrating ore. At Great Falls the tail-
ing has never been saved, but is dumped into the Missouri
river, there to be irretrievably lost. On this account, Great
Falls has paid no attention to re-treatment of tailing, while
Anaconda has been developing a leaching process which is
a greatly advanced step in the treatment of copper ores.
There would be useless expense in building two of these
leaching plants with auxiliary sulphuric acid plants, so that
the natural result has been the decision to do all the wet
concentration at Anaconda. There is also a haulage charge
of $1 per ton from Butte to Great Falls on low-grade ore
which is greatly reduced by shipping to Anaconda.
An interesting discussion concerning mining costs at Butte
was recently published in The Butte Miner. The writer
states that the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. spends $100,000
per day in its operations. Of this, 50'/, is for labor, 13%
for power and fuel, 8.5% for lumber and timber, 7.5% for sup-
plies, 16% for freight, and the balances in taxes, etc. Now
that all the concentrating ore is to go to Anaconda, the
freight expense will be considerably decreased.
The monthly statements required of the Butte & Superior
Copper Co. by the federal court make interesting reading for
the metallurgist. Out of 28,758 tons of ore treated in Decem-
ber, 6656 tons of concentrate was recovered by oil flotation.
The cost of flotation per ton of concentrate was $4.56. The
concentrate was valued f.o.b. cars, Butte, at $23.79 per ton.
The concentrate assayed 50% zinc, 2.4% lead, 0.5% copper,
1.3% iron, 2.7% manganese, 11% insoluble, 26.3 oz. silver, and
0.05 oz. gold per ton. As the gross value of the merchantable
minerals in this product is about $80 per ton at present prices,
it becomes strikingly apparent that the charges and losses be-
yond the mill are eating up 70% of the value. No wonder
that anyone with a reasonable scheme for zinc refining gets
a hearing. The Minerals Separation-Hyde case is to be argued
on appeal before the Circuit Court at San Francisco Febru-
ary 20.
LONDON
Possibilities of Mining in the Russian Empire. — Russo-
Asiatic Corporation's Activities.' — The Ridder, Sokol.m,
Nerchinsk Silver-Lead-Zinc Concessions.
Amid the gloom of the London mining market sbiae the
bright rays of the Russian activities of Leslie Urquhart and
H. C. Hoover. The Russian Empire has been recognized for
some time as a mining field of enormous possibilities, and
it is unfortunate, therefore, that many ventures there have
been failures. Two factors that make for success have usu-
ally been lacking, one being an intimate knowledge of the
country, and the other the ability to apply funds to the best
advantage on expert advice. In the present combination these
factors are present. Mr. Urquhart having lived in Russia prac-
tically all his life and knowing the business methods and
business opportunities, and Mr. Hoover being endowed with
an unusual amount of financial and technological acumen.
. RAILWAYS BOVMOAM/CS.
THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.
\
These two gentlemen have made a great success of the Kysh-
tim copper property, and are now doing the same thing for
the Tanalyk, both of these being properties in the South Urals.
They have done so much better than most of the English
companies operating in Russia that St. Petersburg financiers
have been keen to gain their assistance in connection with
other properties. They therefore formed the Russo-Asiatic
Corporation, 18 months ago, in partnership with Russo-Asiatic
Bank, and the Banque du Commerce Privee, and have since
had a great number of properties examined. Three conces-
sions have already been obtained in different parts of Siberia,
two containing zinc-lead sulphides carrying precious metals,
and the other being a coal deposit. The first in order of
importance is the Ridder. This concession covers 3000 square
miles and is in the southern part of the Altai mountains.
Here a silver-lead mine was worked from 1778 to 1S63; but
operations terminated on the exhaustion of the oxidized ore.
It was then found that the foot-wall contained gold, so the
oxidized portion was mined by open-cut and treated in primi-
tive stamp-mills until the year 1901. Reliable reports showed
that at the time the mine was closed, 9S.O00 tons of solid
t
February 14. 1914
MINING AND SCIEN i IFIC PRESS
303
sulphide ore was standing above water-level, averaging 28.5%
zinc, 13.5% lead, 1.7% copper, and $16 gold per ton; together
with 110,000 tons of ore requiring concentration, averaging
5.5% lead, 1.2% copper, and $14.60 gold per ton. In addition,
there was 42,000 tons of oxidized ore assaying $14 gold. In
order to test the continuity of the deposit, two bore-holes
were put down 250 ft. apart on the strike, and calculated
to intersect the lode on the dip, about 200 ft. below the
bottom level. Where bore-hole "A' cut the lode, there was
first 23 ft. of solid sulphide assaying 29.2% zinc, 19.1% lead,
2.06% copper, 7.8 oz. silver, and $17.20 gold per ton. Follow-
ing this 23 ft., there was 100 ft. of disseminated sulphides,
averaging, as far as assayed, 4.5% lead, 8.3% zinc, 1.4 oz.
silver, and $15.20 gold per ton. After this came 122 ft. of
gold ore assaying $11.40 per ton. The second bore-hole gave
equally satisfactory results. It may be legitimately assumed
that 1,300,000 tons of sulphide ore is in place between the
bottom level and the horizon at which the bore-holes cut the
lode. The gold ore Is not included in this estimate. An-
other property close by is the Sokolni, which appears to
contain similar ore. The development of the Ridder and
Sokolni mines, and the concentration and further treatment
of the ore, will be in the hands of T. .1. Jones, D. P. Mitchell,
and R. Gilman Brown.
The Nerchinsk concession covers SO0O square miles. Here
also is an old silver-lead-zinc mine, the Kadainsky. The ore
is much coarser than that at Ridder. which is similar to
that from Broken Hill. The sulphides of zinc and lead can
be largely separated by hand, and subsequent water-concen-
tration presents no difficulty. A drilling outfit has been
despatched so as to prospect the deposit on the dip. At the
Ekibastus coal deposits, which have been examined by Fors-
ter Brown & Rees, of Cardiff, there are a large number of
seams outcropping. The coal is of Carboniferous age and Is
of high quality, suitable for household purposes, steam-raising,
and coking. Several shafts had been sunk by previous own-
ers, and the Company is now engaged in clearing the deepest
workings.
The above Is a mere outline intended to give a general
idea of the properties and the nature of the business of the
Russo-Asiatic. The directors, with exemplary frankness, tell
shareholders that some years must elapse before profits will
be made, as the deposits have to be tested and developed,
metallurgical works erected, and means of communication im-
proved. These will require funds, as well as time. What
Impresses itself upon the technologist is the extraordinary
nature of the Ridder orebody, and he looks forward with
unusual Interest to the results obtained by development.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Firefly Field.— A Tasmania Proposition. — An Extraordinary
Proceeding. — Staking an Area iiy Night. — Sulphide Cor-
pora tion.
The chief inspector of mines of New South Wales, J. B.
Jaquet, has issued a report on the newly discovered Firefly
copper field in the Hillgrove district. He expresses himself
as "very favorably impressed with the prospects already ob-
tained, and the discovery may lead to the opening of an im-
portant new mining field" and further states that, "the true
value and extent of the deposit or deposits can only be deter-
mined after the expenditure of a considerable amount of capi-
tal, and I confidently recommend that the circumstances
warrant the required outlay." According to the description
he gives of the field, it is difficult of access, but this present
disadvantage may ultimatelj tend to good, since the precipice,
which now stands in the wa> of easy development, may lead to
cheap working, by gravity tramways to the river below. Mr.
Jaquet states that the field was discovered once before, as far
back as 1S96, when he found the copper sulphide lode then
worked, to be worth 40% copper and from 10 to 13 oz. silver
per ton. Why the locality should have remained untouched
till the present time is not easy to understand. Mr. Jaquet's
samples of the recent discovery, which is quite distinct from
the old one, give from 2 to 12% copper, 13 to 18% lead, and 2 to
14 oz. silver per ton. A galena vein gave 30% zinc, 2% copper,
19% lead, 6% iron, and 7 oz. silver per ton. As the sulphides
are found outcropping in places it appears as if the one of
oxidation does not extend far below the surface.
The Hercules mine, Tasmania, is once again attracting at-
tention. This is a silver and lead property, with ore esti-
mated to average $3S.40 per ton, but so far the metals hav*
not been extractable. For years the mine has struggled alont;
with little satisfaction to shareholders, and lately an arrange
ment was made for an amalgamation of the Hercules with thi
Primrose company, which was operating a mine of similar
character. The proposition was to be worked by a company
of 300,000 shares, of which the Hercules shareholders were to
receive 120,000 and the Primrose shareholders 40,000 shares;
50,000 of the 140,000 shares for the provisioa of working capi-
tal, $700,000, for the installation of a suitable smelting plant.
However, the attempt to raise the requisite money in London
has proved a failure. To atone for this failure, experiments
made with the treatment of ore by the De Bavay process are
understood to have been successful, with the result that Her-
cules shares, which were naturally unfavorably affected by the
failure of the capital-raising scheme, have made a good re-
covery. Not only has the Hercules large ore reserves, but
those in the Primrose are understood to total about 100,000
tons.
The Port Davey Tin Mines, recently formed in Melbourne
to exploit certain mineral leases at Cox's Bight, Tasmania, is
on the point of liquidation. The chairman, at a recent meet-
ing of the shareholders, had to announce that the claims which
A. E. Langford had purchased on behalf of the Company, were
not after all the property of the Company, because the vendors
had had no title to dispose of. The vendors, when faced with
the fact that two of the leases they had sold to the Company
were actually held by one Smith, with whom they had had no
dealings, maintained that the holder of the leases was a man
named Bryant, and that it was from him that they had ob-
tained the option they had passed on to the Company. They
were unable to produce any document to show Bryant's owner-
ship; and yet there seems to have been no difficulty in form-
ing the Company. But, most astounding fact of all. the dir-
ectors resolved to offer the vendors the sum of $1000 to cancel
the contract. That is to say. they are offered $1000 to cancel
an agreement their part of which they are unable to fulfill.
Any way the matter is viewed, the directors, Langford, and
the vendors are greatly to blame, and it is the innocent share-
holders who have to pay, and to pay moreover to those who are
to blame perhaps most of all. Even before this debacle was
made public, there had been a sensation in connection with
the property. An application was made to the Tasmanian
mines department for the granting of a lease between two of
those held by the above mentioned Smith, the application
being made by a man named Cummings, who was acting &s <*n
agent for Langford. To this application an objection was
entered by Smith on the ground that the claim had not been
staked as stated. Cummings asserted that his pegging was
done in the dark, without the knowledge of those who were
with him. As this necessitated a tramp of four miles over
some of the roughest and wildest country in the state, the
objector held that the performance was impossible, and as
the mining magistrate who heard the case agreed with him,
the application was refused. But another interesting ques-
tion arises out of this: was this central block, which was, or
was not, staked in between two blocks supposed to be held
by the Port Davey Tin Mines, to be retained by Langford
for himself or to be handed over to the Company? The whole
affair is not likely to advance the cause of mining.
304
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
During the year ended June 30, 1913, the Central mine at
Broken Hill produced 211,593 tons of ore, of which 210,440
tons was treated, yielding 32,295 tons of concentrate averaging
67.2% lead, 6.3% zinc, and 33 oz. silver per ton. The flotation
plant produced 71,394 tons of zinc concentrate assaying 43.77c
zinc, 10.3% lead, and 17.1 oz. silver. The smelter, near New-
castle, treated 53,285 tons of concentrate yielding 13,410 tons
lead, 53,642 oz. gold, and 1,112,205 oz. silver. The gold came
from custom ores. Ore reserves total 2,352,000 tons. Net
RESIDUE DUMP AT THE CENTRAL MINE, BROKEN niLL, NEW SOUTH WALES.
profits were $1,340,000, and $940,000 was paid in dividends.
C. P. Courtenay is general manager, James Hebbard mine
manager, and P. S. Morse metallurgist.
NEW YORK
United Verde Copper Co.'s New Subsidiaries. — First National
Property. — Leaching at Butte. — Guggenheim Explora-
tion Holdings. — Utah Copper and Nevada Consolidated.
The most interesting news of the week is that the $3,000,000
United Verde Copper Co. is to be 'unscrambled.' The Com-
pany has only two dozen shareholders, being closely con-
trolled by W. A. Clark, its shares are rarely traded in, and
but little information about the output or technical oper-
ations of the Company are ever given out, it being still in
the dark ages in this respect. The newly fledged legislature
of Arizona has been displaying its energy by passing some
futurist laws on taxation and other subjects. For this and
other reasons, the sum of the activities of the United Verde
are to be dissociated, and the business which is not directly
connected with mining and smelting is to be placed in the
hands of four new companies: the Verde Tunnel & Smelter
Railroad, $450,000 capital, to construct and operate the rail-
road from the mine to the new smelter; Clarkdale Improve-
ment Co., $1,500,000 capital, to develop the townsite at the
new smelter; Upper Verde Farm & Orchard Co., $175,000, to
own and manage the farm and orchard lands; and the United
Verde Public Utilities Co., $250,000, to handle the water, light-
ing, and sewer systems at Jerome and Clarkdale. The stock-
holders of the United Verde have been offered the opportu-
nity to subscribe for these shares, pro rata, at par. Mr. Clark
took hold of the mine in 1888, and it has since developed
into one of the best known mines in the world, having paid
over $30,000,000 in dividends. In its present stage it is one
of the rather high-cost producers of copper, but has a vigor-
ous life before it yet.
The fire which destroyed the sampling plant of the First
National Copper Co. is another item added to the bad luck
which has attended the experimental development of the
Hall process at the smelter. This is rather typical, however,
for it is rare that a new process does not have to contend
with many difficulties which are entirely foreign to the process,
but which often serve to condemn it. Word from the plant
is that the process itself is giving en-
tirely satisfactory results, but that the
operating costs are higher than was at
first estimated.
Word from Butte is to the effect that
B. B. Thayer, president of the Ana-
conda Copper Co., has asked the board
of directors to authorize the construc-
tion of a 2000-ton leaching plant, to
use the process devised by Frederick
Laist. The plans for the plant have
been drawn for some time, but the
management has been waiting for the
results of further experiment before
beginning construction work. The
most important point is where to draw
the line between wet concentration,
followed by smelting, and leaching.
The most expensive work in concentra-
tion is the regrinding and handling of
the fine material, and the coarser the
copper-bearing material can be handled
the better, so far as the plant required
for wet concentration is concerned.
However, throwing a larger tonnage
on, the leaching plant will require ad-
ditional capacity there, and the prob-
lem is to find the exact line of separation which will corres-
pond to the lowest working cost, including the interest on
the cost of equipping the plant.
The Guggenheim Exploration Co. has issued its annual
report, showing a net income of 16.13%, a slight increase
over last year. No very important changes in the invest-
ments are recorded, except an increase of 33,100 shares of
Ray Consolidated stock. The total assets of the Company
are given as $45,000,000, with a surplus of $24,811,340. It is
interesting to notice that the Exploration company does not
hold any Braden or Chile Copper Co. stock, in spite of the
close relation between the organizations. The Braden con-
tinues to show an increase in its output and is now produc-
ing at the highest rate in its history. The Utah Copper
has given out its report for the fourth quarter of 1913,
showing an output of 23.8S4.467 lb. copper at an average
cost of 9.9Si'c. per pound. The average assay of the ore
milled was 1.2165% copper, 2,113,080 tons having been milled
during the quarter, of which 56% was treated by the Magna
plant and 44% by the Arthur. The stock of unsold copper
on hand December 31, 1913, was 39,854,993 lb. The amount
of stripping removed during the year was 4,835,489 cu. yd.
E. A. Wall has filed suit for $12,000,000 damages against the
Company, asking $2,000,000 for the surface rights to his prop- ■
erties which have been covered by waste, and $10,000,000
for the claims which have been buried under waste. The
Utah company would feel lonesome if Mr. Wall were not
tilting against it, however. The Nevada Consolidated, in its
report for the fourth quarter, shows a decrease in operating
cost, having produced 16.6S4,955 lb. copper at a cost of 8.63c.
per pound, from 833.9S9 tons of ore averaging 1.53% copper.
The Company has on hand 27,916.946 lb. copper. Of strip-
ping. 982,689 tons was removed at a cost of $30S.519, of
which $171,272 was charged to operating cost and the rest
deferred.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
305
LEAD, SOUTH DAKOTA
New Equipment at the Homestake. — Wasp No. 2.— A Mild
WINTER IN THE BLACK HlLLS. THE MINNESOTA, GOLDEN
Crest, Titanic, and Hidden Treasure.— Oil at Ardmore.
Extensive plans for improvements have been arranged by
the Homestake Mining Co., expenditures for which during the
present year will probably total $350,000. Among these will
be a plant containing six 600-hp. boilers, equipped with super-
heaters. The site chosen is close to the Northwestern rail-
way, where good facilities are offered for delivery of fuel.
Experiments will be made with oil fuel. Should this fuel be
adopted it will be the first application in the Black Hills
mines. Steam from this plant will be used to operate an
electric-generating station and a new hoisting engine at the
B. & M., formerly known as the Old Abe shaft. The electric
plant will be used as an auxiliary to the Spearfish hydro-
electric station. It will have a normal capacity of 3200 and
a maximum, for short periods, of 4800 hp. The new hoisting
engine will have a capacity of 3000 ft., and will be the best on
the property. Contracts have been let for this machine, and
delivery will shortly commence; and it is hoped to have it
in operation before the end of the current year. The shaft
is now 1500 ft. deep, has five compartments, and is equipped
with a complete electrically driven pumping system. The new
engine will make it one of the most important ore-hoisting
shafts on the property. The machinery for the three plants
mentioned will cost about as follows: boiler plant, $100,000;
electric station, $45,000; and hoist, $75,000. In addition the
buildings will cost about $130,000.
The Wasp No. 2 is working practically at normal capacity,
producing nearly 500 tons of ore per day. John Gray has
resigned as general manager, his health necessitating the
action, and he has been succeeded by Edward Manion, one of
the best known mining men in the Black Hills. C. E. Bren-
ner, for several years mill superintendent, has also resigned
on account of poor health, and Ray Craig is in charge of the
plant.
Salubrious weather has marked the winter season in the
Black Hills. Up to January 20 the snowfall at Deadwood had
been only 5 in. for the season, with none lying on the ground
at that time. The coldest night reported was 2° below zero.
Many nights in December and January were recorded when
the thermometer was well above the freezing point. This
weather has been of great benefit to the mining industry, per-
mitting of outdoor and construction operations on a scale
greater than for years past. At the Wasp No. 2, Bismarck,
Homestake. and other properties, where considerable open-cut
mining is done, conditions have been ideal for the work. At
the Mogul and Rattlesnake Jack, construction on the mills and
about the mines has been pushed almost as during the sum-
mer. Other properties report greater activities than would
have been possible under adverse conditions; and all operators
are praying for a mild winter.
Dewatering the 200-ft. shaft of the Minnesota property, at
Maitland. is proceeding under the direction of Joseph Kellar.
At the 70-ft. level a connection is made, by adit, with the
surface, and the 100-ft. level is above water, where the ore
was followed upward on the dip. The 200-ft. level contains
extensive workings and will require some little time to drain.
Preparations are being made to start further development as
soon as the water is removed.
F. W. Bird and associates have secured title to the Golden
Crest property, in the Galena district, and state that the
property will be in full operation in a few months. The title
was secured upon judgment for $120,000, against the Detroit
interests in the Company, who failed to redeem within the
time granted by law. Litigation started about the time the
mill was completed, and as a result the plant, which contains
40 stamps, and Is one of the most modern and thoroughly
equipped in the Black Hills, has never turned a wheel. Bird
and associates have done some development, and report having
uncovered a large body of ore at the surface, which, while
low in grade, they state will pay if handled in large quantities
by steam-shovel mining methods. On the lower levels are some
bodies of good grade milling ore.
Sinking is going on rapidly at the Titanic property, at Car-
bonate, the shaft now being. 190 ft. deep. It is the present
intention to go to 300 ft. before further cross-cutting is under-
taken. Ingersoll-Rand jackhamer drills are being used in
sinking, and are giving good results.
Encouraged by the results of work done in an adit west of
the shaft last summer, the Hidden Treasure company, owning
property on upper Deadwood gulch, has decided to sink the
shaft an additional 200 ft., and at that depth do some lateral
DRILLING FOR ORE AT ARDMORE, SOUTH DAKOTA.
work. The property is equipped with a gasoline-driven hoist
and compressor, air drills, pumps, etc. Banks Stewart, of
Deadwood, is general manager for the Company.
The Continental Copper Co., near Hill City, has just com-
pleted the installation of a big Goulds Manufacturing Co.'s
electrically driven triplex pump on the 700-ft. level. The ma-
chine, complete, weighed 23,000 lb., and was put in place with
little difficulty. The shaft is 800 ft. deep, is to be sunk 200
ft. farther, and the pump will later be removed to the 1000-ft.
level.
Well No. 1 of the Ardmore Oil Co., at Ardmore, was 1100
ft. deep on January 19. Progress lately has been rather slow,
owing to encountering some hard strata dipping to the south-
east, which deflected the drill. The hole is still being carried
down with a diameter of 12'j in. It is expected that the
Dakota sandstone, the most likely formation for containing
oil, will be cut at a depth of about 1700 feet.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
Zinc and Lead Prii is. — Drainage ok a Famous Old District.
— Rush for Leases to New Shallow-Mining District. —
Geological Work. — New Mills. — Pumping and Drilling
Work.
The zinc and lead ore markets are stronger than they have
been for several weeks, producers of both ores finding a
ready demand at fair prices. The large tonnage of spelter
on hand at the various smelters has a tendency to lessen
the demand for ore. However, as the smelters are reported
to be operating at about 75% capacity, they are in the market
for about 5000 tons of zinc sulphide ores per week at prices
ranging from $40 to $43, basis of 60% metallic zinc, while
306
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
the higher grades bring as high as $46 per ton. Spelter at
East St. Louis is quoted at $5.20 per 100 lb. In the corre-
sponding week of 1913, blende brought $44 to $48, basis, with
choicer grades selling for as high as $51. Spelter was then
quoted at $6.40. Calamine is selling for $20 to $22, basis of
40% metallic zinc, with top grades bringing up to $26. Lead
ore brings $50, and pig lead at East St. Louis is quoted at
$4.05. In the corresponding week of 1913, calamine brought
$24 to $26, basis, with top grades selling for $30. Lead ore
brought $53, basis of 80% metallic lead, and pig lead was
quoted at $4,225. Despite the apparent strength of the mar-
ket a year ago corn-pared with the offerings of today, the
demand at that time was on the decline and prices were
dropping steadily. In a single week's time zinc sulphide ores
had dropped from $54 to $56, basis, to $44 to $48, basis.
Prior to pumping operations, which have been started in
Lone Elm 'bottoms,' this old mining region remained virtu-
ally idle for about 15 years. The Schoenherr Development
Co. has acquired leases on the Granby Mining & Smelting
Co.'s land, and the Picher Lead Co.'s land, the property
being situated in a long valley, in the northwest portion of
the city of Joplin. It was once the scene of many rich finds,
both zinc and lead sulphides being produced. As the resi-
dential portion of Joplin gradually extended northward, it
was found that the constant pumping in Lone Elm caused
more or less inconvenience to property owners in the resi-
dence districts, as the removal of water from old drifts of
mines worked in the early days caused several cave-ins. As
much of the north part of the city thus effected was in
danger, pressure was brought to bear against the operators
in Lone Elm and work was stopped. Several years ago pump-
ing was again started, and as a result the ground beneath
the beautiful Congregational church, constructed of sand-
stone, gave way and the church had to be removed to an-
other property. One big residence, in an exclusive residence
portion, narrowly missed being swallowed by a gaping cave-
in that opened over night beneath its foundations. Numer-
ous other smaller cave-ins occurred. Again pumping oper-
ations were stopped. The present Company has progressed
with success and no cave-ins of importance have been re-
ported, although the water has now been lowered to a depth
of 125 ft. The richest bodies of ore occur at 100 to 120 ft.,
and as the ground has been cut to a limited extent, a heavy
production of concentrate can be expected from this area.
Plans are already on foot for the construction of several
large concentrating plants.
A tent city has sprung up in the Cedar Creek district, 10
miles south of Joplin, and scores of prospectors are nocking
to a region where recent discoveries of calamine and car-
bonate of lead have been made from shallow levels down to
70 ft. At some places the ore is found in outcrops, and
prospectors are clearing from $50 to $150 per week each in
cleaning these low-grade products for the markets. The bulk
of the work is being done on the McAntire farm, the Butts
property, and the German-American Mining Co.'s land. On
the Scherl farm, 1% miles distant from this field, lead and
calamine have been discovered at shallow levels in drilling,
while in deeper prospecting good zincblende is shown. Along
Cedar creek, which, prior to a few months ago, traversed
a remarkably secluded country in which little mining was
undertaken, more than a dozen wash places have been started,
while many other prospectors are selling only their 'chunk'
ore and are keeping their fine 'dirt' for future cleaning.
The mines of this immediate vicinity are now figuring con-
spicuously in the weekly production of ore, and a still larger
increase may be looked for.
The Missouri Geological Survey plans to establish offices in
Joplin with the view to getting more detailed information
on mining conditons. The Survey is trying to work in co-
operation with mining men and prospectors, and is meeting
with encouragement from some of the larger companies. The
plan is to keep complete drill records from as many por-
tions of the district as possible, and also gather other infor-
mation concerning geological formations, mining practice, and
so forth. The importance of a knowledge of geology in rela-
tion to zinc and lead development is beginning to be more
greatly appreciated than ever before, especially by the old-
timers, who formerly were wont to scoff at anything that
hinted of scientific methods in mining.
Two large new concentrating plants in the West Joplin
field will begin operations in the near future. One is the
Arco Mining Co., equipped with a large mill of 200 tons
daily capacity, situated on the Connor land at Central City,
due west of Joplin. The other is that of the Dundas Mining
Co., situated on the Connor land at Chitwood, northwest of
Joplin. In the latter mine some of the highest grade zinc-
blende found in the district is mined, assays having shown
the concentrate to carry as high as 64% metallic zinc.
Work is now well under way at the Lennan mine, North
Miami, Oklahoma, where pumps are draining the ground to
a depth of 320 ft. This is the deepest work in the entire
Missouri-Kansas-Oklahoma district, and one of the largest
pumping plants in the district is employed. The deep ground
contains lead ore that is exceptionally high grade, as much
as 84% metal, and thus commanding $4 per ton above the
ordinary basis settlement paid for 80% ore.
The Co-operative Prospecting Co., a subsidiary company
of W. M. Sheridan & Co., has recently acquired a lease on
the Schifferdecker land in West Joplin, and has begun drill-
ing operations on the tract formerly mined by the Alice of
Old Vincennes Lead & Zinc Co., and later by the Abigail Min-
ing Co., both of which companies operated large concentrat-
ing plants. In addition to this lease, the Co-operative com-
pany has been developing tracts in various other portions
of the district. Following this prospecting work, which has
resulted in two or three encouraging properties being opened,
new concentrating plants will be erected in the near future
by companies which have taken subleases on the lands thus
prospected.
PEARCE. ARIZONA
Commonwealth Mine and Mill. — The Peabce District. —
Commonwealth Extension.
The recently completed stamp-mill at the Commonwealth
mine is at present treating from 275 to 300 tons per day,
and improvements are contemplated to increase the capacity
and improve the results at present being obtained. Better-
ments include increased tube-mill capacity and the perfection
of minor details in the mechanical handling of the mill pro-
duction. Diaphragm pumps are being substituted for the air-
lifts on the Dorr thickener discharge, and screw feeds are to
be substituted for the present spiral feeds of the tube-mills.
The Oliver filter-plant has recently been overhauled and satis-
factory results are being obtained from this department. The
mine is in good condition, and a large tonnage of ore is at
present developed and in the stopes ready for extraction by
the shrinkage method of mining, which is being employed.
The one-man drill is being used entirely and with excellent
results. The present workings extend only to a depth of
350 ft., and ore is being mined through an inclined shaft
and hoisted by means of 3-ton skips. The present develop-
ment is entirely in the oxidized zone, and the indications are
that the sulphides will not be found until great depth is
attained.
A number of prospects are being developed in the Pearce
district and some with a great deal of promise. Active oper-
ations will be commenced on the Commonwealth Extension
soon. At the Johnson property development work has opened
a good sized orebody and shipments are being made, the com-
pany at present employing ten wagon teams for transporting
ore from the mine to Cochise for shipment.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
307
ALASKA
Fairbanks
The underground dredge, owned by the Tanana Mines Exca-
vation & Manufacturing Co., is to be tested in some ground
at the lower end of Fairbanks creek. The gravel here is
about 65 ft. to bedrock, and the machine will be erected at
the shaft bottom. It is hoped to reduce mining costs by 66%
with the apparatus, although on Cleary creek it did not work
satisfactorily, the ground being very hard. John Beck, the
designer and maker, is in charge.
Valdez
For the construction of a wharf and ore-bins at the foot
of Solomon gulch, the Granby company of British Columbia,
which owns the Midas mine in Solomon basin, is calling for
bids for 38.000 ft. of piling. It is expected that over 300
men will be employed on the property during the summer.
Development at the Nelchina district is promising, and
there are 250 men and 3 women in camp, according to Angus
McDougall, of Fairbanks. He has ordered a 5-in. Empire
drill to prospect the wet ground on his claims. Griffith broth-
ers have an option on three claims on Crooked creek for
$9000. A 9-in. drill is working. A new discovery of good
gravel is reported from Dublin gulch, 18 miles from Crooked
creek. Bedrock on Shovel creek was 40 ft. deep. From
Crooked creek to Copper Center takes two days, and from
there to Valdez, another four days, over good trails.
ARIZONA
A bill is to be discussed before the state legislature at
Phoenix, concerning the non-employment in mines of any per-
son who does not understand the English language. Petitions
from Gila county contain enough names to place the measure
before the voters at the election next November.
Cochise County
On February 2, the Calumet & Arizona smelter beat all
previous records, for the old and new plants, by treating
400 tons of ore and 250 tons of converter products, the metal
output for the day being .'!24.oOO lb. of copper. The new
smelter consists of receiving bins, a 200-ton per hour crush-
ing and sampling plant, an ore bedding and conveyor system
with a holding capacity of 60.000 tons, a roasting plant of
twelve 21 '-(.-ft. Herreshoff furnaces, two 40 by 48-in. blast-
furnaces, four 19 by 100-ft. reverberatory furnaces, and Great
Falls type of converters.
Gii.a County
The Ray company, at its mill at Hayden. has just com-
pleted the construction of a long flume to carry tailing from
the mill to more available ground. The company owns the
entire valley land from Hayden Junction to Winkelman, a
distance of about four miles, which is being used for depos-
iting the tailing. The old system of allowing it to run
down through canons is now being replaced by the system
of flumes so that the tailing can be carried farther away
and allow the land there to be covered up and then Ailing
up gradually back toward the mills. The plant is treating
8000 tons of ore per day.
(8pecial Correspondence.)— About 7000 ft. of development
was done in the Inspiration mine in January, and 9000 tons
of ore was sent to the dotal ion plant. Connection between
the Colorado and Incline shaft, at 600 ft., should be made
within 60 days. This will aid work on the Colorado orebody.
On account of a slide in the Geneva railroad cut, between
the millHite and the Inspiration camp, the test mill was
shut down until the debris was cleared away. Practically
all steel is in place for the crushing plant, and riveting will
soon be started. Grading for the smelter site is finished.
Miami, February 7.
(Special Correspondence.) — The Iron Cap mine shipped 16
cars of ore in January. A night shift is now employed, and
the country on the 800-ft. level westward along the main
vein is to be prospected. About 500 ft. west of the shaft
the vein has been faulted, and what is known as the cross-
faulted area is to be explored. Good progress is being made
on the 1300 and 1400-ft. levels of the Arizona Commercial,
and within 30 days the vein should be cut on the latter level.
Water at 1200 ft. is the reason that the two lower levels, which
are dry, are being opened first. At the Superior & Boston, the
vein has been reached by the cross-cut on the 1000-ft. level.
Lessees are busy mining ore from three different areas of
the mine.
Globe, February 7.
Greenlee County
Five per cent copper ore has been opened in the claims of
the Keating Copper Syndicate, near Metcalf. At a depth of
250 ft. the vein is 18 ft. wide. Two shafts have been sunk
and drifts driven from them. English capital is interested
in the property.
Pinal County
An unaccountable explosion at the Carney mine, near Ray.
destroyed the machinery and a house on February 3. No-
body was injured. There has been a bad feeling among the
miners of the district of late, and this explosion is supposed
to be due to that.
Mohave County
Litigation concerning the Frisco Gold Mines Co.'s prop-
erty has been settled, and the superintendent, James A. Rob-
erts, has recommended the erection of a 500-ton mill. An
air-compressor, pumps, and drills are being installed at the
Telluride mine, at Oatman. The 200-ft. level is opening well.
Maricopa County
A bond has been secured on the old Vulture tailing dump,
16 miles below Wickenburg, on the Hassayampa river, by M.
B. Lauzon. John Perry, and J. F. Powell. The tailing con-
tains from $1 to $5 per ton, and probably a 100-ton cyanide
plant will be erected.
Santa Cruz County
The World's Fair mine was valued at $155,000 by the tax
commission of the state of Arizona, and $7000 was collected
in taxes. Frank and Josephine Powers questioned the valid-
ity of the mine tax law, but have been defeated in two courts.
YAVArAi County
Mining in the Walker district is quite encouraging at pres-
ent. The Lambertine and Eureka mines are opening good
ore-shoots. A head-frame, hoist, and pump are being installed
at the Poorman.
CALIFORNIA
California mine operators desiring to take out working-
men's compensation insurance with the state, can obtain
blank forms and full particulars from the treasurer or the
clerk of any city, town, or county in the state.
Inyo County
Lessees at the Cerro Gordo mine, at Keeler, have opened
a large orebody on the 700-ft. level. A drift is being driven
at 200 ft. to cut this shoot. About 25 tons of ore containing
110 to 125 oz. silver. 10% lead, and $1 gold is being shipped
daily. Zinc ore is not being shipped, pending development
of the new orebody. Thirty men are employed.
Placer County
The dredge of the Eldorado & Placer Counties Gold Min-
ing & Power Co. is ready for work, this making the third
boat on the middle fork of the American river. This Com-
pany will dredge the river from Poverty flat to Oregon bar,
308
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
a distance of two miles. Keystone drill tests show the gravel
to contain good gold content. Just below this point, the
Pacific Gold Dredging Co.'s boat is working on the Mammoth
bar.
San Bernardino County
Production of potash from Searles Lake is now expected
to begin in April, by which time the American Trona Co.
anticipates having the first unit of its plant in operation.
This will be a small pilot plant, of about 1% of the capacity
of the main works. It will be used to determine the proper
slope of the dryers and similar facts necessary to large-scale
economical working. The Trona railroad has been graded
to the works and about 20 miles of rails are laid. Part of
the new town of Trona has been built and material is being
rapidly delivered. To haul in machinery and supplies, auto-
trucks are employed to supplement mule-trains. In part, the
work is by contract, $8.33 per ton over 27 miles of desert
road, and in part a big Peerless truck belonging to the Com-
pany is employed. A Renard locomotive, hauling a train of
small cars, is also used. This engine runs on heavy steel
wheels at the rear, but has ordinary rubber-tired auto wheels
in front. About 20 tons per load is hauled, and satisfactory
service has been maintained for more than a year.
Shasta County
Experiments are to be conducted at the Noble electric
smelter, at Heroult, by R. C. Palmer and C. S. Smith, of the
Forest Service, to see what can be done in the way of pro-
ducing by-products from the distillation of California woods.
In the meantime the smelter has been temporarily shut
down during the changing of graphite for carbon electrodes.
Since early in December about 3000 tons of iron has been
made.
Sierra County
There are 600 men working for wages in the gold district
of Sierra county this winter. About 150 of these are em-
P Z_ V. A* A S
*"K
MAP OF SIERRA COUNTY.
ployed about Alleghany, followed by Sierra City, Pike, For-
est City, Downieville, Howland Flat, Scales, and Brand City.
By July 1, at least 1000 men are expected to be at work
underground. Two shifts are working in the Claybank mine
near La Borte. The old adit, 6500 ft. long, is being repaired
and will be used for drainage. Both the Sixteen-to-One and
Occidental mines, near Alleghany, are developing satisfac-
torily.
Siskiyou County
The Sugar Pine hydraulic mine, in Seiad valley, near the
Klamath river, is working full time. Water is secured from
Seiad creek, and goes to the monitors through 5% miles of
flume, and a half-mile of 11 to 20-in. steel pipe. P. R. Kelsey
is manager. In the Forks of Salmon district, hydraulic ele- •
vators are busy at the Michigan Salmon, Forks of Salmon,
Bennett, and other gravel properties. A soft quartz vein
formation is being sluiced on the Nooning, estate on the
Scott river. Rich pockets of gold are occasionally found.
There is plenty of water for hydraulic mining in the county.
Trinity County
The Lagrange company's siphon has been repaired, and
hydraulicking is being done day and night. It is said that
gold returns will amount to $1000 per day. Water is in
abundance.
Tuolumne County
Work is to be started at once at the Corbin mine, near
Jamestown, and the shaft will be sunk 200 ft. Jesse P. Man-
gante is superintendent of the Jamestown Exploration Co.,
which owns the property.
COLORADO
Lake County (Leadville)
The tonnage of ore from the Yak tunnel during January-
was up to the average. Zinc sulphide is being shipped from
the White Cap stopes, and some high-grade silver ore from
the lower levels of this mine. A large tonnage is being
mined frpm the Cord. From the Vega and Diamond ground,
at the breast of the tunnel, some lead ore is shipped. Sul-
phide ore, containing silver and lead, is being extracted from
the Louisville, Iron hill, and is sent out through the Yak
tunnel.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
January gold yields from the district mines are estimated
as follows:
Plant and location. Tonnage. Valperton. Gross val.
Golden Cycle, Colorado Springs. 36,600 $20.00 $ 732,000
Portland, Colorado Springs 10,000 20.00 200,000
Smelters, Denver and Pueblo... 4,300 55.00 236,500
Cripple Creek:
Portland 15,500 3.00 46,500
Stratton's Independence 9,963 2.96 29,490
Colburn-Ajax 4,800 5.50 26,400
Kavanagh-Jo Dandy 1,700 2.15 3,655
Wild Horse 1,200 3.68 4,416
Gaylord-Dante 1,100 3.50 3,650
Isabella mines 750 3.00 2,250
Rex M. & M. Co 300 2.25 675
Total 86,213 $1,285,536
Dividends totaled $176,185, paid by the Golden Cycle, Port-
land, Vindicator, and Mary McKinney companies. Over 4000
tons of ore was shipped from the Elkton mines during the
month.
During January the Vindicator produced nearly 3000 tons
of ore, of which 1800 tons of $30.75 ore was mined by the.
company.
Four feet of rich ore is being opened at 400 ft. in the Ajax
estate, Block 13, and returns from two carloads were $40 and
$70 per ton, respectively. B. Colburn is superintendent. The
flow of water from the Roosevelt drainage tunnel is 7480 gal.
per minute, an increase over recent measurements.
IDAHO
Elmore County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Overlook Mining & Devel-
opment Co. is operating gold-bearing claims " near Atlanta.
About 3500 ft. of underground work has been done to a
depth of about 700 ft. The property is being thoroughly de-
veloped before installing a plant. During next summer a
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
309
3-stamp Joshua Hendy mill, with quadruple discharge, will
be used for testing the ore. Neil Campbell is general manager.
Atlanta, January 28.
Nez Perce County
(Special Correspondence.) — A cyanide plant is to be erected
at the Jumbo mine, near Lewiston, in the spring. Mr. Baer-
locher is manager of the Jumbo Mining & Milling Company.
Greencreek, January 26.
Shoshone County
There are two parallel veins in the Interstate-Callahan
mine; one contains lead and silver, and the other zinc with
a little lead. The zinc lode has now been opened for 800 ft.,
showing 8 to 12 ft. of shipping ore, but in places it is from
20 to 40 ft. wide. The mill is working at full capacity pro-
ducing clean lead and zinc concentrates. A cross-cut in the
Virginia has cut the vein. During January the Stewart Min-
ing Co.'8 net earnings were $78,000, against $22,000 for the
same month of 1913.
The annual meeting of the Tamarack & Custer Consoli-
dated Mining Co. was held at Wallace on January 28. Noth-
ing of importance transpired. Ore shipped in 1913 was worth
$366,071. The cash reserve is $64,610, and ore and concen-
trate worth $20,000 is in transit to the smelter. Improve-
ments cost $57,000, and $40,000 of Indebtedness has been
liquidated. Jerome J. Day is general manager.
Ore and concentrate shipments from 15 Coeur d'Alene dis-
trict mines in January totaled 41,000 tons. The Marsh mine
Is now treating 150 tons of ore per day.
MISSOURI
Jasper County
According to the annual issue of the Joplin Nexcs Herald,
the value of zinc and lead ores from the Missouri-Kansas-
Oklahoma district from 1830 to 1913, inclusive, was $255,530,-
078. Of this, approximately $150,000,000 is the production of
the last 10 years, that of 1913 being $14,356,461.
St. Francois County
(Special Correspondence.) — Litigation over the St. Joe-Doe
Run lead companies is evidently not to be immedately ended.
On January 29, Justice Cardozo of the New York Supreme
Court dismissed the action of Robert Holmes, who sought to
restrain the St. Joseph Lead Co. from borrowing $2,500,000
from White Weld & Co.. and Smith Moore & Co., and at the
same time paying a V, dividend. Holmes contended that
the price paid for the loan was excessive and that if the
dividend were not paid it would be unnecessary to borrow.
The court held that the directors had not exceeded their
authority in contracting for the loan, but declined to pass
upon the point whether the directors might not be enjoined
from paying a dividend. Mr. Holmes declares that he will
carry the fight further and states that with the exception of
one or two departments the business of the companies is
being poorly conducted, principally because there is no resi-
dent head. At the recent stockholders meeting Mr. Holmes
and his friends voted 30% of the stock.
St. Louis, January 31.
MONTANA
Seventeen 3.25 and 4-ton locomotives have been ordered by
the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. from the Westinghouse Elec-
tric k Manufacturing Co. for underground haulage in its
various mines. The mining company has in the past preferred
the standard steel-plate construction of locomotive, sometimes
referred to as the armor-plate design. However, about a
year and a half ago one of the subsidiary companies pur-
chased, somewhat in the nature of an experiment, three open-
frame bar-steel locomotives. These locomotives have been
In constant service ever since they were installed, not requir-
ing any mchanical or electrical repairs with the exception
of the renewal of the brake shoes. On the strength of this
performance, the Anaconda company decided last summer to
purchase five 4-ton bar-steel frame locomotives with commu-
tating-pole motor equipment for certain surface haulage. The
operators found this type of construction so satisfactory that
it was specified on the order mentioned. Each locomotive
will be equipped with two 11-hp. commutating-pole motors,
representing the latest advance in mining locomotives for
narrow-gage haulage.
NEVADA
The new Nevada Safety Commission, appointed on Febru-
ary 6, to continue the work of the Safety First Conference
held at Reno during the last week of January, consists of
the following members: Tasker L. Oddie, governor of the
state; L. L. Ricketts, editor of the Reno Gazette and Goldfield
News; W. B. Alexander, secretary of the Mine Operators'
Association; G. A. Bartlett, ex-congressman and attorney
general for the Pacific Power Co.; H. A. Lemmon, industrial:
agent for Truckee River General Electric Co.; W. E. Wallace,
legislative agent for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen;
E. Ryan, state mine inspector; J. J. Mullen, secretary of the
State Industrial Commission; and J. G. Scrugham, professor
of electrical engineering at the University of Nevada. The
formation of this commission was suggested by Mr. Mullen
on the last day of the Safety First Conference.
Esmeralda County
An air-compressor of four 2Vi-in. machine-drill capacity
has been ordered for the Silver Pick mine. At the 500-ft.
level a triplex 5 by 12 in. electrically driven pump of 200 gal.
capacity is to be installed. Walter S. Norris is superintendent.
A drift has been started in the incline raise, above the 359-ft.
level of the Florence, to determine the extent of the rich
"shoot. Ore on the 500-ft. level of the Sandstorm-Kendall main-
tains its value. The pump is working well, as is also a new
air-compressor. Development in the Vernal is encouraging.
The Jumbo Extension shipped 11S3 tons of ore in December
worth $12,322. The Bonne Claire mill treated 1080 tons, yield-
ing 83 tons of concentrate worth $10,766 net. The month's
profit was $11,058. A system of reconcentration is being
tried in the mill. This involves pumping the concentrate,
after it has passed from the lower tier of tables, to the upper
Deister tables below the second batteries.
Mineral County
At the bottom of a shaft in old workings of the Aurora
mine, which have been unwatered, there is an 8-in. vein
assaying from $700 to $3125 in gold per ton.
Nye County
The Tonopah Extension Mining Co. reports that the Decem-
ber output was $34,694, and current expenses $42,753. A
large amount of development is being done, and the grade
of ore treated in January showed an improvement. The
mines at Tonopah produced 11,563 tons of ore worth $276,370
during the week ended February 7. The Tonopah Mining
Co. has taken an option on a property in Nicaragua. At the
annual meeting of the Manhattan White Caps Co., the pro-
posed amalgamation of this Company, the Associated Milling,
and White Caps Leasing companies was discussed, and it was
decided to have a valuation made of the respective properties
for this end. John G. Kirchen stated that the White Caps
refractory ores can be treated.
White Pine County
The State Railroad Commission has ordered reductions in
freight rates on black powder, pig iron, and ore and concen-
trates carried by the Nevada Northern railroad. The reduc-
tions amount to 7c. per cwt., 19.5c. per cwt., and from $1
to $3.50 per ton respectively.
NEW MEXICO
Socobro County
A new orebody, assaying $17 to $25 per ton, has been opentd
310
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
below adit 'C in the east end tunnel group of the Oaks Com-
pany. A drift has been driven 60 ft. into a shoot recently
cut in the Precious Metals Mining Co.'s ground. This is the
first important discovery in the south part of the Mogollon
district.
Sierra County
An old mining camp 13 miles north of Grafton, on the
south boundary of Socorro county, has been named Calumet.
Some of the mines are in that county. In the early eight-
ies the camps at St. Charles, Pbillipsburg, and Fluorine
were known as Grafton. Calumet takes the place of Phillips-
burg. The Calumet Commercial Co. has bought 21, and se-
cured a lease and bond on 7 other claims. About 60 men
are employed according to W. B. Duvall, general manager.
Rich gold and silver ore has been opened in the great Re-
public, and the Occidental shaft has cut $12 ore. The old
Phillips cyanide plant is being overhauled, and capacity in-
creased to 100 tons per day.
NORTH CAROLINA
Union County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Howie Mining Co. is operat-
ing a mine and mill at Waxhaw. The main shaft is down
365 ft., and will probably be sunk deeper. Rich gold ore
has recently been opened, and the mill is treating 25 tons
per day of $10 to $40 ore at present. Robert Clarke is general
manager.
Waxhaw, January 25.
UTAH
Beaver County
Mining in this county is attracting considerable attention,
and ore shipments are greater than e.ver before. Two shifts
are working at the Hoosier Boy, and there is a good tonnage
of silver-lead ore at 200 ft. The shaft is being sunk to 400
ft. A. D. Moffatt is manager of this well equipped property.
Twelve miles southwest of Milford, and near the Hoosier Boy,
is the Moscow, in charge of Garret Wilkin. Fifty men are
employed mining high-grade carbonate of lead, and sinking
a two-compartment shaft to 1000 ft. The Red Warrior is
raising good ore from between the 500 and 600-ft. levels.
A bond and lease has been secured on the Cave mine, 7 miles
east of Milford, and ore is being mined. J. M. Reynolds, of
Milford, states that the outlook is excellent.
J i An County
Ore shipments from 18 mines in the Tintic district during
the past week totaled 153 cars.
Piute County
Gold-bearing ore worth $9 per ton has been opened by the
Beaver Mines Co., near Marysvale, in an adit 540 ft. long and
at a depth of 225 feet.
Salt Lake County
As a sequel to a suit filed four years ago by the Bingham &
Garfield railway against Enos A. and Mary F. Wall to condemn
right of way across valuable mining property in Bingham
canon for the company's road, Colonel Wall and his wife have
filed in the district court an answer and cross-claim demand-
ing damages from the railroad of $12,005,000. The charge
states that the railway is not an individual corporation, but
only a part of the Utah Copper Co., and cannot exercise
eminent domain in its own right; the railway also covered
ores of the plaintiff; the surface value of the lands involved
have been destroyed for mining purposes; and that the rail-
way has made the mining of ores, in a similar manner to that
of the Utah Copper Co., an impossibility.
Summit County
On the 1550-ft. level of the Silver King Consolidated, the
west drift has opened 23 ft. of first-class galena ore. During
S month* of the past year, the American Flag mine shipped
746 tons of ore worth $40,558 to the Murray smelter. This ore
came from the Easter vein.
WASHINGTON
The annual report of the Washington Water Power Co.
gives the following information:
Consumers of electric current in Washington and
Idaho 22,640
Output of current, kilowatt-hours 157,061,662
Gross receipts $2,909,147
Total expenses 1,291,673
Net earnings 1,109,191
Spent on Long Lake project 1,012,030
There was an Increase in business of 16.1%. The properties
of the Idaho-Washington Light & Power Co., and the Big
TRANSMISSION LINES OF THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER CO.
Bend Light & Power Co. were acquired during the year. An
examination of the Republic mining district. Ferry county,
failed to justify the construction of a transmission line.
Ferry County
There is some activity in the Orient mining district, and
claims are being sold and optioned.
Spokane County
During January the Spokane Stock Exchange traded in a
total of 65,018 shares worth $44,858. The greatest number of
shares was 14,000 in the Benton and 10,000 in the Idora Hill,
while the highest value was $27,093 in Granby Consolidated,
and $2977 in Caledonia.
CANADA
British Columbia
The Van-Roi mine at Silverton produced 1962 tons of ore
in December, averaging 9.7 oz. silver, 1.8% lead, and 8.4%
zinc. The mill products were worth $7126, and total costs
were $S292. Developments are encouraging. The old Nickel
Plate mine, which has been shut down for about 10 years,
will probably be reopened.
Ontario
During 1913 the Crown Reserve Mining Co. produced 1,776,-
678 oz. silver against 2,71 4,766 oz. in 1912. Costs increased
from 14.027 to 23c. per ounce during the period. This Com-
pany controls about 66% of the Porcupine Crown, at Porcu-
pine, which produced gold netting $235,000 in 1913. Costs
were $7.75 per ton. Ore reserves are estimated at $1,923,000.
A great deal of interest is being taken in the Munro goldfield,
east of Matheson.
A fire at Porcupine on January 29 did damage amounting
to $7000. The Hollinger mill treated 12,657 tons of ore aver-
aging $16 per ton during December, with 96.3% recovery.
Gross profits were $114,249. Costs totaled $5,964 per ton. The
annual report of the Hollinger Gold Mines Co. shows that
138,291 tons of ore was treated in 1913, yielding $2,471,273.
Operating expenses were $S43,159: dividends. $1,170,000: and
surplus, $45S,113. Ore reserves total 845.309 tons, worth
$11,604,000, against 644,540 tons, worth $11,271,400, in 1912.
Ore worth $175 per ton has been sent from the Porphyry
February 14. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
311
Hill mine to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. From 14 to 16 in.
of ore is being mined at a depth of 45 feet.
The Dome mill, at Porcupine, treated 5C0 tons of ore dur-
ing one day of the last week in January. Good progress is
being made on the additional 40 stamps and treatment plant.
In new ground, the diamond-drill working on the 425-ft. level
has cut two new shoots in the Hollinger mine. The ore is
of good width and grade. Two new air-compressors have been
ordered. Thirty-eight machine-drills are used at present.
There will be an air-chamber underground for the new plant.
The additional 20 stamps are being steadily erected.
Yukon
The mining recorder at Mayo states that the district is
promising. A Keystone drill is still working at Duncan in
hard gravel. The silver properties open well, and the first
load of ore has been delivered at Mayo. The owners intend
shipping 100 tons this winter to go out to a smelter in the
spring. The galena ore has given assays from 144 to 1327 oz.
per ton.
KOREA
The Seoul Mining Co., operating the Suan concession in
Whang Hai province, reports the following results for Janu-
ary 1914:
Stamps working 40
Time, days 29%
Ore crushed, tons 5940
Total recovery $52,067
Operating expenses 20,000
Net earnings 32,067
The Oriental Consolidated company's January output was
$141,225. against $142,9X0 in December. During the latter
month there was a shortage of water at the Tabowie and
Kuk San Dong mills, and interruptions to the power service.
MEXICO
Chihuahua
Owing to the revolution, neither the Dolores nor El Rayo
mine, owned by the Mines Company of America, is in oper-
ation.
U IDA1 GO
The Santa Gertrudis mill treated :;l\1s7 tons of ore in
December, yielding a profit of $92,000.
SONORA
An Inioortant mining ruling in Mexico is that of the 'Con-
stitutional' department of mines, which became effective Janu-
ary 16. it was issued in all territory under rebel control.
By virtue of this order, claim-owners can obtain temporary
title, guaranteed by the rebel government in any portion of
the country under their control. Later, when the rebels have
the entire country under control, the edict states, permanent
titles will be issued.
It Is stated that the old Mulatos mine, in the Sahuarlpa
district, has been sold to Boston people for a large sum.
The Mines Company of America has only the Creston-Colo-
rado and Grand Central mines in operation. La Dura is
shut down. The Grand Central was bought in October 1913,
and produces gold and silver ore worth $6 to $7 per ton.
During the period of January 1 to September 30, 1913, the
Company's revenue was $1,560,768, and net profit $461,847.
Dividends amounted to $210.2.">6. and the surplus at the end
of September was $2,656,179.
The Lampazos mine, situated 40 miles south of Moctezuma,
has been sold to Epes Randolph and associates of Tucson,
Arizona, by the Bank of Sonora. This property is one of the
antitjiiax of this state, and includes several claims, the most
important being I.os Tajos. There are large tonnages of high-
grade ore. but the lower grade of silver ore will be treated
by cyaniding. Machinery for the Nacozari Consolidated con-
centrating plant has arrived and is now being erected. El
Temblor mill Is working steadily.
Personal
D. C. Jackling is in New York.
R. C. Troeger is at Los Angeles.
W. H. Aldbidge is in the West.
Chaei.es C. Sei.bie has gone to Africa.
E. B. Bkaden is back from New York.
S. H. Brady was in San Francisco Tuesday.
F. L. Grammes was in New York last week.
R. M. Atwater, Jr.. has returned from Europe.
J. Claude Jones was in San Francisco Saturday.
Braxton Bigelovv has left New York for Morococha.
S. S. Sorensen is now manager for the Braden Copper Com-
pany.
Lester W. Strauss is visiting various mining districts in
Chile.
T. A. Rickard has been lecturing at the Royal School of
Mines.
Frederick G. Farish has left Sneffels, Colorado, and is in
Denver.
Karl Eilers was in San Francisco last week, and has gone
to Arizona.
C. B. Whitwei.i. is examining mining property in Kern
county, California.
R. T. White has returned to the United States from Chile
by way of Europe.
Newton Ci.eaveland's office is now at 623 Insurance build-
ing, San Francisco.
Archer E. Wheeler has sailed for Europe to take up his
work at Tanganyika.
H. C. Bellinger expects to return from the Great Cobar to
New York early in April.
G. J. Siei.akf has been appointed general manager for the
Abangarez Gold Fields of Costa Rica.
Eli T. Conner has removed to Room 1315, Stephen Girard
building, 12th street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
W. M. Henderson Scott has gone to Central America in
connection with properties owned by the Breitung Mines Cor-
poration.
H. W. Hardlnoe has left New York for a six weeks' tour
of the West, visiting practically all of the mining centres
before he returns.
F. N. Watts, mill superintendent at the Black Oak mine.
Tuolumne county, California, is visiting the cyaniding and
milling plants and mines at Grass Valley.
Cecil Pocock has left Peru on six months' leave, and is
making a trip through the United States and Europe. On
February 3 he was married in Lima, Peru, to Miss Gwen
Sutton-Flack, of London. His address until July, will be 892
Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey.
The anuual report of the Portland Gold Mining Co., of
Cripple Creek. Colorado, gives the following names as mem-
bers of the staff: manager of mines at Victor, Frank L. Smale;
mining engineer. Fred Jones; master mechanic at mines. L.
E. Flamboe; general manager of milling department, George
M. Taylor; at Colorado Springs mill, superintendent, James
B. Heffernan: assistant, J. M. Tippett; constructing engineer,
S. J. Connolly; master mechanic, P. Kalaher: at Victor mill,
superintendent. Thomas B. Crowe; assistant, L. W. Lennox;
and master mechanic. W. W. Lawhead. The consulting engi-
neers and metallurgists are Hills & Willis, and the Merrill
Metallurgical Co., respectively.
San Francisco members of the Mining and Metallurgical
Society met at dinner February 12.
312
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
The Metal Markets
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco, February 12.
Antimony 9 • — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15>£ — 15%c
Pig lead 4.25 — 5.20c
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 41 — 42 %c
Spelter 6 % — 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7 % to 8c. per pound.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Date.
Jan. 29 57.50
•• 30 57.25
•• 31 57.25
Feb. 1 Sunday
2 57.75
3 57.62
4 57.37
Average week ending.
Dec. 24 57.77
'• 31 57.52
Jan. 7 57.50
" 14 57.75
" 21 57.58
" 28 57.60
Feb. 4 57.46
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 63.01
Feb 61.25
Mch 57.87
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
1914.
57.58
1913.
July 58.70
Aug 59.32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov 58.76
Dec 57.73
1914.
Writing on January 29, Samuel Montagu & Co. state that
the main strength of the silver market continues to be the
covering of sales as they fall due; but the rather better under-
tone that was felt this week accelerated the inclination of 'bear'
operators to close their commitments. The holdings of silver in
Shanghai, by banks and others, consist of £5,380,000 in cycee or
currency, and of £180,000 in bars. A shipment of silver worth
£8000 was made from San Francisco to Hongkong.
LEAD
Lead is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds, New York delivery.
Date.
Average week ending
Tan
29
30
31
1
2
3
... 4.15
Dec. 24
. . 4.02
H '
. . . 4.15
" 31
Jan. 7
u
. . . 4.15
..415
Sunday
. . . 4.15
•' 14
. 4 10
" 21
..410
..
... 4.15
" 28
..410
■ <
. . . 4.15
Feb. 4
. 4 15
1913.
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
4.34
J.33
Monthly
1914.
4.11
averages.
July
1913.
.... 4.35
1914.
.... 4.60
Mch
Sept
Oct
4.70
Apr.
May
4.16
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 29 14.50
" 30 14.50
" 31 14.55
Feb. 1 Sunday
2 14.65
3 14.65
4 14.70
Average week ending
Dec. 24 14.28
" 31 14.56
Jan. 7 14.39
" 14 13.97
" 21 14.03
" 28 14.35
Feb. 4 14.59
1913.
Jan 16.54
Feb 14.93
Mch 14 7?
Apr 15.22
May 15.42
June 14.71
Monthly averages.
1914
1913.
July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15.08
Dec 14.25
1914.
The first week of each month is nearly always character-
ized by an inactive copper market, both buyers and sellers
waiting for the Copper Producers' report. Speculation is al-
ways rife as to what it will show, and for this month guesses
ranged from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 lb. increase in stocks. Early
last week the agencies made good sales at 14 %c, but the de-
mand was not sharp. Buying fell off at the end of the week,
reflecting a fall of £1 per ton for standard on the London
exchange. Exports from February 1 to 5 were 6448 tons, as
compared with 8445 tons in the same period last year. The
period is too short for an accurate comparison, however.
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver Is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Week ending I Jan. 29 ■>,<> (in
Jan. 15 39.50 Feb. 5 ,,m
39.00 I " 12 '.'.'.'.'.■.'. .39.00
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
1914.
39.25
1913.
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Lee 40.00
1914.
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Jan. 29.
Feb.
30.
31
1 Sunday
2
3
4
5.25
5.25
5.25
5.25
5.25
Average week ending
Dec. 24
" 31 ...'.'.'.
Jan. 7
" 14
" 21
" 28
Feb. 4
1913
Jan 6.88
Feb 6.13
Mch 5.94
Apr 5.52
May 5.23
June 5.00
Monthly averages.
1914
5.14
1913.
July 5.11
Aug 5.51
Sept 5.55
Oct 5.22
Nov 5.09
Dec 5.07
5.15
. 5.13
. 5.02
. 5.08
. 5.05
. 5.20
. 5.25
1914.
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin, since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 50.45
Feb 49.07
Mch 46.95
Apr 49.00
May 49.10
June 45.10
1914.
37.85
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
L. Vogelstein & Co., writing on February 2, state that statis-
tics published by the New York Metal Exchange show Straits
shipments 5235 tons, United States deliveries 3600 tons, and an
increase of 966 tons in the visible. supply. This is a small In-
crease when the month's transactions are considered. The
visible supplies in England, Holland, and the United States,
stocks and afloat, are 17,284 tons.
COPPER PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION REPORT
The Copper Producers' Association statement, February 9,
shows a decrease in production and stocks on hand. The de-
tails are as follows: Pounds.
Stocks of marketable copper of all kinds on hand at
all points in the United States, January 1, 1914.. 91,438,867
Production of marketable copper in the United States
from all domestic and foreign sources during
January 131,770,274
Deliveries for consumption, January 47,956,955
Deliveries for export, January 87,955,501
Stock of marketable copper of all kinds on hand and
at all points in the U. S., February 1 87,296,685
Recent changes in surplus have been as follows, in pounds:
Increase. Decrease.
January 1913 17,885,770
February 896,134
March 18,032,928
April 28,720,162
May 8,074,883
June 14,569,619
July 690,330
August 15,280,908
September 8,531,043
October 2,773,288
November 15,363,047
December 43,509,438
January 1914 4,142,182
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
313
The Stock Markets
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
February 11.
Unlisted. Bid
Natomas Consol. 6s 25}
Pac. Port. Cement 6s ■ —
Santa Cruz Cement 6s... —
Union Oil —
STOCKS
Listed.
Bid
Ask
Associated Oil 5s
J 97}
98]
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 5s
. 80
—
General Petroleum 6s.
. 41
—
A«'<
1003
90
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated Oil 85
Associated Oil 42}
E. I. du Pont pfd —
Giant 814
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd 70
Pacific Crude Oil —
Sterling O. 4 D_....: —
Ask
35c
H
Unlisted. Bid Ask
General Petroleum 5 —
Noble Electric Steel 5 —
Natomas Consol 1} —
Pac. Port. Cement ,. — 69
Riverside Cement 60 —
Santa Cruz Cement — 52
Stand. Port. Cement 19 —
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
February 11.
Atlanta I .17
Belcher -30
Belmont. 7.75
Big Four.. 15
Con. Virginia -1
Florence .58
Goldfleld Con 1.60
Goldneld Oro 12
Halifax 1.10 | Tonopah Extension ,
Ml/. pah Extension
M on tana-Tonopah
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophlr
Pittsburg Sliver Peak .
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Jim Butler 1.00
Jumbo Extension 27
MacNamara .10
Mexican 1.12
Midway "»
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. O. Wilson, Mills Building.)
February 11.
Tonopah Merger.
Tonopah of Nevada .
victor
West End
Yellow Jacket...
..I .46
.. 1.12
.. .40
.41
.. .39
.. .35
.. -42
.. .06
.. 1.70
.. .63
.. 7.00
. .30
.. 1.37
.. .35
Bid Ask
Alloues * 40} 40}
Arli. Commercial 5 6}
Butte A Superior. 36} 36}
Calumet 4 Arizona 63 63)
Calumet 4 Hecla . 463 455
Copper Range 39} 39}
Daly West 21 3
East Butte 12} lit
Franklin It 4}
Granby 88} 88}
Greene Cananea 41 41}
Itle-Royale 2-2 22}
Mas* Copper 3 3}
Bid Ask
Mohawk I 41} 45
Nevada Con 16} 16|
North Butte 30 30}
Old Dominion 52 5'iJ
Osceola 81 —
tiulncy 86} 67}
Shannon 7 7}
Superior 4 Boston 2 2}
Tamarack.. 38 40
U. 8. Smelting, com 42} 42}
Utah Con 13} 13}
Winona. 3] 4}
Wolverine 46 47
NEW YORK CIHB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E.
Bid.
Braden Copper... 1%
Braden 6s 153
B. C. Copper 2%
Con. Cop. Mines.. 2%
Davis-Daly 2tt
Ely Con 3
First National... 2%
Glroux 1 %
Holllnger 17 V4
Iron Blossom.... 1H
Kerr Lake 4%
La Rose 1 %
y. Hutton & Co
February 11.
Ask
Kohl Building.)
7%
157
2%
2%
2%
6
3%
1%
19
i'A
t'H
1%
Bid.
Mason Valley.... 3%
McKinley-Dar. .. 1 %
Mines Co. Am 3%
Nipissing 6%
Ohio Copper %
San Toy 17c.
Stand. Oil of Cal.300
Tri Bullion H
Tuolumne %
United Cop. com.. %
Wettlaufer 7c.
Yukon Gold 2%
Ask.
3K
1%
3%
6%
<A
20c.
302
hi
%
%
9c.
2%
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
Bid
Amalgamated ? 76}
Anaconda 37
A. 8.4 R 68i
Calif. Pet., com. 28}
Chlno 43
Guggenheim Ex 51}
Inspiration 17}
Mexican Pet., com 72
February 11.
Ask
Bid Ask
Tfij Miami 123} 2S|
37} Nevada Con 16} 16}
69* Quicksilver, com 8J 4
2S} Ray Con 19} 20
43} Tenn. Copper 36} 36}
01} U. S. Steel, pfd 110 110J
17} U. 8. Steel, com 66} 66}
72} Utah Copper 66} 66}
GUGGENHEIM EXPLORATION COMPANY
Results of the operations of this well known Company in
1913 may be summarized as follows:
1913. Changes.
Net income $ 3,353,852 -f$ 82,102
Dividends 2,357,145 + 277,815
Surplus 996,707 - 195,713
Previous surplus 23,814,632 -f 1,192,420
Total surplus 24,811,339 + 996,707
The net income was equal to 16.13% on the capital stock.
The general balance-sheet at the end of 1913 shows the fol-
lowing:
Assets: 1913. Changes.
American Smelting Securities 'A'.$ 3,060,000 -$ 900,000
Utah Copper Co 9.161,767
Yukon Gold 10,114,563 + 23,375
Chino Copper 2,534,802
American Smelting & Refining Co. 4,767,265
Ray Consolidated 3,245,851 + 660,213
Miscellaneous investments 56,439 + 3,429
Alaska-Yukon properties and equip-
ment 1,119,443 - 24,659
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment 2,255 - 54
• Accounts collectable 5, OSS -f 539
Cash and demand loans 11,537,164 + 1,233,865
Total $45,604,640 -f$ 996,707
Liabilities:
Capital stock $20,793,300
Surplus 24,811.340 -$ 996,707
Total $45,811,640 + 996,707
All of the securities in the assets, with the exception of
the American Smelting Securities Co. 'A', are carried at cost.
GOLD I'RODl CTION IN W
The November yield from al
$2,504,400, and returns from the
follows:
Mine. Tonnage.
Associated 10,837
•Associated Northern ....10,457
Bullfinch 5,966
Golden Horse-Shoe 26,853
Great Boulder 16,761
Gt. Boulder Perseverance. 20,475
Great Fingall 5,876
Ivanhoe 20,033
Kalgurli 10,780
Lake View & Star 18,318
Mountain Queen 4,095
Oroya Links 1 2,400
Sons of Gwalia 13,500
Yuanml 10,030
•Including the Victorious.
The Nova Scotia Steel & Coal output in 1913 was as fol-
lows: Tons.
Coal 820,000
Iron 73,878
Steel 78,379
Coke 100,000
The quantity of iron ore received at North Sydney from
the Company's ore mines at Wabana, Newfoundland, during
the season amounted to 130,000 tons.
Iron ore mined in the United States in 1913 is estimated
by the U. S. Geological Survey to have been between 58,000,000
and 60.000,000 long tons. The Lake Superior district sup-
plied about 50,000,000 tons.
ESTER N
AUSTRALIA
1 mines
in the state was
principal producers were as
Value.
Profit. Dividend.
$ 66,000
$ 9,700
56,000
10,500
69,000
39,000 $119,000
155,000
2,400
220,000
125,000
97,000
7,400
45,000
175,000
67,000
101,000
44,000
101,000
16,000
21,000
8,000
67,000
14,000
101,000
24,000
82,000
19,500
314
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
Company Reports
FALCON MINES, LIMITED
This Company operates a property situated 60 miles west of
Gwelo, in the Blinkwater district, Rhodesia.
Development has shown a steady increase in gold values
below the third level, the average figures being: No. 3, $3.80;
No. 4, ?5.60; No. 5, $6.10; No. 6 level, $7 per ton.
Ore reserves at June 30, 1913, showed an increase of 187,134
tons compared with the previous year. They consist of 178,-
622 tons of oxidized ore containing 0.71% copper and $6.40
gold; and 638,389 tons of sulphide ore averaging 3.15% cop-
per and $5.57 gold, worth at present copper prices about
£2,380,686. It is hoped to have the plant in operation in
June, 1914.
VINDICATOR CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINING COMPANY
This Company operates at Cripple Creek, and the report
covers work during 1913. The superintendent, H. P. Nagel,
Jr., reported as follows: At No. 1 shaft, 73,084 tons of crude
ore was produced on Company account, yielding 22,829 net
tons, or 31.24% of shipping ore, of a gross gold content of
$702,119, or $30.75 per ton. Lessees working through No. 1
shaft produced 2222 net tons, of a gross gold content of
$85,965 or $38.69 per ton. Royalties received from the sale
of this ore amounted to $20,728. Lessees working through
other shafts on the property produced 8466 net tons, of a
gross gold content of $132,273 or $15.62 per ton. Royalties
received from the sale of this ore amounted to $16,635. De-
velopment work of a total length of 10,187 ft. was done during
1913, making a total of 192,103 ft. to date. Development of
the 1600-ft. level progressed satisfactorily, and ore-shoots were
opened in six veins. Other shoots were opened on the 1200,
1300, 1400, and 1500-ft. levels. The report of Fred W. Cros-
ley, mining engineer, gives details of development work done.
The cost of powder, fuse, and caps was $25,028, used in 10,187
ft. of development. The finances of the Company are as
follows:
Gross proceeds from all ore sales (33,517 tons) $723,727
Mining 296,885
Paid to lessees 110,577
Mining profits 316,264
Sundry receipts 6,205
Cash on hand January 1, 1913 84,643
Dividends in 1913 180,000
Cash on hand January 1, 1913 227,112
RAILROAD VALLEY COMPANY
This Company operates in Nevada, and has been drilling
for potash in Railroad valley, Nye county. Details of some
of this work were published in this journal of August 2,
1913, and at various other times. A special meeting is
being held at Tonopah on February 10 to consider the situ-
ation of the Company, to receive the report of E. E. Free,
the consulting geologist, to decide if further work is war-
ranted, and to discuss other matters of importance.
The president, Victor Barndt, states that in two years over
$115,000 has been spent in searching for potash. Over 10,000
ft. of drilling was done. A considerable amount of the
work was useless, but it was pioneer work. The Company
was the only private interest in the United States proving
or otherwise the 'dry lake' theory of buried salt deposits.
Another company, the Pacific Coast Borax Co., has since
started drilling in Death valley, California. Iu July 1913.
$15,000 was received from the sale of treasury stock, but
this was spent in sinking No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 wells. In October
a loan of $4480 was obtained under certain conditions. This
was used in sinking No. 6 well deeper, putting down No. 7
well 745 ft. deep. Cold weather stopped further work early
in December. While results are inconclusive, the chance of
finding potash remains as good as heretofore. Mr. Barndt
recommends that other land be secured and tested, and all
future work be conducted by some operating concern which
will work under lease at certain royalties. The authorized
capital is 1,000,000 shares, of which 73,318 are in the treas-
ury. The balance at December 31, 1913, was $203.
The report of E. E. Free states that the practical signifi-
cance of the data now at hand rests almost entirely on the
gaylussite beds. These were cut in No. 2, 4, and 6 wells.
The precise correlation of the beds in No. 2 and 6 is not
possible. They may be variable and local, and may persist
over considerable areas. It is impossible to draw a line
between No. 2 and 6 beds and show them as representing
the bottom of the basin at any particular time. Although
this is so, there is no reasonable doubt that gaylussite series
of both wells are substantially synchronous. From general
deductions, two theories are possible: (1) it may be that
No. 6 well is in or near the greatest depression; and (2) it
SECTION SHOWING PROBABLE POSITION OF GAYLUSSITE BEDS.
may be that the southerly dip of the gaylussite beds con-
tinues beyond No. 6, and that the deepest depression lies
an unknown distance to the south. These alternative theo-
ries are shown on the accompanying cut. The beds are
reasonably well established north of No. 6 well, and are
shown by the solid line, while south of this well their course
is uncertain, and the two possibilities are shown by the
dotted line. If the first theory is true, and No. 6 is in the
depression, hopes of a potash deposit must be abandoned;
but if the depression is south of No. 6, the chance of finding
this material is good. The drilling of No. 7 showed nothing
which can be correlated with the gaylussite beds, and it
seems possible that this well was beyond the edge of the
deposits. Wells No. 3 and 5, 1% miles northeast and Hi miles
northwest of No. 2 respectively, failed to cut any gaylus-
site. The gaylussite probably covers an area of several
square miles, about 100 ft. thick, around wells No. 2 and 6,
and if this is so, and the material is of fair purity, and if
methods can be devised for mining at low cost, there is a
possibility of manufacturing soda commercially. Mr. Free
recommends that No. 7 well be drilled further to cut the
gaylussite, or to prove that it does not extend so deep. If
a southerly extension is proved, four more wells should be
put down. If this is not found, further drilling should be
done to determine the extent of the present deposits cut,
also one or more should be drilled right through the gaylus-
site. For the work recommended, for either scheme, a sum
of $25,000 would be necessary, and $5000 for contingencies.
Gaylussite, mentioned frequently in this review, is a hydrous
double carbonate of calcium and sodium, having the formula
Na;C03.CaCO,.5H,0. It contains 35.81% sodium carbonate,
33.78% calcium carbonate, and 30.41% water.
February 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
315
Recent Patents
1,071,791. — Process of Treating Ores. Frank W. Pugsley,
Pittsford, N. Y.
A process of separating metals from ores, consisting in
passing minute bubbles of chlorine gas upwardly through
comminuted ore suspended in a liquid not of itself capable
of reacting on the ore.
1,073,928. — Ore Concentrator. Marion L. Porter, Silverton,
Ohio.
A receiving tank for the mineral-impregnated liquid, col-
lecting plates for the mineral particles arranged in the tank,
a discharge pipe connected to the tank to withdraw the water
therefrom and means for heating said plates to dry the con-
centrate.
1,073,932. — Process for the Manufacture of Fluorescent
Substances. George Rupprecht, Hamburg, Germany.
As a new article of manufacture, a fluorescent substance
comprising an artificially produced basic salt of a refractory
salt forming acid, and one of the earth metals of the zinc
group of the periodic system, and a small percentage of a
modifying agent.
1,074,088. — Electrode Supporting-Rod for Electrolytic
Tanks. Peter Jensen, Perth Amboy, N. J., assignor of one-
third to Leo Goldberger and one-third to John Kudrik, Perth
Amboy, N. J.
An electrode suspending-rod formed from angular stock
and twisted around its longtitudinal axis for producing a
plurality of helical edges for engaging the suspending hooks
of an electrode.
1,071,838. — Magnetic Separator. Joseph Weatherby, New
Cumberland, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignment, to Electric
Ore Separator Co., New Cumberland, Pa., a corporation of
Delaware.
A combination with fixed and rotary pole pieces having a
vertically elongated air gap between them, of means for main-
taining a body of comminuted material in rubbing contact
with the movable pole piece at one side of and in proximity
to the fixed pole piece and air gap between the pole pieces.
1,071,763. — Ore-Treating Process. Thomas J. Lovett, Chi-
cago, 111., assignor to Copper Process Co., Chicago, 111.,
a corporation of South Dakota.
A gradual reduction method of treating ore containing
ductile metal in fine particles, which consists in subjecting
ore-lumps holding the fine particles of metal to a prolonged
rub-rolling action under pressure, to simultaneously disinte-
grate the gangue and roll the ductile metal particles into pel-
lets or slugs.
1,071,715. — Process and Apparatus for Classifying Crushed
Ores. William F. Deister. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Classifier having in combination, a shell having an outlet at
Its lower end, a diaphragm extending across the shell, means
for Introducing water into the shell at a point Intermediate
the outlet and diaphragm, the diaphragm having openings
there-through for the downward movement of the solid mater-
ials and the upward flow of tin- water, and means for gravi-
tally directing the solid materials into said openings.
1,073,587. — Art of Making Ikon and Steel. James R. Bill-
ings. Birmingham. Ala., assignor to Billings Process Co., Bir-
mingham, Ala., a corporation of West Virginia.
First obtaining the metal in a molten mass, confining the
mass in a suitable receptacle, then while so confined, rapidly
but under regulable control, introducing and thoroughly dis-
persing through all parts of the mass carbon or carbonaceous
fuel and simultaneously effecting the generation of carbon
dioxide and heat by concurrently introducing and dispersing
through the mass under regulable control oxygen under a
pressure not greatly in excess of the ferrostatic pressure and
in quantities limited to conform approximately to the amount
necessary to effect substantially complete combustion of the
carbon or fuel so introduced.
1,073, 653. — Siemens-Martin Furnace. Kurt Albert. Wies-
baden, Germany.
For working up masses containing iron or ferric oxide and
volatile metals, the combination with a hearth chamber, air
chambers and gas chambers, flues connecting the air chambers
and the gas chambers with the hearth chamber; of additional
independent flues leading from the hearth chamber: means
for guiding the gases of combustion through said additional
flues during the volatilization period of the volatile metals
and a recuperator for receiving the discharged gases.
1,074,068. — Electromagnetic Ore-Separator. Georg Rietkot-
ter, Hagen, Germany.
A device including a frame, a shaft fixed in said frame,
an opposed pair of magnets supported fixedly from said shaft,
bearing brackets fixedly mounted on said shaft; a second
shaft journaled in said brackets, spaced disks revolubly
mounted on said first mentioned shaft, internal gears on the
inner sides of said disks, other gears on the second shaft
meshing with said internal gears, means to rotate one of said
disks, and a cylinder removably mounted on said disks and
surrounding said gears and magnets.
1,073,644. — Separating Table and Process of Separation.
Henry M. Sutton, Walter L. Steele, and Edwin G. Steele.
Dallas, Texas.
A concentrating table having a pervious floor, means for
reciprocating the table adapted to propel the material in a
predetermined direction, an air chamber arranged under said
floor, an obstruction arranged diagonally across the line of
travel of the propelling movement of the material forming an
obstruction of concentrate free from direct passage in the line
of imparted movement, and having passages at an angle to the
line of movement of the material.
1,073,820. — Production of Portland Cement. Joseph W.
Richards, South Bethlehem, Pa., and Walter B. Landis,
Bethlehem, Pa.
Making Portland cement in a single furnace operation, which
consists in making up the charge of ore in an iron-ore re-
duction furnace having a basic lining with the raw materials
for producing a lime-alumina silicate slag and with excess of
limestone sufficient to produce a liquid product having the per-
centage composition of portland cement clinker, and generat-
ing in said furnace a sufficient temperature to reduce the ore
and to cause the clinker to flow from the furnace in the
liquid state.
1,071,839. — Ore Concentrator. Joseph Weatherby. New Cub-
berland. Pa., assignor to the Electric Ore Separator Co., New
Cumberland. Pa., a corporation of Delaware.
A transversely inclined longitudinally differentially recip-
rocatory dressing table having incorporated therein longitud-
inal strips of magnetic metal and means for differentially
reciprocating said table horizontally to effect si ratification
and separation of the material thereon in divergent paths
due to the difference in specific gravity of the elements ((im-
posing the material, of a fixed magnet mounted above the
table and having a pole terminal with an extended face in
proximity to and above the magnetic si rips in the table,
whereby elongated magnetic fields are formed in which the
lines of force converge toward the ore supporting the surface
of the table.
316
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 14, 1914
A Tube-Mill Test at Butte
♦During the past year several interesting articles have ap-
peared tending to prove that the pebble mill is entitled to
serious consideration in connection with the fine grinding of
milling ores in the process of preparing the material for the
various concentration systems. The results obtained indicate
that for certain sizes and certain ores, the pebble mills are
superior to the Huntington or Chilean mill, and that it does
not necessarily follow that grinding by means of pebbles will
produce a greater percentage of the very undesirable colloidal
material. There seems to be a growing belief that the small
percentage of slime produced is due to the shape of the mill,
and yet no definite proof is brought forward to bear out the
theory. That there is some question as to the soundness of
this theory, is indicated by the fact that there is an increasing
tendency to lengthen the cylindrical portion of the mill with-
out changing the dimensions of the conical portions. Such a
change seems to result in an improvement in the results ob-
tained without materially affecting the percentage of slime
produced. It appears that the power and pebbles consumption
per ton of ore reduced was even less in the lengthened mill.
It is of particular interest that the Butte & Superior Copper
Co., Ltd., recently made a series of tests to determine which
of two types of pebble mills was the better suited for regrind-
ing its zinc ores. The material to be ground carried about
10</f zinc in the form of an included grain, a portion of the
zinc mineral having been roughed out on the primary rough-
TUBE-MILL USED IN TEST.
ing tables. The middlings from these roughing tables are
then classified in a Richards-Janney hydraulic classifier and
the material from the first two spigots, which is approximately
10 to 30 mesh, is treated on secondary roughing tables. The
middling from these secondary roughers, which contains prac-
tically no free mineral, is then reground. Chilean mills have
been used for this purpose, but the large increase in capacity
of the mill had overtaxed them, and it was decided to test
pebble mills for this work. Accordingly a Power & Mining
Machinery Co.'s improved tube-mill, 7 ft. diameter by 10 ft.
long, was installed for competitive test with the popular type
of conical pebble mill, 8 ft. diameter with a 30-in. cylinder.
Each mill was driven from a separate and independent motor,
belted to the pinion shaft. The packet type of lining was
used in the straight mill after the first test, and it was found
that plain plate lining wore too fast. The conical mill was
lined with El Oro lining in the cylindrical section, and IS in.
of the discharge cone, the remainder of the mill was lined
with plate. Six-inch lifters were also used in the conical mill
during the first test, but were removed at the suggestion of
the builder's representative.
♦Prepared by the chief engineer for Power & Mining Ma-
chinery Company.
The initial charge to each mill was No. 4 Danish pebbles and
additional pebbles of the same size were fed, together with
the feed during the test, as needed. Speed of the straight
mill remained at 22 r.p.m. throughout the test. The conical
mill was first run at 30 r.p.m., but this was .later changed to
25 r.p.m. The axis of the straight mill remained horizontal
throughout the test, while the conical mill was raised iy2 in. at
the feed end following the completion of the first test, owing to
excessive flattening of the pebbles. The ground product dis-
charged from these mills was elevated by bucket elevators and
discharged to the Richards-Janney classifiers already men-
tioned, and it will thus be seen that each mill formed part
of a closed circuit and that any oversize was returned.
Owing to the inability of one section of the concentrator to
furnish enough feed for both mills, they were installed in
separate sections, and it was not practicable to split the feed
going to the mills. This did not permit of ideal testing con-
ditions, but every effort was made to keep each mill run-
ning on the same class of feed. The object in view was to
grind this 10 to 30-mesh material so that the largest per-
centage would pass a 40-mesh screen, yet at the same time
produce the least possible amount of minus 200 mesh material.
It seems from the result of this test that not the shape, but
the dimensions of the tube-mill are the factors to be taken
into consideration in figuring capacity, the, class of product to
be produced, and efficency. It is true that an all-slime product
can be secured from a tube-mill, but it is also equally true
that a granular product will be the result if the mill is built
in the proper dimensions and operated under proper condi-
tions. The tonnage treated, and percentage of solids in the
feed also bear a strong relation to the product of the mill.
The results of these tests were such as to greatly strengthen
the contention that no advantage had been gained by a de-
parture from the cylindrical type of tube-mill, but the manu-
facturers of the mill prefer to delay publishing the figures
obtained until they have had an opportunity to substantiate
the same by further tests on other ores. Negotiations for
such tests are now being carried on. The Power & Mining
Machinery Co. will, however, furnish copies of these figures to
anyone interested.
Commercial Paragraphs
The Terry Steam Turbine Co. of Hartford, Conn., is dis-
tributing a bulletin, No. 17, describing the return flow turbine
made by that Company.
Yuba Construction Co. has issued a special bulletin. Model
D, descriptive of irrigation pumps, a type suitable for any
situation when the volume is large and the head low.
The Lukkin Rule Co. is now furnishing steel case liners
and leather cases with push-button opener, with its general
line of steel tapes, without extra charge. 'Challenge' and
Challenge Junior' steel tapes now have leather cases, steel
lined throughout. This gives the case extra stability, also
permits making it narrower than before by % in. 'Rival'
and 'Rival Junior' steel tapes have nickel-plated steel cases
as before, but the edge or case band is knurled to afford a
good firm hand-hold. The cases of all these tapes are now
also equipped with a positive action, winding handle, opener.
Water Sands in gravel beds may be easily made available
as sources of domestic or industrial supply by means of
driven wells. Such sands usually afford exceptionally pure
water and if the wells be properly put in, it is free from
contamination. In making such a well a special screened
point attached to suitable lengths of pipe, is actually driven
through the overlying beds and into the water sand. For
such use pipe must be especially well made. The National
Tube Co. makes a 'National Reamed and Drifted Pipe' which
is described in Bulletin ISA in which will also be found a
complete account of the method of making such wells.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.
Whole No. 2796 ™£« 'J
San Francisco, February 21, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. id ii. id M : Page.
Notes 3}2
Leaching Copper in Africa J}»
Alaska's Opportunity Arrives 319
ARTICLES i
Mining In the Belgian Congo In 1913 j.; ■ ;■ ■
Sydney H. Ball anil Millard K. Shaler
Mine Signal Codes
Program of the A. I. M. E. Meeting .
Mining Methods In the H.iing River Coalfield. Alaska.
W. R. Crane
Pis Pis Mining District
Industrial Accidents Under Compensation
Hydri.-Electrlc Power In Chile and Peru
Lewis R. Freeman
A Coeur d'Alene Electric Plant Glrard B. Rosenblatt
Counterbalancing Hoists
Copper Production of Japan In 1913
Rnllngs of the California Accident Commission
Cost of Hauling by Motor Truck
Monthly Copper Production
A Gasoline Mine Locomotive
Safety Winches anil Crabs
DISCUSSION i
Solution Control in Cyanldation A. W. Allen 338
Balliet System of Counterbalancing Operator 340
Sterling v. Babcock & Wilcox Boilers .
S. Severln Sorensen 340
341
342
347
320
325
326
327
323
323
333
335
326
337
337
337
355
360
360
CO.\CENTRATF.S
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
OaiilCKAL MINING MEWS
DEPARTMENTS!
Personal
Schools and Societies
The Metal Markets
The Stock Markets
Company Reports
Decisions Relating to Mining 35»
Recent Publications ia*
352
352
353
354
357
EDITORIAL
"IT 7 HAT it will cost to mine coal in Alaska is a mat-
'* ter about which there has been much dispute.
We are glad to present this week definite statements
of what it has cost, written by Mr. W. R. Crane, who
obtained his figures on the ground and who is thor-
oughly familiar with coal mining costs elsewhere.
TTPROOTING a batholith might well be considered
^ an attempt to get to the bottom of things. Mr.
A. C. Lawson has just published a suggestive paper
in which he shows that, so far as published evidence
goes, there arc no adequate grounds for considering
the granite at Butte to be batholithic. If, as he thinks,
it represents a laccolith, opinions regarding the genesis
of the ores will need further revision.
TN New Zealand, according to a decision recently
■*■ handed down by the chief justice. Sir Robert Stout.
"it is not lawful for the defendant union to apply any
of its funds for the purpose of assisting unions while
the members of those unions are engaged in a strike.
The union cannot make levies on its members for that
purpose." Evidently, so far as legal machinery can
be used to that purpose, strikes are to be blotted out
in this, universally considered to be the most pro-
gressive of the Dominions.
"]yj"EETIXGS of the engineering societies arc now in
■*■'-■• season. The American Institute of Mining Engi-
neers assembled at New York this week. We print
on another page the program of the technical sessions
which were so crowded this year that the meetings were
held in sections. This is a healthy sign of the new
interest in the Institute as a technical society which
is now so apparent. Supplementing the regular ses-
sions, semi-technical < s were scheduled for Tuesday
and Thursday evenings and at 4:30 on Wednesday
afternoon where Messrs. II. W. DuBois, I. N. Knapp,
and Samuel A. Tayler gave illustrated lectures on vari-
ous phases of mining. The Canadian .Mining Institute
is to meet at Montreal March -i. ">, and 6, and any
engineer who can arrange to be present is sure to be
well paid for his time. Thursday morning. March .">,
an excursion will be made through the Mount Royal
tunnel, which was recently holed through. In many
particulars this tunnel and the work done while driv-
ing it are of unusual interest. The Mining and Metal-
lurgical Soeietv will meet at dinner in New York on
318
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
the evening of March 9 to present its medal to Mr.
and Mrs. H. C. Hoover. This is to be a ladies' night,
and the Society, already famous for its dinners, will
make especial efforts to honor the occasion.
TELEGRAPHIC advices from New York indicate
that the sessions of the American fcistitute of
.Mining Engineers were well attended this week, though
discussion was occasionally hampered by the absence
of the author of the paper read. At the business meet-
ing. Mr. B. B. Thayer was elected president, Mr. Sidney
J. Jennings first and Messrs. H. ('. Hoover and W. L.
Saunders second vice presidents, with Messrs. G. C.
Stone treasurer, Bradley Stoughton secretary, and R.
W. Brock, C. W. Merrill, A. R. Ledoux. II. L. Smyth,
and D. C. Jackling additional directors. It was an-
nounced that the land debt had been fully paid, and in
every department of the work of the Institute the out-
going administration was able to report affairs in ex-
cellent condition.
PRACTICAL men as well as educators will rejoice
in the consummation of negotiations for coopera-
tion between Harvard University and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in support of engineering edu-
cation and research. The agreement just reached cov-
ers the fields of mechanical, electrical, civil, sanitary,
and mining engineering, and metallurgy. The work in
these departments is to be conducted in buildings be-
longing to the Institute to be erected on its new site
at Cambridge, bordering Massachusetts Avenue and
the Charles River Embankment, but both teaching and
research work are to be supported by practically all
the funds of both institutions available for such work.
While it is impossible to syndicate brains, and inde-
pendence is of first consideration in intellectual work,
we believe that the plan here adopted will appeal to
the good sense of the graduates of both great schools.
It was shown by investigation of the Carnegie Founda-
tion that educational institutions, judged by ordinary
business standards, are most inefficiently run. There
is endless and unnecessary duplication of plant and
apparatus, much of which is idle 80 per cent of the
time. No thoughtful man wants his Alma Mater to be-
come a factory, but it is anomalous to lecture embryo
engineers on efficiency of plant under conditions ordi-
narily obtaining at universities. Germany was char-
acterized some years ago by Lord Pahnerston as "a
land of damned professors. " Since that was said the
professor both in Germany and the United States has
demonstrated his practical value to the social organ-
ism to an extent then wholly unsuspected; but Ger-
many, in the judgment of keen and sympathetic ob-
servers, is now over-educated, and America is moving
in the same direction. There are too many schools
and there is not enough research. More engineers are
being graduated than can be absorbed by industry,
and each year men trained in engineering take up
the selling of life insurance or some similar unrelated
vocation. At the same time, we continue to grope in
the dark as to many fundamental problems. Only the
large and rich school can afford, under actual condi-
tions, to support research. The combination of forces
and funds by Harvard and 'Tech', as it is known by
its graduates, affords an exceptional opportunity for
investigative work along engineering lines.
Leaching Copper in Africa
The great amount of attention which is being
directed in this country toward the possibilities of
the application of leaching processes "for the recovery
of copper from its ores tends to make us overlook
what is being done abroad. There also proposals once
discarded are being brought forth and reexamined to
see whether they cannot be so modified as to be appli-
cable to present conditions. Sometimes they have
been found impracticable as at the B'wana M'Kubwa
copper mine, in northern Rhodesia, where it was pro-
posed to erect a Siemens-Halske plant to recover the
copper in the tailing from wet concentration. Vari-
ous difficulties developed, chief among which is the
discovery that the ore reserve was neither so large
nor of so high a grade as expected. At the mine of
the Bechuanaland Copper Company, also in Rhodesia,
it is likewise proposed to use the Siemens-Halske
process on the recommendation of Messrs. Hooper,
Speak & Company. The Siemens-Halske process con-
sists essentially of leaching the roasted ore with ferric
sulphate solution, producing ferrous sulphate ami cop-
per sulphate. The solution is drawn off and electro-
ly/.ed, precipitating the copper. Though apparently
simple, almost unsurmountable major difficulties arise,
not to mention a number of annoying minor ones. It
seems impossible to discover a satisfactory substance
from which to make the anode, and in addition the
ferrous sulphate is oxidized to ferric at the anode
and reduced to ferrous sulphate again at the cathode,
thus consuming much electrical energy to no purpose.
This can be in part prevented by the use of a porous
diaphragm, but this increases the resistance of the
cell, and it is also difficult to find a satisfactory sub-
stance to form the diaphragm. The most important
experiments made with this process in this country
were those made at the Ray mine by Mr. W. Y. West-
ervelt, of which an account was given in our Janu-
ary 3 issue. The process has also been tried in Spain
and elsewhere without success, and the results attained
in Africa will therefore be awaited with interest. The
most recent information is that the use of the Siemens-
Halske process has been given up at the B'wana
M'Kubwa. and it is now proposed to use the MacKay
process, which has also been suggested as a possibility
for the solution of the difficult metallurgical problem
at the Tanganyika. The MacKay process as originally
devised consisted in the production of a FeCL solu-
tion, leaching the ore with this, forming FeCL and
CuCl. This solution is run over scrap iron, precipitat-
ing copper and regenerating the FeClv During the
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
319
past year or two, Mr. Archibald Carmichael has devoted
a large amount of experimental study to the develop-
ment of this process, but no official statement has been
given out regarding the process in its present form.
Many difficulties have been encountered, but it seems
to be generally agreed that a high rate of extraction
can be maintained on ores that are suited to the
process.
Alaska's Opportunity Arrives
At last the way to the development of Alaskan
coalfields is opening. The first great need is trans-
portation. A bill providing for a system of govern-
ment owned railroads in Alaska has passed the Senate
and is now before the House of Representatives at
"Washington. It is expected to become a law shortly,
and without material changes in form. Following its
enactment, a law providing for the leasing of the coal
lands is on the Administration program, and a bill
for such an act has already been introduced in both
House and Senate. After years of stagnation and
conversation, something is finally to be done.
The railroad bill is a good one in most particulars.
Whatever differences of opinion as to government
ownership of railroads may remain, the system affords
the only way out as conditions now exist, and if the
(iovernment is to build railroads in Alaska or else-
where >ve think that public opinion is unanimous to
the effect that the organization and control of the
work should be as much like that obtaining at Panama
as possible. There. Colonel G. W. Goethals and his
associates made a success because of the recognition
of the fact that, if the (iovernment is going into busi-
ness, it must recognize business principles. In partic-
ular, authority must go with responsibility and a defi-
nite plan must be formulated in advance. In the new
bill the whole authority and responsibility for build-
ing the proposed railroad lines is lodged in the Pres-
ident, and adequate funds are made available from
the first. Plans can be made, and contracts can be
let, with full assurance that the money will be forth-
coming at the time and in the amounts needed. This
will avoid the greatest source of loss and waste in-
curred in river and harbor work where an irregular
and unsystematic method of appropriating has re-
sulted in the minimum of efficiency in plant and organ-
ization. It is further provided that the Government
may buy or lease existing lines, and we are glad to
see that some return, at least, is to be made to the
pioneer railroad builders of Alaska who have every
justification for complaint at the change in the rules
of the game that was made after their work began.
We believe in the active development of the territory.
We see no reason why another Scandinavia with its
vigorous civilization may not be added to the world,
and we consider it a proper public enterprise to open
the way to such a development. There is just one
feature of the new law that appeals to us as particu-
larly bad; that is the provision that no engineer may
be appointed to a position on the work at a salary
exceeding $3000 without .approval of the Senate. Pos-
sibly this is merely a childish attempt to 'save face'
on the part of power loving senators who. having con-
sented to a big program, arc not quite able to do
it wholly and generously. The limitation, however,
smells strongly of hopes for political spoils. Nothing
would more surely or completely disgust the Amer-
ican nation with the whole policy of government own-
ership than to have the taint of partisan polities over
the system. That may be one way to defeat what
many opponents find it inconvenient to fight openly.
We trust that the House will strike out this clause.
Following the railroad bill is one providing a leas-
ing system for the coalfields. We are already on rec-
ord as favoring such a plan. There are many who
honestly oppose it, but it is now generally conceded
that such a system is inevitable, and we believe those
now in opposition will ultimately find its disadvan-
tages fewer and less important than they now fear.
We are glad to note that an indeterminate period of
lease is provided, as was urged by the Mining and
Metallurgical Society. The proposed leases are to be
for the whole of the coal in the ground, and the
lessee continues in possession so long as he fulfills the
stipulated conditions. Certain rights of revision at
intervals of 20 years are reserved to the Secretary
of the Interior, and this is as reasonable as the usual
right to revise rentals in the case of ground leases
in cities. The amount of royalty, above a minimum
of two cents per ton. is fixed by the lessee through
competitive bidding. A small but increasing acreage
tax applies during the period that the land lies idle
before operations begin, and all funds arising from
these leases are to be applied to the development, im-
provement, and betterment of Alaska, including rail-
road building. All this is excellent. We like less
the restriction on acreage, though an allowance of
2650 acres is more liberal than the old 640-acre limit
of the general coal land law. The most important
feature of the law to which we would take exception
is that making stringent provision against any pos-
sible consolidation of claims. Tn our issues of Sep-
tember 11 and 30 of 1911. we gave in detail our rea-
sons for holding that such restrictions are unneces-
sary and undesirable. It would probably be impos-
sible, however, to obtain any legislation at this time
which did not include some such provision, and it
is better to have a way open than to wait indefinitely
for the best way. The system proposed is workable.
It has many good points, and we hope it will be
promptly put in operation. Alaska has been too long
neglected. Tf the new legislation does not bring im-
mediately the full prosperity for which our friends in
the Far North hope, it will at least start the current
in the right direction, and we confidently anticipate
a time when people will wonder as much at the delay
in opening the country as we now do at the difficulties
anticipated when it was first proposed to build rail-
road lines to the Pacific Coast.
320
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21. 1914
Mining in the Belgian Congo in 1913
By Sydney H. Ball and Millard K. Shaleh
In Belgian colonial circles the financial depression
caused by the break in rubber prices has been partly
offset by the progress made in mining in the Belgian
Congo. Although the gross mineral production in 1913
was but some $3,000,000, it was, nevertheless, more
than double that of 1912. The increase was due to a
larger production of copper in the Katanga region,
and a fair increase in the gold output. The year was
further marked as the first in which the colony pro-
duced diamonds on a commercial scale. The past year
has seen, as forecasted as probable in this review last
year,1 a start toward a lowering of the draconian min-
ing taxes. These taxes must be further reduced, how-
ever, and in other ways mining offered governmental
support, if the industry is to flourish in the colony.
It is hoped that the acute labor situation in the Ka-
tanga, in particular, will be relieved.
The Congo has the reputation of being a land of
cheap labor, and so it is per man per day, although
the item of labor is not low. To one traveling through
the country the labor supply would appear relatively
abundant in some regions, but the unwillingness of
the untutored native to work, causes a greater or less
shortage of labor throughout the colony. New rail-
roads and additional river steamers are locally reduc-
ing the number of porters and canoemen, a gain, how-
ever, much more than counterbalanced by new or grow-
ing enterprises. In the Katanga, where the largest
mining operations exist, the labor situation is acute,
and the future expansion of the enterprise may be
affected. The determination of the value of many min-
eral discoveries made in that region, as well as rail-
road construction, is retarded. At present some 31.000
blacks are employed by various industrial concerns in
the colony: of these, 9000 are in the Katanga, about
one-third the number in reality needed.
Katanga Region
The mining region of the Katanga is sparsely popu-
lated and food is scarce. The country to the north,
which has or had a fair population, is ravaged by
sleeping sickness. Men recruited in more equatorial
portions of the Congo are unsatisfactory, as they stand
the — for them — rigorous climate poorly; further, they
are needed for private and public enterprises nearer
home. The Congo itself, then, cannot supply the de-
mand. To the south and east lies Rhodesia, with at
least a fairly large population, and this British pos-
session has in the past supplied, and is now supplying,
a considerable portion of the labor for the Katanga
activities. Rhodesia, however, has industries of her
own. and in fact is now suffering a dearth of labor
which in the future is sure to increase. Moreover, it
^Mining and Scientific Press, April 19, 1913.
is possible that the Rhodesian government may at
some future date prohibit the emigration of its natives
to tin' Congo, as it temporarily did in 1910, the pre-
text at that time being the danger of spreading the
sleeping sickness. Portuguese Africa supplies a few
laborers, and although the South African mines draw,
in part, their labor from these colonies, it is believed
that a considerable labor force may be obtained from
Nyassaland, Portuguese East Africa, and Angola.
Whether Africa, however, can or cannot supply to
the Congo an adequate labor supply, is a moot ques-
tion. The Bourse du Travail du Katanga (Katanga
Recruiting Agency), founded under royal patronage
on September 12, 1910, was expected by some to solve
the labor situation, but up to the present time it has
been unable to meet the requirements of the different
companies.
If African sources fail, there appears to be but one
way in which the Katanga can rank as the copper-
producing region its resources apparently warrant —
namely, by the importation of Chinese labor. The Bel-
gians are by no means novices in handling such labor,
for it will be remembered that some of the more import-
ant Chinese railways have been built by Belgian engin-
eers with Belgian capital. Further, in 1893, some Chinese
labor was used in the construction of the Lower Congo
railroad. A year ago an attempt was made to import
Chinese to work the tin deposits of Kasonso (Katanga),
but unexpected obstacles rendered this impracticable.
What are the difficulties in obtaining for the Ka-
tanga these patient, industrious. Asiatic laborers? It
will certainly be expensive, for the importation and
repatriation of each coolie in South Africa costs about
$85; the corresponding figure for the Lower Congo
railroad' laborers was $160. Each Chinaman traveling
by way of Beira, the most practical route to the Ka-
tanga at present, would presumably cost the companies
$100. The initial outlay, while great, would perhaps
in the long run be found to be well expended. Pos-
sibly the Rhodesian government would not permit
these laborers to pass through her borders. In South
Africa there is a strong sentiment of 'South Africa
for the whites.' and public opinion would be strong
against the introduction of Asiatics, even into the Ka-
tanga. This difficulty could, however, probably be
surmounted if the Belgian colonial government would
assure the British authorities that the number to be
imported was comparatively small, and that adequate
measures would be taken to prevent the coolies filter-
ing across the frontier into Rhodesia. Mine managers,
however, feel that prior to the introduction of Chinese
or other foreign labor, the colonial legislation
which practically makes the 'boy' master of all
situations, must be modified. The final solution of the
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
321
question, however, naturally depends on the adapta- themselves. Such taxation, however, is the very warp
bility of the coolie to the climate. The Katanga cop- and woof of colonial administration. Theoretically.
per belt, situated some 11° from the equator and being the Congo native now pays his taxes in money, to
almost a mile above sea-level, does not suffer from a obtain which he must labor, but in reality the propor-
particularly trying climate. The establishment of ab- tion of natives who pay their taxes is decreasing.
solutely sanitary compounds and the recruiting of Ready money being unnecessary, the natives are losing
S^alfc of Milea
o So loo !5o ico f63 Sc.'aso «,.
»•««•*» Ra.iroo<i6 yG Gold mnu (D) Diamoncl L ocal/Tt'tS
" ^opo*^ y Tin p^p^t;,
A *~ ^ opper rntnu, tri'iMr^' Copper &<2l&
TKANsrORTATION KOl'TKS AND MINING DISTRICTS IN THK fONOO.
particularly robust < lies, perhaps from South China,
should, however, be factors of such importation.
Taxation
Some two years ago. when trading in the colony be-
came general and the state no longer collected the
taxes in rubber and other products, laws were passed
which decreased the labor efficiency of the blacks. Eth-
ically, neither England, Germany, the United States,
nor any other power, has the right to tax natives who,
if their wishes were consulted, would prefer to srovern
the incentive to work, and those employed are less
efficient through having no fear of losing their jolts.
Laws recently passed and their interpretation have
diminished tin' prestige of the whites to an alarming
degree. Their exaggerated clemency means 1<> tin'
natives weakness on the part of the whites, and results
in lack of discipline, even where the intent is to safe-
guard the natives' health. As an example, from De-
cember 1. 1012, to May 1. 1913, 595 natives broke their
contracts and deserted, at Elisabethville alone. Of
these natives, but 30 were condemned, and most of
322
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
these spent but seven days in — to them — comfortable
quarters, with labor to perform less onerous than that
of the mine. Due to the shortage of labor, many 'boys'
naturally desert, with the perhaps natural purpose of
obtaining a bonus for re-engagement elsewhere. Legis-
lation recently passed may in the end be beneficial,
though, in addition to legislation, its enforcement is
essential to cause the native to respect his contract.
Facilities are being, and should be, further extended
to enforce the young native to school himself, not only
in the common branches and trades, but also in the
belief that manual labor is honorable and necessary.
The native is by no means hopeless, but to become, in
the European sense, a good citizen, he must be con-
siderably transformed both intellectually and morally,
and such transformation will require decades, if not
centuries.
Since last reviewed,2 transportation facilities have
been extended and bettered. The railroad from Elisa-
bethville to Kambove, a large copper mine some 100
Boma, Lower Congo (89 miles built, 71 miles oper-
ated).
The Congo river fleet has been added to during the
past year, and harbor and river improvements con-
tinued. Both the colony and private interests have
roads under construction. Wireless telegraphy ad-
vances, and not only have Elisabethville and Boma
talked with one another, but it is stated that the
latter town and Brussels have signaled one another.
The Union Miniere du Haut Katanga, in which com-
pany, it will be remembered, the Tanganyika Conces-
sions, Ltd., has considerable holdings (about 42%),
satisfactorily operated its copper mines in 1913. The
production for the year was almost three times that
of 1912. Although for the time being the fuel and
ore supply problem appears to be solved, very rapid
expansion is, as noted above, temporarily blocked by
the present labor shortage. In his annual report for
1913, Jean Jadot, general manager for the Union Mini-
ere, presented the following table :
Z
p
w
"-:
v.
o
in
o
(I
a
o
3
<-*
n>
3
55
_ o
a ~
r.
o
a
o
H
o
3
*-»■
n
*° 3 —
■< C
■ T3 <^
■ O -
• -■ O
3
19J1 88 10,300 12 to 13
1912 171 20,900 13 to 15
1913 (11 mo.) :
first furnace 208)
. , .. 48,500 15 to l(i
second furnace 901 ' •
*With 1 furnace operating*
iWith 2 furnaces operating.
miles distant, was completed on June 24, 1913, and a
semi-weekly service established. Leaving the port of
Cape Town Tuesday at 11 a. m.. Kambove is reached at
7 o'clock the following Monday evening. Grading at
both ends of the railroad from Kambove to Bukama.
on the Congo river (190 miles), the last link in an
all-rail and steamer route from Cape Town to the At-
lantic ocean at Matadi, has been commenced. This
road presumably will be finished in a couple of years.
The German Dar-el-Salaam-Lake Tanganyika rail-
road has just been finished, and the Belgian road from
Kabalo on the Congo to Albertville on Lake Tangan-
yika was. on October 1. 1912. 45 miles from the lake.
With the completion of the latter railroad, which
should take place some time late in the spring of this
year, there will exist an all-rail and steamer trans-
African line from Dar-el-Salaam on the east to Matadi
on the west coast. The distance is about 2980 miles,
a little over one-half being by railroad. The Benguella
railroad, traversing Portuguese West Africa and head-
ing toward the Katanga copper field, has as its rail
head Bihe. 323 miles from the Atlantic ocean. The
Mayumbe railroad is slowly being extended north from
^Transportation Facilities in Central Africa,' S. H. Ball and
M. K. Shaler, Mining and Scientific Press. April 12. 1913.
786
2404
G240
90
95
96
88
130
65
65
11.3
14.0
15.6t
33.4J
The total production for 1913 approached 7200 long
tons of crude copper, with a copper equivalent of
about the same number of short tons. In 1914 the pro-
duction should be some 9000 or 12.000 short tons of
copper. Analyses of shipments follow:
April 1913. July 1913.
% %
Copper 94.15 93.85
Cobalt 2.80 3.25
Iron 0.92 1.80
Sulphur 1.20 0.80
The Star of the Congo mine, situated near the smel-
ter, produced monthly in 1913 about 15,000 tons of
ore, of which 7000 tons was sorted and in part stock-
piled for possible future treatment. Two steam-shovels
to strip the overburden will soon be in operation. Early
in 1913 two small sizing and washing plants were in-
stalled at the mine, and a set of log washers to enrich
the talcose ore was to have commenced operation about
the first of the present year. Formerly all ore had
been obtained from this one mine, but early in June
1913 the railroad reached Kambove. and since August
the smelter charge has consisted of sorted ore from
the Star of the Congo mine, screened ore from the
Kambove mine, and briquetted ore from the Luushia
February 21, 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 303
mine. Kambove furnishes about 600 tons of ore per In 1913 most of the copper was sold to the highest
week. At present the ore is being extracted in an bidder in the Antwerp market, but a part of the prod-
open cut and dropped to a haulage tunnel, but in net is said to have gone to Swansea. England. Cobalt.
1914 steam-shovels and open-cut mining are to be in- in addition to copper, is sometimes paid for. The
troduced. The Luushia mine, situated on the Elisa- production of 1914 has been contracted to the Frank-
bethville-Kambove railroad, at a distance of 56 miles furt Metall-Gesellschaft. at prices varying with Lon-
from the smelter, can furnish daily 100 tons of pulveru- don quotations.
lent ore. During the year development was done at D. A. Lyons and M. R. Keeney. in the August 1913
the Luiswishi, Likasie. and Chituru mines. The Union Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.
Miniere employs at present about 200 whites and over pages 2134-5, give an interesting extract from an ar-
2000 blacks. tide by Stephan. who conducted at Ugine. France.
There was installed at the smelter in August a 6- experiments on the electrical smelting of the Katanga
press bri((iietting plant with capacity of 250 tons per ores. Negotiations with the colonial government as
20 hours. No binder is used. The briquetted ore. to the formation of a subsidiary Belgian company to
especially that of the Luushia mine, is said to be ex- develop eleetric power in this part of the Katanga
eellent tor smelting. The necessity of more extensive have been carried on, and it is possible, if financial
concentrating plants is recognized, and the question is conditions warrant, that such a company will be formed
being studied. in 1914. It is of interest to note that the Belgian
Consumption of Coke administration has had P. K. Horner, an American.
Fp t,. the end of 1912 European coke onlv had been as n,anager in Africa- »nd that recently A. E. Wheeler.
"used, but at that time Wankie (Rhodesia) coke began the f()rmer superintendent of the Great Falls smelter.
to be employed, ami in 1913 constituted the only fuel. has been aPPoillted consulting engineer.
At first the coal prior to coking was not washed, and Gold Mines and Production
the coke, being high in sulphur and ash. was of poor The g0,d production increased satisfactorily in 1913.
grade. A eoal washery has since been established, and the output jf „„. 8tate>s fWast for\he Kil((
partly due to tins the average fuel consumption per am, Mot() mjnes is correeti bemg some ym kilograms
,"" "' *■ 'er has fi,llr" as follows: To[]a valued at about $828.00(1. In midsummer there were
European coke 1911 3 44 widespread reports of sensational gold discoveries in
European coke 1912 3.00 the Belgian Congo. These appear to have been without
Wankie <oke. unwashed (first half-yean 1913 3.44 foundation. Fair alluvial ground has been discovered
Wankie eoke. washed (second half-year) 1913 2.90 during the year at several places in the Uelle and in
A contract has been made with the Wankie Colliery the Katanga, and some gold quartz in the Kilo region.
Co. for 1500 tons of coke per month. In addition. but none of these are. as yet at least, known to be
one set of 22 Coppee coke-ovens, with monthly capae- of much importance. Those at Hie head of Kibali
ity of from 1500 to 1750 tons, was completed at the river, southwest of Moto, appear most promising,
smelter in December 1913. and a second similar unit The four producing gold placers in the colony are
will Ik- ready early in 1914. These are to use Wankie situated in the northeastern part of the colony, a re-
coal, the erases being used to fire boilers. gion of ancient rocks which have been deeply eroded.
The- two water jackets have worked fairly continu- Beginning with January 1. 1914. the state will turn
ously since April 1913, and it is hoped that in 1914 over to the Grand Fakes Railroad Co. the two larger
they will work even more satisfactorily. A third placers of this region. Kilo and Moto. The profit be-
water jacket has been sent to Africa and when this is yond a certain amount, however, is to be divided be-
installed at least two can presumably be kept in con- tween the colony and the railroad. In return for these
tinuous commission. Mr. Jadot reports that during the and certain extensions to its prospecting rights, the
months when the two water jackets were working Company relinquishes some 8.000.000 hectares of forest
simultaneously, using coke from the washed Wankie land. The Kilo placer is worked by primitive sluicing
eoal and Kambove and Fuishi ore. the cost on board methods, although there is also a giant at work. About
train at the smelter was about 700 francs per ton (this 30 whites and 2600 blacks arc employed. The natives
figures to about 6':;c per pound). The freight to are paid a minimum wage of about 4c. per day and
Antwerp is about 300 francs per long ton. the copper are. in addition, given food, lodging, blankets, etc.
costing a little over 9c. per pound at Antwerp. In The gold is said to cost about $347.40 per kilogram, and
1912 the cost was about one cent per pound higher. In to be worth about $579 per kilogram (or $18 per ounce).
this figure neither general excuses nor marketing silver being the chief impurity. Some $7,250,000 of
charges are included, and the average price of the gold-bearing grave] is supposed to be blocked out. At
copper produced during 1913 was somewhat above Moto. where sluicing began in 1911. seven white men
these figures, as the two furnaces were not running and 1350 natives are employed. Gravels containing
continuously. With a larger production, better ore gold valued at $500,000 have been proved to date,
dressint;. and with coke made at the smelter, the cost In the parliamentary discussions preceding the trans-
should be somewhat further reduced. fer of these placers from the colony to the Grand
1 324
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
Lakes Railroad Co., the following figures were present-
ed regarding the operating of the Kilo and Moto plac-
ers, under state regime :
O w o Production.
^ W — ' -^ ■— '
3 <* 1> » ft W g
Year. ; g g. | g ; ;
: a -0, "° " :
: ff ? m S : :
c. » w
' => 5 : £
• J3 7; . O • ■
1908 559,000 981,424.27 311 311
1909 886,440 1,896,955.90 656 656
1910 1,165,050 2,520,903.47 876 876
1911 1,963,063 2,360,216.71 645 639 6
1912 2,052,262 2,834,551.83 984 740 244
1913 2,380,815* l,767,863.36t 1360J
*About.
tlncomplete.
JEstimated.
Prior to 1908 the Kilo production was: 1905. 21 kg.;
1906, 212 kg.; 1907, 328 kilograms.
The Kanwa placer, owned by the Belgian-American
company, Forestiere et Miniere du Congo, has added
a small quota of gold. and the Babeyru placer has just
started production.
Diamond Production Increases
To date diamonds have been found at the following
places in the Belgian Congo: (1) in the gravels at
many localities in the vast area lying in the triangle
between the Kasai and Lovua rivers and the Angola
(Portuguese West Africa) frontier; (2) as alluvial
stones in the Mandoko zone in the extreme southwest
part of the colony; (3) alluvial diamonds in Mutendola
river, Katanga, a tributary of the Lualaba, and in
that river itself above the rapids of Nzila ; (4) in pipes
in the Kundelungu mountains: and (5) at certainly
three, and probably five, of the gold placers in the
northeast part of the colony, as a by-product of gold
placer mining. Of the latter, a few stones were ob-
tained from the now abandoned state placer of Nebula-
Bokwama, and several stones have been found at Kanwa
and at least one at Babeyru, both placers being the
property of the Belgian-American Societe Internation-
ale Forestiere et Miniere du Congo. The finding of
several stones is also reported from the gold gravels
of the Nizi river near Kilo, and of one at the Moto
placer. Of these diamondiferous regions the Kasai and
Kundelungu appear most promising. The Kasai3 is pre-
sumably by far the most important of these diamond
regions, and its gravels, at least in part rich, are now
being exploited on a small scale. Exploitation began
the past summer, the product for the last half of the
year being some 15,000 carats. The stones are of good-
water, but comparatively small, the grade being about
that of the German Southwest African stones prior to
the exploitation of the Pomono field.
3See S. H. Ball, 'Diamonds in the Belgian Congo,' Eng. if-
Min. Jour., Feb. 3, 1913.
By a royal decree dated May 27, 1913, the Mandoko
diamond zone was opened to general prospecting, as
was a portion of the Kundelungu plateau region. In
the latter region, however, the diamond concessions,
covering some 250.000 hectares, or about 875 square
miles, held by the Kundelungu company (the Katanga
Special Committee and the Tanganyika Concessions.
Ltd.), and by the Katanga Special Committee, were
excepted. Within this area are the pipes now being
investigated by these organizations. The pipes of the
former company, which petrographieally quite closely
resemble those of South Africa, are eight in number
(Talala, Louanza. Kogwama. Katipa. Maipaslu. Kam-
beli East, Kambeli West, and Shipuka). and the Ka-
tanga Special Committee owns four (Kataloi. Shilunga,
Katwe, and Mafua, all on the Luizi river). The Kun-
delungu company began in the latter part of 1912 ex-
ploration of the Luanza pipe, and to the end of that
year had found some 120 small stones. They averaged
about one-sixth of a carat apiece, the largest being
of about 31 j carats. At that time, about 4 whites and'
60 to 70 blacks were employed. Since October 1912.
from 250 to 380 cu. yd. of "yellow ground' has been
washed each month, containing a certain number of
diamonds, from 30 to 40. according to some reports.
A collection was exhibited in the Congo section at the
Ghent Exposition the past year. In 1913 the same
Company commenced preliminary work on the Msi-
pashi pipe, which is connected with Elisabethville by
motor route. Although the work at Luanza has not
as yet shown it to be exploitable, the Company believes
the work to be encouraging.
In the same region the Belgo-Katanga and the Indus-
trielle et Miniere du Katanga (recently amalgamated
into the Societe Beige Industrielle et Miniere du Ka-
tanga) claim to have discovered 17 pipes of similar
rock. These vary in size from 10 to 45 acres. The
Company has taken as a prospecting concession one
block of 200.000 hectares (772 square miles^. and a
number of smaller blocks. The 'ground* resembles
closely the diamondiferous pipes of the Katanga Spe-
cial Committee. In one area of about 10 acres. 80
bore-holes all struck 'blue ground' at about the same
depth. It is stated that during the coming dry season
(May-June 1914) testing will be begun on two or three
of these pipes to determine whether or not they are
diamondiferous.
Tin
But little advance was made in the past year in
the Katanga tin region. At Muika. where both stream
and lode tin occur, the Societe de Reeherches Minieres
du Bas Katanga has a small 5-stamp battery and con-
centrating plant. The cassiterite being rather coarse
and the gangue light, milling is reported to be easy.
The first concentrates reached Brussels in January 1913.
and the monthly production in 1913 is reported to
have been about ten tons of cassiterite. As a result
of the excessive freight to Antwerp (over $95 per ton
of concentrate), and other high costs, the Company
February 21, 1!»14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
32J
has requested that the colony's allotment of profit be
reduced, which presumably will be granted. A com-
pany is to be floated to exploit the 285 square miles
of country at present held by the parent company. A
plant to work the Union Miniere du Haut Katanga tin
deposits at Kasonso and Busanga was shipped from
Europe in June. Up to early winter it had not as yet
reached the mine.
Coal and Bituminous Shale
The coal reported to have been found last year on
the Lukuga river near Lake Tanganyika and near the
line of the railroad between Lake Tanganyika and the
Congo, appears to cover a considerable area, the beds
being traceable for some 12 miles. Some five slightly
inclined beds occur at short vertical distances from
one another. They vary in thickness from 2 to 6y» ft..
and, taken together, are said to be some 16 ft. thick.
The coal is sub-bituminous, hard and light, and some
of it of brilliant lustre. It contains from 28 to 45%
volatile matter, and 18 to 20% ash. and it has a calor-
ific power of from 6500 to 7000 calories. For certain
industrial purposes it will doubtless be a fair fuel. At
present several white men and 200 negroes are pros-
pecting the find, and if the royalty and taxes now
claimed by the colonial government are reduced, a
company will be formed to exploit it. In the vicinity
of Ponthierville, on the Congo river, the Grand Lakes
Railroad Co. estimates that there are available for
quarrying 1.500.000 tons of bituminous schist, carrying
from 60 to 100 litres of oil per ton.
The Congo copal, although in part fossil, does not
perhaps strictly come within the province of this re-
view. It is gathered from the surface by natives and
by them sold to traders. The value of the product
for 1910. 1911, and 1912 was. respectively, approximate-
ly $250,000, $635,000. and $1,232,000.
General Prospecting and Mining Laws
Prospecting has been pushed throughout the colony
during the past year although no startling discoveries
have been reported. Up to June 30, 1913. in the Ka-
tanga, 369 locations had been made, of which 66 were
for copper and the others for iron, manganese, gold,
silver, platinum, tin. coal, bismuth, petroleum, dia-
monds, bituminous schist, cobalt, nickel, lead, and salt.
During 1913 the Belgian-American company, Societe
Internationale Forestiere et Miniere du Congo, was
given for 99 years the right to exploit its discoveries
south of the fifth parallel south. The claims, chiefly
for diamonds, gold, iron, and asphalt, cover about 4400
square miles. In 1912-13 the colonial government did
a little drilling for salt near the salt springs in the
Nyangwe region (upper Congo) : no important discov-
eries resulted.
Several of the Katanga companies created in 1910
were in the past year in a position to begin exploita-
tion, but they found the 33% of the gross production
due by the colony, according to their charters, prohib-
itive. The matter has been taken up with the colonial
government, and a special committee has advised a
considerable reduction in the taxes and royalties.
During the past year several of the Katanga pros-
pecting companies have consolidated, and the stock of
others has changed hands. In certain cases these com-
panies, like the Grand Lakes railroad, have acquired
an extension of their prospecting rights. During the
latter part of the year some five companies asked for,
and presumably will be given, prospecting rights south
of the fifth parallel south, outside the blocks reserved
by the Belgian-American company mentioned above.
It is interesting to note that at least two of these
are strong rubber companies, which, prior to the fall
in the price of rubber, made large profits by trading
in this region.
Mine Signal Codes
Following trips of the 1'. S. Bureau of Mines rescue
car in the Lake Superior iron districts, some of the
range associations of mining men are considering the
changing of the signal code in general use to one which
is simpler. The change is recommended by the offi-
cials of the mine rescue car on the ground that the
simpler the code the safer and more effective it will
be. The objection to changing is. of course, that acci-
dents might result by confusing the new signals with
the old; and. on account of the number of ignorant
foreigners now working in the iron mines, it would
take quite a long time before everyone entirely forgot
the old signals and got accustomed to new ones. Un-
der the old system generally in use. one bell is to
stop hoisting or lowering, two bells means lower, and
three bells means hoist. The new signals recommended
would have one bell mean stop if in motion, hoist if
at rest: two bells, lower: three bells would denote
'men on. run slow.' and the hoisting or lowering sig-
nal (one or two bells) would also be given.
The recommendations as given by a committee of
the Gogebic Range Mining Association are as follows:
One bell: stop if in motion: hoist if at rest.
Two bells: lower.
Three bells: men on, run slow. Before men Ret on cage, ring
three bells. The engineer replies with three bells if the
return signal system is in use: if not, he replies by
raising and lowering cage about six inches. When men
are on cage, give hoisting or lowering signal M or 2
bells).
Nine bells: danger signal. Ring 9 bells, then station signal
where danger exists, then repeat 9 bells. All hoisting
must instantly cease, until verbal notice to engineer or
by ringing of 15 bells releases the danger signal.
Fire signal: ring danger signal two or more times.
Station signals: shaft collar, 2-1 or 1 long.
First working level, 2-2 or 1 long and 1 short.
Second working level. 2-3 or 1 long and 2 short.
Third working level, 2-4 or 1 long and :i short.
Fourth working level, 2-5 or 1 long and 4 short.
Fifth working level, 2-6 or 1 long and 5 short.
The committee recommended that in the interest
of safety and efficiency, telephones should be installed
at each working level.
326
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
Program of A.I.M.E. Meeting
New York, Tuesday, February 17, 1914
10 a.m. — Annual business meeting.
10:30 a.m. — 'Mining and Mining Methods in the
Southeast Missouri Disseminated-Lead District,' by
H. A. Guess; 'The Mill and Metallurgical Practice of
the Nipjssing Mining Co., Ltd., Cobalt, Ontario, Can-
ada,' by James Johnston; 'The Disposition of Natural
Resources,' by George Otis Smith.
2 p.m. — 'Use of Electricity at the Penn and Republic
Iron Mines, Mich.,' by William Kelly and F. II. Arm-
strong ; ' The Application of Electric Motors to Shovels',
by II. W. Rogers; 'Electric Traction in Mines,' by
Charles LeGrand; 'Safeguarding the Use of Electricity
in Mines,' by II. II. Clark; 'The Safety of Underground
Electrical Installations,' by ('. M. Means; 'The Injec-
tion of Cement Grout into "Water-Bearing Fissures.' by
Francis Donaldson; 'Drilling Performances at the Ken-
sico Dam, Catskill Aqueduct System, New York.' by
W. L. Saunders; 'The Work of Crushing,' by Arthur
F. Taggart.
Wednesday, February 18
10 a.m. — 'Notes on the Plastic Deformation of Steel
During Overstrain,' by II. M. Howe and A. G. Levy;
'Notes on Some Heating and Cooling Curves of Prof.
Carpenter's Electrolytic Iron', by Albert Sauveur ;
'The Influence on Quality of Cast Iron Exerted by
Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Some Other Elements', by J.
E. Johnson, Jr.; 'Research with Regard to the Non-
Magnetic and Magnetic Conditions of Manganese
Steel.' by B. Ilopkinson and Sir Robert Hadfield ;
'Manganese Steel, with Especial Reference to the Re-
lation of Physical Properties to Micro-Structure and
Critical Ranges,' by W. S. Potter; 'The Heat Treat-
ment of Steel Castings', by C. D. Young, 0. D. A.
Pease, and C. II. Strand; 'Notes on an Iron-Ore De-
posit near Hong-Kong, China,' by C. M. Weld; 'Why
the Mining Laws Should be Revised.' by Horace V.
Winehell; 'Comparison of Mining Conditions Today
with those of 1872, in their Relation to Federal Min-
eral-Land Laws.' by R. W. Raymond; 'Objections
to the Apex Law in Mining Practice,' by C. F. Kelley;
'Should the Apex Law be Now Repealed?' by Charles
H. Shamel : 'The Apex Law in the Drumlummon Con-
troversy.' by Charles W. Goodale ; 'The Classification
of Public Lands.' by George Otis Smith.
2 p.m. — 'American Steel Rail Situation.' by R.
W. Hunt: 'Manganese-Steel Rails.' by Sir Robert Had-
field: 'Notes on Blast-Furnace Operation with a Turbo
Blower.' by S. G. Valentine; 'Data Pertaining to Gas
Cleaning at the Duquesne Blast Furnaces.' by A. N.
Diehl ; 'Pig Steel from Ore in the Electric Furnace.'
by Robert M. Keeney ; 'Notes on the Utilization of
Blast-Furnace and Coke-Oven Gas for Power Pur-
poses,' by Heinrich J. Freyn : 'Notes on Conservation
of Lake Superior Tron Ores.' by Charles K. Leith :
'The Need of Uniform Methods of Sampling Lake Su-
perior Iron Ore,' by C. B. Murray; 'Sound Ingots,' by
Sir Robert Hadfield; 'The Segregation and Classifica-
tion of the Natural Resources of the Public Domain,'
by Frederick F. Sharpless; 'The Initiation of Title to
Mineral Lands,' by Albert Burch; 'Good Ideas in the
Mining Laws of British Columbia and Mexico,' by
F. L. Sizer; 'Provisions for Judicial Review of Land
Office Decisions,' by M. D. Leehey; 'The Apex Law
Illustrated by Decisions in the Coeur d'Alene,' by F.
T. Greene; 'Uniform Mining Legislation in all States
Based on Federal Acts,' by C. L. Colburn; 'Location
of Mining Claims Upon Indian Reservations,' by Will
L. Clark; 'What is Mineral Land,' by Grafton Mason;
'Mining Law Revision — How to Obtain It,' by E. B.
Kirby.
Thursday, February 19
10 a.m. — Discussion on the question: (1) To what
depth below the surface do the standing ground-
waters extend? Opened with a paper by Alfred
C. Lane. (2) To what extent is chalcocite a
primary, and to what extent a secondary, mineral
in ore deposits? (3) To what extent are the
contact zones, often called garnet zones, pro-
duced by intrusive rocks from limestone walls, due
to recrystallization of matter original with the lime-
stones ; and to what extent are they and their asso-
ciated ores due to contributions from intrusive rocks?
Opened with papers by Waldemar Lindgren and C. K.
Leith. 'The Anticlinal Theory of Oil Accumulation,'
by II. A. Wheeler: 'Scientific Installations for the
Economical Burning of Liquid Fuel of Any Specific
Gravity,' by W. N. Best; 'The Use of Petroleum in
Dust Prevention and Road Preservation.' by W. W.
Page: 'The Killing of the Burning Gas Well in the
Caddo Oilfield, Louisiana,' by C. D. Keen: 'An Oil-
Land Law,' by George Otis Smith.
2 p.m. — 'The Equilibrium Diagram of the System
CuSNi:iS2,' by Carl R. Hayward: 'Cyanidatiou of
Silver Sulphide at Ocampo. Mexico,' by Robert Lin-
ton: 'The Genesis of the Mercury Deposits of the
Pacific Coast.' by J. Allen Yeatch ; 'Ore Dressing at
the Morning Mill. Mullan, Idaho.' by Rush J. White:
'A Proposed New Converter, and the Application of
the Bessemerizing Process to the Smelting of Ores.' by
Herbert Haas: 'Milling r. Hand Sorting of Lead Ore.'
by R. S. Handy: 'Nickel Deposits in the Urals.' by
H. W. Turner: 'The Burning of Coal Beds in Place.'
by Alexander Bowie: 'The Use of Oxygen Helmets in
Mine Fire.' by E. P. Dudley: 'Geology and Ore De-
posits of the Bully Hill Mining District. California,'
by A. C. Boyle, Jr. : 'Cementing Oil and Gas Wells.' by
I. N. Knapp: 'The Age and Manner of Formation of
Petroleum Deposits.' by E. T. Dumble : 'Geology and
Technology of the California Oilfields.' by Ralph
Arnold and Y. R. Garfias: 'Water Intrusion and
Methods of Prevention in California Oilfields.' by
Franklyn W. Oldman; 'Chlorides in Oilfield Waters.'
by Chester W. Washburn.
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
327
Mining Methods in the Bering River Coalfield, Alaska
By W.
Work in the Bering River coalfield has, taken as a
whole, proceeded little further than the location of
claims. Of the five districts into which the fieM may
be divided, namely, Carbon Mountain, Cunningham
Ridge, Kushtaka and Carbon ridges, Bering Lake, and
Lake Tokun, the largest amount of work has been
done in the Kushtaka and Carbon ridges district. The
Cunningham district probably stands second, while
Bering Lake and Carbon Mountain occupy the third
and fourth places, and the Lake Tokun district the
last. From the standpoint of actual mining or extrac-
tion of coal, there is only one property in the region
in which coal mining has been attempted, namely, the
McDonald property, situated in the Bering Lake dis-
trict. While considerable coal has been mined on vari-
ous properties, it has practically all conic from devel-
opment work, such as the driving of drifts and tunnels.
Following the location of the outcrops of coal beds.
development was begun. Camps were built at the most
advantageous points on the creeks and as close to the
work as possible in order to facilitate the handling of
supplies and labor. The majority of the openings are
adits which were driven into the coal beds from the
outcrops. Occasionally an adit has been driven with
the expectation of discovering a coal bed. the struc-
ture of the ground having indicated that it might be
reached more expeditiously by an adit from the point
chosen.
R. Crane
In the table below are given data regarding prac-
tically all drifts and adits at present in the Bering
River field.
A number of the openings here listed are marked
'caved'; there were others in similar condition, but
in such shape that no attempt was made to collect data
regarding them. It is a fair and reasonably close esti-
mate that not less than 4.">00 ft. of exploratory pas-
Tot, length
including No.
laterals, of lat-
No. Location. ft. erals.
1. Cannon Mt., near Hunts' cabin... 550 2
2. Clear Creek, below falls 8 none
3. Clear Creek, above falls 12.T none
4. Clear Creek, 2nd above falls 51 none
■". Trout Creek, next to cabin 12 none
6. Trout Creek, below No. 5 355 3
7. Trout Creek, above No. 6 214 2
5. Trout Creek, below 6, across creek. 31 none
9. Trout Creek, across from No. 8... 36 none
10. Trout Creek, below No. 9 466 5
11. Trout Creek, below No. 10 211 none
12. Trout Creek, below No. 11 28 none
13. Trout Creek, above cabin 72 none
14. Kushtaka Lake 360 none
15. Kushtaka Lake, north of No. 14... 50 none
16. Lake Charlotte 3" none
17. On Grade Trail 71 none
18. Carbon Creek, farthest south 469 none
19. Carbon Creek, north of No. 18 147 2
20. Leeper Creek 50 +
21. Bering Lake, McDonald mine 750+ none
22. Bering Lake, south of No. 21 100 none
23. Bering Lake, Poul Point 25 +
24. Bering Lake, Powers creek 109 3
25. Bering Lake, above No. 24
Kind of
opening.
Air con
nection.
Size, ft.
Remarks.
drift
Inclined
shaft
7 by 7
1 in rock, 1 in coal.
drift
None
8 by 7
In coal.
drift
None
S by 7
Ended in rock.
drift
None
8 by 7
Part rock, part coal.
adit
None
8 by 7
In rock.
drift
Connects
with No. 7
8 by 7
1 caved, 1 in coal. 1 in rock.
drift
Connects
with No. 6
8 by 7
1 in coal, 1 caved.
drift
None
s by 7
No coal.
drift
None
8 by 7
Caved.
drift
Air flue
8 by 7
3 in rock. 1 in coal. 1 caved.
drift
None
S by 7
Caved.
drift
None
8 by 7
Ended in rock.
drift
None
8 by 7
No coal at en it.
adit
None
9 by 10
Small bed crossed.
drift
None
S by 7
Partly in coal.
drift
None
s by 7
In coal.
drift
None
8 by 7
Ended in rock.
adit
None
s by 7
No coal.
drift
None
S by 7
1 in coal, 1 in rock.
drift
None
s by 7
Caved.
drift
Air-way
7>j by 8%
Part coal and rock (rooms
turned).
drift
drift
None
None
S by 7
8 by 7
In coal.
Caved.
drift
None
s by 7
In coal.
drift
None
S by 7
Caved.
328
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
FlO. 6. INTERIOR OF TUNNEL, KUSHTAKA LAKE.
FlO. 7. TUNNEL ENTRANCE AND FAN, M'DONALD MINE.
Sages has been driven in this field.
It is but natural that horizontal openings should be
employed in the development of the coal beds of this
field, and, owing to difficulties of transportation, the
openings have been made along the course of the
streams. Practically no development has been attempt-
ed on the outcrops situated on the slopes and summits
of the mountains.
Adits, drifts, and slopes will be the commonly em-
ployed openings for the mines, the working of the
coal lying above and below the adit and drift levels
being accomplished by winzes or slopes. When slopes
are driven from the surface the usual method of driv-
ing headings will be followed. Vertical shafts might
be employed to advantage in some instances, but it
is probable that an attempt will be made to keep the
openings of the mines at as low a level as possible
and to work from below upward as far as may be
found practicable. All of the advantages of working
with horizontal openings can be secured as a result
of the nature and topography of the country and should
result in a material reduction in cost of producing
coal. The development of coal beds of more or less
uniform dip which extend over considerable areas pre-
sents no serious or extraordinary problems, except
when such beds are variable in thickness or are cut
and disturbed by faults. The development of coal
beds occurring in basins of varying widths and dips
and pitching at various angles is quite a different mat-
ter. In the case of the regularly dipping beds the
main haulage and air-ways would be driven down or
up the slope, depending upon whether the beds were
inclined below or above the level of the openings,
headings and air-ways being turned off the main pas-
sages at such angles as to maintain proper grades for
handling the coal.
Arrangement of Development
In basins the regularity and systematic arrangement
of the development wrork possible in regularly inclined
beds is largely lacking, and the headings or gangways
follow the sides of the basins, maintaining such grade
as is found desirable for haulage and drainage. Pro-
vided there are no faults in the beds, or counter fold-
ing does not exist, a more or less definite ami regular
arrangement of workings may be had in coal beds of
uniform inclination or in basins. However, as faults,
folding, and counter folding are prevalent in this field
they will have to be provided for in the scheme of
development adopted. Careful and systematic pros-
pecting will indicate the existence of such irregulari-
ties so that they can be anticipated. The development
of parallel beds, which are frequently found in this
field, will require careful and systematic work, al-
though owing to the fact that in many cases the beds
stand almost vertically the conditions of support will
be much less difficult than would be the ease were
they more nearly horizontal.
Rate of Driving Adits
The rate of driving drifts and adits in the Bering
River coalfield varies largely with the character of
material encountered, and the position of the strata.
that is. whether the openings are driven parallel with
or normal to the strata. Work done on Trout and
Clear creeks and the Kushtaka and Carbon ridges dis-
trict gives an idea of the usual rate of advance. Two
men being employed in each instance, the rate was as
follows :
Time, Advance, Average per day,
days. feet. feet.
20 102 5.1
20 88 4.4
26 100 3.7
26 44 1.6
3 16 5.3
12 39 3.2
20 88 4.4
Average advance for 2 men per day. 3.9 or 4 ft. in 8 by
7 ft, drifts.
About half of this work was done in coal and half in
rock, either alternating solid coal and solid rock or a
combination of the two. The rate of advance was, of
course, more rapid in coal than in rock, and therefore
exceeded 4 ft. Owing to the broken condition of the
coal little or no powder was required in breaking it
and pick work was all that was necessary. The ad-
Februarv 21, 1!>14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
329
Fig. 8. tunnel at kushtaka lake.
Fig. 9. tunnel at carbon cheek.
vance when working regularly averaged about 5 ft.
per day. In rock work blasting was required, the holes
being drilled by hand and the advance was about 3 ft.
per day.
The steel used for drills was %-in. with 1-in. cutting
edge. Hercules, and Judsou No. 2, 40% powder was
used. Holes were placed in such manner as to secure
the best results and not according to any definite ar-
rangement. The holes varied in depth from 2 to 3% ft.
The charge of powder employed varied from 1 to 2
sticks. The usual practice was to drill four holes to
the round, although occasionally five and six were
necessary. For a round of holes to make an advance
of 3 ft. five holes were required, using 7'j lb. of
powder.
The cost of driving in rock and coal is $4.50 and
particularly true when wheelbarrows are employed, but
also when cars are used, care being taken to keep the
bottom of the passage on one side of the ties free from
coal and dirt. This is not always the case, however,
for in the adit driven near the camp on Kushtaka Lake
(See Fig. 8) a large drainage ditch was maintained on
one side of the bottom of the adit. (See Fig. 2.) No
record of work done in this tunnel is available but it
would not be difficult to estimate the additional cost.
The adit on Kushtaka Lake mentioned above is
Fig. .'.
$1.44. respectively. Should it be necessary to employ
powder in working coal, an amount not exceeding two
charges would be used which would average \l/-> lb. per
hole, or 3 lb. per round. The cost per foot of advance
would then be $1.49. The timber for support of drifts
and tunnels costs nothing except for labor of felling
trees, cutting sets, and placing them. Two men can cut
and place three mine sets, together with lagging, in
a day. The' cost would then be $8 per day, or $2.66
per set. The sets are placed 5 ft. centre to centre and
give support to 15 ft. of drift, at a cost of 53c. per ft.
The cost of a passage excavated in rock and supported
would be $5.03; in coal, with and without the use of
powder, $1.97 and *2.02 per foot of advance.
TTsnallv no drainage ditches are made, which is
unusual in that there are four sections of different size
in its 350 ft. of length. These are given below, the
measurements given being from inside of sets:
Width of Width of
Section. length. Height. top. bottom.
ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in.
1st 38 6 7 7 9 11 118
2nd 1 50 6 7 7 7 0 9 0
3rd 48 0 7 4 4 0 5 0
4th 117 0 7 4 C S 9 0
A sketch of the set used in the first section is shown
in Fig. 3. This entire section was timbered with sets
placed side by side, making a closed lining (see Fig. 6).
In the other sections the sets were placed 4 ft. centre to
centre. A standard set for drifts and tunnels is shown
in Fig. 1.
330
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
The rock section of this tunnel will average about
8 ft. high by 12 ft. wide at the bottom. The timbers
are hewn, which would increase the cost to practically
that of sawn timber. There is only one other adit in the
field that approaches the one mentioned above in size
and cost. This is No. 18, as given in the list of adits
and drifts. (See Fig. 9.) The two adits were driven
by the same company, the Alaska Development Co.,
with holdings in the Kushtaka and Carbon ridges dis-
tricts. Exploratory drifts have been driven in coal in
a number of the mines in order to determine the thick-
ness and extent of the coal beds in certain directions.
These passages are usually as small as it is possible to
conveniently work in, being 3 ft. wide and 6 ft. high.
. i a
~T
1Z X/a
Fig. 3.
As previously mentioned, the McDonald property on
Bering Lake is the only one in the field in which suffi-
cient development has been done to warrant calling it
a mine. An airway has been driven in this mine
paralleling the main drifts and haulage way, at the
mouth of which a mine fan is installed. As the dip of
coal bed in which the main drift is driven is rather
high, over 50°, it is necessary to carry the workings up
the dip. To accomplish this, raises were driven in the
coal directly up the dip at intervals of about 100 ft.
These raises are 50 ft, long, 6 ft. wide, and vary from
4 to 6 ft. in height being carried the full height of the
coal bed. They are timbered with posts and caps
placed 6 ft. centre to centre and are divided into two
compartments by a centrally placed row of props. On
the right side, looking up the raise, is a chute boarded
up to a height of 2 ft. with 2-in. plank. The remainder
of the passage is used as a manway. The chute is 2 ft.
6 in. wide, and the manway is 3 ft. 6 in. wide. (See
Fig. 4 and 5.)
At the end of the raises chambers are turned off and
driven at right angles with them and are consequently
parallel with the main drift below. These chambers
are in reality only drifts, being 6 to 7 ft. wide and car-
ried the full height of the coal bed. The chambers are
supported by posts and caps, as are the raises. A row
of props is placed in the chamber about 2 ft. from the
posts on the right side, looking toward the working
face. Canvas is tacked to this row of props to form a
brattice in order that air may be conducted to the face
of the chamber. The airway paralleling the main drift
has a section of 7 by 7 ft. and is placed 12 ft. to the
right, on the raise side. From the airway raises are
also driven connecting with a passage joining the
chambers, which is in reality a continuation of the
chambers, but the space between them is walled up
and reinforced by small sets consisting of posts and
caps, forming a passage 2 ft. square. This passage
acts as a regulator and controls the amount of air en-
tering the chambers. The coal mined at the face of the
chambers is carried to the top of the chutes in wheel-
barrows and is drawn off below through an ordinary
chute with a wooden gate. The object in driving the
chambers horizontally is to facilitate handling in wheel-
barrows and to reduce breakage which would result
were the chutes closed and permitted to stand full of
coal. As it is. a large percentage of the coal is almost
too fine for use by the time it is delivered to the coast.
The employment of battery breasts is therefore out of
the question.
In moderately dipping coal beds of sufficient size to
warrant extensive development, the chambers could
readily be increased both in width and length. By
opening parallel chambers or driving additional raises
the use of brattices could be largely obviated, thus in-
creasing the convenience and decreasing the cost of
mining and coal. Cars could be substituted for the
wheelbarrows, reducing cost and breakage.
Cost of Mining Coal
The cost of mining coal by the method described,
which really consists in driving, would closely approxi-
mate the costs previously given for driving. The work
of breaking down the coal is largely done by picks,
although in order that the coal may be mined in as
large pieces as possible it is preferable to employ a
number of charges of powder for each advance. One
man can readily advance a 6 by 6 ft. chamber 5 ft. in
8 hr. As no lagging is employed in the chambers one
man can make and place one set and extend the brat-
tice in half a day. The cost of support would then be
equivalent to the cost of a half day's labor. The cost
of breaking down coal in a chamber per day of 8 hr.
would then be $6.41. or $1.28 per foot of advance.
Assuming that the specific gravity of the coal is
1.3, the 180 cu. ft. of coal in place would weigh 7.31
short tons, which is the amount of coal produced in ad-
vancing the 6 by 6 ft. chamber 5 ft. The cost would
then be 87c. per ton. As only one vertical shaft has
been sunk in the field, the Grade Trail shaft south
of Lake Charlotte, and as that one is partly filled by
a fall of earth from the outcrop, no data could be se-
cured relative to the cost of the work.
There is little hope that the comparatively high cost
of development and mining can be reduced so long as
the present high price of supplies is maintained, which
is due in large part to the high cost of transportation.
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
331
The building of one or more lines of railway into the
field and the establishment of steamship communica-
tion with the large cities of the Pacific coast will bring
the needed relief and place the field on a competitive
basis with other operating fields.
A majority of the drifts and adits of the field have
Fig. 4.
not attained sufficient lengths to make artificial venti-
lation necessary. Several of the openings have, how-
ever, been provided with means of insuring adequate
ventilation. The means employed are : air shafts ; raises
connecting workings at different levels ; air flues ; and,
in one case, an independent airway provided with a
mine fan. An air flue is used in Trout Creek tunnel,
and in Fig. 7 is shown the fan situated at the drift
entrance to the McDonald mine. In the McDonald
mine the fan can be employed either to force the air
into or exhaust it from the airway, simply by reversing
the direction of rotation. When used as a pressure fan
the air currents first pass through the chambers, being
discharged through the raises into the main drift ; when
employed as an exhaust fan. air entering the main
drift is drawn through the raises and chambers and
thence through the airway to the surface. A wooden
box conductor is run along the top of the main drift
and extends to within 20 ft. of the face, making con-
nection with the airway by means of a diagonal offset
at a point about midway of the drift. By this con-
ductor the air at the face of the drift is kept fresh.
"With respect to the dip of the coal beds ^here is
nothing to prevent the application of the same methods
of working that are in common use in the coal mines
of other fields: and, owing to the fact that the coal beds
of this region have the full range of inclinations from
the horizontal to the vertical, an unlimited variety of
methods could be employed each suited to a particular
condition. There are. however, two conditions that
will probably seriously interfere with and limit the
application of any mining method to these coal beds.
namely, the badly broken condition of the coal and
poor top formations. The former will be of minor im-
portance provided the coals are used in making coke
or for briquetting, but for steaming and other com-
mercial purposes the prevention of undue breakage
by handling will be a serious problem. Poor top for-
mations will of necessity require narrow work or ex-
tensive and systematic support, in either case causing
materially increased cost of production.
Owing to the position of the coal
beds and the character of the country,
the drainage of the mines is likely to
prove a difficult task, particularly in
those properties where inclined and
vertical shafts and slopes are used. In
the majority of the mines the openings,
as previously pointed out, will be drifts
and adits, in which case almost any
quantity of water can be handled read-
ily and at small expense. The drifts
and adits at present driven discharge
all water entering them, and that too
without, except in one or two instances,
drains being provided. Drains of am-
ple section and special openings driven
for drainage purposes alone would eas-
ily handle all the water that could rea-
sonably be expected to enter the mines.
By adapting the coals of this region to the use te
which they are best fitted by their chemical and physi-
m& wiifcwwi.'fl i "v5?-
Fio. 5.
cal properties there is little doubt but that they can
be mined and marketed in competition with the coals
of any other locality in North America.
Flotation of ores by the Minerals Separation process
in 1913 was responsible for the treatment of approx-
imately 3,000,000 tons of zinc, lead, and copper ores.
During the current year the Company figures on its
processes treating 4,000,000 tons.
332
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
Pis Pis Mining District
The concession originally granted James Deitrick in
11MI2 and subsequently acquired by the United States
& Nicaragua Co. has since served to cast a cloud
over mining titles in the Pis Pis district. The American,
published at Bluefields, printed the map reproduced
below. January 28, and in that connection stated that
"it has been a question since the granting of this con-
cession as to whether the mines in operatio in the Pis
MAP OF PIS PIS DISTRICT.
Pis district were included within the limits claimed by
the concessionaires. The concession owners promptly
laid claim to the district and the Government supported
them by refusing to accept denouncements in the dis-
puted territory. The mine-owners were very busy peo-
ple during the first years, struggling with a high-grade
ore and bad transportation; consequently nothing was
done to settle the question nor to ascertain the exact
position of the existing mines. The owners of the con-
cession were not compelled by the Government to
run their lines, and they have not yet done so. Re-
cently the mine-owners arranged with William Pfaeffle,
who is well known as an exact and careful engineer,
to make the surveys necessary to determine the exact
latitude and longitude of each of the mines, with the
result of determining that not one of the properties in
the Pis Pis district are within the boundary claimed by
the United States & Nicaragua Co., and that even
Great Falls, a water power that was almost conceded
to it, is fully three miles to the eastward of the line.
"While it is apparent that the concessionaires never
had any intention of developing the territory, relying
on the possibility that prospectors would locate claims
which would accrue to them without the labor and ex-
pense attendant on intelligent prospecting, certain it is
that they have suppressed the development of that im-
mense territory, estimated at 7000 square miles, known
to be the richest in all of Central America, for nine
years, outside of creating apprehension on the part of
legitimate miners in the Pis Pis district and prevent-
ing investment by capitalists who were anxious to
safely establish themselves there."
Industrial Accidents Under Compensation
The Nevada Consolidated C. Co. and the Steptoe
Valley S. & M. Co. have recently made public com-
parative figures of the number of industrial accidents
in their plants before and after the Nevada industrial
insurance law went into effect. The table below is
summarized from these figures as published in the
White Pine News. The first period was from January
1 to July 27, 1913, while the companies were carrying
their own risk. The second, for which the figures are
set in italics, was from July 28 to December 31, after
the new law went into effect. Of the total number
of accidents, 52.7% happened to the 'American' and
47.3% to the 'foreign' laborers. The second period
showed a net decrease of 32% in time lost.
Nevada Con. Total No. of Total
Veteran mine: shifts. accidents, disability.
American 13,740 9 56
6,120 .', 30
Foreign 55,530 41 299
■ I'l.ltO 12 *I0
Steam-shovel:
American 53,340 36 703
.',2,270 22 246
Foreign 61,830 79 1217
51,5i0 37 SSS
Steptoe Valley:
American 209,700 46 493
138,060 27 617
Foreign 131,070 41 774
91,320 30 207
Totals 525,210 252 3542
S63,li20 132 166-;
Large deposits of iron, copper, chrome, and other
ores occur in the mountainous district of Asia Minor.
Few mines have been developed, although a number
of prospecting permits have been granted by the Turk-
ish government. The Caramanian Iron Co. produces
20.000 tons of ore per year. Austrian and German
mining engineers and promoters have recently visited
this region with a view to purchasing some of the
mines mentioned, but no definite transactions have
been reported as yet.
February 21, 1!»H
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
333
Hydro-Electric Power in Chile and Peru
Bv Lewis R. Freeman
•Fall, volume, and continuity of supply are the three
prime essentials in the generation of electricity from
water-power, and, except in the pampas country and
the rainless district of northern Chile, these are to be
found in almost every part of South America. From
a mere physical standpoint, probably the finest oppor-
tunities for power development on the continent, if not
in the world, are to be found on the eastern slopes of
eighth parallel, north of which to the Peruvian line
are the rainless deserts of the nitrate provinces, south
to Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan, then-
is not a city, village, or hamlet that can not be cheaply
and efficiently served with electricity generated, in
many instances, within 10 and in no case over 20 miles
from its centre. And few, indeed, are the towns and
cities of Chile which could not. between lighting, troll ev
LAJA FALLS, CHILE.
the Cordilleras of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and
Ecuador, where the moisture-laden clouds from the
Amazon valley dissolve into rain upon the cold slopes
of the great mountain barrier. Here, lofty mountains
and tropical rainfalls form a number of river systems
which for waterfalls, cascades, and torrential rapids,
are unrivaled in the world, save where the monsoon
from the Indian ocean precipitates its moisture upon the
southern slopes of the Himalayas. Unluckily, in this
region there is not at present any market whatever for
this power.
For easy and comparatively inexpensive hydro-
electric development. Chile, with the possible exception
of Switzerland and Kashmir, is the most favorably
situated country in the world. From about the twenty-
•Abstract from the Bulletin of the Pan American Union.
lines, mines, sawmills, and general manufacturing, find
the use of such power to its economic advantage. The
narrow strip of Chile between the Cordilleras and the
coast is, for a considerable part of its length, as densely
populated as Switzerland, and, with a people scarcely
less industrious than the Swiss, there is no reason why
the water-power possibilities of the Andes should not
be turned to good account industrially here as in cen-
tral Europe.
There arc several hydro-electric installations, build-
ing or projected, in Chile at the present time, and
though many of these are of greater magnitude, it is
not likely that any of them will be begun at so fitting
a time properly to impress the people with the possi-
bilities of hydraulic development as happened in the
instance of Valparaiso's first hydro-electric plant, when
334
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
there was a serious shortage of coal in Chile. Chile's
finest power project is that of harnessing the magnifi-
cent falls of the Laja, sometimes called tha Niagara of
South America. The Laja is the main branch of the
Rio Bio-Bio, which flows into the Pacific near Concep-
cion. The latter is the largest of the rivers of the
southwest coast, and the Laja probably has a How little
less than that of the Hudson at Albany. The falls are
over 100 ft. high, with the physical conformation of the
banks of the river ideal for economic installation. Un-
luckily, this splendid fall hardly lies within practica-
ble transmitting distance of the region where power is
most needed, Santiago, Valparaiso, and the valley of
the Aconcagua. Concepcion, Talchuano, Chilian, and
the populous intervening country, with several hundred
thousand inhabitants in all, will reap full benefits of
Laja power, however, and several divisions of the gov-
ernment railway, with their branches, may be operated.
Opportunities for Development
Southern Chile, from the Bio-Bio to the Strait of
Magellan, with its rolling hills, rich valleys, and heavy
winter rainfall, has more water-power than it will
know what to do with for some decades to come. Swift
perennial streams flow from the mountains every few
miles, and there is not a village in this part of the coun-
try that could not be served from two or three different
sources. What is probably the finest opportunity for
power development in this region occurs on the Rio
Choshuenco, where that fine stream, in its 1200-ft. drop
from Lake Perihueco to Lake Panguipulli, falls nearly
150 ft. at one point. Upward of 25,000 hp. could be
developed there at a comparatively small cost, but the
ideal installation would be an intake at Lake Perihueco
with a power-house, 10 miles away and 1200 ft. below,
on Lake Panguipulli. This would be an inexpensive piece
of work ; yet there are few other points in the world
where 200,000 or 300,000 hp. could be developed at an
equal cost. The fact that this power-site lies in the pass
of San Martin, which, on account of its low altitude,
will undoubtedly be chosen as the route of South
America's first broad-gage transcontinental railway,
makes it certain that a considerable market for power
will be created for 200 miles east and west.
Chile's great power market lies in the cities of
Santiago and Valparaiso and those of the populous
Aconcagua valley, all of which are within practicable
transmitting distance of each other and of a number of
possible sites for development of hydraulic energy. The
most comprehensive projects are those which plan to
develop at a number of sites on the Colorado and
Aconcagua rivers and transmit it to the various cities
in the valley below. The Aconcagua is the fine stream
which the railway follows down the Chilean side of the
Uspallata pass, and the Colorado is its main branch.
Both rise on the western watershed of the great
Aconcairua. the highest peak in the Western Hemis-
phere, and are, therefore, drawing their flow from a
storair<> unrivalled save by that of the Himalayas.
There are few sheer falls of great height on either
river, but for 50 miles or more of their courses each of
them is a torrent of cascades and rapids where a fall
of 300 or 400 ft. may be obtained in a mile or two at
almost any point. The minimum flow of these fine
streams, if utilized only in such plants as are already
projected, will furnish power for the most populous
section of Chile for many years to come. There are a
number of other good power sites within econominal
transmitting distance of Valparaiso and Santiago, but
the Aconcagua-Colorado projects will probably fulfill
the demands at the least cost. The hydro-electric in-
stallations which supply power in Peru are, perhaps,
the most notable completed to date in South America.
The largest of these is at Chosico, 25 miles from Lima,
where a fall of 125 ft. has been secured in a short
distance with a flow of five cubic metres per second.
The current is transmitted to Lima at 33,500 volts.
The Polovora plant in Lima utilizes a fall of about 80
feet. Another station at Chaora Sana, 3 miles below
that of Chosico, utilizes the same waters, that of the
Rio Reisano, to develop 6000 hp. By going farther
afield, the power supply of the Lima district may be
augmented greatly, and as plans for extending the
interurban lines and electrifying the steam lines are
being energetically carried out the local power de-
mand is likely to prove very considerable.
At Charcano, 8 miles from Arequipa, 1000 hp. is
developed at a station which receives its water through
1V± miles of canal. The flow of water is 4 cubic metres
per second, and the fall about 90 ft. Several other
towns have modest hydraulic installations, as have also
a number of mines, sugar plantations, etc. A hydro-
electric station, which, with the Oroya railroad is the
highest in the world, is at the Alpamina mine, at an
altitude of over 16,000 ft. above sea-level. The elec-
tricity is generated direct at 3000 volts and trans-
mitted about 5 miles. At this station, as well as
those of the Cerro de Pasco mines, which lie at an alti-
tude of over 13,000 ft., great precautions have to be
taken to avoid the interference of static electricity.
always a troublesome factor at great heights. In all,
between 75,000 and 100.000 hp. has already been made
available in Peru by hydro-electric installations.
The Power Market
A lack of demand, rather than of a potential sup-
ply, may be also ascribed as the reason for the fact
that little has so far been done in hydraulic develop-
ment in Bolivia. Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and
Paraguay. The three countries first named are espec-
ially well watered, while their physical conformation
leaves little to be desired from the standpoint of the
hydraulic engineer. Population and industrial de-
velopment are conditions precedent to a demand for
power at whatever cost, and until this demand is
created hydraulic development will be confined to the
vicinity of a few of the larger cities and the more
progressive mining districts.
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
3*5
A Coeur D'Alene Electric Plant
By Girard B. Rosenblatt
The electric equipment of the property of the Na-
tional Copper Mining Co.. 4 miles northeast of Mullan,
in the Coeur d'Alene district of Idaho, constitutes one
of the most interesting that has been made in that dis-
trict for some time. Power will be purchased from the
Washington Power Co. under a contract which makes
it desirable for the mining company to maintain as
high a power factor on its load as possible. The min-
ing company has water rights from which approxi-
mately 600 hp. can be developed and it was determined
to utilize this to supply part of the power requirements
of the mine and mill, ami at the same time to use these
generating stations to improve the power factor as
much as possible. Accordingly two hydro-electric
plants will be built on Dead Mans creek situated so as
to secure the maximum amount of power from the
available water. In each plant there will- be installed
an impulse type water-wheel driving a 200-kw. 3-phase,
60-cycle generator. These plants will be connected to
the load in parallel with the power supply of the Wash-
ington Water Power Co. No attempt will be made to
regulate the load taken by these plants, ami as a conse-
quence the water-wheels will not be supplied with gov-
ernors of the ordinary design. They will, however, be
supplied with overspeed governors which will deflect
the water-wheel nozzles in case, through any accident.
the load on either or both of the plants is disconnected,
which would tend to allow the water-wheel to race.
When the machines are connected in parallel with the
power company's lines, the frequency delivered will
necessarily fix the speeds at which the generators can
run and they will take as much of the mining com-
pany's load as the water running through the water-
wheels will permit. They will, therefore, always be
developing as much power as possible, yet their speed
will be fixed and held constant by the frequency of the
power company's supply lines. The fields of these
generators will be so designed that, by adjusting their
excitation properly, a high power factor on the entire
load will l)c secured.
One of these hydro-electric plants will be designed
for operation in the usual manner by an attendant in
the station. Tin- other plant is designed to run without
attendance and the generator may be connected to or
disconnected from the load from a distant point (the
compressor station at the mine) by means of electri-
cally operated switches. The governor on the water-
wheel will be also controlled by the same mechanism
which operates the switches and the plant will be
stopped or started without anyone going near it. The
installation at the mini' will consist of approximately
300 hp. in induction motors, the largest being a 200-hp.
Wcstinghnuse motor driving an air-compressor.
The mill, which has been designed and is being built
bv the General Engineering Co. of Salt Lake, will be
driven by approximately 600 hp. of induction motors.
Each department of the mill will be driven by a sepa-
rate motor, the two largest individual machines being
a 300-hp. motor on the Hardinge mill department, and
200-hp. for the dry-crushing department. All the
motors will be equipped with suitable protective ap-
paratus to cut them off from the supply lines in case
of overload or in ease of failure of power.
Electric haulage will be used underground to handle
the ore, and the ore will be transported from the adit
mouth to the mill over an electric railway, which is
unique in some of its features. The run from the adit
to the head of the mill is about 10.000 ft. and in this
distance there is a drop of 450 ft. in elevation, necessi-
tating a grade of 41/o% on the railroad. The railroad
is built along the side of Dead Mans gulch and has a
24-in. gage and is laid with 30-lb. rails. The ore will
be transported down this railway in trains of 8 to 12
cars, each car carrying 4 to 5 tons of ore. The equip-
ment is designed to handle 500 tons in two shifts of S
hours each. The average haul within the adit will be
about 5000 ft. and the grade on this inside run will
only be H per cent.
From this it will be seen that a comparatively light
locomotive would handle all of the work inside of the
adit but that a locomotive of about 8 tons in weight on
drivers would be required for the work on the electric
railway from adit mouth to the mill. It was. however.
considered undesirable to have two different types of
locomotives which could not be used interchangeably,
and this was particularly so in view of contemplated
extensions underground, which might require the
service of an additional locomotive. Accordingly it
was decided to standardize on a four-ton locomotive,
which could be used independently underground, but
which could be consolidated into an 8-ton tandem unit
for haulage over the electric railway. This arrange-
ment is of particular advantage in that it reduced the
number of motormen required. Other advantages are
that a double 4-ton tandem unit is easier on the rails
than a single 8-ton unit would be. and also that with
the gage in use adequate motor capacity of good
design can be placed between the wheels of the locomo-
tive. It is estimated that the tonnage handled can be
doubled by adding another 4-ton locomotive at a later
date, and arranging motors so that the two loco-
motives used underground can be used alternatively
as the following unit of a tandem couple with a third
locomotive operated only on the outside haul.
It was originally intended to construct a gravity
tram to take care of the transportation of the ore
from the adit to the mill, but a careful engineering in-
vestigation proved that an electric railway would
handle the ore considerably cheaper, even on the steep
grade involved. In fact a careful analysis which was
made before a decision was reached indicated that the
saving of the electric railway over the tramway would
amount to several cents per ton handled. The installa-
tion cost of the railwav is a little less than the esti-
336
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
mated installation cost of an aerial tramway. The sav-
ing in operating cost is effected by obviating the
necessity of handling the ore at the adit mouth, and
by reduced labor charges at the mill. With the present
installation, the trips will be made up at the ore-chutes
in the mine, and the complete train as made up at that
point will proceed out through the adit over the rail-
way to the storage bins at the mill, where the same
crew, consisting of a motorman and a trip man, who
came out with the train will see to the dumping of the
ore.
All of the electrical equipment for this installation is
being furnished by the Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Co. The electrical design for the mill equip-
ment is in the hands of the General Engineering Co.
and the electric haulage system is the work of P. Cush-
ing Moore, chief engineer for the National Copper Min-
ing Co.. Mho worked in conjunction with the engineers
of the Westinghouse company.
Counterbalancing Hoists
The Balliet system of hoisting in balance was des-
cribed in our issue of December 13 but owing to re-
strictions incident to patent proceedings it was im-
possible at that time to give full details as to the
method of adding the counter load. The figure here-
with printed makes this matter clear. In addition to
the ordinary counter-weight a series of chains are
used as shown. These are of different lengths and
hung from different points in the shaft so that it is
possible by choice among them to balance the hoist at
any level from which it is proposed to hoist. Details
of operations at Tonopah, Nevada, are given below, the
figures being taken from the annual report of the
Buckeye Belmont Mines Co., for 1913:
Un- Counter-
balanced, balanced.
Hoisting speed feet per minute 700 700
Depth of shaft (hoisting feet) 1200 1200
Weight of 1250 feet hoisting cable 1160 1160
Weight of empty skip 1600 1600
Net load of ore or rock hoisted 1500 3000
Weight of counterbalance cable 744
Weight of cast iron counterbalance. . . ._ .... 500
Continual balance weight (chain) 1768
Deadweight (skip down plus hoist
cable) 2760 1236
Gross load, 1500 lb. rock to hoist (lb.) . 4260 4236*
Computed power hoisting deadweight
(rip. ) 59 27
Actual peak or starting torque (hp.) . . 211 160
Computed hp. ignoring friction for
gross load 90 90
Computed hp. for 1500-lb. net load... 31.7 63.6*
Power actually used (meter reading)
hp 161 120
Percentage of Power Used— Per Cent. Per Cent.
Computed to handle deadweight 37 24
Net load 1500 lb 20 53*
Balance 71 hp. charged to friction... 43 231
Total per cent 100 100
*With 3000 lb. +30 hp. charged friction.
Allowing two minutes
time for starting, hoisting.
and stopping, at 4c. per
kw. hour, and the cost of
rock hoisted is 20c. per
ton unbalanced, and 8c.
per ton when hoisted in
balance. The theoretical
horse-power required to
raise one ton 1200 ft. in
two minutes would cost
4e. at the rate of 4c. per
kw. hour. Therefore these
figures show that unbal-
anced the efficiency is
20'/{ , while with the coun-
terbalance the efficiency is
increased to 53%, or in
other words two and one-
half tons is hoisted for
what one ton formerly
cost. There are some
slight variations in these
figures, apparent inaccu-
racies, which were un-
avoidable for the reason
that in figuring horse-
power a known load is
supposed to have been hoisted in order to compute the-
oretical horse-power, instead of average load of rock,
and absolute accuracy woidd be essential in the weight
of the cable and empty skip. A few feet in length of
the cable makes a difference in the meter reading,
likewise a little dirt sticking in the empty skip would
make a difference, while the load used in making the
figures was the average hoisting load.
The Supreme Court of Ontario, on December 19, de-
livered a judgment of considerable importance to min-
ing prospectors. This was in the suit of Perron r.
Hurd. They were prospectors in the Kirkland Lake
district. In measuring his claim, Perron staked a
length of 22 in place of 20 chains, and Hurd's claim.
adjoining, consequently overlapped it by two chains.
Perron contended that he had complied with the re-
quirements of the law, to the effect that the measure-
ments were to be "as accurate as could reasonably be
ascertained," urging that it was practically impossible
to give exact measurements. The Court decided that
all claims registered, to be valid, must be accurately
measured, and that no prospector could claim anything
more than 20 chains each way.
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
337
Copper Production oi Japan in 1913
Prom the returns of important mines, it has been
estimated that the total production of copper in Japan
in 1913 would be approximately 72,000 tons, the most
important mines having made the following outputs:
Tons.
Ashio 10,600
Kosaka 9,000
Hidachi 9,500
Besshi 8,500
Other mines 34,400
Total 72,000
The production of copper in 1903. ten years ago,
was only 32,000 tons, and that in 1912 was 65,000.
Thus the copper production of Japan has been stead-
ily increasing, and probably will continue to do so.
The Ashio mine stands first in output, not only in
Japan, but in the Far East. The recent improvements
of the mines and the works, and the completion of
a railroad to the mine have made possible a marked
increase and great economy. The future of the prop-
erty is bright. A fire visited the property late in
December, resulting in about 80 houses being burned
near the Tsudo adit. No damage to the mines them-
selves occurred. The production of copper from Bes-
shi is expected to increase hereafter steadily and the
mine has large reserves. The Kosaka and Hidachi
mines stand high in total production, but partly be-
cause of the smelting of custom ores from several
mines. The Ashio and Besshi are the producers of
copper from their own ores.
For many years Japan was an exporter of copper
to the foreign countries, but this condition is now
changing. The rapid development of wire making
and manufacturing of electrical machinery is mak-
ing Japan a user of copper as well as a producer.
The amount of copper consumed at home in 1913 has
been estimated at 35.500 tons; that is. about one-half
the amount of the whole production. Estimates of
this consumption are as follows :
Tons. Per cent.
Copper wire 1 4,500 40.8
Copper articles 2,500 7.1
Brass making 18,000 50.7
Naval and army purposes 500 1.4
The exports of copper fur the 10 months ending
with October were as follows:
Tons.
China 10,300
England 6,360
France 4,650
Hongkong 3,900
India 1,500
Germany 1,200
Others 5,290
Total 33,200
In the last two months the exports to China amounted
to about 2000 tons, and to other countries about 1300
tons. The total may have reached about 30.500 tons.
Rulings of the California Accident
Commission
The Commission holds that chauffeurs, private or
otherwise, come under the compensation provisions of
the act without any election on the part of the em-
ployer being* necessary. It has also expressed itself
as being of the opinion that the reasonable cost of
necessary transportation immediately connected witli
the injury is a proper charge for medical treatment
under the compensation act. It has ruled that members
of voluntary fire departments, operating without re-
muneration, and public officers, who serve without re-
muneration, are entitled to medical and surgical bene-
fits, but are not entitled to any other compensation
benefits. In the case of farm employees, it expresses
the opinion that work done on a farm by employees
of the farmer for the maintenance and operation of
such farm, is excluded from the compulsory provisions
of the compensation law. but that such farm employees
can proceed against their employers by means of a
suit for damages, said suit being filed under the first
two sections of the Roseberry act. The Commission
has also stated that it will assume jurisdiction where
employers residing in California and employees resid-
ing in California make a contract of hire in California,
without reference where any accidental injury or death
may take place. In each case of seasonal employees
the Commission holds that it will seek to ascertain
the average annual earnings by testimony showing the
earnings throughout the year of the individual con-
cerned. The Commission will be glad to receive and
answer inquiries regarding interpretation of the law.
Cost of Hauling by Motor Truck
At one of the small lead mines in the Mississippi
Valley a 3'j-ton motor truck is used to haul concen-
trate from the mine to the railroad, a distance of two
miles. On the return trip the truck haids coal and
supplies to the mine. The original dirt road was im-
proved by adding crushed rock in places and a top
dressing of 'chats' to make it suitable for hauling by
motor trucks. The Company has kept accurate records
of the expense of operating the truck so that it is
possible to calculate the exact cost per mile and per
ton-mile. The labor employed consists of a driver, a
helper, and three loaders. The truck usually makes
from seven to nine round trips in a day. and hauls a
load of 31- tons of coal or concentrate.
The records for the month of September. 1913. show-
that the truck ran 888 miles, and transported 1005
tons. It used 301 gal. of gasoline and 36 gal. of oil.
The cost of labor for the month was $256.35. which
includes the wages of the driver, helper, and loaders.
The cost of repairs was $9.58; tires. $39.96; road work.
$63.44: and unloading coal, $2.80. The total operating
expense was $442.59. and the cost per mile was 49.82c.
The cost per ton was 40.4c. and per ton-mile 20.2 cents.
338
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to his own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
Solution Control in Cyanidation
The Editor:
Sir — The publication of my contribution on solution
control has evidently displeased James S. Colbath,
whose criticism appeared in the October 11 issue. In
his reply, Mr. Colbath utters a protest against an
article which contained a resume of the details of zinc
precipitation, a discussion and a new definition of avail-
able cyanide, the results of a large number of experi-
ments and tests, results showing the effect of the ad-
dition of acid to a normal cyanide solution, the results
of experimental work dealing with the question of
acidity and regeneration, and extensive arguments
and details of tests intended to prove the absence of re-
generation with alkali in plant solution under normal
conditions. Under examination the 'protest,' as such,
turns out to be little more than an apparent objection
to details of tests intended to prove the absence of a
recognized method of direct testing for free cyanide.
In support of .his attitude on the question he neither
mentions nor does he discuss the arguments and proofs
I brought forward in support of my contention ; neither
does he adduce one single argument or proof in corrob-
oration of his own impressions. His attitude is in-
explicable. He has evidently not taken the trouble to
read the article he attempts to criticise.
i.eibig's method
Mr. Colbath makes a definite statement that: "Most
working solutions permit of a single determination of
free cyanide by direct titration with silver nitrate re-
gardless of the alkalinity." I most emphatically dis-
agree with him in the expression of a timeworn theory.
My article contained much argument and the results
of numerous tests disproving this; and Mr. Colbath is
not likely to advance his position one iota by the mere
statement, even though it be associated with a 'protest'
against any effort to throw more light on the matter.
In the presence of zinc compounds there is no definite
end point to be observed and, even if the results were
approximately reliable, this fact would make the
method unsuitable for routine control in the plant.
Clennell states:* "The method works admirably with
pure cyanide solutions, but "ives very uncertain and
inaccurate results in presence of some of the impurities
which are generally introduced during treatment of
ores."
"The method." Mr. Colbath continues, "depends on
the presence of zinc, which acts as an indicator, and
*Chemistry of Cyanide Solutions,' p. 7.
in addition the solution must be perfectly clear, as
well as the flask in which the titration is made." The
use of zinc as an indicator is, as far as I know, quite
new. In what form and quantity is it used, and what
compound of zinc and silver nitrate is responsible for
the opalescent end-point mentioned! Or does Mr.
Colbath refer to a zinc compound in the solution when
he mentions zinc? In any ease, further details would
be of interest. As regards the precautions which are
insisted upon against an attempt to titrate with a
cloudy solution and an opaque flask, these are ele-
mentary.
After quoting the generally accepted theory as to
regeneration with alkali, Mr. Colbath continues: "The
above method * * * will indicate decrease of free cya-
nide during precipitation, in contradiction of Mr.
Aliens' experiences, but in accord with the principles
of chemistry." My statements on the subject were
accompanied by definite and carefully cheeked titra-
tion results and referred to the instance, as I stated at
the time, where there was an excess of free cyanide
and a moderate alkalinity in the incoming solution.
With a high alkalinity the whole of the cyanide both
as free and combined would be indicated in the re-
sult of a simple titration test, using potassium iodide
as indicator; and there should be no difference be-
tween the free cyanide content at the head or tail of
the box, as indicated by this method. The initial
alkalinity, plus the alkalinity formed during precipita-
tion, would regenerate free cyanide from the double
cyanide, according to the theory subscribed to by Mr.
Colbath. Upon what reaction or evidence does he base
his insinuation that my experiences are against the
principles of chemistry?
Mr. Colbath next deals with the chemistry of the
cyanide process and tells us that: "* * * it is suffi-
ciently well understood for its intelligent application,
so that the well-informed operator can usually deter-
mine free cyanide with more certainly and almost as
simply as one whom I knew to determine alkalinity by
feeling with his fingers." I have only one remark to
make to such an unscientific statement, and that is —
he may think he ran.
EFFECT OF ZINC IX SOLUTION"
Mr. Colbath is inclined to believe that I overrate the
evils of zinc in solution. He tells us that he has never
thrown away a ton of solution in twelve years on ac-
count of fouling with zinc. This may mean that he has
thrown it away to prevent fouling, which would have
been a wise precaution. Or he may wish us to under-
stand that he has never thrown away a ton of solution
at all. If the latter is the impression he wishes to con-
vey, then it is obvious that his residues during those
twelve years have not contained a total of one pound
of cyanide, so perfect has been the displacement of
cyanide solution from residue. Such a contention is
too great a tax on our powers of credulity.
As regards the immunity which Mr. Colbath has
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
339
enjoyed from the effect of zinc in solution, I must refer
him to the article which he criticises, but which he evi-
dently has not read. I stated: "The loss of zinc from
plant solution is a mystery which has yet to be solved.
* * * Whatever the cause, it is evident that the auto-
matic reduction of zinc content prevents the fouling of
cyanide solutions in the great majority of cases." Mr.
Colbath's experience, as well as my own under many
other circumstances, may well be included under "the
great majority of cases." I then continued: "Under
other conditions, however, as in the present instance,
the reaction stops at a certain point, after which active
measures must be taken for the removal of an unde-
sirable accumulation of zinc. The strength of the
cyanide solution entering the zinc-boxes must often be
increased in proportion to the amount of zinc in such
solution ; and an unnecessary consumption of both
solvent and precipitant results from an endeavor to
effect satisfactory precipitation from foul solution."
In a criticism protesting against an article containing
such direct statements as these. Mr. Colbath's advice
that "such troubles are usually due to insufficient free
cyanide" is offensively gratuitous.
GOI.D VKRSrS SILVER SOLUTION'S
Still another reason to account for Mr. Colbath's
immunity from trouble in connection with the presence
of zinc in plant solution may be found in the fact that
his experience may refer to the cyanidation of silver
ores. Again I must repeat myself: "Satisfactory pre-
cipitation, from an economic point of view, is more a
question of ultimate value than actual metal content.
The 'barren' solution after gold precipitation may con-
tain a few grains j>er ton as compared to the corre-
sponding 'barren' solution after silver precipitation
which may contain as many pennyweights. Each may
be referred to as the residue after satisfactory precipi-
tation, but it is evident that the question of zinc con-
tent is more important in the case of the treatment of
gold ores where a complete or nearly complete pre-
cipitation is essential, a small percentage of the metal
representing a high money value." In other words, a
solution which under other conditions may be con-
sidered hopelessly foul may still be productive of good
results in the treatment of a silver ore. Foulness is a
relative term and not a definite one. and the whole
aspect of the case is governed by the value of the
metal being recovered. Zinc was abandoned at Nipis-
sing in favor of aluminum on evidence of the loss of
solvent power in the solution due to the accumulation
of precipitant compounds. We learn from E. M. Ham-
ilton's article-!- that the ordinary solution after zinc
precipitation carried 0.8 oz. silver per ton. This is
an amount largely in excess of the quantity of metal
usually found in the highest grade gold solutions before
precipitation. The fact that the tailing solution has since
been reduced to 0.05 oz. is one of the strongest reasons.
in my opinion, why more attention should be drawn
iEng. d Min. Jour., May 10, 1913.
to a method of precipitation which Mr. Hamilton has
described and the extension of which he advocates in
his usual lucid and scientific manner.
AMOUNT OF FREE CYANIDE
Mr. Colbath next refers to two remarks I made in
connection with a statement of trouble with cyanide
solution. The first was to the effect that routine titra-
tions by the ordinary method had been made regularly
and showed no material alteration in the composition
of the solution. The second stated that an analysis
of the solution revealed a high zinc and copper con-
tent. After a statement of these two facts, Mr. Colbath
adds: "It is quite evident that free cyanide must
have been very low." In fact, and for some time
previous to the successful removal of the copper, the
amount of free cyanide was so high that the copper
accumulated in the solution to the detriment of gold
precipitation: and cyanide 'drips' at the heads of the
boxes were without good effect. The subsequent vari-
ations in free cyanide content in order to precipitate
the copper, and finally to allow for the removal of
the excess zinc, have been fully described, and indicate
the method by which a return was made to normal
cyanide consumption and satisfactory precipitation.
Mr. Colbath, in his discussion of the -matter, omits all
reference to the elimination of the copper and refers
to the success following the adding of excess cyanide
to the solution.
In the next paragraph Mr. Colbath commits another
error. "I cannot accept Mr. Allen's statement in
regard to function of hydrogen in precipitation. The
liberation of hydrogen is sometimes incidental and
not the cause of precipitation." In no part of my arti-
cle did I say that hydrogen could cause precipitation.
I said that it was an essential element in the reac-
tion, and I have no hesitation in reaffirming such a
statement. Mr. Colbath's remark that hydrogen is
sometimes incidental to precipitation is interesting,
but will he enlighten us as to the reaction when it
is not? The fact that precipitation may be good with-
out visible liberation of hydrogen does not support
his contention, since the correct amount of hydrogen
may be absorbed as soon as formed.
Mr. Colbath concludes with the following signifi-
cant remark: "It appears to me that the solutions
in question were saturated with zinc to the extent of
having all the cyanide combined. * * *" The italics
are mine and serve to draw attention to the implica-
tion that cyaniding operations were being carried on
with an ignorance of the elementary conceptions of
the process. Such an insinuation is as ill-judged as
the statement itself lacks verisimilitude. Assuming
that it were possible to obtain, under ordinary work-
ing conditions, a solution saturated with zinc salts
to the exclusion of all free cyanide, what is Mr. Col-
bath's remedy? The addition of more cyanide in-
volving a further fouling of the solution, and an in-
creased consumption of chemicals. Again assuming
:{4()
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
an ordinary alkaline working solution in such a con-
dition, how does Mr. Colbath propose to test for cya-
nide content? By the adoption of a method which
assumes the regeneration of free cyanide by the 'com-
bination of zinc salts and alkali; and where the re-
sult would indicate a free cyanide content which,
even according to Mr. Colbath, did not exist.
The inconsequent nature of the criticism is very
manifest when Mr. Colbath 's inference as to the sat-
urated condition of the solution is compared with a
previous statement suggesting that I had overrated
the evils of zinc in solution. It is also obvious that
he has no faith whatever in his own convictions on
the question of regeneration of cyanide. When all
the cyanide had been combined with zinc, why was
not free cyanide regenerated by the alkali obviously
present in the solution?
The ineptitude of Mr. Colbath 's 'protest' is singu-
larly well illustrated by the fact that his own pro-
fessed views do not even persist to the length of
his extraordinary letter; and he concludes with an
inadvertent admission of the claims of my contention
against alkaline regeneration. , w .*......
Lonely Mine, Rhodesia, November 21, 1913.
Balliet System of Counterbalancing
The Editor:
Sir — My attention has been drawn to the advertise-
ments of the Balliet system of counterweighing hoists.
This system is claimed to have originated at Tonopah.
and has just been patented. Several mines have been
willing to accept the claims for originality of the de-
vice and it is announced that they are 'licensed' to
use it. It is my belief that the inventor is sincere in
believing that his device is new in principle, but a com-
parison between the Balliet device and similar ones
that I have seen is sufficient to show that it is not new
and properly unpatentable.
There is the usual auxiliary drum over which the
counterweight rope is hung. One end of the rope
descends the main haulage or hoisting compartment,
and this end is fastened to the skip, as is also the main
hoisting rope. The other end of the counterweight
rope enters the manway side over the auxiliary sheave
and is fastened to the counterweight. "To the bottom
of the counterweight is fastened a chain or flexible
weight which is half the length of the shaft" (the quo-
tation is from the Balliet literature) "this chain is
called the counterweight tail line." Mr. Balliet
fastens one end of the chain half way down the shaft
to the timbers. Then follows a very excellent descrip-
tion of the method of working and the saving effected.
"This method of counterweighting is so simple that
it is a wonder that it has never been thought of be-
fore." It has, and I have seen it; also, it is mentioned
in principle in standard works, as in Ihlseng's 'Manual
of Mining' pages 148. 149. under the title 'Chain
Counter Balance', also in that of the Despre method.
In fact with the Koepe, Whiting, and Camphausen sys-
tems it is difficult to put out anything that is not sunn-
modification. The Balliet safety chain also mentioned
in the device I have never before seen, and to me. at
least, is new. I am curious to hear from others on it.
This safety chain is apart from what has been described
above.
That Mr. Balliet may obtain a patent is by no means
improbable. From times 'way back miners were used
to set an auxiliary door in the head-frame and cut a
notch in the centre of one end. Then on their bucket
bottom they hung a short chain and on the end of the
chain an iron ball. Up comes the bucket and passes
the auxiliary door now standing vertical and above
the collar. The door is let fall at a fixed angle, the
bucket lowered and joggled until the iron ball caught
in the notch, the main cable loosened, the bucket
dumped over the inclined door used as a chute and
shaft-closer. The bucket was again jerked up and
free, the door raised by the engineer who dropped it.
and the bucket descended into the shaft. Some man
came here from the prairie, thought it rather clever,
and got a patent on it! Opekatob.
Cripple Creek. January 29.
Stirling v. Babcock & Willcox Boilers
The Editor:
Sir — There are some calculations, the value of whose
results would not be one whit affected whether a 5-in.
or a 5-mile slide rule were used in working them out.
If the assumptions and premises are wrong, accuracy
in the figures counts for naught. This is the trouble
with Mr. Gulick's letter in your November 29 issue on
waste heat boilers in reverberatory furnace flues. It
seems to be "a very interesting example of" partly
digested reading, and of taking up the role of critic
without making sure of one's facts.
His "per horse-power" figures mean nothing, or
rather they are quite misleading. The description of
the boilers showed that they were all of the same
nominal horse-power, namely, 400, so the evaporation
duty of the two types under the given conditions of
service were approximate^' as 1.37 to 1 per unit of
heating surface for the B. & W. and Stirling types- re-
spectively. Moreover, the proper unit for a basis of
comparison is not the horse-power, but the furnace.
My notes were to show, and I still think do correctly
show, which of two types of boiler attached to similar
smelting furnaces saved most money per furnace under
similar conditions, over similar periods.
S. Severiv Sorensex.
Braden Copper Co., Chile, January 5.
The Woolworth building is 750 ft. (51 stories) high,
and weighs just 250,000 tons. It has 2000 offices, and
F. W. Woolworth expects to realize in rentals $2,500.-
000 per year. The total sales at the Woolworth '10-.
cent' stores throughout the United States amounted
to $66,000,000 in 1913.
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
341
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give Information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
are now used only. During 1912 more than 18.000.000
lb. of such material was used in the coal mines of the
United States. Manufacturers report an increase of
50% in the sales of permissible explosives.
Loss of power due to belt driving even under ideal
conditions is appreciable, and may amount to as much
as 5 per cent.
Combination charges of black powder and some
high explosive in a hole to be blasted should not be
permitted about mines.
A larger quantity of explosives is required in ma-
chine-drill stopes than in hand labor stopes to break a
ton of ore on the Kami. This amounts to as much as
8 to 10c. per ton.
Ash from boilers fired by wood contains a high per-
centage of lime, and at the .Messina copper mine. Trans-
vaal, the boiler ash is being used as a flux in the fur-
naces for smelting ore.
Cost of shaft-sinking, station cutting, and cross-cut-
ting at the Buckeye-Belmont mine. Tonopah. Nevada.
in 1913 was $37.68 to $40.30. $20.03. and $10.09 to
$20.02 per foot respectively.
Bore-hole coefficients in drilling gravel deposits arc
often unreliable. In the report of Charles M. Rolkcr,
on operations at the Lena Goldfields, Siberia, during
the past year, he gives data regarding the unrelia-
bility of a bore-hole coefficient. On the Hig Dogaldin
claims, 25 drill-holes were put down. Of these,
11 holes gave a total average of 18 dwt. per
cubic yard. If a 50% boring coefficient is assumed,
this would indicate a value of 9.068 dwt. per cubic
yard, a very satisfactory yield. These holes cover a
stream length of about 3920 ft. Tt can hardly be said
that these are sufficient drill-holes to give an aver-
age gold content and stream width for this distance,
but Mr. Rolker based his Dogaldin estimate on them.
Fire clays may be tested by means of an ordinary
blow pipe. Most varieties melt and ordinary impure
clays fuse readily into a dark glass. Good fire clays
do not fuse — though the smaller pieces may show a
rounding of the edges.
Dredging ground near Dowden Falls, Jackson coun-
ty. Oregon, includes a large apple orchard, which is
to be dredged. The Washington and Oregon owners
of the ground slate that the entire orchard will be
restored after being worked.
Flotation at Cobar, New South Wales, was found to
be successful only on sulphide ores, and more par-
ticularly on sulphides exposing freshly broken and
unoxidized surfaces. The presence of carbonates or
sulphates was extremely obnoxious, decreasing the per-
centage of recovery, according to F. Danvers Power.
Stream line is a term originally used in hydraulics
by ship builders and designers of turbines and signi-
fied the path of least resistance, which is followed
by a water particle when it is forced or deflected by
an object. A stream line automobile body is so shaped
as to cause the least resistance of the air when a car
travels at high speed.
The use of 'permissible explosives' is rapidly extend-
ing as the result of thorough investigations by the
Bureau of .Mines. Where the risk of gas or dust ex-
plosions in coal mines is a serious one, these explosives
The specific gravity of a coin 900 fine in gold and 100
fine in copper is 17.2!) when the specific gravity of gold
is taken at 19.32 and copper at 8.92. Actual experi-
ment on a $20 gold piece gave the value 17.2(1 at 20°C.,
in terms of water at 20°C. as unity. If the weighings
are reduced to vacuo, and the unit of specific gravity is
changed to water at 4°C. the value becomes 17.15. This
is the density at 20°C. in grains per cubic centimetre.
according to S. W. Stratton of the Bureau of Standards
at Washington. D. ('. Gold coin is made up of 9 parts
of gold and 1 part of copper, but not by volume. 1 'nited
States statutes, section 3514. relative to the weight and
fineness of gold coins, is as follows: The standard for
both gold and silver coins of the United States shall
be such that of 1000 parts by weight 900 shall be pure
metal and 100 of alloy. The alloy of silver coins shall
be copper; but the alloy of gold coins shall be of cop-
per or of copper and silver: but in no case shall the
silver exceed one-tenth of the whole alloy.
Depression of the Atlantic coast region has long been
believed to be in progress. The evidence that this
region has sunk in comparatively recent geological
time is unchallenged, bul 1). W. Johnson and others
have been led to doubt the assumption that it is still
sinking. To uphold the inferences drawn from a study
of the geological phenomena. Mr. Johnson has recently
brought forward the results of tidal observations and
precise leveling in the vicinity of New York City.
Tidal observations extending over a period of a quar-
ter of a century show that the mean tide-level has
not changed perceptibly in that time, and a series of
precise level determinations in two areas show that
the differences in elevation, as determined twenty-five
years ago and during the past years are less than
the probable error of the measurements. There thus
seems to be no evidence that the coast is either sink-
ing as a whole, or that there exists any of the differ-
ential warping which might be expected to accompany
regional subsidence.
342
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21. 1914
DENVER, COLORADO
Tin: Rollinsville District, Its Present Conditio.-*, Efforts
Made to Revive It, and Possibilities. — The Gold Dirt,
Perigo, and Golden Flint Mines.
The mining district of Rollinsville, in Gilpin county, origin-
ally known as the Perigo camp, is not dead, but in a sad state
of hibernation. The mines, which once made the place a pros-
perous one. are the Gold Dirt, Perigo, Golden Flint, and sev-
eral smaller properties such as the War Eagle, Blaine, Cali-
fornia, and Mountain Chief. The camp languishes, not be-
cause all the orebodies have been discovered and mined, or
that the ores are refractory and cannot be treated, but be-
cause the men who control the greater part of these mines,
and who in the early days, by their enterprise, developed
the camp, have grown rich and are simply sitting back; play-
ing a waiting game. These men own over 100 patented lode
claims, all the available placer ground in Gamble and Moon
•gulches, and the ground in South Boulder gulch from a mile
above Rollinsville to Pactolis, besides other property termed
ranch lands because of small alluvial deposits upon them.
On all these lands the company pays taxes and has other
expenditure. This sort of thing is enough to break the spirit
of any camp. Up to the present time the waiting game has
been played in one of three ways: to sell outright the de-
veloped workings for their full value; to work the developed
properties by the leasing system, leaving the lessees to keep
up the ground; or, when this ruinous policy could no longer
be carried out. to amply capitalize the whole proposition, re-
tain the bulk of the stock, and sell the remainder to raise
enough money to put the properties back on a paying basis.
The first two methods of procedure have proved more or
less successful, the last a dismal failure.
To show the ruinous results of this procedure, it need only
be stated that at the present time the old Gold Dirt mine
stands idle and full of water, and its machinery rusting in
spite of the fact that the property is equipped with a com-
plete 50-ton modern milling plant and thousands of tons of
profitable ore lies broken in the stopes. The Perigo mine is
closed, although it produced $7,000,000 above the adit-level, a
distance of less than 700 ft. According to the report of Mr.
Snyder, of the Colorado School of Mines, made since the
workings were closed down, there is still $600,000 net to be
recovered from the old stopes. Because these workings make
considerable water, no attempt has been made to mine below
the adit-level.
The value of these properties now being withheld from
production is well shown by the fact that the Golden Flint
mine, considered one of the smaller properties, has, within
one year of the time of its sale to outside people, been de-
veloped into one of the best mines of the district. Under the
able management of James Elspass, of Denver, sufficient ore
has been developed to warrant the erection of a modern 100-
ton milling plant, now completed.
The final effort to put the old properties on a productive
basis was made when a development company known as the
Bellevue company was organized, Charles Knight, of the
Rexall company of "Leadville, undertaking the promotion of
the deal. The plan was to develop the placer ground first:
but the ultimate aim was to develop the whole of this large
property. All parties to the contract seem to have acted in
good faith. The investment was an attractive one, and shares
should have sold well, and the final result undoubtedly would
have been beneficial to shareholders and district alike. But
an unfortunate quarrel between the owners and the pro-
moters disrupted the whole affair, threw the properties into
the hands of a receiver, to be finally bought back by the
original owners at a sheriff's sale last fall. It is needless
to say that the camp has lost faith in these old timers, who
should be the chief developers, and feel that the only hope
for existence lies in the newer properties, and this hope is
surely not without foundation. The Golden Flint, if its pres-
ent efficient management continues, is bound to prove satis-
factory. The Smuggler, the only other producing mine in
the district, is just now recovering from two years of liti-
gation. This was the result of a prospector adjoining decid-
ing he had the apex of the Golden Flint lode. This mine
will also make good, not only because there is ore in it,
but because in George Ashmore, the superintendent and one-
third owner, the company has a man who has great faith
in the mine. The Smuggler is equipped with a 10-stamp,
amalgamating and concentrating plant, simple in construction
and operation, but makes a fair recovery — just the sort of
mill one usually finds at the smaller paying mines in the
Gilpin district. Besides these two mines, there are a num-
ber of prospects upon which considerable work has been
done, and which will probably be good producers in the
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THE PERIGO MILL.
future. The best ones are the Sea Bird, Siren, Diamond Bill,
and Gold Queen, and also a number of smaller properties.
Some years ago there was begun in South Boulder gulch,
about two miles above Rollinsville, an enterprise, which, had
it been completed, would have made the camp one of the
good ones of Colorado. The company was known as the
Golden Sun company, and its idea was to drive a cross-cut
adit, south about 20° east, to intersect all the main veins of
the district. The ultimate aim was the Perigo vein, which, it
was claimed, would be cut at a vertical depth of 700 ft.
The other good veins would have been cut at depths ranging
from 300 to 1000 ft., which is sufficient depth for all prac-
tical purposes at the present time. This adit would have
afforded drainage for the various mines, a tramway to the
Moffat road, while South Boulder creek would supply suffi-
cient water for milling purposes. The trouble was that when
the adit had reached a distance of 2465 ft., the promoters
decided that a 50-ton modern mill was necessary. All efforts
to resuscitate have proved futile. This is the situation in
north Gilpin county at the present time, but there surely
is a better day coming, as there are good veins and excellent
ore all along the north and eastern slopes of Jumbo and Tip
Top mountains and the ranges branching from them. When
the Moffat road was built through this part of the country
an immediate revival of mining was anticipated, but for
reasons given above results have so far been discouraging.
February 21, 1!»14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
343
PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN
Operations IX tuie Zinc-Lead Districts ix January. — Wobk
Suspended at Many Mines. — District Outputs and New-
Work.
The month of January, 1914, in the Wisconsin zinc-lead field,
was filled with incongruities. Not so many years ago oper-
ators stated that zinc ore must be on a basis of at least $40
per ton. assay of 60% zinc, in order to make a profit. Spelter
remained in advance of $5 in January on East St. Louis
quotations, closing the month at $5.20 per cwt. Spelter
ore ranged during the month from $39 to $41 per ton, basis,
and vet the field witnessed a period of depression almost
bordering on panic. Several of the best producers sus-
pended operations indefinitely, while nearly every camp in
the field witnessed large cuts in the wages of miners, breast
and machine men, which resulted in many men leaving. On
top of all this, however, it was seen after the reports for
the month were well in hand, that January would be an ex-
ceptionally strong month from the standpoint of production.
Ore buyers showed no strong desires to get into the field
and bid. Two modern mining equipments in process of con-
struction were shut down, and the men at this work dis-
missed. Separating plants at three different points kept
going without time restriction, and made a fair turn-in of
high-grade ore, one plant obtaining premium prices. Lead
ore was in better demand, but there seems to be a concerted
plan to hold this grade of ore until prices are better, and
shipments were light. Production was fair, while the output
of iron pyrite fell under the usual output. 'Dry-bone' produc-
ers in the northern camps were actively engaged all the
month, but no market was afforded this grade of material,
and several hundred tons of ore, ready for delivery, was car-
ried over.
On the whole, the month compares favorably with the out-
put for the summer months of 1913. Prospecting was con-
tinued vigorously at one or two points In the field, with ex-
cellent results. Leading mine managers declare that advances
will be made in the price of ore, but that high prices are
out of the question for this year.
Production by districts for January is shown in the fol-
lowing table, tne separator product being included.
Zinc. Lead. Sulphur,
Camps. pounds. pounds. pounds.
Benton 5,210.000 3,352,800
Hazel Green 3.430.000 1 26,000
Galena 2.730,000
Unden 2.370,000 231.440 598.890
Livingston 2.356,000
Cuba 2.102.000 687,320
Platteville 1. 718.000
Harker 1.542,000
Shullsburg 1,014,000
Highland 7t,x,000
Montfort 324.000 66.000
Mineral Point 48.000
Totals 23.612.0110 132.440 4,639,010
The bulk of the shipments from Benton came from the
Frontier. Fox. Fields. Ewing. and Martin: Hazel Green, the
Kennedy and Cleveland. Galena, the Black-Jack, Vinegar Hills,
and Federal: Linden, the Ross, Glanville, Optimo, and Saxe-
Pollard: Livingston, the Grunow, Peacock. Peni. Lucky Six,
Coker. Ellsworth, and Rundell: Cuba, the Masbruch mine and
National Separating Co.; Platteville. the East End. Enterprise,
and Empire roasters: Harker. the Mifflin: Shullsburg, the
Winskill property only: Highland, the New Jersey Zinc Co.
only: Montfort, the O. 1'. David mine: and Mineral Point,
from small local producers.
Briefly stated. th<- more important happenings for the
month are as follows: Local producers In the Highland dis-
trict were left out by ore buyers, and no deliveries of ore
were made, 1000 tons of mine product being carried over.
Linden showed new ore discoveries In Optimo mine No. 1,
and a heavy production from No. 2. The Mifflin district re-
turned two producers, after an idleness of months. The
Peacock Mining Co. was held liable for injuries to one Dol-
phin, a miner, by the higher court and judgment awarded
for $11,000. The Grunow, Shamrock, and Biddick mines sus-
pended operations indefinitely. Platteville experienced an off
month. The East End mine, the leading producer, was down
for two weeks. Enterprise Mining Co. operated in the top
flats with fair results. The Wilson mine at Potosi remained
shut down. The Klar-Piquette failed to resume operations.
At Cuba, the National Separating Co.. affiliated with the
Vinegar Hill company, made a large turn-in of high-grade
ore but no effort to increase capacity. The Roosevelt mine,
idle for years, was again placed on a producing basis. The
Masbruch mine shipped steadily. The Benton district made a
good showing. The Martin mine resumed operations after
remodeling jigs. Heavy pump equipment and 250-hp. electric
motors was installed at the Bull Moose mine, and initial ship-
ments of zinc ore made. Building operations on a new plant
for the Iowa Mining Co., were halted. Mining operations on
the North Blende were suspended, pending the installation
of new high-pressure boilers. The San Souci Mining Co.,
operating a new plant, stored ore in bins. Drilling operations
continued for the Wisconsin Zinc Co., on the Robbins and
Champion with astonishingly good results. A new 250-ton
power and milling plant will be provided without delay. The
Minnie Mining Co.'s plant is being dsmantled and removed.
The Calvert Mining Co.'s plant has been dismantled and re-
moved to the Galena district. Longhenry Bros, suspended
mining operations. In the Hazel Green district the manage-
ment of the Cleveland Mining Co. suspended building opera-
tions on two new mining plants, one on the new Lawrence mine
and the other on the Scrabble Creek property. The North-
western Zinc Co., one of the heaviest shippers of this district
during 1913, suspended mining operations, placed a new
superintendent in charge, and began prospect work with drills.
The famous Vinegar Hill mine, producing steadily and in
volume since 1905, began removing pillars, evidence that the
end of the big ore runs had been reached. Prospect work with
drills on the Unity for this Company proved successful. The
Federal mine operated double shift most of the month, turning
in four cars of concentrate weekly. The famous Black-Jack
mine, the property of the New Jersey Zinc Co.. was down part
of the month while repairs were made to compressors. Ship-
ments of ore are being made weekly. The Brown, Merry
Widow, Betsy. Indianapolis. Ryan. Glen Ridge, and Pittsburgh
mines were all idle during the month. Low prices of ore on
the medium and inferior grades is given as the reason for the
suspension of operations.
BOSTON
Shake Transactions. — Tonopaii Stocks in Boston. — Tennes-
see Copper.— Reserve Banks ami Mining Stock.— Mohawk
Dividend Passed. — F. A. Heix/.e Litigation. — Mayei.ower
ami Oi.n Colony Mines.
The Boston Stock Exchange has recently broadened in activ-
ity, getting back to approximately 50,000 shares per day, the
largest volume since June, when dealings covered upward of
50,000 shares at times. The Curb on some days does over
20.000 shares, whereas a few weeks ago, when business was
almost at a standstill, the day's volume often fell to 3000 or
4000 shares. The creation of an 'Admitted Department' on
the Curb has served to beln out the representation, as some
of the industrial shares traded in on the New York Curb have
bad a little market here through being quoted and dealt in
under this new head. Up until recently Tonopah stocks re-
ceived but scant mention and even less attention in Boston,
344
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
joined, as it lias been, to its copper idols. But last year the
Curb governing board created the 'Admitted Department,'
and under this head a number of Tonopah stocks have been
quoted, and news is being freely printed about them. The
time is coming when Tonopah will no longer be a closed
book to Boston, and operations of Tonopah Belmont, Tonopah
Mining, West End Consolidated, and others in that district
will be read about as eagerly as some of those from Arizona,
Butte, and the Lake.
Boston is taking considerable interest of late in Tennessee
Copper Co.'s stock and believes it is being accumulated by
inside interests. The Company's acid department is on a
stable basis, and between the copper and acid the Company
is expected to pay this year in dividends 10% net on the
present selling price of the stock.
The President's trust message was well received by Boston
stock market interests, who believe the Administration is
making a strong effort to conciliate business interests and that
it will be successful in doing so. Boston is now unanimous
for a regional reserve bank, and it is understood that the
city will get one without opposition. It is predicted that the
placing of a bank here will bring the local coppers into more
favor and result in a broader market. Perhaps there will
be no better concrete evidence of credit expansion under the
new currency law than will be provided in the case of min-
ing stocks, which have until the last year or two been under
the ban by the banks as to loans. With a regional reserve
bank here, the banks of Boston will be tempted to loan
more freely at the higher rates which mining securities offer,
and send their commercial paper at a lower rate over to the
regional reserve bank to be rediscounted. Senator Weeks, for-
merly a member of Hornblower & Weeks, has been very in-
fluential through the stand he has taken in crystallizing New
England sentiment in behalf of the currency bill.
The well known porphyry copper banker, Charles Hayden,
heads a group of Boston men interested in the building of
the cup defender Defiance, which is now being built in Maine.
Strike conditions forced the Mohawk company to pass its
semi-annual dividend, as did the Wolverine. These are what
is known in Boston as the 'Stanton properties,' and in a
preceding generation were looked upon as being soundly con-
ducted. Extreme coservatism has always marked the man-
agement of both properties.
The suit of P. Augustus Heinze against A. D. F. Adams
and other brokers for alleged conversion of Ohio Copper, Davis
Daly, and other securities pledged by him with Adams, and
repledged by Adams to eight or ten other persons in Boston,
still drags along, and promises to rival the Thaw case in
the raising of technical points and the protraction of liti-
gation. Not long ago the court here handed down a decision
that Heinze could not maintain his original charge of con-
spiracy against the brokers in whose hands his hypothecated
securities were finally lodged, but intimated that he might
hold some of the brokers separately for conversion, the sug-
gestion being that Heinze's bill be amended from the alle-
gation of conspiracy to that of conversion. The face value
of the securities pledged by Heinze amounted to about
$350,000. Mr. Adams, the man with whom the securities were
placed as collateral for loans, is now 'doing time' in the state
prison at Charlestown. Some of the brokers have effected
settlements and been released from litigation, and others have
left the country. Henry Hovey Love, one of the indicted men,
is understood to be living somewhere in the Northwest, having
left Boston immediately after Heinze began his suit.
The recent strength of Greene Cananea is taken as an index
of quieter conditions in Mexico. The Company has an im-
mense property, but has never had the opportunity of oper-
ating in a stable manner and demonstrating what it could
do in the way of costs.
It is reported lately that there has been some selling of
Alaska Gold stock by one of the syndicate principals which
first brought the company to public attention. It is stated,
however, that this selling is not from the estate of the late
A. F. Holden, one of the engineers who examined and reported
upon the property for the banking interests which have cam-
paigned on the market. Mr. Holden, in his will, left specific
instructions enjoining the executors of his estate from sell-
ing the securities of mining companies with which he had
been identified professionally and financially. Under the terms
of this injunction, it is understood that the Holden estate
is not a seller of Alaska Gold.
When normal conditions are restored at the Lake district,
we may expect some sensational news from Mayflower and
Old Colony. As matters stand at present, there are reports
of developments from both properties by drilling, but it looks
like wasted ammunition to put it out with the continuance
of the strike at the Lake. The latest news is that Old
Colony's No. 27 drill has cut the Mayflower lode at a depth
of 1796 ft., continuing to 1893 ft., a width of 93 ft. This
compares with 77 ft. in the No. 26 drill. The latest showing
is considered to be the best in the Old Colony territory. Be-
sides, it has significance by way of extending the proved
mineralization of Old Colony still farther to the south. It
looks now as if the next market sensation at the Lake, ex
the strike, will break out in the Mayflower-Old Coloay quarter,
and it may be that another swift campaign resembling that
of a few years ago on Lake and Indiana may be pulled off.
TORONTO, CANADA
Industrial Disputes Legislation. — Canadian Coal & Coke
Co. — New Oil Regulations. — Eight-houb Dat Exemp-
tions.— Canadian Venezuelan Obe Company.
It is stated that, at the present session of the Dominion
parliament, further legislation for the purpose of extending
the scope of the Industrial Disputes Act will be introduced.
This legislation for the prevention of industrial warfare will
be more advanced than any similar legislation in any other
country. At the present time the Industrial Disputes Act
affects only those employees engaged in work on any public
utility, and it is the intention to extend this act to take
in all branches of labor, both public and private. The pres-
ent act was designed to prevent strikes and lockouts until
the matter under dispute had been considered and a finding
arrived at by a board of conciliation and arbitration. Neither
employers nor employees are bound to abide by the decision
of the board, but the findings of the board in many cases
have effected harmonious agreements and largely reduced the
number of strikes and lockouts in the Dominion. The Min-
ister of Labor states that much good can be accomplished
by extending the scope of the act to include all labor. If
this legislation comes into force, all public and private en-
terprises will be conducted under the jurisdiction of the de-
partment, and in case of a dispute arising, no strike or look-
out will be permitted until a report has been made by the
board of arbitration. Under the terms of the act. no em-
ployer will be allowed to dismiss or refuse to employ a
man on the ground that he is a member of a labor union,
nor will labor unions be allowed to call a strike on account
of the employment of men who do not belong to unions.
Severe penalties will be exacted in the case of employers
or employees who do not live up to the provisions of the act.
The financing of the recently organized Canadian Coal &
Coke Co. is making satisfactory progress, and it is expected
that the Company will shortly be in a position to complete
development work on the various properties and put them
on a profitable operating basis. The temporary financing,
which will provide sufficient funds for the payment of out-
standing liabilities, and for putting three of the properties
in full operation, is practically completed. For the perma-
nent financing, an issue of $3,000,000 14-year 6% serial bonds
dated December 1, 1913, will be issued. To enable the Com-
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
.345
pany to retire the bonds, a sinking fund will be started
in 1915 which will be sufficient to redeem the entire issue
by 1927. These bonds will constitute a first mortgage against
all the properties of the Company. Reports of independent
engineers acting for the bankers who are to undertake this
financing, have placed a total value of $17,900,000 on the
plants and properties of the consolidated company. The
proceeds of the bond issue will be utilized to retire the tem-
porary financing and to provide working capital and funds
• for the extension of the plant. When all the necessary ex-
penditures for plant and equipment have been made, it is
estimated that the Company will have working capital
amounting to $250,000, in addition to an emergency fund of
$350,000. The different collieries are at present capable of
producing 1200 tons per day, but when the new development
has been finished and the new equipment installed, an out-
put of 8000 tons per day can be attained.
The new Dominion oil regulations which have been pre-
pared by the Hon. Dr. Roche, have been approved by the
cabinet council. In these regulations there are several clauses
of an imperial nature, which are intended to conserve the
oi) resources of Canada for the use of the British Govern-
ment in time of war and emergency. One regulation requires
that any company holding a lease on oil lands shall always
remain a British company, registered either in Great Britain
or Canada, and having its chief place of business in His
Majesty's dominions. The chairman of the company and the
majority of the directors shall always be British subjects,
and the company shall not at any time become either directly
or indirectly controlled by foreigners or a foreign corpora-
tion. The clause will enable the Crown to obtain in time
of war, a reliable supply of oil fuel and also prevent specu-
lators from taking advantage of an emergency to put a pro-
hibitive price in force. Another section of the regulations
gives the Crown power to assume control, in time of emer-
gency, of any lease or works and to operate and maintain
them, the compensation in such case to be fixed by the ex-
chequer court. A further proposed clause prohibits all ex-
ports of oil from Canada in time of war. This clause, how-
ever, will necessitate a change in the export act by parlia-
ment, and the necessary legislation will probably be passed.
Following the report of the Minister of Mines, the Moose
Mountain, Helen, and Magpie iron mines, in northern Ontario,
have been exempted from the provisions of the eight-hour
day which came Into force on January 1. 11)14. An investi-
gation of these properties by the mine inspector showed that
the conditions regarding safeguards for insuring the com-
fort, safety, and health of the miners were of a higher stand-
ard than in any other mines of the province. These three
mines are the only ones which have been exempted from
the provisions of the act.
At a meeting of the bondholders of the Canadian Vene-
zuelan Ore Co.. held in Montreal on January 20, a resolu-
tion was passed authorizing the recently appointed bond-
holders' committee to serve the trustee with notice of de-
fault on bond coupons due at the beginning of the month,
the trustee for the bondholders being the New York Trust Co.
This step Is preliminary to winding up proceedings by the
trust company. According to the provisions of the trust deed,
the property will revert tn the bondholders 60 days after
the serving of the notice, unless in the meantime arrange-
ments are made to pay the overdue interest. There was no
discussion at the meeting of any plan for financing the Com-
pany, and as the bondholders and shareholders are prac-
tically identical, it is altogether probable that liquidation
proceedings will be allowed to take their course. When the
property has reverteil tn the bondholders, it is probable that
some decision as to the future will be made. A drop in the
market price of ore. and a serious decline in the grade below
that estimated by the Company, is stated to be responsible
for the Company's financial difficulties.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
Mux Constkuctiox axd Metallurgical Work at Park City-
Probable Success of a Chlorination Process.— Pi.axts
in Operation ix the District.
The current year will be a busy one in mill construction
at Park City, Summit county. The erection of two new plants
has been decided on, a third is probable, and an old plant,
long idle, is to be restored to activity. The management of
the American Flag has decided on chlorination as the process
for treating its non-shipping ore. E. A. Wall is planning a
mill for the Daly Mining Co. The old Glencoe property has
been acquired by a new company which proposes to revamp
the mill and operate it for the zinc and silver-lead content
of the ore. A milling plant has come to be regarded as an
indispensable adjunct of a successful mine at Park City.
Even those which have large bodies of high-grade ore to draw
on find that the production of a considerable tonnage of
mill ore is inevitable in the course of development. The
American Flag is the latest of the big mines to follow the
fashion. The management estimates a reserve of more than
50,000 tons of $10 gold-silver ore, and the daily production
of 25 tons of mill ore removed in prospecting. G. H. Scibird,
a metallurgical engineer, has been employed for the last six
months in experimenting with the ore and investigating
treatment methods. The first step taken in the investigation
was to decide, once and for all, that no process would be
considered which had not been carried to a successful and
practical stage by others. Hence the work was confined to
narrow limits. While It had been known for some time that
the mill ore, constantly being added to by development, was
peculiarly amenable, both physically and chemically, to the
new chlorination process, yet this method of treatment was
not looked upon with favor, because it was until recently in
an experimental stage so far as successful appliances were
concerned. While a description of this new process is not
permissible at this time, it is a matter of common knowledge
that it is a modernization of the old Augustin process, wherein
the metals are converted to chlorides and subsequently
leached with suitable solvents. The process as now perfected,
notably by Theodore P. Holt, has overcome the previously
existing difficulties in volatilization, low extractions, and high
costs. While the management of the American Flag was
watching the development of the chlorination process, it was
carefully studying the results to be obtained by concentra-
tion, and concentration followed by cyanidatlon. Without
going into detail in regard to the tests, it was found that
concentration alone was unsatisfactory, and that a recovery
of 30% of the silver, 49% of the gold, and practically all the
lead was the best that could be expected. A combination of
concentration and cyanidatlon gave a final extraction of 92' £
of the gold and 74rr of the silver, consuming 3.4 lb. cyanide.
Leaching with sulphuric acid before cyanidation also gave
a fair recovery, with a reasonable cyanide consumption. Chlo-
rination promises a recovery of 92% of all the metals at a
lower cost than any of the other processes, and since this
method of treatment is in practical operation, its adoption
has been decided upon. As an original mill unit, to take
care of the mill ore that is actually being broken each day
in the process of developing the first-class ore. a plant of
about 25 tons per day capacity is being considered. The
mill will be regarded as experimental and to demonstrate the
possibility of milling the ores, and will be so designed that
its enlargement later may readily be accomplished. Its first
cost is estimated at $15,000 and the cost of treatment is
placed at $3.50 per ton. The choice of the Daly West in the
matter of milling equipment has not been announced, and
probably has not been made. The active mills of the camp
at present are the Silver King Coalition. Daly-Judge, Mines
Operating, and some small jigging plants along the stream
running from the Daly-Judge mill.
346
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
Gold Output in November. — Labor Supply. — The Past Year
a Disappointment.
November gold returns as published by the Transvaal Cham-
berpot Mines were quite disappointing. The total working
profits fell to £970,623, a lower figure, excluding the strike
month, than has been reached for many years. The tonnage
crushed was only 2,006,507, compared with 2,347,929 tons in
January 1913. The most remarkable feature of the month
was the reduction of working costs from $4.36 to $4.34 in
November as compared with the first month of the year, in
spite of the smaller tonnage milled. The fall in value of
the output was from £3,353,116 in January to £2,860,788 in
November, so that the decline in aggregate profits is easily
explained.
Throughout the whole length of the reef there are com-
plaints of the chronic scarcity of native labor, and several
of the mines always hitherto popular with the natives are
now considerably short of their full complement. It was
anticipated that the new year would witness an improvement
in the labor conditions in the Transvaal, but all these hopes
have been clouded by the railway strike which commenced
on January 8. The strike may not be altogether a general
one, but some difficulty must result from only a partial
service of trains, and the effect on the native labor supply
will be anything but encouraging. The year 1913 has been
a disappointing one for the gold mines all around, but 1914
promises to be even worse, the comparison with a year ago
as shown above being distinctly disappointing.
KALGOORLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Great Finoai.l Developments. — The Lancefield to Have An-
other Chance. — Diamond-drilling at Fraser's. — Victori-
ous Mine. — Developments in the Horse-Shoe and Ivan-
hoe.
The Great Fingall mine, according to Hope Nicolson, the
manager, is looking as well as it ever did. The peculiarity
of the mine is that the ore is in lenses with intervening
blanks. The first lens produced 30,000 tons yielding $375,000.
and cut out at an incline depth of 300 ft. The second lens
extended from 460 to 1370 ft., and produced 1,822,500 tons,
yielding $23,165,000, out of which $8,734,900 was distributed
in dividends. The third lens was opened at 1900 ft., and is
still going strong at 2500 ft. An internal shaft has been
sunk from No. 13 level, 1500 ft. incline, and is now below
No. 18 level, 2400 ft. incline. This shaft has been fitted with
a 40-ft. head-frame, and hauling will be done by an air
winch. At No. 15 level the ore-shoot is 144 ft. long and
assays $10.46 over a width of 6 ft. At No. 16 level the shoot
has lengthened to 400 ft., and assays average $10 for the
width of the drift, 6 ft. At No. 17 level the shoot extends
for 300 ft., averaging $10, also for the full width of the
drift. At No. 18 level, assays average $11.20 for a length of
430 ft. Several winzes have been sunk below this level, and
prove that good grade ore continues still deeper. The upper
levels of the mine are practically depleted, but ore from the
new lens will be available for treatment early in 1914, and
it is anticipated that the mine will then resume regular
dividends.
The Kalgoorlie & Boulder Firewood Co., which, with the
West Australian Hank, was the largest creditor of the de-
funct Lancefield company, has taken over the mine, and put
John Dustan, at one time metallurgist of the Associated mine,
in charge. Mr. Dustan has _since been inspector of state
batteries, and recently mining superintendent and traveling
inspector of the many mining interests of the Western Aus-
tralian Mining Corporation, Ltd. The Lancefield mine is
equipped with a practically new 40-stamp mill and plant con-
sisting of Krupp ball-mills and Edwards roasting furnaces.
This has proved a failure owing to the presence of arsenic
and graphite in the ore, the high cost of fuel, and the long
distance it has to be carried by tram, as nothing but small
mulga, a hard native tree with great heating capacity, is
available. The mine has produced $4,140,000 from 540,000 tons,
or $7.67 per ton, yet the whole of this sum, as well as
$500,000 working capital and $200,000 of borrowed money,
has been spent on the property. The ore reserves are esti-
mated at 187,300 tons, assaying $8.40 per ton, but this grade
of ore has proved unprofitable under the old conditions.
Firewood alone costs $2.50 per ton of ore treated, owing to
its scarcity and its quick-burning nature. Unless the treat-
ment can be radically improved and cheapened, the new
owners are unlikely to make the mine a commercial suc-
cess. The lode on the property is 25 ft. wide, but, unfortu-
nately, like the Gwalia Consols at Wiluna, and the Transvaal
at Southern Cross, contains arsenic and graphite, and this
makes its successful economic treatment difficult. The mine
is opened by eight levels, the deepest being 1000 ft. on the
incline, and when the whole ore-shoot is blocked out. it is
estimated there will be 100,000 tons of ore at each level. The
lode strikes northeast and southwest, and dips east at the
flat angle of 40 degrees.
Diamond-drill boring at Fraser's mine at Southern Cross
still continues under government supervision, and already
four bores have been completed, the deepest to a depth of
1160 ft. Every bore has passed through lodes, but no details
of the assay value of the ore has been published. No. 5
bore is now being drilled to cut the main lode at 400 ft.
W. J. Loring, who took an option on the property before
leaving for London, in May 1913, has given up the option
owing to the unsatisfactory state of the London stock mar-
ket. The Western Australian Government has already spent
$35,000 in boring, and is hardly likely to abandon the work
unless it sees no hope of a successful issue.
Late developments at the Victorious mine, at Ora Banda,
have not been satisfactory, and, so far as tested, the ore-
shoot is short and far from fulfilling expectation. The lode
was cut at 22 ft. from the shaft, instead of 50 ft. as antici-
pated, and the cross-cut is being continued to see whether it
is the same lode or a new one. Winzes have also been
started from No. 5 level to settle this point. Owing to the
results, the price of shares is weak.
Earlv in December the east cross-cut at 2780 ft. in the
GOLDEN HORSE-SHOE MINE.
Horse-Shoe mine cut No. 4 lode, which proved to be 16 ft.
wide, worth $14 per ton. At the Ivanhoe a diamond-drill
hole has been put in east from the 2870-ft. level station, at
a depressed angle of 40°, to test the country surrounding
the east lode. At a depth of 250 ft. in the hole the por-
phyry dike was cut and continued to 521 ft., when the quartz-
dolerite was entered. The east lode was cut in the porphyry
at a point equal to 263 ft. east of the shaft, and 3067 ft. in
depth. It was 8% ft. wide. 2 ft. of which assayed $2 per
ton. and the balance traces.
•February 21, 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
347
General Mining News
ALASKA
Fairbanks
The annual meeting of the Newsboy Mining Co. was held
at Fairbanks on January 18. Leslie M. Drury, the manager,
stated that there was enough $20 ore in sight to last three
months. Some of it being mined was worth $150 per ton.
Work continues at the 100 and 300-ft. levels. Mining cost $5
and milling about $2.50 per ton. Wood at $14.50 per cord
makes the milling expensive, two cords per day being con-
sumed. He proposed to install a 30-hp. gasoline engine for
$1500, and so reduce costs by 75';. Revenue from gold was
$36,979, and other receipts $15,368. The surplus is $18,864.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
The annual report of the Employees' Benefit Association
of the Copper Queen company shows the following data:
Contributions from members, $25,816: from Copper Queen
company, $8027; balance from 1912, $21,334; total receipts,
$55,177; accidents on duty, 492: claims paid, $5945; accidents
off duty, 62; claims paid, $1996; natural deaths, 9; claims
paid, $9675: sickness claims, Bisbee and Douglas, claims paid,
$15,557; and surplus at end of 1913, $17,503.
Gila County
(Special Correspondence. (—The Inspiration flotation plant
continues to work full time, and nine carloads of concentrate
have already been shipped to the Cananea smelter. The
Oliver filter is doing good work, and a Trent machine is to
be tested. Retaining walls at the concentrator site are
still unfinished. On the road to the property is another
locomotive from the H. K. Porter Co.. 32 gondola ore-cars from
the Pullman company, and the large General Electric trans-
formers.
During January an advance of 2<i57 ft. was made in the
Miami mine, mostly in the Captain orebody. There was
102,522 tons of ore mined last month, and 102,497 tons milled,
yielding 3,258,650 lb. of copper in concentrate. A pump has
been installed to return water from the tailing area, to pre-
vent the residue from flowing down the creek and interfer-
ing with Irrigation.
Miami, February 14.
The Old Dominion Copper & Smelting Co., at Globe, will
add to its electric mine equipment a 225-hp. iuduction motor
from the General Electric Company.
The road between Globe and Copper Hill, a distance of
three miles, is in a bad state, and taxpayers are asking for
a new road to cost $3000.
Graham County
The Shannon Copper Co. reports as follows during the
last quarter of 1913:
Ore treated, tons 72,617
Copper output, pounds 3,403,853
Gold, ounces 588
Silver, ounces 25,836
Average price received for copper, cents per pound.. 15.216
Net profits $101,638
Net assets, not including the railway 396,255
The Shannon-Arizona railway made a net profit of $6006
above bond interest requirements.
Pinal County
Gold-bearing ore has been discovered between Globe, in
Gila county, and Ray, and the new camp has been named
Gold Creek.
Yavapai County
(Special Correspondence.)— The Prescott Chamber of Com-
merce has prepared a complete list of properties in this
county being worked, and prospects requiring capital, and
will send this information free to anybody interested in
mining. The list includes about 160 groups of claims, with
information which might be of benefit in securing money for
their development. Some properties are developed enough for
the interests of capitalists, others are in the early stages of
development, and the remainder are mere prospects which
indicate good possibilities.
Prescott, February 11.
CALIFORNIA
./!
Amador County
In a raise 200 ft. north of the west cross-cut on the 2600-ft.
level of the Keystone mine, at Amador City, 6 to 8 ft. of
good ore has been opened. The shoot is in slate, near the
greenstone contact. A drift is being driven at 1200 ft. to.
cut a vein opened at 900 ft. About 20 in. of high-grade ore
has been opened at 2100 ft. in the Bunker Hill. Prospecting
at the Alpine, at Plymouth, is encouraging, and 3 ft. of ore
has been opened. A new signaling device has been installed
at the Argonaut, at Jackson, the invention of John Rule,
superintendent.
Eldorado County
(Special Correspondence.)— The Georgia Slide mines, at
Georgetown, have been bonded to H. K. Montgomery. The
property consists of five patented claims, the Brattie. Parsons,
Pacific, Blue Rock, and Hanson, which have been worked
continuously for 60 years. The dump of 3,000,000 tons will
be drilled and sampled.
Georgetown, February IS.
Inyo County
There is some activity in Death Valley at present, and
the camp of Carbonite has sprung into existence. Develop-
ments to 300 ft. in the Carbonite mine, the principal prop-
erty in the district, have proved ore containing gold, silver,
lead, and copper. A wagon-road has been cleared across the
south end of the valley, 41 miles to the Tonopah & Tidewater
railway at Zabriskle. Sixty mules and a 25-ton traction
engine are hauling ores for shipment to smelters.
Nevada County
At the Premier mine, north of Crass Valley, an adit is
in 800 ft. at a depth of 122 ft., and it is figured that another
150 ft. must be driven to cut the vein. Some rich quartz
stringers have been cut in a cross-cut. Jesse R. Butler is
superintendent.
Placer County
The Placer County Land Co., of Auburn, has bonded 2>-j
miles of the Bear river bed to W. F. Englebright, of Nevada
City, for $50,000. The property will be drilled for gold for
probable dredging operations.
Two and a half tons of black powder was exploded by
electricity at the R. H. Genung gravel property, near Iowa
Hill, on February 14. About 10,000 cti. yd. of gravel was
loosened ready for sluicing. This district is showing increased
activity.
Shasta County
The Oro Water. Light & Power Co. is negotiating for the
sale of several ranches below Redding for dredging pur-
poses. Prospecting by drills has proved a large area of 10-
cent gravel. The Field process plant at Kidding is to be
given a good trial. Rich gold ore has been opened at 200
ft. in the Silver King mine, in the Centerville district, four
miles west of Redding.
Siskiyou County
Forty-one tons of ore from the Osgood mine yielded $2000
in January. Eleven men are employed. The Commore mine
348
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
has been reopened, and a 3-ft. shoot is being worked. It is
hoped to start the old mill in April. The Siskiyou Mines
Co. is to extend its ditches for water-supply. These are 16
miles long at present, and four giants are in operation.
Trinity County
(Special Correspondence.) — At the Enterprise mine, under
lease to R. A. Skinner and others, 10 stamps are crushing
ore from the lower level. The vein is 30 in. wide, and yields
$20 per ton by amalgamation. Prospects at this mine are
good. Ten men are employed. Recent floods carried away
part of the lower dam, necessitating the mill being connected
with the pipe-line from the upper flume, which has been used
exclusively for electric light and air-compressor. There is
plenty of snow in the mountains, and a long season is ex-
pected. The Hoodoo property, adjoining the Enterprise on
the south, owned by Grant Day and James McLane, is under
bond to Eastern people, who will commence further develop-
ment soon. Some good ore has been produced from this mine,
and the new work should open more orebodies.
Helena, February 15.
Troi.rM nk County
The Springfield Tunnel & Development Co.'s adit, 8 by S
ft., is in 450 ft., and is being advanced 5 ft. per day. Twelve
men and two Damas machine-drills are employed each 8-hr.
shift. Rich ore has been opened in the Caverone mine, 4
miles East of Columbia, by Plummer brothers.
COLORADO
Clear Creek County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Dorrit mill, situated on
Chicago creek, is to be provided with a cyanide plant. F. I,.
Patrick, the manager, states that the improvements will be
made inside of (it) days. The new cyanide mill near the
Saratoga mine dumps is nearing completion, and ore treat-
ment will be started by March 1. S. S. Rowe is in charge.
It is stated that a 50-ton electric smelter is to be constructed
at the New Era mine at Freeland. H. A. Mills is in charge.
Mrs. H. Ettie Minier, manager of the Little Giant G. M. &
M. Co., states that work will be started during the next
month in the construction of a large mill. The plant will
be situated near the portal of the Commodore adit at Law-
son. Ores will be treated from the White-Little Giant group
of mines, situated on Red Elephant mountain. There was an
increase of production in the Idaho Springs district for Janu-
ary ol '.','>'/( over that of the same month of a year ago. The
increase of tonnage was ten cars. A. H. Parker, of Denver,
is now in charge at the Argo mill. The machinery is running
two 12-hour shifts, and an average of 150 tons of ore is being
treated per day. The Newton mine, on Chicago mountain,
operated under lease by E. Smythe & Co., is the scene of a
rich discovery. The orebody is 2 ft. wide, and was cut in
the east drift driven from the bottom of the shaft. Assays
show $100 per ton in gold and silver.
Idaho Springs, February 3.
Construction work at the Edison mill, at Silver Plume,
will probably be finished at the end of February. A new
cable is to lie fitted to the aerial tramway. Work has been
resumed at the Centennial mine by the owner. David Ken-
nedy, who intends to erect a 50-ton concentrating plant in
the spring. The storage-battery locomotive installed at the
Capital mine is working satisfactorily. Brandstetter and
Moscript, Hummer and son, De Manters and Oldfield. and
Oliver, lessees at the Capital, are busy prospecting and min-
ing ore. A modern concentrating plant of 50-ton capacity
is to be erected at the Centennial mine. The ore contains
from $3.60 to $12 per ton in gold.
Gilpin County
The first shipment of pitchblende from the Central City
district, a car of 12 tons, valued at $144,000, arrived at
Denver on February 17, consigned to the local representative
of Alfred I. Dupont of New Jersey. The ore is to be treated
at a Denver testing plant before starting for New York, its
final destination. The car was guarded by an armed escort
on its journey to Denver. The mines from which the ore was
taken were described by Forbes Rickard in this journal of
June 7, 1913.
Lake County (Leadville)
The shipment of low-grade zinc ores from this district has
always been unprofitable, and the want of a local plant to
treat them has been often discussed here. Augustine and
Jones, of Oklahoma, who are interested in zinc smelting in
that state, have decided to erect a 50-ton smelter at Lead-
ville as a first unit. They state that ores containing from
14'/r zinc upward will be received, but they must contain a
certain percentage of iron. The Star claims, on Carbonate
hill, are producing up to 1000 tons of ore averaging 7 to 10
07.. silver and 40% excess of iron per month. From the Water-
loo, iron, lead, and carbonate of zinc ores are being shipped
regularly.
Ouray County
Shipments of concentrate and crude ore from Ouray mines
in January were as follows: Camp Bird, 540 tons; Wanakah
(outside), 379: Wanakah (Brown mountain), 1325; Atlas,
176; Cumberland, 70; Barstow, 27: Bachelor lease, 42; San
Juan Metals Co.. 11: and Arps Krisher, Wedge lease, 47 tons.
The smelter shipped 178 tons of matte and 12 cars of lime-
stone was sent to the smelter from the Ouray quarry.
San Juan County
Shipments of ore from the Dives, Arastra Leasing Co., E.
Fiant, Gold Tunnel. Mayflower Leasing Co., Aspen, and Prim-
rose Leasing Co. properties, at Silverton. during the first 25
days of January, amounted to 575 tons; while concentrates
from the Gold King, Iowa Tiger, Sunnyside, and Intersec-
tion totaled 775 tons. Sampling the Green Mountain mine
by H. B. Barling and G. A. Jahn, Jr., of New York, is fin-
ished. A large tonnage of low-grade ore has- been opened.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
Good progress is being made in sinking No. 1 and 2 shafts
of the Portland mine. They are down 1625 and 1730 ft.,
respectively, the latter being deepened about 130 ft. in three
weeks. A company, to be called the Mineral Hill Ore Reduc-
tion & Leasing Co.. is to be formed by A. H. Heller, for the
purpose of securing leases and erecting a cyanide plant in
the district. Options have already been acquired, and a site
for a mill chosen. New rolls are being installed in the Gay-
lord mill. The Isabella Mines Co. held its annual meeting
at Colorado Springs on February 4. The superintendent,
John T. Hawkins, who recently resigned, reported that the
Comet vein has been opened 125 ft., where it is 4 ft. wide
of oxidized ore. On No. 9 level an ore-shoot has been opened,
and the drift and raise are in granite breccia worth $8 to
$12 per ton. Revenue during 1913 was $254,165. and net
profit $7129. There are 31 sets of lessees working, who
shipped 18,288 tons of ore worth $243,252. It is reported in
Colorado Springs that the Portland company may erect an
electric power-plant on its property on Battle mountain. The
Elkton company is to lease certain blocks of ground from
No. 11 level to the surface. According to the superintendent.
R. P. Windsor, royalties will be as follows:
Value of ore per ton. Per cent.
$10 and under 10
$10 to $20 15
$20 to $30 20
$30 to $50 '. 25
$50 to $S0 : . 35
$S0 to $100 40
$100 and over 50
This property has produced nearly $11,000,000 and paid
$3,279,460 to date. At the annual meeting of the Company.
held on February 10, the question of extending the Roosevelt
February 21. 1!U4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
349
drainage tunnel was discussed. It was proposed to drive it
a farther 2200 ft., but only 5 by 6 ft. in area. At this point
a hard basalt dike would be opened, allowing of rapid drain-
age of the mines west of the dike.
IDAHO
Shoshone County
A new shoot of copper sulphide ore has been opened by a
raise from the 200-ft. level of the National mine, near Mullan.
The ore contains 6 to 8% copper, and good silver content.
The annual meeting of the Tamarack & Custer Consolidated
Mining Co. was held last week at Wallace. The ore goes to
the Taconia smelter, and shipments in 1913 were worth
$366,072. Operating and construction expenses totaled $303.-
308. Cash in banks amounts to $64,601. Retimbering the
Frisco mine, after its being unwatered. is finished, and over-
hauling the mill is nearly complete.
ILLINOIS
The petroleum production of this state in 1913 was esti-
mated to be 21,600,000 bbl., against 28,601,308 in 1912, accord-
ing to Raymond S. Blatchley, of the State Geological Survey.
The total since 1904 is 20S, 112,868 bbl., valued at $153,431,078.
The decline in output, which began in 1913, seems to corre-
spond with the decrease in new development in the deep Law-
rence county pools. The sands of this district have a good
staying quality, and are expected to yield abundantly for
many years. The present rapid drop in their yield is normal,
and later the decline should continue at a much lower rate.
About September 1, 1910. stocks of oil in the state amounted
to 29,289,164 bbl. The decrease in this surplus has been about
16,000 bbl. per day since February 1913. against 19,500 bbl.
until August 1912 and 23.400 bbl. to February 1913. A gen-
eral advance in prices of Illinois oil has accompanied the
decreased output and surplus, due chiefly to the demand for
motor fuels and other economic conditions. The present
price is $1.45 per barrel against 67c. in January 1912. There
were 1439 producing wells in 1913.
MICHIGAN
Horr.IITON' Pointy
At the Calumet & Hecla. -7 stamps art- working, crushing
9000 tons per day; five at the Osceola, crushing 3000 tons:
two at the Ahmeek. handling 1300 tons; and five at the
Quinry, treating 3200 tons.
MONTANA
SlIVKRUOW Coi'NTY
During January, the Butte & Superior mill treated 33.520
tons of ore. yielding 11.117 tons of concentrate, containing
51% zinc, with a recovery of 90.67';. The results in this
month of 1912 were IK. ton tons. 5604 tons. 46. 36' i. and 66.77'';.
respectively. The cost of mining and treatment during the
past six months of 1913 was under $5.50 per ton, and the
net operating profit over $5 per share per year.
The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has ordered one 35 and
three 75-hp. motors. The Fast Butte Copper Co. has ordered
a 150-hp. induction motor. The Rutte Duluth Mining Co.
will place in operation in its power-plant a 1250-kva., two-
unit, three-bearing, synchronous motor-generator set. three
150-kva. transformers, anil a switchboard, also seven motors
ranging from 5 to 150 hp„ all the apparatus having been
ordered from the General Klectric Company.
NEVADA
Cl AUK COI'NTY
(Special Correspondence.) — The St. Anthony Mining Co. is
operating a mine in the Yellow Pine district, 2>_. miles west
of Good Springs. The property consists of about 140 acres,
and ore shipments from December 26, 1912, to January 7, 1914,
were 897 tons yielding net returns, after paying freight and
treatment charges, of $27 .75 per ton. The principal work of
late has been at the east end of the Columbia claim. The in-
cline shaft is down 175 ft., and a cross-cut at 150 ft. has pro-
duced most of the ore. Development at present shows 6 to
15% copper ore, there being 8 ft. of 12'.; ore at 150 ft. depth.
The shaft will be sunk to 200 ft., and cross-cutting done'
Several years ago the old workings yielded ore worth $30,000^
and this part of the mine has been equipped for production!
A compressor, machine-drills, auto-truck and 5-ton trailer,
and other equipment are necessary for a further reduction of
costs. The 900-ft. aerial tramway reduced ore transport by
75c. per ton. Joseph Dederiehs is general manager.
Other regular shippers at Yellow Pine are the Yellow Pine.
Monte Cristo. Potosi, Anchor, Bullion, Singer, Hoosier. Key-
stone, Porter-Palace, and Frederickson.
Good Springs. February 5.
Humboldt Cm xiv
According to Joseph Nenzel, the Mexican company, operat-
ing at Virginia City, will not erect the proposed mill at
Rochester. Reasons for this are stated to be doubt as to
ability to secure 90% of the silver in the ore, and the com-
pany will not make any contract which might be hampered
by litigation.
Lincoln County
A bonus system to aid shaft-sinking at the Amalgamated
Pioche has given good results. For each foot over 21 ft.
sunk each weer the men get $1, and if over 100 ft. in a
month an additional similar amount per foot. The shaft
is down about 1350 ft. Lessees in the Pioche district are
busy shipping ore.
Lyon County
The Mason Valley smelter received only 2671 tons of ore
during the week ended February 14, and shipped four cars
of blister copper. Two men were injured in furnace explo-
sion Feb. 15. The tonnage shows a considerable falling
off of late. Most of the ore being shipped from the Nevada-
Douglas property comes from the Casting Copper claim, which
averages 7 to 8% copper. Diamond-drills have proved three
new orehodies in this part of the mine. The Ludwig pro-
duces a carload of 10% ore per day. Experiments being made
on the ore at Denver. Colorado, will he finished by March.
Nyk County
Ten mines at Tonopah produced In, 995 tons of ore worth
$264,440 during the week ended February 14. In January.
the Belmont mill treated 15.009 tons, yielding 333.0s:: oz.
bullion, with a net profit of $150,288. Work on the new vein
on No. 12 level opens about 3 ft. of rich ore. The Tonopah
company's mill at Millers treated 12.255 tons, yielding 221,-
146 07... and concentrate worth $42,460. The net profit was
$119,423. The Jim Butler company's January profits were
$14,375. Six feet of ore is being opened in a winze below
the West End 000ft. level. In the Extension a raise above
the 950-ft. level and a winze below it are opening good ore
in the Murray vein. One stope on the MacDonald vein, in
the Montana-Tonopah, is 60 ft. long and 8 ft. wide. This
ore has a high gold content, the concentrate averaging 20
oz. per ton, and the mill bullion being much higher in this
metal than the usual ratio of 950 to 10 or 15 per 1000 parts
in this district. No. 3 shaft of the Buckeye-Belmont is mak-
ing 17.000 gal. of water per 24 hours. A triplex electric
pump is to he installed.
Ten stamps at the War Eagle mill, at Manhattan, are work-
ing, and the new equipment of ore-bins, 10 stamps, tube-mill,
and copper plates is to be started in a few days. A large
tonnage of ore has been proved In the Mustang, which is
sending it regularly to the War Eagle mill. There is an
increasing quantity of the Maris chalcedony being quarried
and used in tube-mills in Nevada mining districts. A machine
has been installed at the quarry to wear off the sharp corners
of the rock before shipment. Better weather has resulted
in a resumption of work at the placer areas.
350
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21. 1914
A herd of 1800 sheep was grazing at Millers, 12 miles from
Tonopah, last week, when they drank some water flowing
from one of the treatment plants or tailing areas situated
there, resulting in the death of 1200, worth about $4800.
Stobky County
In a raise above the 2400-ft. level in the Ophir mine, 6 ft.
of $56 ore has been opened. Shares rose in price consider-
ably as a result. T. F. McCormick is superintendent. The
water in the joint Crown Point and Belcher incline winze
was 135 ft. below the 1500-ft. level last week. Byron Jackson
pumps are employed in unwatering.
White Pink COUNTY
It is said that the Ruth mines may be reopened, and ore
extracted by steam-shovels, although up to the present the
property has been mined by underground methods.
NEW MEXICO
Grant County
The Chino Copper Co. reports as follows for the last quar-
ter of 1913:
Overburden removed, cubic yards 934,088
Ore milled, tons 512,450
Average copper content, per cent 2.08
Recovery, per cent 65.54
Copper output, pounds 13,970,438
Copper on hand and in transit, pounds 20,844,497
Profit $812,087
Dividends paid 645,405
Of the ore treated, 76.6% came from the southeast, 16.7'/r
from the northeast, and 6.7'/, from the northwest orebody.
A more uniform character of ore can now be mined. The
concentrate cleaning plants were completed, producing a bet-
CHINO MILL WHEN BUILDING.
ter smelting quality. The water-supply is now satisfactory.
Bonds were retired during the quarter, and those outstanding
will be called in by July 1, 1914.
Vai.knc ia County
(Special Correspondence.) — A leaching plant of 100 tons
capacity is to be built in the Zuni mountains near Sawyer,
New Mexico, to treat copper carbonate ore. The process has
been demonstrated in a small plant, and, if it is satisfactory
in the unit now planned, a larger mill will be built.
Las Vegas, February 10.
OREGON
Baker County
The Cornucopia Mines Co., at Cornucopia, will install two
75-hp. motors and controller recently ordered from the Gen-
eral Electric Company.
Jackson County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Beaver Portland Cement
Co.'s new plant to manufacture cement from the limestone
deposits near Gold Hill, is making good progress. Machinery
is arriving, and is being installed. The rotary kiln is 200
ft. long and 10 ft. diameter. Five large 'slurry' tanks, 20 ft.
high, being built from native fir, will hold the pulverized
kiln feed from the crushers. Work at the quarry continues.
The Company has several contracts for cement highways in
the state.
Philomath, February 13.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Lawrence County
The State Tax Commission has issued a statement show-
ing the taxes paid by the Homestake Mining Co. during the
years 1905 to 1913, inclusive, which are as follows: $76,987,
$76,512, $72,837, $80,430, $92,617, $96,261, $103,939, ,$108,482.
and $200,072.
TEXAS
El Paso County
The El Paso smelter is being enlarged at a cost of about
$250,000. The present plant consists of six furnaces for lead
ores, with a capacity of 200 tons each, and three furnaces for
copper ores with a capacity of 300 tons each per 24 hours. The
matte and slag from the copper furnaces flows into 14-ft. set-
tlers, the slag being taken by a tram to dumps. Improve-
ments are being made in the slag department. There are
five 22-ft. diameter Wedge roasting furnaces in the copper
department, each with a daily capacity of 200 tons. Three
more Wedge furnaces, with two more hearths, making five
each, are being installed. In the reverberatory plant are two
oil-fired furnaces, each 19 by 95 ft., with a capacity of 350 tons
each per day. Oil consumption is 300 bbl. each daily. Seven
steam locomotives and about 50 cars are used about the plant.
The power house contains all the necessary steam, electrical,
and blowing machinery, while a machine shop is fully equip-
ped. Over 10,000 determinations are made in the laboratory
each month. At present about 1100 men are employed, in-
cluding 200 to 300 on new work. The monthly payroll is over
$75,000, about $60,000 is paid to El Paso houses for supplies,
and the railroad companies receive from $80,000 to $100,000
for freight according to the El Paso Herald. A complete hospi-
tal is maintained at the smelter. The plant is operated by
the American Smelting & Refining Co., and ores are received
from all parts of Arizona and Mexico.
UTAH
Juab County
Ore shipments from Tintic during the week ended February
13 were as follows: Mammoth, 33 carloads; Centennial-
Eureka. 24: Chief Consolidated, 21; Eagle & Blue Bell. 17:
Iron Blossom. 15: Grand Central, 12: Gemini (Keystone), 7:
May Day. 5; Beck Tunnel. 5; Gold Chain. 2: Colorado, 2:
Minnie Moore lease, 1; I'ncle Sam, 1; Victoria, 1; Showers
lease, 1; and Bullion Beck, 1; a total of 14S carloads.
Summit County
Concreting the Silver Hill underground station, in the Alli-
ance adit of the Silver King Coalition, is well under way.
A motor weighing 11 tons, to be used in this station, is at
the mine. By April sinking the shaft should be started. Ore
shipments from Park City during the past week were as fol-
lows: Silver King Coalition. 1050 tons: Daly-Judge. 435: Sil-
ver King Consolidated. 198: American Flag. 57: and Daly
West. 50; a total of 1790 tons.
WASHINGTON
Ferry County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Republic Mines Corpora-
tion, which owns the Surprise, Lone Pine, and Pearl mines.
at Republic, has been declared a bankrupt in the federal court
at Spokane. The Knob Hill company produced ore nettin-j
February 21, 1!>14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
351
$140,000 in 1913. The Belcher Mining Co., of Belcher camp, has
been shipping 24 cars of ore per week from above the 300-ft.
level. Thirty men were employed, but some have been laid
off, as the smelters are not able to take all the ore. The Brit-
ish Columbia Copper Co. is sending a car of ore per day
from the Lone Star and Washington mines, in the north end
of the county, to its smelter at Greenwood. The Laurier Min-
ing Co., in the Orient district, has completed its adit to the
vein, 150 ft. farther than the pitch of the vein in the shaft
indicated. A good body of ore has been developed in the
Iron Creek mine, 40 miles south of Republic, and a shipment
is being made to the Trail smelter.
Republic. February 10.
Okanogan County
(Special Correspondence.) — J. L. Harper, former general
manager in Republic, of the Republic Mines Corporation, the
Imperator-Quilp, and North Washington Power & Reduction
companies, has secured control of the Golden Chariot mine,
on Kruger mountain, and is negotiating for two other groups
adjoining it. He is employing eight or ten men and getting
out ore for shipment.
Oroville, February 12.
Stevens County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Silver Queen mine, at Turk,
is to be reopened. The ore is worth $30 per ton, but it costs
$21 to send it to the Tacoma smelter. Good copper ore has
been opened at 18 ft. in the Lena mine, near Rock Cut. At
Chewelah, the Security Copper Co. has resumed work and
will sink its shaft to 400 ft. A smelting plant to cost be-
tween $35,000 and $50,000 will probably be erected by the
Copper King company.
Chewelah, February 11.
WYOMING
Reports are to hand of the discovery of very rich gold-bear-
ing ore in the Snowy Range district. Assays, up to $19,833
per ton. are so high as to warn miners from rushing to the
place.
Lincoln County
The new 50-lon mill of the I'nited States Phosphate Co., at
Border, in the Bear River valley, and one mile from the
MAP SHOWING PHOHPHATK ARKAH <>K IDAHO, UTAH, AND WYOMING.
Idaho boundary line, is ready for work. So far, crude ore
has been shipped to Los Angeles, California; but it was found
necessary to produce proper shipping material, so the mill
was built. The Company is working a large phosphate deposit.
There are other known deposits, mostly in the Bear Lake
valley in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. The largest and most
easily worked deposits are said to be in Rich county, Utah,
but as the distance to the railroad is greater than in Wyoming
and Idaho more development is being done in the other two
states.
CANADA
Ontario
Rich ore has been opened on the 200-ft. level of the Peterson
Lake company's Kerry claim. Sixty men are erecting the
transmission line from the power-station at Charlton to the
Tough-Oakes mine at Kirkland Lake. The contract calls for
the delivery of 800 hp. on May 1, and the work is being financed
by the mining company, to be paid back by a rebate on
power consumed. The annual report of the Dome Lake Min-
SUDBUBY DISTRICT, ONTARIO.
ing & Milling Co. shows that 4645 ft. of development was
done, of which 926 ft. was in ore. There are two ore-shoots
on the 180-ft. level, 60 and 50 ft. long. 23 and 20 in. wide,
worth $17.96 and $18.80 per ton, respectively. The 150-ft.
level shoot has been opened 100 ft., assaying $22.80 per ton.
Ore treated during 1913 was 3717 tons, yielding $1N.762 by
amalgamation, and $5607 by concentration. The 10-stamp mill
worked three months. A sorting table is to be installed, and
so increase the value of the ore.
Monthly returns from the Dome mine have had the follow-
ing averages since April last: $13.11, $13!os. $8.69, $6.81. $6.31.
$6.50. $9.56. $8.76. and $7.93 per ton.
A scheme to piovide the towns of Copper Cliff ami Frood
with water at a cost of $200,000, and piovide for a popula-
tion of 17,000 people, has been completed by the Canadian
Copper Co. Three lakes, known as Meat Bird. Peggy, and
l^each. near the Creighton mine, contain good water, and a
watershed of 2660 acres surrounding the lakes has been
secured. Pipes of Hi and 1 1 -in. diameter will carry the water,
by gravity, to Copper Cliff, where there will lie a 100,000-gal.
storage tank. Lady MacDonald and Clara Belle lakes have
hitherto supplied Copper Cliff, but will supply the Company's
smelting and refining plants in future, although both systems
may be connected at any time. Whitson lake, 41.. m i I « -
northeast, will supply Frood. A watershed of 12 square miles
has been secured around it. A 10-in. pipe, 22.1)00 ft. long,
will carry the water to a 100,000-gal. tank. This supply iinist
be pumped the whole distance.
CHILE
The Braden mills treated 98,000 tons of 2.15'; copper ore
in January, with 72.7' ^ recovery, yielding 2,430,000 II). of
copper.
COSTA RICA
The Abangarez Gold Fields company reports as follows for
December 1913: Ore treated, 7541 tons: gold recovered by-
amalgamation and cyanidation, $53,828: profit, $2343; expend-
iture on plant, etc.. $:'.9S7. The past year resulted in the
treatment of 69.346 tons of ore, yielding $579,236, and a loss
of $22,040. Betterment expenses were $72,732. In 1912 the
loss was $128,683. and betterment expenses $222,781.
352
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, l'Jl-4
DUTCH GUIANA
(Special Correspondence.) — The government of this colony
has recently published the gold output for 1913, which amount-
ed to 856,788 gm. (27,640 oz.), against 716,487 gm. (23,110 oz.)
in 1912. About 90% of this gold was produced by hand
methods. At present there is one small Chilean mill and
one small dredge working in the colony. There wlil be an-
other boat operating early in March. All gold produced in
this country must pass through the government, which col-
lects Wi, of it. The figures given are quite reliable.
Paramaribo, January 30.
MEXICO
Of over 30 mines belonging to the American Smelting &
Refining Co. in this country, only about five are being worked
at present. Conditions in northern Mexico are improving.
ACUASCALIENTE.S
The American Smelting & Refining Co. has two blast-
furnaces, or 50'/, of the total capacity, in operation at the
Aguascalientes plant.
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua smelter is working at 50% capacity again.
Railroad communication is improving, but there is difficulty
in procuring cars. Most' of the ore being smelted is from
the American Smelting & Refining Co.'s mine at Santa Eulalia.
San Luis Potosi
The American Smelting & Refining Co. has been trying to
start its Matahuela smelter, but has not succeeded so far.
So NORA
Exports of ore and concentrate from this state in January,
through the 'port' of Agua Prieta, were as follows: From
Nacozari, 12,690 tons; El Tigre, 164; San Ygnacio. 55: Santa
Rosa. 62: El Temblor, 17; Mina Cobre, 11; La Union, 16: San
.lose. 32: La Caridad, 29; La Sonora. 51; Alemanita, 26: San
Cristobal. 2; El Carmen, 22; San Francisco, 21: and Cobre
Verde. IS: a total of 327 cars equal to 13,216 tons. The esti-
mated Value of the exports in Mexican currency was: copper
1*1.984,800; silver, 1*617,500; and gold, 1*208,900; a total of
1*2,811,200.
Several hundred armed Yaqui Indians are said to be wan-
dering around the Arizpe and Sahuaripa districts, and molest-
ing people in many ways. One treatment is to strip their
victims naked and force them to enter the nearest pueblo.
NICARAGUA
The Tonopah Mining Co., of Nevada, has taken an option
for a year on a property in this country. It has been favor-
ably reported on by.J. E. Spurr. the Company's consulting
engineer. The Eden Mining Co. will be formed to develop
the area.
PERU
Trials made of the new hydro-electric power-plant of the
Cerro de Pasco Mining Co. are reported to have been satis-
factory. Water is obtained from the Montaro river, and is
conducted through a ditch and pipe about 12 miles to the
station at Oroya, which is 70 miles from the smelter and
Cerro de Pasco. Six Pelton wheels are connected in pairs to
three generators of 3000 kw. each. The effective head of the
water is 750 ft. The transmission line has been extended to
Morococha, 15 miles from Oroya, to supply the Morocooha
Mining Co. The power-plant cost about £200,000 and was in-
stalled by A. L. Wilcox.
SIBERIA
Sakhalin has long been known to contain oil, and determined
efforts are now being made to develop the territory by the
Sakhalin Oil Felds, Ltd.. a British company. The fields were
examined for Prince Radziwill in 1909 by Paul Dvorkovitz,
who gave a favorable opinion, and they were later studied by
members of the staff of Sir Hoverton Redwood.
Personal
A. E. Oruckkb is in Paris.
E. H. Leslie is at St. Louis.
L. H. Webb has returned from a European trip.
Robert Anderson is in Peru for S. Pearson & Son.
P. D. Blbtt is at Grass Valley on examination work.
Percy L. Fearn has arrived in New York from Costa Rica.
X. B. Knox is at Kingston, Jamaica, returning from Colom-
bia.
C. S. Haley has returned from Colombia and is in New
York.
Chari.es J an in has gone to Russia to make a mine examin-
ation.
J. M. Ln.i.ic hen passed through San Francisco returning to
Nevada.
R. B. Brinsmaue is studying the economic geology of Jalisco
near Guadalajara.
E. S. McCt'Riiv has returned from New York and was in
San Francisco last week.
Walter A. Schmidt has returned from Europe and was in
San Francisco Wednesday.
E. C. Ki.inker was in San Francisco, returning from Los
Angeles to the Eagle Bird mine.
Thomas A. Varden. general superintendent for the Corbin
Copper Co., at Butte, is at Salt Lake City.
G. M. Coi.vocoresses. general manager for the Consolidated
Arizona Smelting Co., is at Humboldt, Arizona.
\V. B. Orem, who has for many years been inspector of
mines for the state of Montana, is at Bisbee. Arizona.
Care J. Truerman, of Butte, Montana, will take charge
of the milling operations of the Bully Boy company, of Marys-
vale, Utah, after March 1.
J. P. Montague has resigned his position as mill superin-
tendent for the Tonopah Extension Mining Co. and will be
succeeded by E. M. Kirchen, brother of J. G. Kirohen, the
manager.
E. M. De la Vebgne, former vice-president and general man-
ager of the Elkton Consolidated Mining & Milling Co., has
been appointed superintendent of the United Gold Mines Co.
to succeed Eben Beebe.
The Columbia branch of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers held its quarterly meeting at Spokane on Febru-
ary 13. This consisted of reading and discussing papers and
a smoker given by the Spokane Mining Men's Club.
The University oe Illinois College of Engineering was re-
cently lectured by Francis S. Peabody on The Mining and
Utilization of Illinois Coal.' Illustrations included motion pic-
tures of actual underground work, these being the first motion
pictures taken in a mine.
The San Francisco branch of the Mining and Met.u.lur-
(itcAi. Society held a meeting, following a dinner at the
Kngineers Club, Hotel Sutter, on February 12. W. E. Colby
addressed the members on The Beginnings of Modern Mining
Law in Relation to the Revision of American Mining Law.'
Forty members of the American Institute of Mining Engi-
neers met at Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania, on January 31, to
discuss the formation of a local section in the anthracite
region. Those present were C. F. Rand, Joseph W. Richards.
H. M. Chance, Bradley Stoughton. R. V. Norris. F. W. Chase.
('. K. Huber. R. .1. Foster, F. A. Hill.' and others.
February 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
3.33
The Metal Markets
LEAD
LOCAL METAL. PRICES
San Francisco, February 19.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15 hi — 1 5 % c
Pig lead 4.25 — 5.20c
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 42% — 44 c
Spelter 6>4 — 6%c
Zinc dust, 1*0 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 •/& to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, February 19.— The market for all metals is dull.
Copper has-a downward tendency, while lead and spelter show
no change for the past two weeks. Dealings in copper shares
were brisk on the Stock Exchange. The total stocks of all
kinds sold today was 429,621. Metal prices in London were:
copper closed steady at £65 for spot, off 2s.6d., and £65 10s. for
futures, off 2s.6d.; spelter, £21 7s.6d.. unchanged; and lead, £19
10s., up 2s.6d. The bull movement in stocks generally has
been checked. The issues in January were about £215,000,000.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Date.
Feb. 5
57.37
57.50
7 57.62
8 Sunday
9 57.75
10 57.50
11 57.511
Date.
Fen. 12 Holiday
13 57.37
" 14 57.37
15 Sunday
" 16 57.37
" 17 57.37
" 18 57.37
Average week ending.
Jan. 7 57.50 Feb. 4 57.46
" 14 57.75 ! " 11 57.54
" 21 57.58 i " 18 57.37
" 28 57.60 '
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 63.01
Feb 61.25
Men 57.87
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
1914.
57.58
1913.
July 58.70
Aug 59.32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov 58.76
Dec 57.73
1914.
In the earlier part of the week ended January 29, according
to Pixley & Aboil, the market showed steadiness and the rates
were easily maintained. On the 27th, prices advanced to 53.5c.
for cash and 53.8c. for forward, but they have since fallen
away to today's quotations of 53.8 and 53.2c. respectively. The
steadiness was almost entirely due to the liquidation of Indian
bear accounts, a large amount being covered on the 27th, but
there has since been a little Eastern selling, and, with the
Indian support withdrawn, prices have sagged to the above
quotations, at which the mark.t closes quiet. The United States
Mint bought 300,000 oz. on the 24th. and a small amount has
been taken for the Continent. Supplies generally continue small,
and, unless China opens weak after the holidays, rates should
hold at about the present level, until some new factor presents
Itself.
TOPPER
Quotations on copper as published In this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Trices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Feb. 5 14.60
6 14.60
7 1 1.60
8 Sunday
9 1 t.65
■• 10 1 1 .70
" 11 1 1.70
Average week ending
Jan. 7 14.39 Feb. 4 14.59
•• 14 13.97 ; ■ 11 14.64
" 21 14.03 I " 18 14.55
" 28 1 1.35
Monthly averages.
Hate.
Feb. 12 Holiday
13 14.63
H 14.63
15 Sunday
" 1« 14.50
" '7 14.50
" 18 14.50
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 14.71
£175 5s. for three months.
In the week.
1913.
.16.51
.14.93
.14.72
.15.22
.15.42
1914. , 1913. 1914.
1 1.21 July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15.08
Dec 14.25
Transactions dealt with 3200 tons
Lead
pounds,
Date.
Feb. 5 .
6.
is quoted in cents per
New York delivery.
4.00
4.00
4.00
pound or dollars per hundred
Jan.
9.
10.
11.
7.
14.
21.
Sunday
4.00
4.00
4.00
Date.
Feb. 12 Holiday
" 13
" 14
" 15 Sunday
" 16
" 17
" 18
4. On
4.00
4. no
4.0H
4. On
Average week ending
1913
Jan 4.28
Feb 4.33
Mch 4.32
Apr 4.36
May 4.34
June J.33
4.15 Feb. 4.
4.10 " 11.
4.10 " 18.
4.10
Monthly averages.
1914
4.15
4.0U
4.0H
4.11
1913.
Julv 4.35
Aug 4.60
Sept 4.70
Oct 4.37
Nov 4.16
Dec 4.02
1914.
TIN
New York prices control In the American market for tin, since
the metal Is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 50.45
Feb 49.07
Mch 46.95
Apr 49.00
May 49.10
June 45.10
1914.
37.85
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
Tin witnessed one of the sensational movements which have
characterized this metal from time to time, during the week
ended January 24. when it advanced £9 per ton in London,
according to Henry R. Merton & Co. The price Jumped to £179.
but on a good deal of realizing, It fell to £174 5s. for cash and
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly In this column. Is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, In dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Week ending I Feb. 5 39.00
39.00 | " 12 39.00
29 39.00 I •' lil 39.00
Monthly averages.
Jan. 22.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1913.
.39.37
.41.00
.40.20
.41.00
10.2
1914.
39.25
June 41.00 ....
Quicksilver In London was
January 24.
1913. 1914.
July 41.00 ....
Aug 40.50 ....
Sept 39.70 ....
i let 39.37 ....
Nov 39.40 ....
I 40.00
10s. per flask, first hands. ">i
Zinc Is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery. In cents per pound.
Date.
Feb. 5
8 Sunday
Jan.
10.
11.
7.
14.
21 .
Date.
'VI.. 12 Holiday
" 13
•• II
15 Sunday
" 16
'• 17
" IS
Average week ending
Feb. 4 .
" 11.
" IS.
1913
6.88
6. 1 :;
5.94
5.02
5.08
5.05
. . . 5.20
Monthly averages
1914
5.14
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June
Spelter prices in London were steady at £21 10s. to £22.
Association of Galvanizers has been finnlly constituted,
this branch of trade is hopeful.
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1913.
5.11
5.51
5.55
5.22
5 09
5.07
The
and
London prices of antimony were £28 per ton on January 24.
according to Henry R. Merton & Co., aluminum, £81 to £85 per
ton, and iron 51s. to 51s.7d. per ton.
354
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
February 18.
Unlisted. Bid
Natomas Consol.68 25
Pac. Port. Cement 6s —
Santa Cruz Cement 8s... —
Union Oil —
Unlisted. Bid
General Petroleum 43
Noble Electric Steel..... 5
Natomas Consol 1}
Pac. Port. Cement —
Riverside Cement 60
Santa Cruz Cement —
Stand. Port. Cement 10
Listed.
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 5s
Bid
S 97}
41 J
Bid
413
. 84*
70
. u
Ask
99
82}
General Petroleum 6s..
Listed.
Amalgamated Oil
43
ST(
Ask
86|
42}
E. I. du Pont pfd
BO
Giant
Pac. Ost Borax, pfd
Pacific Crude Oil
35c
Sterling O. & D
H
Ask
1003
90
Ask
5}
69
55
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
February 19.
Atlanta $ .18
Belcher .62
Belmont 7.90
Con. Virginia .30
Florence .56
Goldneld Con 1.60
Goldfleld Oro .1*
Halifax 1.06
Jim Butler 97
Jumbo Extension 24
MacNamara 10
Mexican 1.22
Midway 39
Mtzpah Extension .51
Montana-Tonopah
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophlr
Pittsburg Silver Peak
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension ...
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada ...
Union
Victor
West End
Yellow Jacket
..11.02
.41
.. .39
.. .75
.. .35
.. .43
.. .11
.. 1.70
.. .60
.. 7.12
.31
1.25
.60
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
Bid
Allouez 8 43 43}
Ariz. Commercial 5} 5J
Butte <S Superior 363 37
Calumet & Arizona 68} 68}
Calumet* Hecla 445 450
Copper Range 39} 393
Oaly West 2} -I
East Butte UJ 12}
Franklin 5 5}
Granby 86} 87
Greene Cananea 39 40
Isle-Royale 22} 23
Mass Copper 3} 3}
February 19.
Ask
Bid
Mohawk 8 45
Nevada Con 16
North Butte 29}
Old Dominion 52}
Osceola 82
Qulncy 663
Shannon 7
Superior <& Boston 2}
Tamarack 41
U. S. Smelting, com 42}
Utah Con 13
Winona 4}
Wolverine 47
Ask
46
163
29J
53
81
67
7i
2f
41}
42}
13}
43
48
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. F. Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
Bid.
Braden Copper. . . 7 '«
Braden 6s. . .
B. C Copper
Con. Cop. Mines. .
Davis- Daly
Ely Con
First National . . .
Giroux
Hollinsi'-r
Iron Blossom. . . .
Kerr Lake 4%
La Hose 1 %
February 19.
Ask.
.14S
. 2 >/2
2%
1%
1
■, %
1
16
l',8
2%
2%
1V4
is
l'/4
1%
Bid.
3%
l>/8
3'/8
6>/4
Mason Valley.
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am.
Nipissing ....
Ohio Copper . .
San Toy
Stand. Oil of Cal.320
Tri Bullion
Tuolumne
United Cop. com.
Wettlaufer . .
Yukon Gold .
1 5c.
6c.
Ask.
3%
l'A
3%
6M>
%
25c.
321
8c.
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
Amalgamated...
Anaconda
A. S. A- R... com..
Calif. Pet., com..
Chino 42
Guggenheim Ex 513
Inspiration 17J
Mexican Pet., com 67}
February 19
Bid Ask
">l
36S
68}
29 i
42}
52J
17}
87 J
..8 753
.. m
.. 68
.. 27}
Bid
Miami 8 23'
Nevada (on 16}
Quicksilver, com 2
Ray Con 20
Tenn. Copper 35}
U. S. Steel, pfd 101}
. 66
.. 55
U. S. Steel, com..
Utah Copper
Ask
23}
16;
-I
20}
36;
102}
66}
553
LONDON QUOTATIONS
(By cable, through the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co..
New York.)
February 19.
s. d.
£ ». d.
Alaska Mexican 1 5
Alaska Treadwell 8 0
Alaska United 3 2
Arizona 2 0
California Oilfields 6 0
Camp Bird 0 12
Cobalt Townsite 2 11
El Oro 0 15
Esperanza 0 18
Granville 0 11
0 Kern River Oilfields 0
0 Mexico Mines 5
8 Messina 1
0 Orovllle 0
0 Pacific Oilfields 0
6 RIoTlnto 71
3 Santa Gertrudls 0
0 Tanganyika 2
9 Tomboy 1
3
7
6
2
6
10
0
U
9
2
6
10
0
16
9
6
3
3
9
AUSTRALASIAN
February 19.
£ s. d.
British Broken Hill 2 3 9
Broken Hill Prop 2 2 6
Golden Horse-Shoe 2 15 0
Great Boulder Prop 0 15 0
Ivanhoe 2 16 9
Kalgurli I 16 9
Mount Boppy 0 12 6
£ m. A.
Mount Elliott 4 2
Mount Lyell ■. 1 5
Mount Morgan 3 3
Walhl 2 1*
Waihl Grand June... 1 6
Zinc Corporation, ()rd 1 1
MINT OPERATIONS
The superintendent of the San Francisco Mint, T. W. H.
Shanahan, reports as follows for January:
Gold received, fine ounces 169,103.71
Silver received, fine ounces 100,538.42
Coinage executed, domestic $2,967,400
Coinage executed, Philippine Islands 1*44,000
Coin, bullion, etc., on hand at close of business January
31, 1914, was as follows:
Gold coin $ 8,149,130.00
Silver coin 61,636,921.50
Nickel coin 24,030.25
Bronze coin 11,088.62
Checking balance Treasurer U. S 5,428,776.89
Gold certificate bars 108,501,758.93
Gold bullion 51,629,461.57
Silver bullion 603,002.04
Total $235,984,169.80
DOMINION STEEL CORPORATION
The past year's output of the Dominion Steel Corporation,
Canada, was as follows:
Tons.
Coal mines 5,100,000
Iron ore mines 780,000
Limestone quarried 582,000
Pig iron produced 357,000
Steel ingots produced 347,000
Rails 175,000
Blooms sold 32,000
Wire rods made 32,000
Wire and wire products 24,000
Steel bars, etc 16.000
Sulphate of ammonia P: 5.000
Basic and granulated slag 25,000
Tar, gallons 5,650,000
The steel plant has received several big orders, and is run-
ning full time.
Quicksilver production in the United States in 1913 showed
a decrease of 5383 flasks compared with 1912, when the out-
put was 25,064 flasks, according to the TJ. S. Geological Sur-
vey. California produced 15.396 flasks, and Arizona, Nevada,
and Texas a total of 4285 flasks. The average price at San
Francisco in 1913 was $39.33 per flask, against $42.05 in 1912.
Exports were 1099 and imports 2032 flasks.
Pic, iron PRomcTiox in the United States during January
was 1.S7S.7S6 tons, which is 97,352 tons less than in December.
February 21. 1!)U
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
355
Monthly Copper Production
AHMEEK COPPER MIXING CO., Kearsarge, Michigan. $1,-
250.000 in $25 shares; 24,796 shares owned by Calumet & Hecla;
lsOO-ton mill at Hubbell; concentrate smelted by Calumet &
Hecla smelter. Total in 1913, 9,100,000 pounds.
ALLOUEZ MINING CO., Allouez, Michigan. $2,500,000 in $25
shares: controlled by the Calumet & Hecla, which owns 43,000
shares and $250,000 in notes of the Company; ore is milled by
the Lake Milling. Smelting & Refining Co., in which the Allouez
owns half. Total in 1913. 4,200,000 pounds.
ANACONDA COPPER MINING CO.. Butte, Montana. $108,312,-
500 in $25 shares; controlled through Amalgamated Copper Co.
by Thos. F. Cole, J. D. Ryan, and Standard Oil interests; 10,000-
ton concentrator and smelter at Anaconda; 5000-ton concentra-
tor and smelter at Great Kails, Mont.; also 70-ton electrolytic
refining plant at Great Falls. Production figures Include cop-
per from all companies which ship custom ore to Anaconda
smelters.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 21,500.000 October 18,400,000
July 21.181,000 November 25,250,000
August 22.500,000 December 25,100,000
September 22,600,000 January 1914 24,400,000
ARIZONA COPPER CO.. LTD.. Morencl. Arizona. £379,974 in
5&. shares; controlled by Edinburgh Investors; mill at Morenci
is being enlarged to 3000-ton capacity and a new 1200-ton
smelter near Clifton has just been started.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,000.000 October 3.550,000
July 2,600,000 Nocember 2.800.000
August 1,800,000 December 2,920.000
September 1,800,000 January 1914 3,474.000
mt \ DEN COPPER CO.. La Junta. Chile. $2,332,030 in $10
shares and $4,000,000 in 6r/r convertible bonds; entire stock held
by Rraden Copper Mines Co.; $12,000,000 in $5 shares; $5,000,000
in convertible bonds; controlled by Guggenheim interests; two
mills at La Junta; 3000-ton capacity smelter at Racagua.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1.808.000 October 2.600.000
July 1,046.000 November 1.592,000
August 1,572.000 December 2.122.000
September 1,322,000 January 1914 2.426.000
BRITISH COLUMBIA COPPER CO.. LTD.. Oreenwood. B. C.
I2.958.S4S in $5 shares; controlled by Newman Erb; 600-ton
sampling plant and 2500-ton smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 634. 23S September 626,761
July 61 8.379 October 688.000
August 700,000 November 682,383
December (est.) 800.000
CALUMET * ARIZONA MINING CO.. Warren Arizona.
$6,285,710 In $10 shares; has absorbed the Superior & Pittsburg
Copper Co. by stock exchange; controlled by Hoatson and other
Ijike Superior Interests; 3000-ton smelter at Douglas. Total
in 1913. 51,710.000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,000.000 October 4,500,000
July 3.800,000 November 4.600,000
August 4,500,000 December 5,230,000
CALUMET * HECI.A MINING CO., Calumet, Michigan.
$2,500,000 In $25 shares: controls the Ahmeek, Allouez, Centen-
nial, Isle Royale, La Salle, Osceola, Tamarack, and Superior
copper mining companies, as well as a number that are non-
productive; controlled by Agassiz and Shaw interests: 2 mills on
ljike Linden, capacity 15.000 tons: smelter Hubbell, Mich.: elec-
trolytic refinery and smelter at Buffalo, N. Y.; figures include
output of subsidiaries. Total In 1913, 53.420,000 pounds.
CANANEA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO. S. A., Cananea,
Sonora, Mexico. Capital PJO.noo in shares of rMOO; entire stock
owned by Greene Consolidated Copper Co.; $10,000,000 In $10
shares; 945,320 shares iir.' held by Greene Cananea Copper Co.;
$.'.0,000,000 In $100 shares, which is controlled by Thos. F. Cole
and J. D. Ryan: 2 mills and smelter at Cananea, 3000-ton ca-
paclty. Total in 1913, 37.050.574 pounds. Output does not In-
clude copper from custom ores, which amounts to about 600,000
lb. per month, exclusive of .Miami.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 2.908,000 October *T 3,160,000
July 3.328,000 November 3,150,000
August 3,186.000 December 2,976,000
September 3.148,000
Output of Lake Superior mines estimated.
CENTENNIAL COPPER MINING CO.. Calumet, Michigan.
$2,250,000 in $25 shares; 44,350 shares are held by Calumet &
Hecla Mining Co.; ore milled by Lake Milling, Smelting &
Refining Co. Total in 1913, 1,400,000 pounds.
CERRO de PASCO MINING CO., Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
$10,000,000; entire stock held by Cerro de Pasco Copper Co.;
$60,000,000 in $1 shares which is owned by Cerro de Pasco In-
vestment Co., which is controlled by J. B. Haggin, and Morgan
estate; 3000-ton smelter at La Fundicion; monthly production
figures not given out; output in 1912 was 45,000,000 lb. copper.
CHINO COPPER CO., Santa Rita, New Mexico. $3,500,000 in
$5 shares; 121.200 shares are held by Guggenheim Exploration
Co.; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M. MacNeill; 5000-
ton mill at Hurley, N. M. ; concentrate smelted at El Paso.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 4.S31.200 November 4,402,909
August 6.050.867 December 4.525,792
September 4,435,873 January 1914 6. 138. 140
October 4,914,944
CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES CO., Ely, NeV. $8,000-
000 in $5 shares; $3,000,000 in convertible bonds; is a recent
merger of the Giroux, Butte & Ely, Chainman, and Copper-
mines companies, controlled by Thos. F. Cole, Wm. B. Thomp-
son, Charles F. Rand, and .las. Phillips, Jr.; reduction plant
not yet built; production so far derived solely from Giroux;
ore treated at Nevada Con. smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. founds.
July 607.779 October 160.911
August 541.189 November 136.539
September 204,307 December 197,649
COPPER QUEEN CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Bisbee.
Arizona. $2,000,000 in $10 shares; owns 100.000 shares of
Greene Cananea; almost all its stock is held by Phelps, Dodge
& Co.. Inc.; $44,995,000 In $100 shares: 4000-ton smelting plant
at Douglas. Ariz. Total In 1913. 85.389,630 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 6.292.4S0 October 7,653,153
July 7.439.864 November 6.473,792
August 7.590.994 December 8.182,452
September 7,775,560 January 1914 8,099,847
COPPER RANGE CONSOLIDATED MINING CO.. Painedale.
Michigan, $39,369,200, In $100 shares: owns 99.659 shares of
Baltic M. Co., 99.699 shares Copper Range M. Co., 99.345 shares
of Tri-mountain M. Co., half interest in Champion Copper Co.,
16.392 shares of Copper Range R. R. Co., and $S70.000 In Copper
Range R. R. bonds; controlled by Wm. A. Paine; production
Is derived from the Baltic, Champion, and Tri-mountain com-
panies, each of which mills Its ore; concentrate is smelted by
Michigan Smelting Co., Houghton, which is owned by mining
companies. Total In 1913, 24.996.000 pounds.
Pounds.
January 1914 3.27ii.Oi>"
DETROIT COPPER MIXIX<; CO.. Morenci, Ariz. $1,000,000 in
$25 shares; owned by Phelps. Dodge & Co.; 1300-ton mill and
350-ton smelter. Total in 1913. 22,352,299 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1,750,601 October 1. 861.17*
July 1.549.224 November 1.922,352
August 2.187,223 December 2.021,034
September 2.102.818 January 1914 1.590,681
EAST BITTR COPPER MIXING CO.. Butte Mont. $3,000,000
In $10 shares: owns 83C, of the stock and all bonds of the
Pittsmont Copper Co.. which holds 90'; of the stock and all
bonds of Pittsburgh & Montana Copper Co.; controlled by Wm.
A. Paine; 350-ton mill and 1000-ton custom smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 1.060,257 October 1.1110,977
August 1,162.006 November 1.002,190
September 1.233.018 December 1.324,560
FRANKLIN MIXING CO.. Demmon, Mich. $1,166,650 in $25
shares; controlled by R. M. Edwards and the IT. S. S. R. & M. Co.:
1000-ton mill. Total in 1913, 1.040, 000 pounds.
GRANBY CONSOLIDATED MINING. SMELTING * POWER
CO., LTD., Phoenix and Hidden Creek, British Columbia. $14.-
849.565 in $100 shares; controlled by General Chemical Co. in-
terests: 4400-ton smelter at Grand Forks and 2000-ton smelter
at Anyox. Total in 1913. 21.960,997 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
,Tun(, 1.7*9.000 September 1.324,560
July 1.651,000 October 1,779,552
August 1,827.300 November 1.S88.767
ISLE ROYALE COPPER CO.. Houghton, Mich. $3,750,000 in
$25 shares; owns a $50,000 interest In the Lake Superior Smelt-
356
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21. 1914
ing Co., owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2200-ton mill on Portage
lake. Total in 1913, 4,680,000 pounds.
MASON VALLEY MINES CO., Yeringtqn, Nev. $770,000 In $5
shares; $1,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled by "W. B.
Thompson; 1000-ton smelter at Thompson, Nev., also smelts ore
ot Nevada-Douglas Copper Co. and custom ore; smelter pro-
duction. Total in 1913, 14,694,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1,132,000 October 1,052,000
July 990,000 November 1,174,000
August 966,000 December 1,372,000
September 918,000 January 1914 944,000
MIAMI COPPER CO., Miami, Ariz. $3,319,690 in $5 shares;
$1,433,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled by General De-
velopment Co. (Lewisohn interests); 3000-ton mill at Miami;
concentrate smelted at Cananea. Total in 1913, 33,944,795
pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 2,612,650 October 2,862,050
July ■. 2,890,000 November 3,517,800
August 3,097,500 December 3,301,316
September 2,688,600 January 1914 3,258,950
MOCTEZUMA COPPER CO., Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. $2,000,-
000; entire stock owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 2000-ton
mill; concentrate smelted by Copper Queen. Total in 1913,
36,694,013 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,438,793 October 3,178,136
July 2,693,006 November 3,517,800
August 3,542,047 December 3,139,613
September 3,024,121 January 1914 3,024,556
MOHAWK MINING CO., Mohawk, Mich. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; controlled by Stanton interests; 3000-ton mill, Traverse
bay; concentrate smelted by Michigan Smelting Co. Total in
1913, 5,369,000 pounds.
NEVADA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ely, Nevada. $10,-
000,000 in $5 shares; has absorbed the Cumberland-Ely Copper
Co.; controlled by American Smelters Securities Co. through the
Utah Copper Co., which owns half of the Nevada Con. stock;
the Nevada company owns the Steptoe Valley Mining & Smelt-
ing Co., $10,000,000; 16,000-ton mill and 1500-ton smelter at
McGill, Nevada. Total in 1913, 64,972,829 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 6,344,863 October 5,898,330
July 5,403,919 November 5,443,047
August 5,989,973 December 5,500,000
September 4,441,671
NEVADA DOUGLAS COPPER CO., Mason, Nev. $4,054,800 In
$5 shares, $276,900 in 6% convertible bonds; also $158,200 6%
refunding bonds; controlled by A. J. Orem; ore smelted at Mason
Valley smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 392,288 September 426,070
July 399,451 October 583,330
August 354,760 November 678,120
OHIO COPPER CO., Bingham, Utah. $12,292,700 in $10 shares,
$1,326,000 in 6</r convertible bonds; 3500-ton mill at Lark, Utah;
concentrate smelted at Garfield.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 579,400 September 685,900
July 601,700 October 720,000
August 689,400 November 796,000
OLD DOMINION COPPER MINING & SMELTING CO., Globe,
Ariz. $4,050,000 in $25 shares; 155,245 shares are owned by the
Old Dominion Co., which is owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 300-
ton mill, 2400-ton smelter. Production figures include custom
ore smelted. Total in 1913, 30,810,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 2,511,000 October 2,037,000
July 2,526,000 November 2.150,000
August 2,524,000 December : 2.613,000
September 2,679,000 January 1914 2.797,000
OSCEOLA CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Osceola, Mich.
$2,403,750 in $25 shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills,
4000-ton capacity, at Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 11,686,000
pounds.
PHELPS, DODGE & CO., Inc. $44,995,000 in $100 shares; con-
trolled by C. H. Dodge, James Douglas, and others; owns the
Copper Queen, Moctezuma, Detroit, and Burro Mountain copper
companies, Stag Canon Fuel Co.; indirectly controls Old Do-
minion, United Globe, and Commercial Copper Mining Co.; mem-
bers of the firm control the El Paso & Southwestern railway,
and have large interests in the Rock Island and Great Northern
railways. Production figures include all properties under its
Output of Lake Superior mines estimated.
control and copper derived from custom ore, the latter ranging
from 750,000 to 1,000,000 lb. per month. Total in 1913, 154,454,444
pounds.
Pounds.
January 1914 ." 13,411,595
Q.UINCY MINING CO., Hancock, Mich. $2,750,000 in $25 shares;
controlled by W. R. Todd; 4500-ton mill at Mason; 340-ton
smelter at Ripley.
RAY CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ray, Ariz. $11,975,740 in
$10 shares; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M. MacNeill;
8000-ton mill at Hayden, Ariz.; concentrate smelted in A. S. &
R. smelter adjoining. Total in 1913, 53,745,934 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 4,392.612 October 4,871.516
July 4,097,177 November 4,753,000
August 4,401,000 December 5.232.167
September 4,470,551 January 1914 5,705,000
SHANNON COPPER CO., Metcalf, Ariz. $3,000,000 in $10
shares; controlled by N. L. Amster; 500-ton mill and 1000-ton
smelter at Clifton. Total in 1913, 13,640,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 924,000 October 1,216,000
July 880,000 November 1,110.000
August 1,248,000 December ■. . 1,078,000
September 1,232,000
SHATTUCK ARIZONA COPPER CO., Bisbee, Ariz. $3,500,000
in $10 shares; controlled by Duluth Investors, ore smelted at
Calumet & Arizona smelter. Total in 1913, 13,219,756 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 1,019,388 October 993,224
August 1,001,624 November 995,429
September 1,163,237 December 1,050,781
SOUTH UTAH MINES & SMELTERS, Newhouse, Utah.
$4,300,000 in $5 shares, $1,300,000 in 6% convertible bonds; con-
trolled by Samuel Newhouse; 1000-ton mill; concentrate smelted
at Tooele, Utah.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 142,817 September 249,323
July 195,254 October 239,453
August 230,410 November 232,033
SUPERIOR COPPER CO., Calumet, Mich. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla. Total in 1913, 3,078,000
pounds.
TAMARACK MINING CO.. Calumet, Mich. $1,500,000 in $25
shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills, 3500-ton capacity,
at Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 4,142,000 pounds.
TENNESSEE COPPER CO., Copperhlll, Tenn. $5,000,000 in $25
shares; $1,500,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled by Jas.
Phillips, Jr., and Lewisohn interests.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1.379,220 October 1,392.162
July 1.295.804 Nevember 1.688.000
August 1,143,019 December 1,700,000
September 1,309.985 January 1914 1.474,890
UNITED STATES SMELTING, REFINING A MINING CO.
$44,871,150 in $50 shares; copper production chiefly derived from
its subsidiary, the Mammoth Copper Mining Co., Kennett, Cali-
fornia.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
September 1,750,000 November 1,700,000
October 1,658,436
UNITED VERDE COPPER CO.. Jerome, Ariz. $3,000,000 in
$10 shares; owned by W. A. Clark; 1000 to 1200-ton smelter at
Clarkdale; monthly figures not given out, estimated at about
3,000,000 lb. Total in 1913, 37,750,000 pounds.
UTAH CONSOLIDATED MINES CO., Bingham, Utah. $1,500,-
000 in $5 shares; owns the Highland Boy Gold Mining Co. and
5000 shares of International Smelting & Refining Co. stock;
ore smelted at Tooele.
UTAH COPPER CO., Bingham, Utah. $15,625,990 in $10
shares; owns half of Nevada Consolidated; controlled by A. S.
& R. Co., Sherwood Aldrich, C. M. MacNeill, and W. B. Thomp-
son; 2 mills, 20,000-ton capacity, at Garfield: concentrate
smelted at Garfield plant of A. S. & R. Co. Total in 1913.
119.939,809 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 9.849,043 November 10,787,426
August 10.900.000 December 10.624.790
September 11.992,780 January 1914 10.649,000'
October 10,236.575
WOLVERINE1 COPPER MINING CO., Kearsarge. Mich.
$1,500,000 in $25 shares; owns $80,000 interest in Michigan
Smelting Co.; controlled by J. R. Stanton: mill on Traverse
bay treated 388.500 tons during last fiscal year. Total in 1913.
4,488,000 pounds.
Fehniarv 21, 1!H4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
:}:.7
SAN TOY MINING COMPANY
This Company operates in Chihuahua, Mexico, and the bal-
ance sheet for the year ended December 31, 1913, shows the
following:
1913. Changes.
Gross income $317,332 +$15,814
Net earnings 132,428 + 25,971
Surplus 17,428 - 29,029
Total surplus 513,229 -f 34,928
UTAH COPPER COMPANY
The fourth quarter of 1913 shows that the two mills treated
2,113,080 tons of ore, assaying 1.21657r copper, and yielding
31,982,442 lb. of copper. The total output for the year was
119,939,809 lb. The metal sold realized 14.857c. per pound
Copper on hand and in transit at the end of the period amount
ed to 39.854,993 lb. Financial results were as follows:
Profit from milling $1,479,787
Other income 27,365
Dividends from Bingham & Garfield railway 175,000
Dividends from Nevada Consolidated company 875,437
Total profit $2,557,590
Dividends paid 1,187,760
Net surplus for quarter 1,369,830
SIMMER & JACK PROPRIETARY MINES, LIMITED
This Company owns a considerable property in the Trans
vaal. The capital is £3,000,000, in 3,000,000 shares of £1
each. The report covers the year ended June 30, 1913. There
was a total of 938,103 tons of ore mined. The fully devel-
oped profitable ore reserve was estimated at 2,524,000 tons,
of an average mine grade of $5.40, and 406,000 mine tons
of partly deveIoi>ed ore worth $4.70 per ton. Besides this
reserve, there is still a considerable tonnage available for
stoping from the upper levels and from foot and hanging
walls of old stopes. which will be credited to the reserve
as the ore is mined. As compared with last year, there
was an increase of 4N.7oo tons milled, the recovery value and
working costs being lower by 66c. and 18c. per ton milled,
respectively, the net result being a working profit of £466,040,
or £60,966 less than for the previous year. The profit from
operations for the year was £471,954. Two dividends of
"'■/', each were declared, amounting to £450,000.
CHIEF CONSOLIDATED MINING COMPANY
This Company operates at Eureka, Juab county, Utah, and
the report covers the year 1913. This may be tabulated as
follows:
Development, feet 6,383
Ore shipments, tons 51,173
Metal contents:
Gold, ounces 4,751
Silver, ounces 1,017,107
Lead, pounds 2,584,857
Copper, pounds 114,305
Revenue, after paying transport and sniPlting costs.. $376,827
Balance from previous year 303,023
Sundry receipts 18,870
Total $698,720
Mining costs $264,239
Dividends 175,307
Other expenses 44,112
Balance at end of year 215,062
TONOPAH MIDWAY MINING COMPANY
During the year ended December 31, 1913. the Tonopah
Midway Mining Co.'s work showed the following results:
Development, feet 3,790
Total to date, feet 41,853
Ore produced in 1913, tons 2,141
Value per ton $20,418
Costs per ton $6,306
Receipts, including cash. ore. and stock sales 102,287
Expenditure covering every account 92,363
Cash on hand at end of 1913 9,924
The superintendent, Nels Nelson, stated that the vein was
of no value at 435 ft.; a good deal of work was done at 535
ft., and some ore was extracted; good ore, over 2 to 2\'-2 ft.
wide, has been opened at 635 ft.; little work was done at 835
ft. owing to bad ventilation and the distance from the old
shaft, there is good ore on this level; No. 2 shaft was sunk to
1200 ft., and stations were cut at 600, S00, 1100, and 1200-ft.
levels; cross-cutting is under way at the latter level, and
15 ft. of quartz was cut worth $3 to $10 per ton, and this
part of the mine is encouraging.
NEVADA CONSOLIDATED COPPER COMPANY
The report for the last quarter of 1913 shows that the out-
put of copper was 16,684.955 lb., and a total of 64,972,829 lb.
for the year, against 63,063,261 lb. in 1912. Ore milled dur-
ing the quarter was 833,989 tons, averaging 1.58% copper.
Of this, 93% was from the pits and lc", from underground
OPEN-PIT MIMNC AT ELY, NEVADA.
workings of the Veteran mine. The cost per pound of copper
produced, including all charges but ore exhaustion, was
8.63c. Copper on hand and in transit at the end of the term
was 27,916,946 lb. The accounts show the following figures:
Quarterly revenue $1.21 3, 94S
Dividend No. 17 of 37'ic. per share 749,796
Ore exhaustion 141.272
Depreciation and income tax 206,561
Net credit 116,318
Dividend (extra 1 of 50c. per share from surplus ac-
count 999,728
Surplus, reduced by extra dividend 7,071,850
THE HYDRAULIC TOWER & SMELTING COMPANY
This Company was registered August 4, 1911, lo acquire
from the Norse Power & Smelting Syndicate. Ltd., and Knut
Tillberg: im the whole share capital issued of Aktieselskabet
Tyssefaldene. a company incorporated under the law of Nor-
way; (6) all the capital issued of the Norsk Elekstrisk Metal-
industri Aktieselskab, a company Incorporated under the law
of Norway; (r) all the capital issued of the Trollhattans
Elektrothermiska Aktiebolag, a company incorporated under
the laws of Sweden. The capital of the Company is £1,000,00(1,
358
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
in 1,000,000 shares of £1 each. It is planned to decrease the
capital to £500,000, with the approval of the shareholders, by
reducing the nominal value of each share from £1 to 10s.
The latest report issued covers the 14 months ended August
31, 1913. The capacity of the zinc refining works at Sundlo-
laken has been increased from 8000 to 10,000 tons per year,
and the contract for the sale of the entire production of the
works has been made to the end of 1915, at terms enabling
satisfactory profits to be made. New zinc-smelting works are
being erected and equipped at Trollhattan. When completed,
seventeen 1000-hp. and eight 500-hp. furnaces will be installed.
However, none of the complex ores for which the works were
designed have been available, and the furnaces have been run-
ning on the ordinary classes of roasted zinc ores, which do
not yet prove to be commercially profitable. Further money
for the financing of the zinc smelting was raised by the sale
of the Company's water-power interests in Norway to a new
company, registered on July 18, 1913, as the Hydraulic Power
Company of Scandinavia, Limited. '
ASGARD MINING COMPANY, LIMITED
The Company was registered February 16, 1909, to acquire
from J. W. Burkitt, the Mount Roundny gold mines and
plant, in the communities of Barkowitz, Siboun, Laby, and
Zvestoe, Bohemia, formerly the property of the Mount
Roundny Gold Mines, Ltd. The report for the period from
July 1, 1912, to June 30, 1913, shows that 32,125 tons was
milled, yielding 718.40 kg. of amalgam and 6997 oz. ; 582 tons
of concentrate yielded 1882 oz. ; and 15,864 tons of tailing
cyanided, gave 243 oz. of fine gold. The total yield was 9122
oz. fine gold. The average working cost was $4.52 per ton.
The ore reserves are estimated at 126,620 tons, the maximum
average being $17.50 at the 250-metre level, and are estimated
to contain 52,205 oz. of gold. The receipts for gold and silver,
including gold in transit, amounted to £39,307. The credit
balance for the year was £9617. Three dividends of 12c. per
share have been declared.
PORTLAND GOLD MINING COMPANY
The report of this Company, which operates an important
mine and two mills at Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs,
Colorado, covers the work done during 1913. The property
includes an area of about 130 acres. The mine manager, F. L.
Smale, reports that development covered 12,433 ft., of which'
8513 ft. was driving and raising on veins or streaks, the
remainder being prospecting in barren country. Results of
work around No. 1 shaft, especially on the 400-ft. level, were
satisfactory, but on No. 2 side, save the 1600-ft. level, devel-
opment was not promising. At 1600 ft. stoping ground
amounting to 1358 lineal feet was opened, 1028 ft. being on
No. 1 vein and 330 ft. on an adjacent formation. Stoping
widths are from 2 to 23 ft., but the average is 5 ft., with a
shipping value of $35 per ton. Low-grade ore, but probably
profitable, was also opened on this level, mostly on No. 1 vein,
for a distance of 500 ft. No. 2 shaft was sunk 64 ft., the
bottom being in breccia, with small fragments of granite,
which may be of local occurrence. No. 1 shaft was sunk
269 ft. in granite, with no indications of Assuring or min-
eralization. One hundred and ninety feet southeast of No.
1 shaft, at 1500 ft., a vein was cut in the granite area, and
associated with it is a phonolite dike on the east, and a
basalt dike on the west. At the point of intersection there
was a high concentration of gold in the ore, one assay re-
turning 100 oz. per ton. Driving has shown erratic gold
content. Further work in depth, it is hoped, will
prove profitable ore. The Roosevelt drainage tunnel has
resulted in an average reduction of the water-level by 8%
in. per month. Ore reserves are about the same as at the
beginning of the year. It is planned to do 2500 ft. of de-
velopment on the 1750-ft. level during the current year, when
the shaft reaches this point. It will require 8000 to 10,000
ft. of exploration, in addition, to properly open the ground
at this depth. Probably 10,000 ft. of work will be done on
the upper levels in the known ore zones. Results of the
past year may be stated as follows:
Ore treated at Victor mill, tons 178,162
Gold recovered $402,923
Ore treated at Colorado Springs mill, tons 53,245
Gold recovered $1,380,713
Ore treated to date, tons 1,767,592
Gross value $36,268,797
Profit in 1913 604,443
Dividends 300,000
Dividends to date 9,457,080
Surplus at January 1, 1914 1,767,789
GREAT COBAR, LIMITED
This Company operates a large copper property in New
South Wales, Australia, which has been a great deal before
the mining world lately on account of troubles at the mine,
unsatisfactory returns, and dissatisfied shareholders. In the
'Special Correspondence' pages of this journal of January 17,
1914, the whole question was discussed. The general manager,
H. C. Bellinger, resigned, and G. C. Klug, of Bewick, Moreing
& Co., is now in charge.
Development in the Great Cobar, Cobar Gold, Chesney, and
Peak mines covered a total of 8491 ft., and 2164 ft. of diamond-
drilling in the parent mine. The main shaft in this mine is
down to 1515 ft. The northern orebody was disturbed on
No. 10 level, but prospecting has failed to find a profitable
shoot. No. 13 level was disappointing. A creep occurred
in the southern and central parts of the mine, rendering
temporarily unavaiable 146,000 tons of ore between No. 5 and
8 levels. The central orebody in the lower levels to No. 14,
shows a reduction In size, while ore has not been found in
the northern and southern orebodies beolw No. 11 level. Con-
siderable ore has been developed on No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and
9 levels. Ore reserves are 1,468,749 tons worth 2. 49% copper,
consisting of basic, silicious, neutral ores, and ore in
'bridges,' also 314,881 tons of ore in upper levels, around the
shaft, and broken in stopes. The Cobar gold mine's shaft
is down to No. 5 level, and most of the work was done at
this depth. Ore reserves are 308,545 tons, assaying 1.7%
copper and 0.34 oz. gold per ton. The Chesney shaft is down
to 925 ft. No. 8 level development was not promising, and
the shaft is being sunk a further 130 ft. Reserves are 612,986
tons, containing 2.58% copper.
The year's results may be summarized as follows:
Smelter work:
Ore smelted, tons 361,566
Copper tons 5,811
Gold, ounces 27,136
Silver, ounces 127,542
Concentration and flotation work:
Ore concentrated, tons • 50,383
Tailing treated by flotation, tons 21,810
Jig recovery, per cent 37.33
Flotation recovery, per cent 77.53
Combined recovery of copper in ore, per cent 85.91
Revenue from copper, gold, silver, coal and coke, etc. .£713,206
Expenses at the mines and works 472,280
Australian taxes 7,701
London expenses 10,897
Gross profit 81,926
Balance from last year 34,356
Debenture interest 40,009
Balance for next year 23,210
Metals in transit, stocks of ore and products, stores. 203,989
The directors of the Company had the properties examined
by W. Pellew-Harvey, and his complete report is published
in the one under review.
Febmarv 21, 1U14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
:;:>!)
Decisions Relating to Mining
Coal Land — Purchase Price
Where a coal land applicant filed a proper application to
purchase, complied with the regulations of the Department as
to publication of notice, etc., and paid the price of the land
as determined by conditions then existent as to distance from
a completed railroad, he is entitled to purchase at that price
notwithstanding the subsequent completion, prior to allow-
ance of entry, of a railroad within fifteen miles of the tract.
Brown Bear Coal Association. 42 Land Decisions, 320.
August 13, 1913.
Mixing Lease — Assignees Liability
Where a mining lessee, under a lease which would expire
in 1928, in 1910 leased the property for 20 years, the lessee,
under the lease, was, an assignee of the original lessee, and
not a sub-lessee, since, where a lessee parts with his whole
interest, there is an assignment of the lease and it is immater-
ial what kind of an instrument or conveyance is used to dis-
pose of the term. In such a case the assignee is liable to
the original lessor for the stipulated royalty.
Pennsylvania Mining Co. v. Bailey (Arkansas), 101 South-
western, 200. November 24, 1913.
Cutting Timber on Mining Claims
The rights to the timber on the surface of lands embraced
within mining locations as conferred by Section 2322 I'. S.
Revised Statutes, according to the interpretation placed
thereon by the Secretary of the Interior, are limited to the
cutting of timber necessary for the development of the mine
or incidental to operations related thereto. The land must
be actually mineral in character and the location must be
made in good faith and not for the purpose of controlling
water courses or to obtain valuable timber thereon.
Suggestions, 42 Land Decisions, 310.
Act ok 1866— Rights ok Way Under, Preserved
The incorporation into a forest reserve of land over which
prior rights of way for pipe-lines, ditches, and canals have
existed does not deprive the possessors of such rights of way
of the right to use them nor compel them to obtain permits
for the continuance thereof from the Department of Agri-
culture. Section 9 of the Art of 1866 was not repealed by the
Act of March 3, 1891. or the Act of March 3, 1891, or the Act
of February 15, 1901, and rights of way taken under the pro-
visions of the earlier act are recognized.
United States v. Utah Power & Light Co. (Utah), 208 Fed-
eral, 821. March 31, 1913.
Oil Lease — Partial Cancellation
Where an oil and gas lease provided that a well should be
completed on the premises within six months, and the lessee
proceeded to drill one well into an upper stratum which pro-
duced oil in paying quantities, but thereafter neglected and
refused for a period of five years to drill any further wells on
the leased tract, although it was proved that the surrounding
land contained still another stratum of oil sands at a greater
depth, the lessor was entitled to at least a part cancellation
of the lease for non-performance of its implied covenant of
"reasonable diligence." in order that lessor might prevent her
land from being entirely drained of oil through operations
on adjoining properties.
Jennings v. Southern Carbon Co. (West Virginia), 80 South-
eastern. 368. November 25, 1913.
Annual Report of the Secretary of Commerce, 1913. P. 151.
Washington, 1913.
Repobt of the Secretary of the Interior. Fiscal year. .Line
30, 1913. P. 115. Washington, 1913.
Resources of Tennessee. January 1914. Published by the
State Geological Survey. P. 48. Nashville, Tennessee.
Coal Washing in Illinois. By F. C. Lincoln. Bulletin No.
69. P. 108. 111., tables, charts. Engineering Experiment
Station, University of Illinois. Urbana, 1913.
Variation in Results of Sieving With Standard Cement
Sieves By Rudolph J. Wig and J. C. Pearson. Technologic
paper No. 29. P. 16. Bureau of Standards. Washington, 1913.
Stratigraphy and Paleontology ok the Alexandrian Series
in Illinois and Missouri. By T. E. Savage. Part 1. Extract
from Bulletin 23. P. 138. 7 plates. State Geological Survey
of Illinois. Urbana, 1913.
Production ok Gas, Coke, Tar, and Ammonia at Gas Works
and in Retort Coke Ovens, and ok Gas and Tar at Water-Gas
Works in 1912. By Edward W. Parker. Extract from 'Min-
eral Resources of the United States, 1912'. P. 32.
Graphite Deposits ok Pennsylvania. By Benjamin L.
Miller. Report No. 6. P. 147. 111., maps, index. Topographic
and Geological Survey. Hr.rrisburg, 1912. This volume
describes the deposits, and mining and milling methods of
recovering graphite.
Metallurgical Coke. By A. W. Belden. Technical paper
50. P. 48. 111. The first coke made in the United States
was in 1817, and in 1913 the output was about 45,000,000 tons.
worth $115,000,000. This publication describes the manu-
facture of coke, and recovery of by-products.
The Geological Map ok North Dakota. By Arthur Gray
Leonard. Reprint from the Quarterly Journal, University of
North Dakota, October 1913. P. 13. 111., map. This is a
brief description of the principal geological formations of
the state, with explanations of the geological map prepared
by the State Geologist.
Mineral Production ok Virginia in 1911 and 1912. By
Thomas L. Watson. With chapters on Zirconiferous Sand-
stone' near Ashland, Virginia by Thomas L. Watson and
Frank L. Hess; and Geology of the Salt and Gypsum De-
posits of Southwestern Virginia.' by George W. Stose. Bulle-
tin No. 8. P. 76. III., index. University of Virginia.
Charlottesville, 1913.
Topographic and Geological Survey ok Pennsylvania, 1910-
12. Issued by the Commissioners of the Survey. P. 182. 111.,
maps, plans, index. Harrisburg, 1912. This publication cov-
ers the work done in the state during the fiscal years ended
June 30, 1911 and 1912. Included are papers prepared by the
members of the staff, under the state geologist, Richard R.
Hice, dealing with the different areas of the state, and mineral
production for the years given.
Hkaton's Annual. 1914. The commercial handbook of
Canada and Boards of Trade register. Edited by Ernes!
Heaton, J. Beverley Robinson, and W. J. Dobson. P. 442. In-
dex. Published by Heaton's Agency, Toronto. Every
country boasts of one or more reliable year books, and
this one deals with all topics of interest in Canada at the
present time. The editors state that this is the Annual's tenth
year, and the publication has been a great success every year.
One chapter deals with Canadian towns and the local oppor-
tunities offering to anybody desiring to start business in them.
Twelve pages are devoted to the mining industry. A multitude
of other interesting facts is given.
360
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 21, 1914
A Gasoline Mine Locomotive
The Geo. D. Whitcomb Co., of Rochelle, Illinois, has re-
cently appointed Parrott & Co. as agent on the Pacific coast.
The Company is already represented at Denver by Hendrie &
Bolthoff. The Whitcomb company has been in the mining
machinery business for 25 years, and for the past nine years
has been specializing on a haulage motor for mining opera-
tions, making them in sizes ranging from 3 to 20-ton capacity,
and either with or without cabs. The Whitcomb motor has
been operating principally in the middle and eastern states,
but during the past two years, has been* placed in a large
number of mines in the West. The Alaska Treadwell Co.
has three; the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., four; the Washing-
ton Union Coal Co. and the American Fuel Co. of Utah, each
has two large motors, as has also the Union Pacific Coal Co.
The manufacturers claim many superior points in the gen-
eral construction of these motors, but invite especial attention
to the following points:
1. A fool proof gasoline supply tank. There are four tanks
to each motor. They are made of sheet steel with heavy
^HEu>iii"
m
3
* ii i.iS
WHITCOMB GASOLINE LOCOMOTIVE USED BY THE CALUMET & HECLA.
THE STANDARD UNDERGROUND LOCOMOTIVE HAS NO CAB.
brass fittings, tinned inside and outside after being assem-
bled, then thoroughly tested against leakage. The tanks are
thoroughly encased and protected by strong covers and are so
constructed that no gasoline can be put in or taken out except
through a pipe leading to the engine when they are in the
motor. Two tanks are used at a time and cannot be replaced
without closing valve in tanks and pipe line. The tanks are re-
filled outside of the mines and carried in and placed on the
motor without danger even in the presence of the miners'
lamp. The amount of gas escaping from exhaust or other-
wise, is reduced to a minimum and where ventilation is up
to the law requirements, there is absolutely no cause for
anxiety.
2. The cooling system is a rough and ready one, compris-
ing heavy cast iron tanks of the condenser type, a circulating
pump for forcing the water driven from the main shaft and
a fan of Sirocco type fitted on the main driving shaft. The
fan case is formed to create a split in the air current, half
of the air being forced to each side of the motor and through
the water into cooling tank.
3. A most interesting feature of the Whitcomb motors is
the multiple disc forward and reverse clutch, used in all
motors of over 5-ton size. This clutch is made up of highly
polished steel discs, alternating with bronze discs, in which
latter are inserted over 100 corks one inch in diameter,
pressed through a half-inch hole. The corks are finished to
1/32 in. above the surface of the bronze disc. The value of
the friction clutch for reverse or forward movement is ap-
parent and this design is a specially efficient one and will
stand up to a 50'/r overload.
The Whitcomb motor is made to operate on distillate oils
as well as gasoline. These machines are operating at an
elevation as high as 13,000 ft. and upon grades as steep as
15%. The Portland Gold Mining Co. Colorado Springs ma-
chine, an 8-ton motor, is hauling an average of 21 tons wet
tailing 3000 ft. 4% to 8% grades on three shifts of 8 hours
each and using 7 gal. of oil per shift. This is approximately
9-10 of a cent per ton hour. Many instances show fuel ex-
pense as low as Vic. per ton hour.
Safety Winches and Crabs
The Brown Hoisting Machinery Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, is
now equipping its standard crabs and winches with Weston
patented safety lowering devices. These prevent the handle
flying back and ensure the safety of operators. When the
load is being raised, the crab automatically locks itself upon
the handles being released. Lowering is accomplished by sim-
ply turning the handles backward. The lowering ceases when
the cranks are released. The Weston device is described in
Pamphlet C, 1914, as follows:
, MOVING PINION
THE WESTON DEVICE.
A sectional view of this safety device is shown in the figure
and its operation can be easily seen from this view. It is
placed on the main crank shaft and consists of the driving
pinion which operates the drum gear, and a pawl and ratchet.
The driving pinion and the ratchet are loose on the shaft.
They are separated by the metal discs B and C, which are
placed alternately. The discs B operate with the ratchet and
the discs C operate with the driving pinion, so that when the
driving pinion turns in the ratchet, there is a frictional resist-
ance between the discs, the amount depending upon the lateral
pressure. The ratchet and the pinion are held between the
two fixed collars A and D. The collar A and the driving pinion
have helical bearing faces which when turned one on the
other, act as a screw on the driving pinion. When the hand
crank is turned in the hoisting direction, the screw action be-
tween the helical surfaces presses the driving pinion and the
ratchet against the discs B and C. The friction between these
discs is so great that the driving pinion and the ratchet are
locked together and they rotate with the shaft, thereby hoist-
ing the load. The friction between these discs prevents the
load from running down. When the load is suspended, it is
held by the pawl engaging with the ratchet. To lower the
load, it is necessary to turn the cranks backward with only
enough force to overcome this friction. But the load can
lower only just as fast as the cranks are turned, because any
greater speed is prevented by the driving pinion locking with
the ratchet. The ratchet can turn in only the one direction on
account of the pawl, and that is when the load is being raised.
When the cranks are released the driving pinion is imme-
diately locked between the fixed collar A and the ratchet. The
metal discs are lubricated and the lowering is accomplished
smoothly and not by jerks, which saves in the wear on the
machine and also on the hoist line.
F. A. Belt of Mt. Washington, Ohio, has issued a brief circu-
lar describing his new duplex calculator, a simple machine for
multiplying, dividing, calculating cube and square roots,
getting fractions, percentages, and making simple conversions.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant."
Whole No. 2797 VZ£7
San Francisco, February 28, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
in \ i
Page.
Notes 361
The Institute and tin- Mining l-aw Revision 361
ARTICLES:
New York Meeting, Aim.-i iian Institute of Mining En-
gineers bditorial ' Correspondence 363
Mining Legislation at Washington ... .Thomas .1. Walsh 365
The Apex Law in tin- Mrumlummon Controversy
Charles W. Goodale 368
What is the Matter With' Prospecting'.' A Rejoinder..
Fayette A. Jones. K. W Ri-ulher, John C. Molder,
H S. Hite, Fraifk I' Mavis, W. S. U. Todd, H.
Pembroke, S. A. Knapp *7*
A Water-Actuated Sampler E. Le Roy 378
An Aerial Tramwav to Chinese Coal Mines. C. A. Tupper 379
From the Capitalists Viewpoint \dolph Lewlsohn 383
Smelting In Colorado 383
A New Rock-Drill Operated by Gasoline Engine 400
DISCISSION l
California Miners and the Exposition
G. W. Metealfe. S, W. Model. Pierre Bouery, Harold
T. Power. John l: Keating 384
A Blacksmiths Problem ... W. S. Uooley, T. H. Proske 384
Ore Forbes Rlckard 385
Agitation at the Nevada Mills L. B. Eames 386
Sulphide Enrichment Geo. Nislilhara 386
CONCENTRATES 387
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 388
GENERAL MINING NEWS 392
DEPARTMENTS!
Personal
The Metal Markets
The Stock Markets
Company Reports
396
397
398
39'. i
EDITORIAL
ACK of space incident to our printing full particu-
-Li lars of the Xew York meeting of the Institute has
crowded out a number of interesting and important
matters that must needs be deferred.
A RGUMENT before the Circuit Court of Appeals
"**■ at San Francisco, last week, of the case of .Min-
erals Separation against Mr. -lames Hyde and his asso-
ciates for infringement of patent rights, brought to-
gether a number of men famous in connection with
flotation and served to make public much interesting
historical and technical data. While it would be im-
proper, pending decision of the case, to discuss its
merits, we expect to present shortly a summary of the
chief arguments advanced by each party to the con-
troversy.
The Institute and Mining Law Revision
The meeting of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers that was held in New York last week was
especially notable in two particulars. In the first place
it marked the close of a year's work of the Institute
under the new constitution and on the new b tsis. In
the second, the position of the Institute as an authori-
tative adviser of the I'nited States government in
matters relating to mining was definitely recognized.
Both events are worthy of comment.
A year ago the Institute was working under a system
which by custom as much as by terms had come to
mean closely centralized authority. Election of officers
was a formality, and at the annual business meeting
seven members constituted a quorum. To the mem-
bership in general the Institute had become merely a
publishing house and was known by its Tniitsurlidiis
rather than its deeds. The TninsiiHioiis. it was con-
ceded, were superb, as they were bound to be under
the management of an exceptionally able and devoted
editor. Hut the average member of the Institute
thought of it as an outside organization in which he
had no personal part: just as the majority of the
wealthier Mexicans today look upon the troubles of
that unhappy country as a concern of the (iovernment,
not of theirs. In the Institute, fortunately, a new-
spirit stirred and the time came when the member-
ship at large was willing to go to work. As always
in such a crisis, leaders appeared and. without making
invidious comparisons, it may be fairly stated that
among these, the retiring president. Mr. C. F. Hand,
362
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
proved the most important. The Institute owes much
to many men and to Messrs. C. R. Corning, A. I!.
Ledoux. James Douglas, Phillip N. Moore, and others
who contributed of their time, courage, and patience in
the troublesome weeks of 1912, there is a heavy debt:
but to Mr. Rand it fell to be the actual leader through
the year of reconstruction. With characteristic
modesty he has given all the credit to others, but those
who have kept in touch with the situation know that it
was the quiet unselfish man in the president 's office who
did most of the work. The achievements of the year
have been summed up in the statement that he con-
verted a mob into a disciplined army. Certainly the
organization of the members into a series of technical
committees is proving an effective means of increasing
their activities. We need accept neither the optimistic
beliefs of those who see in this a permanent cure for
all evils, nor the doleful predictions of those who refer
to the rapid decay of new brooms, to credit the move
with much usefulness and main- possibilities. When
the committees become moribund, if they do, another
and possibly a better method of provoking discussion
and registering public opinion may be put in operation.
The Mining and Metallurgical Society has one such
method and it has accomplished results of note. The
committees in themselves are unimportant, but the
fact that a considerable portion of the membership of
the Institute has been awakened and set to work, is
profoundly significant.
Anions' the new technical committees, that on min-
ing law. under the able chairmanship of Mr. Horace V.
Winchell, easily attracted chief attention at the New
York meeting. We listed last week the papers on this
subject that were to be read, and we print this week
notes on the actual sessions. The keynote of the meet-
ing was the necessity for revision of the mining law.
Mi'. Winchell presented the case for the plaintiff in a
carefully prepared statement of reasons why the law
needed thorough reconstruction. Briefly these are: (1)
that the law was not planned to apply to many kinds
of mineral deposits or to conditions as they are today:
("_' that it discourages prospecting: (3) that the apex
or extralateral right provokes needless litigation : (4)
that it contains no provision for court review of land
office decisions; (5) that the coal land and oil land
laws are inadequate and antiquated; (6) that no suit-
able provision is made for lands containing radium-
bearing minerals, potash salts, phosphates, and other
minor products; (7) that no notice of mining claims is
required by the United States: (8) that there is no
statute of limitations as to attack on patent for placers
on the basis of irregularity or fraud: (9) that an un-
limited number of quartz claims may be located by one
individual. There is not room here to detail Mi'.
Winchell 's excellent arguments in support of these
criticisms, but we print on other pages the paper by
Mr. C. W. Ooodale, in which is presented the details of
one case illustrating excellently the actual results of
our law of extralateral rights.
A definite plan of procedure looking toward the
needed modification of the mining law has been worked
out by Mr. Edmund Kirby as chairman of the com-
mittee on mining law revision of the American Mining
Congress, and was presented at the Institute meeting.
Congress has been asked to create a commission to
hold hearings in the mining states and to prepare and
present, not later than next January, a definite bill
for a new act. In the address delivered by Mr. Thomas
•I. Walsh, senator from Montana and chairman of the
Senate Committee on Mines and Mining, which we
print, the present status of this and other legislation
is discussed. It is evident that rapid and sure progress
is being made. We regret the apparent purpose to con-
stitute the proposed commission wholly of lawyers.
They should be represented, and it goes without savin?
that no statute should be loosely or carelessly drawn.
It should not only be written in well chosen words, but
it must be constructed with full knowledge of existing
laws, customs, and court decisions. It is neither wise
to go on indefinitely patching the old law nor to sweep
it aside entirely. Our laws are like our institutions.
They grow out of our needs and our life, and are not
to be lightly changed. All this may be conceded and
yet it may be fairly demanded that the mining men
be represented on the commission. They are the ones
chiefly concerned and they should at least be given the
opportunity to formulate and present their ideas in
finished form. It is as pertinent to suggest that the
lawyers appear before the commission as that the
mining men do so. It is hardly likely that any bill
drafted by this commission will be accepted without
change, and on both the Senate and House Committees
are excellent lawyers well informed as to mining.
They will have the final word as to the form into which
the proposed law shall be cast. If to the chairmen of
the two committees three others nominated by the
President should be added, with the understanding that
all should be familiar with mining, and one or more
should be a trained lawyer, an excellent body would
be created.
There is one other, though minor point, in Mr.
Walsh's address to which we take exception. Though
among those who have favored the. adoption of the
leasing system, we have been careful time and again
to point out that this is a matter of policy concerning
which there is abundant room for difference of honest
opinion, and while we deplore as sincerely as does Mr.
Walsh, the intemperance that has at times character-
ized the discussion, we have not noticed, while dodging
perhaps our not unfair share of brickbats, that it was
wholly one sided. The essential thing is that the way
now seems opening to agreement on a plan of action.
The new law is unlikely to be exactly what any one
of us wants, but we can well concede minor points in
approval of the intelligent and sympathetic manner in
which Mr. Walsh and his associates in the Senate, and
Mr. Foster and his fellow members in the House Com-
mittee on Mines and Mining, are approaching the
problems of the miners. The era of talk seems at last
to have given wav to one of constructive action.
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
363
New York Meeting, American Institute of Mining Engineers
Editorial Correspondence
The annual meeting of the American Institute of
Mining Engineers was held at the Institute headquar-
ters, in New York, February 16 to "20. The general
arrangements for the meeting were made by the execu-
tive committee of the New York section, of which
L. D. Huntoon is chairman. The opening session was
held at 8:30 o'clock on the evening of February 16,
and. in spite of the stormy weather, a large attend-
ance was present; a happy augury for the success of
the following sessions. A. L. Ledoux was the chair-
man for the evening and introduced the retiring pres-
ident. C. F. Rand, with the following remarks:
"In 1910 I met for the first time Charles F. Rand,
who had been elected a director of this Institute. He
immediately made a strong impression upon me.
Quiet in demeanor, with a low voice, he spoke but
little, but every time exactly to the point. His sug-
gestions were recognized as pertinent, and his proposi-
tions were clear-sighted and met with almost unani-
mous approval. He had a genius for figures and
showed unusual ability for organization. It was but
natural that he should lie made a member of the
finance committee, and thereafter our budgets be-
came more practical. We had had a strong council and
board of directors, and most conscientious presidents,
but we were all bound by traditions of conservatism
which required a shock from the outside to loosen.
And the shock came! Later, in 1912, in the stormy
days through which our ship was passing. Mr. Rand
became, naturally, by unanimous approval, sole
nominee for president of the Institute. Not only was
he recognized as a proper commander, but he had the
rare ability of making us all work witli more enthu-
siasm in our several offices. Early in the year of his
presidency. 1913. he commenced to promote local en-
thusiam, and the result was a marked revival in the
activities of all local sections and the formation of
new ones where previously interest in the Institute
had waned, in some cases reaching a point where there
was danger that new organizations might take some
from our membership, whose interest in special
branches had led them to believe that these interests
could be best promoted outside of the Institute: there
was great danger that there would be formed a Pa-
cific Coast association of engineers whose members
would secede from us: that the iron and steel men
would drift away, as we]] as those interested in coal,
petroleum, etc. This danjrer was offset not only by
the promotion of local sections, but by the formation
of many technical committees. It was thought by
many, and said by some, with a shake of the head,
that the enthusiasm inspired by our president would
wane: that the committees would cease their activi-
ties sooner or later, ami that conditions would drift
back to what they were previously. Everybody is
happy to observe how mistaken was this view. The
inspiration of the initiative shows no signs of diminu-
tion, as is evidenced by the number of papers which
these committees have been able to secure for our
present meeting. So many, indeed, are they, and so
varied, that for the first time, if my recollection serves
me, we are to meet simultaneously in different rooms
where members may foregather with others especially
interested in special lines.
"It is not necessary to speak of the success of the
Butte meeting, which was perhaps the most valuable,
technically and socially, of any that has been held in
recent years, and it may be said that the enthusiam
not to fall below the standard of Butte is forecasted
in the arrangements which are being made for our
meeting next summer at Salt Lake City. In saying
this. I would not detract in the least from the infinite
pains taken by the local committee at Butte, nor from
the local efforts which are already inaugurated to
maintain that standard at our Salt Lake meeting, but
would merely emphasize the fact that enthusiasm is
not always spontaneous, but results from the example
and initiative of some one individual, and the indi-
vidual in our case is Charles F. Rand.
"Mr. Rand is modest and would be the first, though
perhaps the only one. to disagree with me in this esti-
mate, and would say that the success is due to the
cooperation which he has had from everyone. I would
not detract from the appreciation due to the board of
directors, nor to the secretary, but call you to witness
if it be not true that the captain of a great ship,
who has brought the vessel through great peril safely,
should deservedly receive the acclaim, although lie
may modestly point to the loyal backing and efficient
service of all of his subordinates from the stokehold
to the bridge. Mr. Rand was not satisfied to leave the
presidency with everything working well to insure
our future, but desired to increase our membership
materially. As the result of his personal efforts, again
ably seconded by loyal lieutenants, there has been the
greatest increase in membership in any year of our
history, no less than 786 applications having been re-
ceived since February 1013. Xot the least of Mr.
Rand's services has 1 n in persuading a very busy
man to consent to become his successor in the presi-
dency. I am not charged with the duty, and this is
not the moment, to say anything about Mr. Thayer:
however. I trust that I have reminded you sufficiently
of our obligations to Mr. Rand, who will now address
you. so that you will feel that what is in the thought
of everyone here has had at least some expression,
however inadequate. "
With characteristic modesty. Mr. Rand, in respond-
ing, made only a few brief remarks to the effect that
nothing serious was to be done at the opening session.
:m
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
and that the statements of the chairman should be
taken in that spirit. The chairman then announced
that certain communications had to be brought to the
attention of the members present, and a colored slide
was thrown on the screen, showing C. F. Rand being
wafted to regions of bliss, attended by angels, while
on the horizon the rising sun showed the genial coun-
tenance of Mr. 13. B. Thayer. Next followed a letter
from P. F. Corrigan, consulting miner, of Butte, com-
mending Mr. Band in his effective work for the In-
stitute, but warning him to beware of getting •"too
manny collidge proh'ssors" into it. and especially com-
mending his wisdom in securing B. B. Thayer, a prac-
tical miner and "a fine feller," for his successor. This
was followed by an exhibition of colored slides made
from photographs made by the field staff of the Un-
derwood Company showing a great variety of unusual
and difficult subjects to photograph, such as mountain
peaks, volcanic explosions, battles in recent wars, and
so on, in which great interest was displayed by all.
The regular meeting began with the business ses-
sion at 10 o'clock on the morning of February 17.
The usual reports of the officers and standing com-
mittees were read and approved, and A. S. Dwight
and E. G. Spilsbury, acting as tellers, announced the
results of the letter-ballots for officers.
The number of ballots received was 941. and the
following gentlemen, having received the respective
number of ballots set opposite their names, were de-
clared elected: President, B. B. Thayer, 934; vice-
presidents, II. C. Hoover, 925, W. L. Saunders, 903 ;
directors. C. W. Merrill. 925; A. L. Ledoux, 924: R.
W. Brock, 917; II. L. Smyth, 916; 1). C. Jackling.
876. The president then announced that Dr. .lames
Douglas, who undertook last year to raise the funds
to cancel the land debt of the Institute, bail turned
over to the treasurer $28,000 in cash, and pledges of
members aggregating $6000 more, which would can-
cel the unpaid balance of $34,000 remaining on the
land debt, thus relieving the Institute of the burden
of nearly $3000 per year for interest charges. The
gift was accepted with thanks for the effective service
Dr. Douglas had rendered in raising the sum. Mr.
Ledoux gave notice of his intention to propose an
amendment to the constitution providing that mem-
bers should not be dropped for non-payment of dues
until they are two years in arrears. E. W. Parker and
J. W. Richards were appointed a committee to draft a
tentative form of amendment, which was presented
later in the morning and discussed at some length. This
amendment cannot be acted upon until the next annual
meeting, but at the suggestion of A. C. Lane, a vote
was taken upon it in order to indicate to the board
of directors what the sentiment of the membership
is. The vote disclosed a lar^e majority in favor of
a more lenient provision than that in the new consti-
tution adopted last year.
The business session was then adjourned at the call
of the president, and the reading of technical papers
was begun. In the absence of H. A. Guess, his ad-
mirable paper was presented in abstract by B. A.
Robinson and was well received. But, as is usually
the case, the absence of the author put a damper upon
the discussion. The same was true of the following
paper upon metallurgical practice at the Nipissing
mine, by James Johnston, though R. E. Hore and oth-
ers called attention to some of the more important
features of the paper. Adjournment was then taken
for lunch, which was served in the adjoining room,
and the members spent a pleasant hour in foregather-
ing, the cordiality of the gathering being stimulated
by a committee of members of the Institute appointed
for the purpose.
At the afternoon session on Tuesday, William Kelly
presided. The first paper, by EL H. Clark of the Bu-
reau of Mines, was on safeguarding the use of elec-
tricity in mines. This was followed by another paper
on the same subject by C. M. Means, of the Pennsyl-
vania State Bureau of Mines, which was read in ab-
stract by the chairman, in the absence of the author.
The two papers were then discussed together by (',.
S. Rice, B. F. Tillson, and others, the discussing com-
ing to centre about the use of portable electric lamps
and their constructions. This was followed by a dis-
cussion of the use of electric motors and shovels for
excavating purposes, by II. W. Rogers. This was dis-
cussed by E. G. Spilsbury and also by F. H. Arm-
strong, who described a recently constructed shovel
in which water is pumped into an accumulator by
an electric pump, the mechanism of the shovel being
actuated by the water. This has not yet been put into
operation. This paper was followed by one on electric
mine locomotives and coal-cutting machines, by A.
W. Belden. Another paper on electric haulage under-
ground, by Charles Legrand, was passed over, in the
absence of the author. The use of electric energy for
hoisting, milling, and electric concentration at the
Mineville iron mines was discussed by Solomon Le
Fevre. This was followed by an account of the use
of electricity at the Penn and Republic mines of Mich-
igan, by William Kelly and F. H. Armstrong. The
session was concluded by an account of the records
made in drilling work during the construction of the
Kensico dam, of the Catskill aqueduct system, by \Y.
L. Saunders.
The evening session was held at the American Mu-
seum of Natural History, and was opened by a lecture
on hydraulic mining, by Howard W. DuBois. illus-
trated by numerous colored lantern slides and a mov-
ing picture of hydraulic operations. Following this,
E. O. Hovey gave an illustrated description of the
Copper Queen mine, and then an opportunity was
afforded for those present to inspect the model of the
Copper Queen mine, as well as the model of one of
the stopes. which has been presented to the Museum
by Dr. Douglas. These have not yet been placed on
view to the public, so that the evening was therefore
a private exhibition for the benefit of the members of
the A. I. M. E.
For an account of the later sessions, see page 391.
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
365
Mining Legislation at Washington
By Thomas J. Walsh
*The Committee on Mines and Mining of either
House of Congress lias not heretofore been regarded
as much more than one of the numerous paper com-
mittees, created and preserved chiefly to afford to the
representative designated as its chairman, a needed
clerk. It bids fair at present, however, more because
of the important legislation affecting the mining in-
dustry that crowds upon the attention of Congress
than by reason of the personnel of its membership, to
be transformed from a more or less moribund organiza-
tion to an active legislative force. The haste in which
this resume is necessarily prepared impels me to con-
fine my remarks to measures that have been referred
or which it is expected will lie referred to the Senate
Committee.
The Revision Commission Bill
This has had under consideration a bill introduced
by Senator Smoot. for the creation of a commission.
charged with the duty of revising and modifying the
laws in relation to the appropriation and occupation
of mineral lands of all kinds, a subject which, as I am
advised, has had repeated consideration by this body.
As the bill came to the committee the commission was
to consist of three members, one of whom should be a
lawyer of experience in the practice of mining law,
one a mining operator, and one an officer of the Geo-
logical Survey. Being referred to the Department of
the Interior for an expression of its views, it was pro-
posed that the membership be increased to live, giving
the Bureau of Mines a r presentative and an additional
representative to the operator. It was. however, urged
before the committee that as the work devolving on
the commission is the preparation of a draft of a code
of laws, that in the pasl have given rise to intermin-
able litigation and that are likely to be a fruitful
source of perplexity to the courts for years to come, it
ought to be entrusted exclusively to lawyers of emi-
nence and character, conversant with the troubles that
have been encountered in the past, and most com-
petent from this experience and learning to devise a
system under which urn essary controversies may be
avoided in the future While the suggestion might
appear to have originated in a desire upon the part of
members to take care of their brothers of the law. a
little reflection will exhibit much merit in it. It was
advanced that the commission being authorized to hold
public hearings throughout the mining regions affected,
and elsewhere, at will, it would unquestionably invite
an expression of views from operators, engineers, and
prospectors, from representatives of the Oeological
•Address delivered before the American Institute of Mining
Engineers at New York by the chairman of the Senate Com-
mittee on Mines and .Mining.
Survey and the Bureau of Mines. The bill contem-
plates that a report shall be made before January 1,
1915, and provides that each member of the commission
shall be paid a salary of $500 per month for the time
actually devoted to the work.
It is now over forty years since our system of laws
in relation to the disposition of mining lands was de-
vised. Generally speaking, it has met the conditions
in a most satisfactory way, excepting always, the part
dealing with the disposition of lands containing coal.
That part never would have been operative at all had
not the practice now condemned as criminal been pur-
sued. As the appropriation of coal lands has all but
ceased in consequence of the failure of the law to
recognize that an entry of 320 acres will not justify
the expenditure necessary to the mining of coal on a
commercial basis, a revision in respect to lands valu-
able for coal is imperative. Aside from that feature.
'however, the conviction is quite general that the extra-
lateral rights give rise to complications so numerous
and serious, it is such a prolific breeder of litigation,
not infrequently characterized by imposition and per-
jury, that it ought to be abandoned. The idea in which
it had its origin was a just purpose to stimulate the
prospector by assuring him the vein discovered through
his sagacity and his self-denial, and was most com-
mendable. Hut in practice it often served to deprive
the enterprising miner of the legitimate fruit of his
toil and expenditures. Every lawyer id' experience is
familiar with instances in which orebodies of great
value have been uncovered by expensive development
made by the owner of the claims in which they are
found, and who has been obliged to yield them up
upon the claim of an apex in adjacent territories, the
owners of which had no suspicion of their existence.
It will be found profitable to compare the working
of the system to which we have 1 ome attached, with
those that have I n developed during the past two
score years in the English colonies, the Latin-American
republics, and other nations that have been required to
legislate concerning the public mineral lands. An en-
lightened public sentiment concerning our mineral hind
policies can be formed only in the light that is afforded'
by knowledge of the kindred systems of the progressive
peoples of the earth. A compilation of such laws, ac-
companied by a brief explanation of their character
and the measure of success which has attended their
working, is all but essential to comprehend the actual
value of our own.
The Alaska Coal Land Bill
Some of the questions with which the commission
will be called upon to deal, should one lie appointed,
brook no delay. They must be met at once and solved
366
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
in some way looking to revision later in the light of
facts brought out or views advanced by those deputed
to study the subjects as a whole. Of this character is
the question of how to open the Alaska coal deposits.
The bill providing for the construction by the Gov-
ernment of railroads in that territory from the seaboard
to the inland waterways, has passed the Senate and
will speedily, it is believed, be approved by the House.
The President's sanction of the general purpose of this
act has been given in advance in his message to Con-
gress. It must be accompanied by an act which will
permit and invite the workings of the coalfields. It is
idle to imagine that the Executive Department will
advance one step toward the construction of railroads
in Alaska unless assured in advance that coal mines
will be opened to afford fuel during construction
and traffic when the road is built. The Senate Com-
mittee has under consideration a bill which is the result
of repeated conferences participated in by the Secre-
tary of the Interior and his staff and the chairman of
the House and the Senate Committees respectively on
Public Lands, Territories, and Mines. It is a frank
adoption of the leasing system, to which none of those
having any conspicuous part in the preparation of the
bill confess any attachment. The Congressional mem-
bers are all convinced, however, that the concession "is
essential to the necessities of the case. They entertain
the view that to enact a law providing in any terms for
the disposition in fee of coal lands in Alaska would be
in effect to doom the country to another decade of in-
action. I am myself of the opinion that any Secretary
of the Interior who should permit Alaska coal lands to
be patented under any kind of a law passing the fee
would be driven from public life, and it would be good
fortune if he did not pull down the temple of the ad-
ministration of which he formed a part as he passed
out of it. It is to be regretted that a great public
question such as this is cannot be debated dispassion-
ately and without impugning the motives of those who
adhere to what may be said to be the Western view,
except when and insofar as the conditions point to
selfishness in those upholding it. The promoters of the
leasing plan never admit the possibility of an honest
difference of opinion concerning the wisdom of the de-
parture they propose. All who oppose them are in-
volved invariably in the common denunciation which is
leveled at the plunderers of the public domain and the
defenders and apologists for such. There has been no
deliberate judgment by the American people in this
supremely important question. They have been turned
by invective from the consideration of it. The leasing
system was tried in connection with the lead lands of
the Mississippi Valley and abandoned after proving a
dismal failure. Probably the essential difference in
the conditions under which it was tried and those now
prevailing deprive the experience we had under it of
anything like controlling force, but if so the public
has not been advised as to why the same troubles are
not in store for us. Calumniation has been so long the
portion of those who have sought to gain a fair hearing
for the system of alienation of fees that few remain
who have not despaired of securing considerate atten-
tion to the merits of that plan. Anyway the friends of
Alaska are without hope of convincing the public
mind, at least not speedily, that as to coal deposits,
popularly believed, and doubtless with justice, to be
exceptionally rich, the leasing system is not a most
doubtful experiment. The people of Alaska pray for
any kind of a law which will permit them to mine coal.
They have ceased to debate the merits of rival systems.
It must be confessed that the plan of reserving title
in the government is growing in favor. The Western
representatives are much more tolerant of this idea
than they once were. The legislation of such states as
Colorado and Montana concerning their own coal lands,
forbidding their sale, but authorizing the operation of
them under leases, is appealed to with embarrassing
effect. It is true that the policy of the state is pri-
marily to make as much money as it can out of its
school lands while the policy of the federal Government
is, or ought to be, to make its lands serviceable in the
development of the sections in which they are situated.
1 5ut the state is not altogether unmindful of its larger
interests in the sale of its granted lands, and the policy
of local development is as well subserved under a leas-
ing system, if all the returns are devoted to improve-
ments within the state, instead of going to meet the
general demands upon the federal treasury. The North-
ern Pacific Railway Co. has the most vital concern in
the rapid development of the territory adjacent and
tributary to its lines. But it has also adopted the
leasing system as to its coal lands and declines to sell
such at any price.
Those responsible for the Alaska coal land bill re-
ferred to, find sufficient justification in the foregoing
to tender a measure recognizing the leasing system.
Under it the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to
withdraw eight sections in the Bering River coalfields
and twelve sections in the Matanuska field for the use
of the navy or to be used in connection with the
government construction work or for disposition by
Congress in case of oppressive conditions arising from
monopoly, it being contemplated that the Government
might in the future deem it the best solution of dif-
ficulties which might arise similar to those encountered
in connection with the anthracite coal situation in the
east, itself to supply the market from its own fields.
Leases are authorized for indeterminate periods with
provisions for readjustment of prices every 20 years,
no lease to be for more than 2560 acres to any person or
corporation. Drastic provisions are inserted in the law
to prevent evasion of the provision limiting the area in
which any individual may be interested. Forfeiture
and imprisonment are the result of conviction. It is be-
lieved the risks are so great that few will care to take
the chances involved in an effort at monopoly. The
royalty is fixed by the lease but cannot be less than two
cents per ton, and it all goes toward the redemption of
the bonds issued for the construction of railroads in
the territory and for purposes of similar character when
February 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
361
the obligation created by them is discharged. The
lessee is entitled to sue the Government on any cause of
action arising out of his lease in the Courts of Alaska,
so that any arbitrary or destructive policy on the part
of the Department may be restrained and questions
arising upon the construction of the lease determined
as they would be between private parties under like
circumstances. To compel the operation of any ground
leased, a rental in addition to this royalty is exacted
at the rate of 25c. per acre the first year, 50c. per acre
annually for the next four years, and $1 per acre for
each year thereafter. For local use the Secretary is
authorized to issue permits without any charge for
the working of tracts not to exceed ten acres, the
purpose being to permit the homesteader and miner
to secure coal for his own use at an adjacent bed.
The Radium Bill
A third bill before the Committee which has given
rise to much discussion appertains to lands contain-
ing a radium-bearing ore. These are mainly pitch-
blende and carnotite. The former is often, perhaps
usually, found in metal-bearing veins and in associa-
tion with the precious metals as well as with zinc and
lead, the latter, so far as known, appears only in veins
or pockets in sedimentary rocks. The carnotite ores
are the chief source of supply. They abound in an
area reaching from Colorado into L'tah, 150 miles
long and varying in width from 5 to 25 miles. Dis-
coveries have been reported in Arizona. Montana.
Idaho, and South Dakota, but no authentic informa-
tion is available of any workable fields save those of
Utah and Colorado. The wonderful advance made in
the use of this remarkable agency in the eradication
and cure of cancer and other malignant growths has
directed the attention of tin; world to the sources of its
supply. The exceptional riches of our western fields
have made the output of them eagerly sought after
by the laboratories and reduction works of Europe.
Two great plants in the state of Pennsylvania are now
treating the ores and claim to be supplying the trade
each with a gram a month salable at about $120,000.
Thus far their production has gone very largely to
foreign markets, as has practically all the ore not
treated by them. They own the claims from which
their supply is drawn, one of the companies having
acquired about 140 claims. Another association has
80 odd. a third 40 m- more. Though the crude ore
which is the source of by far the greater part of the
products of the works in Europe comes from this
country, our surgeons are forced to pro there to pro-
cure their supply. Cnmistakable evidence is at hand
of something like a race to purchase or locate every
deposit of any prominence, and surgeons of eminence
who are intensely interested in the success that has
been achieved in the use in therapeutics of this singu-
lar substance, and the still more marvelous possibili-
ties that experiments are constantly revealing, be-
came genuinely alarmed on visiting the region from
which the ore comes lest the whole of it should speed-
ily fall into the hands of a monopoly which might
maintain the price of its product so high as to make
it available for the treatment of those only who could
afford to pay anything that might be demanded.
These conditions prompted the introduction of a bill
which obligates the locators of all claims containing
radium-bearing ores to sell their products to the
United States at the market price to be fixed by the
Secretary of the Interior. Development work or min-
ing during a period or for periods aggregating four
months is required, and even after patent, if the
property is not worked with diligence, the Secretary
is authorized to enter upon the property and mine it,
paying to the owner the market value of the ore. less
the cost. of extraction. Rights to claims located prior
to the passage of the act are, of course, not affected,
but the Government is given the preference right to
buy the output of all claims hereafter located. The
Bureau of Mines is perfecting a process which it is
claimed will enable it to reduce the ores at a cost not
to exceed that now attending similar work by private
companies. Two questions are of first importance in
the consideration of this measure: first, whether it is
justifiable to impound all ores produced in our terri-
tory to supply the needs of our people; and. second,
whether the peril of monopoly is sufficiently imminent
to justify the Government in itself undertaking the
work of extraction.
Non-Metallic Minerals
Various other bills related in character to those re-
ferred to will be considered in conference, such as hat
been mentioned, and then introduced. First in im-
portance is an oil and gas bill. The basic feature of
this bill is one which permits the discoverer to pur-
chase a limited portion of a tract for the exploration
of which an exclusive license is issued to him. the
remainder then being leased. It is proposed to give
the adventurer the exclusive right for two years to
prospect over four sections, if they are distant 100
mdes from a producing well, and over one section if
it is less. Should he discover oil or gas, he is entitled
to locate, in the one ease G'40 acres, in the other Kin
acres of the land included in his permit, acquiring
title under the procedure described in the ease of
placer mines.
The same principle is to be made applicable to tin-
disposition of valuable deposits of chlorides, sulphates,
borates, or nitrates of potassium or sodium. Phosphate
deposits it is proposed shall be leased in tracts not to
exceed 320 acres by competitive bidding. The royal-
ties from all leases of lands outside of Alaska, except
so much as is deemed necessary to defray the cost of
administering the laws (for this principle applies to
all leasing measures) go into the reclamation fund.
A general coal land bill has been prepared by the De-
partment on the same lines. The Committee of both
Houses, the Department, and the Congress will be
thankful for any consideration you may give these
various measures and for any helpful suggestions.
368
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
The Apex Law in the Drumlummon Controversy
By Charles W. Goodai.e
"The litigation between the St. Louis Mining & Mill-
ing Co. and the Montana Mining Co., Ltd., over por-
tions of the Drumlummon lode covered a period of
more than 20 years, and resulted in a judgment for
damages in favor of the St. Louis company of such
an amount that the Montana company declined to pay
the judgment and therefore lost the entire property.
The Drumlummon lode claim, in the Marysville dis-
trict. Montana, was located in 1876 by Thomas Cruse.
Fig. 1.
When he staked out his claim, he assumed that the
discovery on the Drumlummon vein, and another show-
ing of mineral about 200 ft. distant, were on the same
vein, anil the centre line of the claim was given a
course of N. 571/-:0 E. (Fig. 1.) Development of the
Drumlummon vein soon showed that its strike was
about N. 15° E., and that the other outcrop was on
the North Star lode, so it was inevitable that the
Drumlummon vein would cross one or both side-lines
of the location, and the Montana company found it
♦Abstract of paper read before the Butte section and the an-
nual meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.
advisable to acquire adjoining claims on both sides of
the Drumlummon, in order to avoid possible litigation
over apex rights. They bought the Marble Heart, but
would not purchase the Hopeful at the terms pro-
posed for the reason that exploration in the Cruse
level had shown the vein to be barren in that region.
The owners of the Hopeful were sinking a shaft on
that claim in 1889, and the Montana company enjoined
them, contending that, owing to the triangular form
of the location, it had no extralateral
rights. When the cause was heard by
Judge Knowles in the United States
District Court in Helena, in June 1890.
he supported the contention of the
plaintiff, and no appeal was taken, be-
cause it was found that the portion of
the Drumlummon vein in controversy
was not of sufficient value to justify
further litigation.
The St. Louis claim was located Sep-
tember 28, 1878, as an extension of the
Drumlummon. There is abundant evi-
dence from the location notice, and
from other facts, that its side-lines
were straight, as shown by dotted lines
in Fig. 2, but the discovery vein of the
St. Louis proved disappointing when
opened, and in the meantime the 9-Hour
location having been made by William
Robinson, July 26, 1880, on a promising
discovery of ore, the St. Louis owners,
in surveying their claim for patent in
July 1881. ran their lines so as to take
in the 9-Hour discovery. When Robin-
son objected, they made angles in their
side-lines, leaving out the shaft, but
by such a narrow margin (about 10 ft.)
that when they applied for patent he
put in an adverse claim. On March 7,
1884. he was induced to withdraw his
suit, the St. Louis owners agreeing, on
the issuance of their patent, to convey
him a portion of the ground, known
thereafter as the compromise strip. As this would
have the effect of moving the St. Louis line 40 ft. far-
ther away from his discovery, he felt secure in his
mineral rights to the 9-Hour vein. The locator had
only developed the property to a limited extent, when
he sold it to the Montana company.
Going back now to the beginning of the litigation
with the St. Louis M. & M. Co., a suit was started on
October 14, 1890, by that company against the Mon-
tana company for $2,000,000. An incline shaft had
been sunk on the St. Louis claim to a depth of about
370 ft. (Fig. 2) in an effort to find the Montana com-
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
369
pany's workings, as it was known that the Cruse level
had been driven several hundred feet south of the
Drumlummon end-line and into the Marble Heart claim.
This shaft was started as close as possible to the side-
line of the St. Louis, and was given an inclination par-
allel to the known dip of the Drumlummon vein. The
geologists of the plaintiff asserted that the shaft was
sunk on the foot-wall of the Drumlummon vein, and set
up the theory that the Drumlummon vein
entered their claim at its north end-line
with a width of about 70 ft., varying
from that to about 30 ft. in its course
southerly, and claimed the Jubilee and
Jubilee No. 2 ore-shoots in virtue of apex
rights to which they were entitled by the
alleged fact that they had the foot-wall
in the St. Louis claim, the hanging wall
being in a junior location, the Marble
Heart. The case came up for trial April
17, 1893, in the United States District
Court at Helena, and at the conclusion.
five weeks later, the jury gave a verdict
iu favor of the defendant, thus support-
ing its geologists' in their statement thai
the Drumlummon in its apex through
the region in question was a narrow vein.
not to exceed 3 ft. in width, existing be-
tween two well defined walls, and with a
distinctive barren -filling. The nature of
this vein-matter as shown by analysis of
the country slate or hornstone, both with-
in the wide vein as claimed by the plaint-
iff's geologists and outside of it. showed
little difference in the composition, but
the plaintiff insisted thai what the de-
fendant called the whole vein was only
the hanging wall gouge, and that the rock
between this and the plaintiff's alleged
foot-wall, from 30 to 70 ft. distant, was
"broken, brecciated, recemented vein
matter." The defendant pointed to many
places where the stratification planes of
the slate were strongly in evidence, and
asserted that wherever they were indis-
tinct this condition could be explained by
the proximity to the contact with the
diorite.
After the purchase of the 9-Hour claim
the Montana company began active ex-
ploration of the ground, both at the surface in the
discovery shaft and in deep levels. By the summer
of 1*93 developments had shown that the vein would
cross the east side-line of the St. Louis claim as
patented, and on June 1!'. 1893, the St. Louis com-
pany commenced an action to restrain the .Montana
company from working any part of the vein the apex
of which was in the St. Louis claim as patented, and
for damages, placed at the sum of $10,000, for ore
extracted from within the boundaries of the compro-
mise ground. A temporary order was issued, restrain-
ing the Montana company from sinking its Apex shaft
upon the compromise ground near the boundary line
between this ground and the 9-Hour claim. The case
was removed to the federal court, and on September
16, 1893, a new complaint was filed in which the dam-
ages were placed at the sum of $200,000 for the ore
then extracted. For a distance of 100 ft. or more at
Fi<„
the surface, and to a depth of about 50 ft., the ore
was richer than had been found in any other workings
of the Drumlummon vein, and the fight for its posses-
sion became very bitter. The .Montana company
claimed the right to the ground in controversy by vir-
tue of tlie agreemenl to convey the compromise ground.
It could not maintain its right without the full legal
title to the ground, and thereupon it commenced an
action to compel the St. Louis company to deed to it
the compromise ground in accordance with the agree-
370
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
merit which had been entered into with Robinson and
his associates. Pending the proceedings in this 'spe-
cific performance suit,' the proceedings in the court
were suspended. The suit dragged its length along
until the year 1898, when the Supreme Court of the .
United States affirmed the decision of the State, Dis-
trict, and Supreme courts requiring the St. Louis com-
pany to convey the compromise ground in accordance
with its agreement, which was done, and a deed was
executed July 1, 1898. The patent of the St. Louis
claim was issued in July 1887, and William Robinson,
or his successor in interest, the Montana company,
should have received a deed promptly, but it was only
given after eleven years of annoying and expensive
litigation.
Amended Complaint Filed
In November 1898 the St. Louis company filed its
first amended complaint in the United States Circuit
Court, claiming the right to the ores beneath the com-
promise ground by virtue of its ownership of the apex
of the vein within the limits of the St. Louis claim
wholly outside of the compromise ground, from a point
on the east side-line of the St. Louis claim between
corners No. 1 and 2, 520 ft. distant from corner No. 1
of the St. Louis claim to a point on the west side-line
of the compromise strip distant 108 ft. from the in-
tersection of the west side-line of the compromise
ground with the east side-line of the St. Louis claim,
running from corners No. 1 and 2, where the hanging
wall of the vein began to cross from the St. Louis
ground into the compromise ground and for an addi-
tional portion of the said vein for a distance of 25 ft.
to the point where the foot-wall of the vein passed
out of the east side-line of the St. Louis lode claim into
the compromise ground. These points of departure
of the hanging wall and foot-wall from the St. Louis
ground into the compromise ground became known as
the 108 and the 133-ft. planes.
The case was not reached for trial until 1899. Short-
ly before the commencement of the trial the plaintiff
amended its complaint, making the total damages
claimed $600,000. The trial was heard before -Judge
Knowles in the United States Circuit Court in the
month of August 1899, and resulted in a verdict for
the plaintiff in the sum of $23,209 for ore extracted
north of the 108-ft. plane, or from a vein which had
its apex entirely within the St. Louis claim outside
of the compromise ground. The district judge held
that in order to entitle the plaintiff to recover, it must
have within its own surface lines the entire apex of the
vein from which the ore was extracted. Both parties
sued out writs of error, the St. Louis company upon
the ground that it was entitled to the ore within the
vein to the extent that it had any of the apex within
its surface lines, and the Montana company on the
ground that the deed conveyed to it all of the mineral
beneath the compromise ground, and that as the ver-
dict embraced damages only for ores extracted from
beneath the compromise ground, it was entitled to a
judgment. The Circuit Court of Appeals reversed
the case on the St. Louis company 's writ of error, hold-
ing that the company, as the owner of the senior loca-
tion, was entitled to recover to the extent that it had
any of the apex within the surface of its ground, and
affirmed the judgment to the extent of $23,209, over-
ruling the Montana company's contention that the deed
conveyed the ore beneath the compromise ground.
where such ore was found in a vein apexing partly
or wholly outside of the deeded ground. This action
of the Court of Appeals was reversed by the Supreme
Court of the United States on writs of error sued out
by the Montana company, and that court held that the
reversal of the judgment of the Circuit Court as to one
portion of the case reversed the entire case, and re-
manded the case to the Circuit Court for a new trial,
without deciding any of the points in controversy.
The case was again tried in the Circuit Court in
Helena, before Judge Hunt, district judge, sitting as
a circuit judge, in May and June, 1905. Judge Hunt.
following the ruling of the Circuit Court of Appeals.
held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover for the
ores extracted between the 520-ft. and the 133-ft.
planes, and a verdict was rendered in the sum of $195.-
000. Writs of error were again sued out, and the case
was reviewed by the Circuit Court of Appeals. It
then went to the Supreme Court of the United States,
where, on January 14, 1907, (204 U. S. 204), the
Supreme Court rendered its opinion that the deed to
the compromise ground conveyed all of the mineral
beneath the compromise ground, and. as the decision
of that point might end the litigation, none of the
other questions were directly passed upon. But in his
opinion. Justice Brewer raised, for the first time, the
suggestion that the deed to the compromise ground
carved out a section from the vein.
The Injunction Dissolved
When the mandate was filed in the Circuit Court, the
Montana company moved to' dissolve the injunction.
which had been granted at the time of filing the origi-
nal complaint, restraining the Montana company from
extracting ores from beneath the compromise ground,
basing its motion for dissolution upon the decision of
the Supreme Court of the United States that the deed
to the compromise ground conveyed to the Montana
company all of the ores beneath its surface. On March
30, 1907. Judge Hunt, district judge, sitting as a cir-
cuit judge, granted the defendant's motion and dis-
solved the injunction. The St. Louis company then
applied to the Supreme Court of the United States for
a modification or an explanation of its opinion relative
to the construction of the deed, but the Supreme Court
denied the application without any further opinion.
The St. Louis company then, on August 28. 1907, made
an application for leave to amend its complaint so as
to claim damages for ores extracted from the vein on
its dip after it had passed through the compromise
ground, placing its damages at $500,000 for ores ex-
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
tracted from that portion of the vein on or about June
30. 1893. and for $500,000 for ores extracted from that
portion of the vein between June 30, 1893. and the date
of tendering this amended complaint. It also alleged
that the foot-Vail of the vein Mas at all points either
in the compromise strip or the St. Louis claim, and
passed out at some indefinite point across the south
end-line of the St. Louis claim as patented; the conten-
tion of counsel for the St. Louis company being that
under the Supreme Court decision, the
St. Louis company owned all the ore in
the vein after it had departed from the
compromise ground on its dip. so long
as any part of the apex of the vein
lay within either the compromise strip
or the St. Louis claim.
This proposed amended complaint
not only extended the surface area in
which was embraced the apex of the
vein from which the ore was alleged to
have been extracted, but carried the
place of trespass into the depth of the
mine and into stopes which had been
taken out many years before the filing
of this amended complaint, which ore,
it was contended by the St. Louis com-
pany, was of the same rich value as
that taken from the compromise
ground near the surface. The propos<
amended complaint also set forth the
fact that the .Montana company had
worked out the remaining vein belong-
ing to it. had ceased its operations in
-Montana, and was in an insolvent con-
dition, having no property within the
jurisdiction ot' the court, except Un-
practically dismantled mining plant.
The plaintiff asked for an injunction
on the equity side of the court restraining the Montana
company from mining upon the compromise ground,
notwithstanding the decision of the Supreme Court of
the I'nited States that the ore beneath that ground be-
longed to the .Montana company, basing its right to
an injunction upon the allegation of insolvency and
inability of the Montana company to respond in dam-
ages in the event that the St. Louis company recovered
judgment: and that the St. Louis company must neces-
sarily recover judgment in some amount, because tin-
portion of the vein from which the ores had la-en ex-
tracted was. by the decision of the Supreme Court.
awarded to the St. Louis company.
This construction of the decision of the Supreme
Court by the attorneys of the St. Louis company was
assailed by the attorneys for the Montana company
upon the ground that the declaration id'. Justice Brewer
in the opinion of the Supreme Court that the effect of
the compromise deed was to carve out a section of tin-
vein, leaving the remaining portion iineonveyed, re-
ferred only to the portion of the vein on its dip where
all or a part of its apex lay within the St. Louis claim,
and had no reference to the vein after its apex had
wholly passed into the compromise strip, and that the
Supreme Court by its refusal to modify or amend its
mandate had practically so determined. Objection
was also made to the filing of this amended complaint
upon the ground that by extending the point of de-
parture of the foot-wall from the 133-ft. plain- to a
point across the south end-line of the St. Louis claim
— — « — ■ -
Fk.. :'..
there was brought into the litigation a trespass upon
an area of ground not embraced in the original ground.
and that as to that portion of the damages claimed, the
statute of limitations had bailed recovery. These con-
tentions were finally overruled by the Circuit Court,
and on December -. 1907. leave was given to file the
third amended complaint, the defendant then answer-
ed, and on January 10. 1908. .Indge Hunt issued an in-
junction restraining the Montana company from ex-
tracting the ores from beneath the compromise strip
pending the litigation. This injunction was unique
in the histoiw of mining litigation in Montana, in that
it restrained the Montana company from extracting
ores from the portion of the ground awarded to it.
in order that these ores might be preserved to answer
any judgment which might be recovered against the
Montana company for trespass upon the portion of tin-
vein which, it was claimed, the Supreme Court had
awarded to the St. Louis company. An appeal to re-
view this action of Judge Hunt was taken to the Cir-
cuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and on
372
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
March 2, 1909, the action of the Circuit Court was
affirmed.
The case then came up for trial again before Judge
Hunt in 1909, commencing June 14 and ending August
11. Before and during the trial extensive explorations
were made upon the surface ground, and the case was
bitterly contested by the experts of the two parties as
to the position of the foot-wall. At the close of the
testimony on behalf of the Montana company, the St.
Louis company amended its third amended and sup-
plemental complaint and replication by withdrawing
the allegation of the compromise ground as a part of
the St. Louis claim, and substituting in lieu thereof
the allegation contained in the former complaints that
the compromise ground was and always had been a
part of the 9-Hour claim. The complaint was further
amended by alleging that the apex of the vein in con-
troversy passed entirely into the compromise ground
7~C Tl/W/VfL
IV
Fig. 4.
at the point designated as the 268.6-ft. plane. This
amendment, which was strenuously objected to by
counsel for defendant, and was made after the grant-
ing of a sweeping injunction upon the construction of
the Supreme Court decision, urged by the St. Louis
company's counsel, and after defendant had been com-
pelled to prepare its defense of the cause to meet such
legal theory, and after all of the evidence in chief of
the St. Louis company had been introduced upon this
theory — permitted the St. Louis company to com-
pletely somersault in its legal position, and seek a
recovery upon new allegations of fact, upon which
they confessedly could not have recovered under the
complaint as it stood up to the time when the Montana
company was required to present its evidence. Under
the pleadings as they stood up to this time, a portion
of the apex of all the vein in controversy lay within
the compromise strip, and the compromise strip "was
and always had been a part of the St. Louis claim."
which part had been conveyed to the predecessors of
the Montana company by a conveyance prior to that by
which the remainder of the St. Louis claim had been
conveyed by the same grantors to the St. Louis com-
pany. Under the law the effect of the first deed —
that conveying the compromise strip — was to convey
all of the vein on its dip so long as any part of the
apex lay within the compromise strip. By this last
amendment, the St. Louis company was permitted to
take the position that the compromise strip "was and
always had been a part of the 9-Hour
claim." thus presenting a question of
rights on the dip of a vein, the apex
of which was divided between the
junior 9-Hour claim and the prior St.
Louis location, thereby presenting en-
tirely different questions both of law
and fact. The controversy by this last
amendment then narrowed down to the
question as to whether the foot-wall
passed into the compromise ground at
the 133-ft. plane or at a point farther
south, designated as the 268-ft. plane.
The jury found that the foot-wall en-
tered the compromise ground at the
133-ft. plane (as contended by the wit-
nesses of the Montana company, who
maintained that the apex of the vein
was only about 10 ft. wide, as against
the assertions of the St. Louis witnesses
that its width was 55 ft.), and awarded
the St. Louis company damages for the
amount of ore extracted from the vein
after it had departed from the com-
promise ground, aggregating 1912 tons,
valued at $237,470.40. The court had
instructed the jury that if they found
in favor of the plaintiff, they should
include in their verdict interest at 8%
per annum on the value of the ore ex-
tracted in 1893. As nearly sixteen years had then
elapsed, the interest amounted to considerably more
than the value of the ore. From the above amount was
deducted the value of 218 tons of ore taken by the St.
Louis company from beneath the compromise strip,
amounting to $34,341.38, including interest, making the
verdict $203,129.02. Upon a writ of error the judgment
was reviewed by the Circuit Court of Appeals, where it
was affirmed (183 Fed. 51), a petition for a writ of
certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court of the
United States on March 6. 1911. The Montana Mining
Pf\OU£CT/OU
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
373
Co. decided to offer no further resistance, and in due
course the property was sold by the sheriff to the
plaintiff.
In the foregoing chronology of the litigation and
analysis of court proceedings, Messrs. E. C. Day, C.
F. Kelley. and L. O. Evans have kindly given me
great assistance. Reviewing, again, the court pro-
ceedings, shows that the litigation in its various phases
required in the aggregate about five months in the
four trials on questions of fact, and that it reached
the State Supreme Court once, the Circuit Court of
Appeals five times, and the Supreme Court of the
I'nited States four times. Furthermore, much time
was occupied by the courts in many preliminary hear-
ings.
Comments on the Verdict
The jury by its verdict showed that they did not
accept the wide vein theory of the plaintiff, for if
they had they would have awarded him damages for
the proceeds of 31,592 tons of ore. instead of for
1912, which was about the amount admitted by the
defendant as having been extracted by it under its
own surface, but from that part of the vein having its
apex partly within the St. Louis claim west of the
compromise strip. The award of $.'37,470.40 must have
placed an original value of about $.">."> per ton on the
ore. Fig. 4 shows the extent of the excavation made
by the Montana company north of the 133-ft. plane
and east of the compromise ground, and nearly all of
the work was done in and beyond the extreme north-
ern limits of the pay ore. Many samples were taken
before the trial from the ore remaining in these work-
ings and the assays were submitted in court, giving
what was thought ample proof that the material ex-
tracted did not return the company a profit of $15 per
ton. Samples had also been taken as the work pro-
gressed, but the samplers and assayers of that time
were either dead or out of reach, and the Company
could not prove its records by personal testimony.
Furthermore, believing fully in the validity of its title
to the compromise ground and to all the mineral there-
in contained, and that no adverse rights could be suc-
cessfully claimed beyond this strip and within the
9-Hour location, as patented, the defendant had not
taken the precaution to run the ore in question through
the mills by itself, thereby placing on record its bul-
lion yield. Moreover, then' was an advantage in
working it with ore from other parts of the mine.
The advocates and defenders of our mining law
insist that in no way except by giving the discoverer
of a vein the right to follow it on its dip under ad-
joining ground can he realize the full benefits to which
he is entitled, but in the case under review, the plaintiff
was not siting for any rights directly pertaining to his
discovery vein. His demands were based entirely up-
on an incidental vein, the existence of which was un-
known to him when he made the St. Louis location,
and this vein only skimmed along his side line, but the
actual discoverer of the lode in question, or his succes-
sors in interest, finally lost the entire property as a re-
sult of these demands. With no development along the
vein, the strike in the 9-Hour discovery led the locator
to believe that in compromising with the St. Louis
he would have the apex of the lode within his claim
from end to end. and from all considerations of equity
and justice, the worst that should have happened in
consequence of his lack of knowledge of the course of
the vein, should have been the loss of the ore included
within the vertical boundaries of the St. Louis claim.
excluding the compromise ground. But what hap-
pened? By the application of the apex law, he was
deprived of all ore in the vein he had discovered up
to the 133-ft. plane, and was adjudged to be liable in
damages to the St. Louis company for more than $200.-
000, covering 1912 tons of ore which he extracted from
under his own surface. Furthermore, if the jury had
accepted the wide vein theory of the St. Louis wit-
nesses, and had given them extralateral ownership to
all the ore up to the 268-ft. plane, the 9-Hour locator
would have had no rights in his discovery shaft, and
would have been a trespasser, and liable in damages,
when he took a little sack of ore from there to the as-
sayer. so that he could support the affidavit in his
location notice, that he had made a valid discovery.
Can anyone describe an instance where such in-
justice has resulted in the operation of the mining laws
of other countries? With extralateral rights abolish-
ed, underground rights would be settled quickly on
mathematical planes, and years of litigation, with at-
tending costs, would be avoided.
South Dakota has a forest law which Government
Forest Service officials hold up as a model for West-
ern states to copy, claiming that its enactment and
enforcement would not only conserve timber, but
would, through preventing fire, have an important
effect on water supplies. The Service calls attention
to the fact that the timbered mountains arc -the areas
upon which the people of the West are absolutely de-
pendent for their water supplies. The law is, in part,
as follows: "Any person who shall cut any timber
upon any common school or other lands within this
state, shall pile up and dispose of all brush and debris
in such manner and under such regulations as may
be prescribed by the board of school and public lands,
and shall commit no waste or unnecessary damage to
the standing trees and young growth."
There was no railway construction in Alaska dur-
ing 1913. Of the 466 miles of track previously built,
only 260 miles was operated in 1913. This is largely
due to the high cost of fuel and to the tax of $100
per mile on all operating lines. These conditions have
tended to discourage the railways, especially those
which are only partly completed. In 1913 the White
Pass & Yukon, the Copper River & Northwestern, and
the Tanana Valley railroads were the only lines to be
continuously operated, according to Alfred H. Brooks,
of the U. S. Geological Survey.
374
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
What is the Matter With Prospecting?
A REJOINDER
Fayette A. Jones: — It is with much interest that I
have noted various opinions relative to the decline in
prospecting. Of the various views presented none,
from my viewpoint, has even approached the funda-
mental cause of the prevailing blight. The true reason
is not hard to find and the answer is simple: demonet-
ization of silver did it. The incentive for making new
discoveries was ruthlessly swept aside by demonetiza-
tion and the prospector's chances of success declined
fifty per cent.
E. W. Reuther: — From reading your vital question,
'What is the Matter with Prospecting?' I am very glad
to learn that there is a spirit of concern about. I only
wish it may ripen again the fruits of enterprise. There
are a few loyal remnants left of the legions that used to
work under the customs and rights of the old mining
districts, and they are still anxious for a chance to
earn their grub stakes or to do assessment work on
the claims of others under fair conditions — an eight-
hour day. and wages at $3.50 per shift. Conditions
have changed since the old days. Big corporations now
take up land which was staked for mineral claims and
use it for other purposes; and they have the assess-
ment work on mining claims done by foreign laborers
working ten hours a day for a wage of $2.50. thereby
depriving the prospector of the support that he needs
to enable him to find new mining districts. Every fair-
minded prospector is independent and self-reliant. All
he needs is a reasonable reward for his labor and a
fair chance. It would be only fair to ask for indirect
government support by means of laws providing that
all assessment work be performed only by citizens of
the United States or persons who have signified their
intention of becoming citizens. As our Government
is a co-partner in all mining claims, I can see no just
reason why alien laborers should be the chief bene-
factors under the requirement of the annual expendi-
ture of $100 per claim. There should be an 'assess-
ment inspector' to see that the annual labor on every
claim is performed, and a record should be kept of all
claims inspected by him. In ease the assessment work
is not done the owner should be compelled to forfeit his
property, or to pay a fine of $100.
John C. Molder: — The prospector was driven out by
recent legislation in the mining states, for every new
law has been against him. For instance. Arizona
passed a law that a prospector could not re-locate his
claim. A few years ago a law was passed in Arizona
authorizing the State University to do assaying for
prospectors, with a charge of 50c. for a gold-silver
assay. The next legislature increased the charge to
$1. because it was said that the lower charge ruined
the business of the regular assayers. To encourage
prospecting, each mining state should have a free
assay office to which a prospector could send samples
of ore that he might wish to have tested or assayed.
A prospector never has much money, and if he finds
a strange mineral which might be valuable he can sel-
dom afford to have it tested. If a property is being
worked for certain metals (such as gold, silver, or
copper) and a prospector discovers a deposit of a dif-
ferent kind of metal or mineral, he should be allowed
to develop it and acquire ownership. Every county
should have a collection of ores and minerals so that
the prospector may compare his "finds' with the known
ores exhibited. The taxes from one good mine will pay
all of the expenditures made on behalf of the pros-
pector. After a prospector has worked for years and
has spent his money trying to keep up the assessment
work on a claim, the courts should allow no one to
take it away from him. The state or federal govern-
ment ought to have engineers and geologists to ex-
amine all prospects and small mines, and their reports
should be on file so that a prospective buyer may be
able to secure reliable information. This would help
the prospector to find a market for his properties.
As a rule the prospector gets very little from his dis-
coveries. Protect the prospector from claim-jumpers
and swindlers. Open wide the gates of opportunity
ami he will find his way through.
H. S. Hite: — The land that is open for prospecting,
in this state especially, has been pretty well gone over,
but there is still a great deal of ground for the lonely
prospector. The land, however, is controlled by com-
panies or corporations that will not allow prospecting
because they hold agricultural titles. Then comes the
individual agriculturist who does not want any 'coyote
holes' dug in his ground. Again, there are some of
these agriculturists that are willing to have a pros-
pector go on the ground providing he only wants
about one-tenth of what he finds.
I know of much of this so-called agricultural land
upon which you can raise a good prospect, and that is
about all you can raise, as it will hardly support the
wild native vegetation. Some of this land has been
held by mineral locations, and afterward the same
people that swore it was mineral land swore that it
was non-mineral. If there were some way to get at
this ground, so that the man with the pick and pan
could see what was in it. some of the old-time pros-
pectors would come to life again, and it is more than
likely we would have some more good mines and more
money spent for prospecting. No prospector cares for
a lawsuit, and not many mining men that have capital
to spend on prospects care to go to law over land that
is claimed as agricultural.
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
375
Frank P. Davis: — I believe you could get at this
subject better by means of a response from the pros-
pector himself. I have followed that line for 35 years,
and I think I ought to say something from my side of
the fence. For the past five years, money has been
closer and harder to get for developing prospects than
ever before. Outside of a few low-grade copper mines,
nine out of ten of the new properties that have been
opened and put in the mine class in the past ten years
have been developed by the prospector and lessee, not
by the capitalist. You will find a great number of the
old-time prospectors at the present time in some out
of the way place or in some idle mining camp, holding
down a few mining claims which they arc developing
as fast as their limited means will allow, while waiting
for a buyer. It seems that capital wants a mine for a
prospect price. Nowadays if a prospector is lucky
enough to go out and get someone with capital to
look at his prospects, this is generally his story.
If the prospect looks good to the capitalists they
will ask the price of the group of claims, and will be
told five oi- ten thousand dollars, or whatever figure
the price may be. with a year's bond and lease, but
the owner wants five or six hundred dollars down.
Now the showings on this prospect may look good
enough to warrant some work and perhaps the ex-
penditure of from ten to fifty thousand dollars in de-
velopment. Hut the capitalists will pay nothing down.
They do not stop to think that the prospector lias done
many a hard day's work showing up what is in sight.
lie probably owes money for his supplies and equip-
ment, but he can get nothing down for what he has
put in. There are many good prospects lying idle be-
cause of this averseness to paying a few hundred dol-
lars in cash. It seems that many of the mining en-
gineers who are sent out to look at a prospect are not
competent to do so. They come with the understand-
ing that they are going t,> examine a prospect, price
probably $5000. If they don't find a mine, they turn
it down. What is the reason ' They don't stop to
think that if the showings were as irood or better two
or three hundred feet deeper the property would lie
worth twenty times as much as the price asked. They
work on the theory that only one prospect out of a
hundred makes a mine. In earlier days any fair look-
ing prospect, that had the 'ear marks' of a mine, would
he taken iii) quickly, hut it now seems that the only
thing which will interest capital is a big boom and
lots of talk.
The Government can be of great help to the pros-
pector, and be the cause of many discoveries. The
prospector in the field has a very hard time to get his
samples assayed. Let the Government start -nod assay
offices in the different western states, where n bona
fide prospector could get an assay or an analytical test
on his samples without paying cash. Then the $100
annua] assessment work on a mining claim ought to
be done away with. Have an annual tax. say ^10. for
each claim. This would be much better in more ways
than one for all concerned, except the few who make
a living by doing assessment work (and a kick from
the miner's union). A part of the tax could be used
for the maintenance of the assay offices. Prospecting,
in one sense, is much easier today than it was years
ago. as the thousands of feet of development done in
late years are really a great help, whether ore has
been discovered or not.
W. S. G. Todd:— On behalf of the prospector. I wish
to say that too much credit cannot be given the man
who has the nerve and inclination to throw a fry pan,
coffee pot, a little plain grub, and a roll of blankets
upon a 'jack' and hike for the unexplored mineral
regions. He must find mineral that will pay, or his
grub and time, which are his stock in trade, are lost.
He stakes everything he has. If it was not the pros-
pector who made the first move toward bringing into
existence the mines that in 1!)13 produced about
$88,000,000 in -old in the Tinted States. 1 should like
to know who did. Suppose a prospector makes a prom-
ising find. He has no capital, hut as long as his grub
lasts he is hard at work, and he opens up his ore on
the surface as best he can. Then what happens.' He
is compelled to go to work for wages or look for some
one with money to help develop or buy his prospect.
The prospector struggles alone- doing such develop-
ment as is within his means, hoping someone will
come alone who is willing to take a chance with him.
Finally someone dees come, tie looks over the prop-
erty, and perhaps the district, and concludes that both
look promising. lie takes a round of samples, the best
high-grade he can find, and starts down the trail. He
doesn't go far. however, until he relieves himself of
the test samples, but not of the high-grade. That is
his pay-streak, for he may be out several months, dur-
ing which time he takes up quite a collection. He does
not return, lie is an imposter. but he creates a bad
impression with the prospector.
The prospector's next experience is with the 'shoe-
string' promoter. .Men of this class are pretty well rep-
resented. They float around through the mining coun-
try taking options and bonds on everything that looks
at all promising. They want to secure options for from
three months to a year or more. They are close to
millions and will take your proposition up at once, but
of course 'you know we can't hurry the big fellows.'
Now. as a matter of fact, about as near as these fellows
ever get to money is in passing a bank. Should one
of them happen to reach real money, he usually doubles
the price of the property, with the result that the whole
matter will be dropped immediately after an examina-
tion. The poor mine nets the blame, and the capitalist
becomes more cautious. This method causes the report.
to be circulated that a prospect or small mine cannot
be bought at a fair valuation. We are surrounded
today by conditions caused largely by too much middle-
man, and mining has come in for its share of the bad
resulting from it.
Finally, the prospector may take a trip to the city
and mav call upon Mr. Goodfellow. After I'ivinjr a de-
376
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
scription of his property, the prospector is informed
that Mr. Goodfellow has no clients at present who
would care to develop a prospect, but he has a friend
who is in touch with capital. The prospector then de-
scribes his property to this man, who informs him that
he controls considerable money available for mining,
but at present he has none for developing prospects,
the demand being for developed properties. However,
he knows of some local people who might be interested.
Before leaving, the prospector is given to understand
that in case any business is done, both he and Mr.
Goodfellow will have to be taken care of to the extent
of about 10% each. In the course of time the pros-
pector is brought face to face with the man who really
has capital. He listens attentively, says that he is
somewhat interested, but does not think it is just what
he wants. In fact, if you had just what he did want
you could work out your own salvation with a hand
mortar. So finally, with shoes and patience worn out,
the prospector returns to camp.
I am strongly in favor of government aid to the pros-
pector, for the simple reason that he cannot get it from
any other source and get a square deal ; and I believe
he is entitled to at least a small portion of the benefit
to be derived from the property he has discovered. I
note the opinion has been expressed that under no con-
dition is aid to the prospector a function of the Govern-
ment. Now, in my opinion, it not only is a function
but a duty of the Government to aid in every way pos-
sible the development of the resources of this country,
and the people who are engaged in it.
H. Pembroke: — I am much surprised at the state-
ment of 11 out of 18 writers that there is plenty of
money for the development of prospects. This is the
reverse of the experience of the prospector, most as-
suredly, and it is mainlj' for this reason that prospect-
ing seems to be on the wane. If there is plenty of
capital, I should like to ask Mr. Thayer what is the
proper channel through which the prospector can
reach it. The past few years have seen the growth of
huge corporations that have indirectly controlled pros-
pecting, mining, and smelting operations. It is stated
that one corporation selected one or two properties out
of over 700 that were presented for its consideration.
It is not stated why this wholesale rejection, but it
would not be safe to say that the 698 lacked merit.
Is it not just possible that a great deal of the trouble
is right here — control of the capital, production, and
the market through certain metal-selling agencies? If
that is the case, as a banker, Mr. Hayden is quite right
in saying, "I do not believe there should be any better
market for undeveloped lands created."
Who is the wise man of the East or West who is
to tell the value of an undeveloped mining property ?
My memory goes back to a certain miner who drove
1900 ft. in a certain mine before 'striking it.' He
'hen went to a certain banker, offering part of his
.,tock at $4 per share. It was declined until a certain
-Hebrew bought some of it. Then the banker (who
was not a Hebrew, by the way) took hold of it. This
stock was about $7 for a year or so, when it began to
climb until it reached $55 per share. The property
has produced millions; it still produces. There is a
certain mine in Eureka, Utah, upon which $180,000
was spent before a pound of ore was found. Then this
same banker was offered a large number of its shares
at 40 cents. He sent an engineer to examine the prop-
erty. He advised rejection. This stock rose to $2
almost immediately, and this mine has also produced
millions. There are a number of such instances in
every field. The point is: who is competent to say
whether a prospect will make a mine or not? And
who is thus qualified to speak of the rejections; who
rejected them and why? Again, where is the wise
man !
Referring to the engineers' statement that there is
plenty of capital for prospectors— where is it? Can
they get it? Can they tell the prospector or miner
how to get it? They cannot. I mean, as a class they
cannot, because the average engineer is a very cold
blooded animal. He realizes his limitations— he can-
not see farther than the point of his prospecting pick,
any more than the prospector can. (I say nothing
about his technical ability to prognosticate upon the
signs that are about him.) And the average engineer
will not make a positive statement that the capital
will come back to its investor. He cannot. I have
had unusual opportunities to study the engineer, and
my sympathies are surely with him. If there is an
abused profession it is his: abused because of things
absolutely beyond his control. Full and complete dis-
cussion of this question will do good. I compliment
you on your effort. Keep the good work going. Let
us learn just where the trouble is. We must all re-
member that "the mining industry is the avenue
through which flows the imperishable wealth of the
world : that from no other source can gold and silver
and the baser metals be secured."
S. A. Knapp: — I have read with considerable in-
terest the remarks of the several gentlemen published
in your symposium relative to prospects, prospectors,
and prospecting. Having had a considerable experi-
ence with the subjects mentioned in California, (and
in Nevada from 1876 to 1905). during which period I
have staked a large number of prospectors, and been
interested in numerous prospects, I would say as the
result of my observations: (1) That it takes prospects
to make mines, as all mines must necessarily l'o through
the prospecting stage. (2) That it takes prospectors
to hunt up and find the prospects as a rule, although
accidental discoveries have been numerous. (3) That
prospecting, particularly in the desert regions, means
hard persistent work, deprivation, close and careful
examination of small details, a good general knowledge
of mining work and of the characteristics of various
ores, and in any region the successful prospector must
lie a close observer. (4) That government aid is un-
necessary, and would be. I think, unwise; all that the
February 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
377
prospector asks of the Government is covered by Sec-
tion 2319 of the Mining Law of 1876, to-wit :
"Section 2319. All valuable mineral deposits in
lands belonging to the United States, both surveyed
and unsurveyed, are hereby declared to be free and
open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in
which they are found to occupation and purchase, by
citizens of the United States and those who have de-
clared their intention to become such, under regula-
tions prescribed by law, and according to the local
customs or rules of miners in the several mining dis-
tricts, so far as the same are applicable and not incon-
sistent with the laws of the United States," and the
free use of water and fuel on the Government domain,
and to be unhampered in his work, or in obtaining
title to his property, by red tape and unjust rules.
The true prospector, living in the mining regions,
generally has some arrangement with local people,
ranging from the merchant to saloon man, barber,
farmer, and others, by which he is enabled to obtain
supplies for his trips, and with whom he shares his
finds whatever they may be — good or bad. Usually
many prospects are tried out in a small way before a
good one is found, and it takes sand and nerve to keep
at it until a good one is found. Very many fortunes
can be traced to the successful result of small invest-
ments made in this way. It is probable that most of
the lodes and deposits in California and Nevada, dis-
tinguished by bold and prominent outcrops, have been
examined to a greater or less extent. The mineral sec-
tions of California have been much more closely pros-
pected than those of Nevada ; there are, however, thou-
sands of square miles in the state of Nevada, in which
the mineral resources are practically unknown; the
country has been simply run over. The improvements
in metallurgy and the building of railroads make avail-
able ores that a few years ago were practically value-
less, and passed by as worthless by the prospectors of
that time; zinc and copper ores in Nevada, even on the
line of railroads were unmarketable until within the
past few years.
In the 80's, the only market we had for copper ores
was a limited demand at Dayton, tor oxidized ores for
the manufacture of bluestone tor reduction of Coin-
stock ores. John Ludwig ran a small water-jacket, at
the old Ludwig mine, and made some copper. The
Blue Light mine smelted about 16.000 tons of 17%
carbonate ore at Sodaville. and won' the copper out,
shipping it around until they sold it. for the reason
that it had considerable arsenic in it. In the desert
regions, the scarcity of water and difficulty of obtain-
ing supplies has retarded the prospecting and subse-
quent development of large areas. When a supply
point is established, prospectors work out from that
point into the surrounding country, and discoveries are
made; prospectors, ranging out from Tonopah. discov-
ered Goldfield. Manhattan. Round Mountain. Clifford,
Silver Bow. Cactus Peak, and other promising mineral
districts. From Columbus and Candelaria. in former
years, prospectors ranged out. discovering the deposits
of Lida valley, Palmetto, Tule canon, Log Springs, Old
Gold mountain. Lone mountain, Monte Cristo district,
Marietta, and Klondyke, not quite reaching Tonopah
and Goldfield. From Hawthorne, the prospectors
worked out, discovering the Hawthorne district, Santa
Fe district (now Liming), Mt. Cory district, Confidence
district, Garfield district, Kinkead district, Silver Star
district, Huntoon valley, Whiskey Flat, Lucky Hoy,
Cat creek, and many others.
Many discoveries have been accidental, and many im-
portant properties have been passed by unnoticed.
Tonopah was discovered by Jim Butler by accident.
The ravine, where the main street is, was used regularly
by sheep and cattle men in driving their stock back
and forth ; they passed within a few feet of large and
rich outcrops. The spring supplying water at Gold-
field was for years claimed by John Chiatovich, of Sil-
ver Peak, and used as a supply for his horse ranch.
which covered the present site of Goldfield. In the
early 60 's an exploration party (of which the late J. H.
Kinkead was a member) went down through that sec-
tion, and camped at this spring for a week, ranging
out from there, but found nothing to suit them, and
went on ; they were looking for prominent quartz out-
crops, and the silicious porphyry outcrops of that dis-
trict didn't look good to them.
In the Silver Peak district, the first discovery was of
the Vanderbilt group (silver-lead), in the southern part
of the district, made by teamsters hauling salt from the
Silver Peak salt marsh to the silver mills at Reese river
(Austin'). Their cattle were turned out to graze, and
strayed up to the hill where these large lodes of good
lead-silver ore outcropped, and attracted the attention
of the teamsters. Later Reinzi Hughes, a tinsmith from
Columbia. Tuolumne county, went to Esmeralda dis-
trict (now Aurora). Not finding anything to suit
him there, and hearing of the find of the teamsters.
he went down there. He went prospecting in a canon
about four miles north and discovered the large gold
veins upon which the property of the Pittsburg-Silver
Peak is situated, and which arc keeping 100 stamps
dropping regularly, The Garfield district, which pro-
duced about $3,000,000. was found by a wood chopper.
The Indian Queen mine, near Benton, Mono county, a
large producer, was found by ;m Indian, who showed
it to William Witherell. The first discovery in Bull
Frog district was made by an Indian, who showed it
to Bob Montgomery. The Rawhide district is on the
old Wadsworth road to Columbus (the main freight
road to southern Nevada for many years). The lodes
were in plain sight, but no attention was paid to them.
until a prospector who had learned that it wasn't
always necessary to find a quartz outcrop to get ore
came along. The new cam]) of Rochester is in an old
mining district, but these large lodes were overlooked
and neglected for many years.
Many deposits have been found, worked for a time,
and abandoned for one reason or the other, and many
of these, when properly developed, will be revived.
Among the number are such districts as Grantsville,
378
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 191-t
Downieville, lone. Lodi, Benton, Troy, Tybo, Liberty,
Aurora (now being developed), Belmont (again to be
worked), Candelaria, Silver Star, Garfield, Hawthorne,
and hundreds of others. As these are revived and re-
established, the prospectors will get to work again;
and with better conditions and a better knowledge of
ores many more • discoveries of importance will be
made. The prospector relies, as a rule, on the general
average working out. He realizes that he must expect
to examine many lodes before finding a good one. and
therefore takes disappointments philosophically. Our
most successful mining men — Hearst. Lane, Hayward,
Haggin; and before them. John Gashwiler. Henry Al-
len, Isaac Bateman, Steve Roberts, and others — op-
erated on the same general plan, except in a larger
way: a promising prospect always appealed to them.
and when they reached the position where they could
afford tlie loss of a few thousand dollars many pros-
pects were examined or developed. If they got one
mine out of a dozen trials, and sonic of these expensive,
they came out on the right side of the ledger. Com-
panies organized to operate on this basis, with sufficient
capital to handle the properties acquired, are practi-
cally certain of success when carefully and econom-
ically managed.
Give the prospector a fail- show. Help him when you
can. if you find him square, if it is only with an encour-
aging word. When he finds a good prospect. don"t try
to heat him out of it. but give him a fair chance so that
if it proves good he will derive some benefit from his
labor and exertions, and he will continue to look for
and find new ami now unknown mineral properties
that will keep up and add to the mineral production,
and he won't ask or need any government aid.
A Water-Actuated Sampler
By E. Le Roy
The accompanying rough sketch shows the essential
features of a water-actuated automatic sampler, which
can be easily constructed and installed in any mill.
This sampler is superior to most samplers of the tilting-
WATKU-Al T('ATKI) automatic sampler.
box type because it is quick in its action and will
not stop in the oscillation and Hood the sample, owing
to accumulated tailing or pulp adhering to the sides
of scoop.
The sampler can he suspended by the supports //
(sec sketch) and balanced on the rod I) which runs
through the tilting-box C below the false bottom /-'/;.
The sampler is actuated by a small now of water,
regulated by the petcoek /''. which is connected by a
small pipe to the mill-supply pipe or if preferred to a
low-uressui'e main. When the water in the tilting-box
reaches the level, it overcomes the gravity of the down.
side of the box plus the gravity of the swinging ball
or weight .4, and the box tilts until arrested by the
buffer /'. At the same time the scoop »S' cuts the flow
of material in the launder 7'. depositing it in the sam-
ple pail I", or conveying it to any desired place. As
soon as: the box tilts, the siphon G quickly empties the
lower end of its load: and as soon as the weight of
water is sufficient, the operation is resumed in
the other direction, again causing the sampling
scoop >' to cut the flow in 7'.
The pendulum is the only new feature, and.
in my opinion, the important one. Without its
use the sampler will start off very slowly and
gradually increase in velocity until at the end
of the oscillation it is traveling at a fair rate of
speed. With the ball or weight always off
centre and lending its weight each time to that
of the load in the box C. it acts, as it were, as a
governor and prevents the irregular motion
usually seen in samplers without the weights.
At the same time it effectually eliminates the
possibility of the scoop coming to rest in the
stream to be sampled, an occurrence which fre-
quently happens with a sampler of the tilting-
box type not provided with the swinging weight.
A discarded Aldrich pump valve-ball makes a
very good weight, but a piece of lead, a section
of rail, or any scrap will answer. Of course, the
weight will have to be adjusted as well as the
length of supporting wire, to correspond with the
weight of the sampler.
Eighty-four machine-drills were worked in the Cham-
pion Reef gold mine. India, during the past fiscal year.
The cost of compressed air per drill, including system
losses but exclusive of air used for blowing out after
blasting and for ventilation, was $533. and mainte-
nance and renewals $79 per year.
Iron ore output of over 10 districts of Spain was
ID. 100.DOO tons in 1913.
February 28. 11)14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
:579
TENSION AND S VI'POBTING TOWEBS ON LONG SPAN CROSSING VALLEY.
An Aerial Tramway to Chinese Coal Mines
By C. A. Tcppkr
With the practical completion of the Panama canal.
and partly because of the changed conditions whicli
this will bring about, the attention of mining men and
of large industrial interests has been directed forcibly,
of late, to the possibilities offered by the coalfields of
China. That these are of tremendous extent has been
known to geologists for many years past. From super-
ficial but fairly comprehensive examination of out-
croppings in provinces near the coast, some English
and German authorities have arrived at the conclusion
that the known deposits, both of anthracite and bitum-
inous, exceed in value tlnise (if all other countries com-
bined. While this may lie. and probably is. an exag-
geration, the fact remains that the beds cover, in the
aggregate, a vast area. That the time is fast approach-
ing when Chinese steam coal will become of immense
economic importance to the shipping and manufactur-
ing industries of the world at large is also apparent.
Until recently, this coal in limited quantities was re-
covered entirely in open-pit workings or from short.
on timbered adits which were driven not to exceed 400
ft. into the hillsides. Such operations were, and in
places still are. carried on without the use of ma-
chinery and entirely by coolie labor with crude im-
plements and baskets A good 'mine' produced about
36 tons per day and employed up to (il) men. Within
the past few years, however, a number of modernly
equipped properties have been opened up by German,
English, and Chinese companies, as well as for the
account of the Government, ami facilities for an annual
production somewhat in excess of :!. 000.000 tons arc
now being utilized nearly to capacity. Prominent
among the concerns operating are the Sehantung
Bergbati Gesellschaft, the Chinese Engineering &
.Mining Co.. and the [lanyang syndicate or Ilanych-
I'ing Iron & Coal Co.. as representatives of the three
nationalities principally concerned in developing the
coalfields of the count ry.
It has remained, however, for an association of
Chinese merchants, identified with the so-called "salt
monopoly' of Petehili. to undertake the most note-
worthy and spectacular enterprise of this kind, that is.
the building of a I.Vmile aerial tramway, supported on
steel towers, to provide for transporting coal from tin'
native mines in the mountains west of Toli to the rail-
road station at that place for trans-shipment to I'ekin.
The headquarters of this association, which for con-
venience will be called the Toli Syndicate, are at
Tientsin.
While the members of the svndieate do not own or
380
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Februarj 28, 1914
.
FROM THE FOOTHILLS TO TOLL
operate any mines, they have controlled from the first the marketing
of a good grade of anthracite brought from the district mentioned,
which was packed in on camels and donkeys for the entire distance.
With the building of the first railroad south from Pekin. however, a
number of small mines were opened along the route, and the com-
petition of this fuel shut off the supply from the Toli workings. Then
came the construction of a branch line connecting Toli to the trunk
road from Pekin to Wuchang; and the project of bringing in coal
from that district was revived. Packing the coal to Toli on the backs
of animals would still make the price at Pekin prohibitive, as com-
pared with competing fuel : so the first idea was to extend the rail-
road line on into the mountains.
Preliminary estimates showed, however, that the expense would far
exceed any returns to be expected from traffic, and the topography of
the country made construction exceedingly difficult ; hence it was sug-
gested by the engineers called into consultation that an aerial tram-
way be built. This, after due consideration, was determined upon by
the syndicate ; and the entire planning and construction of the line
was entrusted to Adolph Bleichert & Co., of Leipsic, Germany, a firm
which specializes in this kind of work.
The tramway, as now completed and put in operation, was built in
the form of an elongated Y, so as to tap the three principal centres
of production. Starting from Toli, it traverses cultivated fields and
terraces until the foothills are entered, about six miles out. There the
first outeroppings of coal are crossed and a junction known as Tien-
shan has been built. At this point the line divides, one branch finding
its terminus five miles up in the mountains at Chin-Chiankon and
the other four miles on the opposite side of the district at Hung-
Mechan. The fields are, however, nearly contiguous: so that loading
stations are placed at intervals between Tienshan and the two out-
ward termini. From the various mines, which number upward of 600.
the coal is brought by pack animals or on coolies' backs to these sta-
tions, there weighed and recorded and then dumped into bins. These
bins have hopper bottoms, from which the coal is drawn off directly
to the buckets of the tramway, shunted in on an overhanging rail track
for the purpose. When a bucket is loaded, the carriage from which it
is suspended is simply shoved out onto the track cable, automatically
couples to the traction cable, and is whirled away in the direction of
Toli. At Toli the station contains large masonry bins for the coal,
and cars are switched in underneath a loading spout. The line is de-
signed to carry 50 tons per hour, or 1000 to 1200 tons for day and night
operation.
For the entire traffic of the system 440 carriers, each unit consist-
ing of a carriage and bucket, are at present in service. The loading
stations being mainly at considerable elevations, the operation is
largely by gravity; while the steep grades and long spans made it
possible to obtain the capacity mentioned with a bucket speed of 8.2
ft. per second, except on the upper stretch of the Hung-Meehan line,
where it was made approximately 5 ft. per second. The power gen-
erated by the loaded buckets coming down is ordinarily sufficient to
carry the empties up; but any energy needed to prevent a stoppage of
traffic, and also for breaking where necessary, is provided by six
power-plants. There is one of 80 hp. at the Toli station for the first
six-mile stretch, also 15. 13, and 6-hp. plants on the line to Chin-
Chiankon and 25 and 15-hp. plants for the Hung-Mechan route. Each
of these consists of a locomomobile. the top of the boiler forming the
baseplate of the engine, a very compact, easily transported unit for
isolated service.
Thorough and easv control is maintained over the traffic. A tele-
February 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
381
phone line is strung along beneath the cables, and before the tram-
way is put in operation each morning, which takes place from above,
all stations report to the dispatcher that the track is clear. As soon
as this is understood, the traction cable is started up at reduced speed
and a load sent from each of the upper termini. Then the loaded
buckets follow one another from the different stations, with gradually
increasing frequency and acceleration, until the line is loaded to its
capacity and the velocity of travel has become normal.
With the tramway fully loaded, the operation proceeds almost auto-
matically, except for the distribution of the traffic from the various
stations, which is a matter of practice on the part of the attendants
in starting the buckets between other down-coming loads. Xo care
has to be given the buckets passing through loading stations, except
at Tienshan, nor is any operator required at angle or tension stations.
For all of these, where the carriages enter and depart, there are rail
cross-overs, with terminal shoes or saddles so designed that the transit
to and from the track cables is without any bumping or jarring. These
shoes are also provided with hinged steel hoods, which save the cable
joints from undue wear.
When the loads arrive at Toli the coal is automatically weighed.
recorded, and dumped to the railroad bins. The 'empties' then pass
around a loop, unless switched off by the attendant, automatically
couple to the up-traction cable, and start on the return journey, to be
taken off at stations along the route as needed. There are also special
receptacles which can be sent up with supplies.
The carriage used with each bucket consists of two steel side plates,
between which are mounted two wheels fitted with phosphor bronze
pins and so designed that, as the upper surfaces become worn, they
can be turned around underside up. The hanger pins are made of
machinery steel. By an ingenious lever arrangement the weight of
the load acts as the gripping force, which varies with the inclination
of the cable. This construction possesses the advantage of being inde-
pendent of any nice adjustment of the jaws, so that the grip auto-
matically accommodates itself to irregularities in the wear of the
traction rope. The mechanism operating the jaws is entirely enclosed
within the main casting, and it is impervious to the elements, which
makes it possible to operate the tramway under the severe weather
conditions sometimes obtaining in the mountains west of Toli. in-
cluding the occurrence of heavy sandstorms.
The types of supporting towers can lie seen from the illustrations.
These are of structural steel, light or heavy as the conditions along
each stretch require, but of ample strength in every case to sustain
the heaviest possible loading of the line and with large factors of
safety. They were riveted together on the ground, then raised and
secured to masonry or concrete foundations. The spacing of the towers
was, of course, governed by the capacity of the line and the gradient
at the various points. Where long spans were necessary, the usual
precautions were taken.
The carrying or 'track' cables were carefully selected for strength
and wear, being, for the heavier gradients, of the 'lock-coil' type.
The traction cable is of equally good quality for the service required.
In a line of this strength it was. naturally, necessary to apply tension
to the track cables at suitable intervals, and special tension towers
were erected for this purpose in addition to similar arrangements at
the stations. The tension weights, suspended in slides, consist of steel
cages filled with cut stone: and by adding or taking out these slabs
the tension of the line can be varied to suit operating requirements.
The lubrication of the track cables is automatically effected by a
traveling oiler. The special compound used is carried in a cylindrical
382
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28. 1914
tank, to which is attached a small rotary pump driven
from the carriage wheels by a belt and gears, forcing
the lubricant up through a small pipe to the cable at
a point just under the middle of the carriage, so as to
exert a spraying effect. There is also a special device
for slushing the traction cable. This consists of a U-
shaned receptacle containing the mixture used, which
is suspended near one of the terminal guide sheaves.
The rope passes over a small roller, which slushes it
in the same manner as a ring oiler of a bearing, and
brushes set just beyond in the receptacle wipe off the
drip.
The construction of the line was carried out under
The engineer in charge was, however, a diplomat.
Aided by letters from members of the syndicate, he
established friendly relations with both the Manchu
and Chinese nobles, placated the local magistrates, and
through the influence of these classes succeeded in
convincing the elders of the villages that no violence
would be done to their customs or religion. On the
other hand, he pointed out the benefits that would
accrue to the district from the money paid for the
coal, for labor and supplies, and he spent money lib-
erally in demonstration of his claims. The priests and
monks he won over to such an extent that the latter
boarded the Europeans throughout the course of the
INTERIOR OF LOADING STATION.
much difficulty. Besides the obstacles interposed by
the topography of the country, with lack of roads and
bridges "and the absence of any facilities for trans-
porting materials beyond Toli, a plague broke out
among the laborers and the erectors encountered vio-
lent* opposition from the inhabitants of the districts
traversed.
The chief objection of the natives arose from the
threatened desecration of their ancestors' graves and
also from the fact that men working on the tramway
would be able to look- down into the inclosed gardens
where tin- women and uirls were secluded. Further-
more, the priests and monks along the route discov-
ered that the tramway would pass over or along their
temples and monasteries, so that their opposition was
added to the hue and crv against the 'foreign devils.'
work, giving them lodging in the hillside monasteries.
Besides the supervising engineer, there were six
erecting men sent out from Leipsic. Work not done
by them was performed by Chinese artisans recruited
on the ground.
Progress was greatly aided by the fact that every
piece of steel or other material sent out from Germany
was in just the right shape to be put together. As
each section of the tramway was completed between
stations or any point where a terminal could be tem-
porarily rigged up. it was utilized for transporting
men and materials, much as a railway is pushed, for-
ward, and this also helped to solve many difficulties.
The line is now in successful operation: and one of
the results of its construction will be the development
of the Toli coalfields along modern lines.
February 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
:;s:{
From the Capitalist's Viewpoint
By Adolph Lewisohn
*In an address which I recently made to the grad-
uates of the Columbia School of .Mines. I gave my
views regarding the mining industry of this country.
I said that I considered mining enterprises, with the
assistance and advice of the right mining engineers
and experts, safer from a business standpoint than
farming and industrial enterprises, and. therefore. I
think it most important to give the young men the
very best opportunity for a thorough education in the
science of mining and metallurgy. The ore from which
the results arc obtained is already in the ground, and
it is only a question of the time and the method of
extracting same and producing the metal therefrom.
Crops, on the other hand, have to lie grown, and de-
pend greatly upon the elements and many other con-
ditions which arc beyond our control.
In the business of mining, success depends largely
upon the ability of the engineer or expert to determine
correctly the grade and approximate quantity of ore
that is in a given space in the mine, and the metal-
lurgical treatment which will give the most satisfac-
tory results. A farmer may have all the 1 ssary
knowledge and ability and yet may not be able to
obtain good results under certain adverse conditions
as above mentioned. The success of industrial enter-
prises depends greatly on the ability to procure the
raw material from those who produce it and to manu-
facture it into the finished article at a price which
will leave a profit. The raw material in a mine is
supplied by nature. It does not have to grow as
crops do. but is there ready to be taken out at any
time, and the results depend greatly on the reliability
♦From The Sew: York Times Annalist.
of the mining engineer or expert and his ability to cor-
rectly determine the quantity that can be extracted
and at what cost. The market price of the metal may
vary, but well trained, experienced men can form a
fair judgment as to this. As a general rule, a min-
ing enterprise that is able to produce the metal at
not higher than the average cost of production should
be able to compete with the other producers and -be
considered as good enough to enter the field of compe-
tition.
The capitalist must be able to form a judgm: nt as
to whether he can furnish the necessary capital, eitiie'"
himself or jointly with others, who will make the
investment under his leadership, lie. with the advic
of the engineer or expert, must determine whether the
enterprise is good enough and will likely turn on;
to be successful and profitable, and whether he is able
and willing to furnish the necessary capital to bring
the enterprise into successful operation. Much, there-
fore, depends upon the action of both the capitalist
and the engineer. No business is more dependent upon
accuracy than the mining business, and. while the min-
ing expert must have some imagination, he mttsj be
able to tell exactly what is based upon actual knowl-
edge and what represents merely imagination. He
must tell plainly what he actually sees, and must have
the knowledge to enable him to advise how to treat
the ore and to figure the cost of treatment, so that
the capitalist can judge whether it can lie mad.- a
commercial success. Honesty and frankness are also
absolutely essential. If the mining expert does not
know, it is better for him to say so. With accurate
information before him. the capitalist can do his part
and by experience will be able to judge whether the
enterprise can be carried out successfully. Cnder these
conditions I consider that mining is a good and safe
business.
plants in Colorado of the American Smelting & Re
fining Co.. treated ores with the following result:
The Globe. Pueblo, Arkansas Valley, and Durango in l!H:f:
Smelting in Colorado
Source of ores.
British Columbia
•Colorado
Canada
California
Idaho
Montana
New Mexico ....
Nevada
South Dakota . .
L'tah
Dry tons.
0.i>79
599.584
5,960
991
06,202
6
110
32
2.169
1.949
Gold, oz.
320
290,248
252
54
54
360
19
2,498
31
293,836
Silver, oz.
203,569
7.749,527
2,945,375
43.455
2,230,718
209
1,026
4,476
[6,589
13,194,944
Lead. lb.
:,:,:;.-! l .'
71,537.256
13.320
633.379
62.414.047
1.H65
1 1>;
2.32 1
1.064,831
Copper, Hi.
13.347
0.X52.992
64.810
Total «s3,ns2
•Including ores shipped to other plants of the Company outside of Colorado.
136.247.052
150,377
1,513
193
5,857
7.119.089
Value.
$ 159.0611
14,799.152
1.776.093
54.768
4.0X4.767
47
7.X02
2.198
54.439
57.979
$20,996,305
Precipitating gold from cyanide solutions on zinc former metal sometimes equaling the- amount of silver
wafers was found to be a success by John S. Mac Arthur in quantity, and the lead is generally only a fraction
at Caveira Portugal, but not on the Rand or at Waihi. of the silver present. The precipitate tested by him
Mr. MacArthnr now thinks that precipitation is aided contained &>% of mercury, which is recovered by dis-
by the presence of mercury and lead in solution, the 1 illation.
384
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28. 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use tliis department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to his own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
California Miners and the Exposition
[The article published in the Mining and Scientific
Press, January 31, has caused so much interest that
we take pleasure in printing a few of the numerous
letters received by Mr. van Barneveld regarding the
proposed state mining exhibit. — Editor.]
Sir — I have read the article in the Mining and
Scientific Press, outlining the plan for the mining in-
dustry of California, with much interest. It seems to
me that if this plan can be adequately carried out it
will insure a most interesting and instructive exhibit
which would be of material advantage to the state and
to the mining industry. I will be very glad to do what
I can to make this plan a success, and will be glad to
have you advise me further as to the practical means
that may be decided on to put this plan in operation.
G. W. Metcalfe.
Sir — Your conception of the purpose and object of
the exposition meets with my full approval, and I
also agree with your idea that the mining industry,
and particularly the industry of this state, should
make an exhibit which will command widespread at-
tention. There can be no doubt that a comprehensive,
well arranged, and coordinated state exhibit will rep-
resent the importance of mining in California far bet-
ter than a series of detached and unrelated county
exhibits. I see no other way of properly emphasizing
the importance and size of the oil and mineral re-
sources of California, except by means of such a state
exhibit. The construction, as you suggest, of a model
mountain illustrating methods of mining and methods
of oil production will make a very interesting and im-
posing centre exhibit in the mining building, and I
think it is proper that the name of California should be
associated with such an exhibit, because of California's
position as a gold and oil-producing state.
S. W. Mudd.
Sir — Everywhere we hear that money is scared, but
as every little thing helps by joining the efforts and
good will of all the miners and mining men and mining
engineers interested in placer mining, I believe the
proposed plan will answer the purpose and fix a date
in the placer mining industry. This plan does not pre-
vent each individual, each county, having an individual
exhibit if desired, but individual exhibit or county
exhibit will not impress the public, which when visit-
ing the exposition has no time for details and needs
the ensemble. In the mining industry California has
a unique situation, and there is no other place on
earth where so many and varied mining methods can
he applied, and the grouping of them in few separate
units which can be seen at once is certainly going to
bring success.
PlF.URE BOCEEY.
Sir — I read with much interest your article, 'Cali-
fornia Miners and the Exposition,' in the Mining and
Scientific Press of January 31. I fully agree with you.
"the proper place for California's mining and oil ex-
hibit is unquestionably the Palace of Mines and Metal-
lurgy," not in separate county exhibits where there
probably would be many duplications. Moreover, by
reason of lack of funds, or limited variety in mineral
product or both, it would be impracticable for counties
to make a comprehensive well worked out and inter-
esting mineral exhibit. I commend your plan, and
shall be pleased to assist you in any reasonable manner.
Harold T. Power.
Sir — Your idea of centralizing the mining exhibit,
as outlined in the Mining and Scientific Press, January
31. appeals to me as being a very excellent one. It is
unfortunate that no funds have been provided for a
state exhibit, but it would seem, therefore, that the
individual counties would be more justified in assisting
in the financing of such an exhibit out of exposition
funds which they are raising by taxation. I believe,
if the matter were sufficiently strongly brought to the
attention of the counties, that something could be
done in the direction indicated.
Jonx H. Keatixg.
A Blacksmith's Problem
The Editor:
Sir — The blacksmith here at the mine is having con-
siderable trouble in making his steel stand the rock,
which is a diorite containing much feldspar and rather
hard quartz. He is also having trouble with his picks.
Could you tell me what temper he should give them,
and what he should put in the water?
W. S. DOOLEY.
Adin. California. January 24.
| Doubting whether any general rule could be laid
down to cover such a case, we referred this inquiry
to T. H. Proske. whose long experience enables him to
speak with authority. Mr. Proske has sent us the fol-
lowing.— Editor.]
The Editor:
Sir — Your letter of January 30 came to hand sev-
eral days ago. but I was so busy that I did not have
time to answer it promptly, and trust that you will
pardon my neglect in this matter. Referring to the
letter of Mr. Dooley's. I will say that his situation re-
minds me of the story of a young lady who was tell-
ing a friend of hers how to make a young man propose.
Her advice was '"to brighten up the parlor, have a
nice fire in the grate, dress herself up real neat and
tidy, have the light turned low. and when the young
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
385
man arrives escort him to the sofa, sit down beside
him. and if he didn't 'pop' pretty soon, it was time to
change the man on the sofa." My opinion is that it is
time for Mr. Dooley to change the man on the sofa.
If he is a man that knows his business, he will demand
good clean coal, good clean soft water, and a good
grade of steel ; then he will solve the problem of making
his steel stand up to the work it has to do. If he is not
capable of doing this he is a costly luxury to Mr.
Dooley.
I remember an experience I had at one time at the
Granite mine at Cripple Creek. I had several brands
of steel, and it took some time to get them separated
and to learn the proper heat for tempering each.
During this time I experienced some trouble in getting
the various kinds of steel to stand up. but once I had it
all separated and marked, I had no trouble. One day
a new lot of steel without any brand on it came in.
The shipper advised that it was a certain brand and
grade. As the steel was made up but not tempered,
it was up to me to temper it for the first time. Acting
on the advice I had as to the brand and grade, I pro-
ceeded to temper the steel, and every piece came back
to the shop broken. The superintendent was furious,
but I told him to keep his temper, that I had been
lied to about the brand and grade, and assured him
that I would make this steel stand up if it were pos-
sible. If not, I advised that it would be best to return
it. Exercising some care the second time and temper-
ing at a lower heat, I made a success at once. None of
the steels broke and only one or two were soft.
No fixed system can be worked out to temper the
various brands and grades of steel. What is best for
one grade or brand will not do at all for another: a
heat of a certain degree will harden the bit just right
for one steel, make it too hard for another, and not
hard enough for another. It is safest to stick to one
grade and brand, then put it up to the blacksmith to
temper it right. It is not best to change steel every
time the blacksmith is changed, but insist on the black-
smith changing himself to the steel. Tf he is not flex-
ible enough for this he is not a good man.
T. H. Pboske.
Denver. Colorado, February 10.
Ore
The Editor:
Sir — The differentiation between the terms 'ore' and
'waste,' in the mining sense, deals with so many vari-
able factors that it is a very nice balance applying to
each mine under its particular conditions, but admit-
ting of little or no generalization; in fact, it is thor-
oughly recognized in the old established districts that
the waste of today is the ore of tomorrow. The defi-
nition that could be made so elastic as to cover a rock
or mineral aggregate that was ore under one set of
conditions and waste under another, would be too
cumbersome to be useful. Then. too. it is extremely
improbable that the miner can be educated to any
such refinement of language as is contemplated by
some of the individuals who arc contributing to this
discussion.
Extending the matter of correct diction and ter-
minology to radium-bearing rock, it becomes still fur-
ther complicated, and it suggests another phase of
the same question. This in relation to the random use
of the words 'radium' and 'radium ores' to designate
rock which carries the newly discovered rare element
in quantity which is infinitesimal. When one stops to
consider that a gold ore comes correctly under the
term even though it may have an assay value not to
exceed $2 per ton ; and further, that this quantity
would represent approximately one-tenth of one ounce
per ton of rock, or one-two hundred and ninety thou-
sandth part by weight in the proportion of gold to
rock and its mineral components, the use of the word
■gold' begins to be out of all proportion to the quan-
tity factor. The same applies to silver. But when
this is applied to the radium content in ore which
is radium-bearing, the proportion in Ra/Ur equals, for
the carnotite ore. 2.34 X 10-T. and for the pitchblende
ore 3.21 X 10-7. With uranium itself occurring in very
small proportion, the lower grades of both ores is by
weight between a three and four hundred millionth
part of the weight of the rock mass.
It is unfortunate that the word radium has been so
freely used in the designation of low-grade uranium
ores slightly radio-active, and unless some reform is
brought about, the words radium ore will cease to
have any meaning and will become the sport of the
dishonest promoter. Already it is evident that many
broken-down promoters are getting into the field with
the avowed intention of profiting by the interest which
has been aroused by the threat of Congressional with-
drawal of radium-bearing lands in public domain, and
to a lesser extent in publicity that has been given to
healing properties in therapeutic uses as applied to the
dreaded disease cancer. Some of us are watching with
much interest the outcome of the dealings of the
miner with the United States Government, where the
miner takes up land in what is known as the radium-
bearing areas in Colorado, and arc wondering whether
the Government agent knows what he has to deal with
when he deals with the miner. The difficulties of
cheeking on lots of ore. in transactions between
buyer and seller, in dealing in carnotite ores from the
southwestern part of Colorado, are only beginning to
be known, and they are serious. What they will be
when it comes to dealing with the individual miner on
what the Mining Bureau calls a "reasonable basis."
can only be surmised.
To people interested in the production of ores low in
uranium and infinitesimally lower in the radium con-
tent it is already apparent that the effect of the activi-
ties in the field is to create artificially high value for
lands, with a corresponding tendency to higher prices
for the salts of radium: and on the other hand the
federal authorities are getting ready to investigate
386
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
anything that savors of fraudulent misrepresentation
of the facts when it comes to circularizing mine reports
or putting out the inevitable prospectus. Develop-
ments through the next year will be' interesting.
Fokp.es Rickard.
Denver. Colorado, February 12.
Agitation at the Nevada Hills
The Editor:
Sir— I have read with interest Alfred .James' annual
review of the cyanide process and have gained valu-
able information from it. .Air. .James has, however.
made some deductions from published costs which are
incorrect, due. I presume, to the fact that he is not
familiar with the conditions under which the costs are
made. For example. -Mr. .James compares the Nevada
Hills agitation cost of $0.85 with the three cent cost of
the Hollinger and leaves the impression that the in-
terrupted wash or change of solution during agitation.
practised at the Nevada Hills, is responsible for the
difference. This conclusion is not warranted by the
facts, and I hope to show: first, that the change of so-
lution is of Yi'vy slight cost; second, that the Nevada
Hills agitation costs are not unduly high.
As to the change of solution: this is accomplished
in a Dorr thickener and is a mechanical operation pre-
cisely similar to that of counter-current decantation or
continuous decantation. as it is called in the Nevada
Hills cost sheet, except that one tank is used instead of
three. Since the cost of decantation is given as three
cents, it seems reasonable to assume that the cost of
the change of solution is about one cent and could not
possibly be responsible for the wide difference in ques-
tion.
There are two reasons why the agitation cost at tin-
Nevada Hills is high as' compared with the Hollinger
cost. The principal one is that all chemicals used in
dissolving at the Nevada Hills are charged to agitation,
so that the itemized cost for the month quoted reads
as follows :
Labor $0.105
Cyanide 0.43fi
Lime 0.116
Lead acetate 0.065
General superintendence 0.038
Power 0.062
Total J0.S22
From this it is plain that +0.617 in chemicals alone
may be deducted Prom the Nevada Hills agitation cost.
Furthermore, the period of agitation is about forty-
eight hours at the Nevada Hills, while I believe it is
but five or six at the Hollinger. If this is the case,
agitation costs about the same per hour at each of
these mills. While the subject of the interrupted agi-
tation is under discussion, it may be of interest to note
that its effect, though difficult to determine exactly,
was good, as evidenced by the fact that solutions from
the first agitators after the decanting tank show a more
rapid rise in the solution values than in those before it.
Also during a period when the decanter was not in use,
the tailing was consistently higher than that obtained
during its use.
L. B. Eajies.
Goldfield, Nevada, January 28.
Sulphide Enrichment
The Editor:
Sir— In a- recent article in Economic Geology, Vol.
VIII. ]>. 621. A. C. Spencer treats the chemistry of
chalcocitization comprehensively. Discussing the
statement of I). C. Bard, relating to the behavior of
metallic sulphate solutions on calcite gangue. he cites
one of his experiments in which cupric and ferrous
sulphates were brought in contact with calcite. and
states that calcite does not precipitate copper from
such a solution. ('. F. Tolman, in a recent number of
the Minintj and Scientific Press, apparently supports .Mr.
Spencer. Further, he doubts Mr. Bard's conclusions.
for, according to his knowledge, there are many sec-
ondary enriched sulphide orebodies in limestone. Inci-
dental to some other experiments on sulphide enrich-
ment. I placed some ground calcite in a test tube and
added some cupric and ferrous sulphate solutions of
about tenth normal strength. At the end of fifteen
hours iron and copper were precipitated. In the fil-
trate some ferrous iron was found, but no copper. I
have come, therefore, to confirm .Mr. Bard's conclu-
sions. Upon the examination of the ehalcopyrite and
pyrite crystals placed in the same solution, distinct
color changes were noted. The coating on the ehalco-
pyrite resembled bornite and that on the pyrite. ehalco-
pyrite. The coating was dissolved in hot hydrochloric
acid, and tested for iron and copper. It showed the
presence of some iron, but no traces of copper. I still
hope to get some copper coating, which may take place
much later than that of iron.
Geo. Nishihar \.
University of Minnesota. February 12.
The Canadian Klondyke Mining Co. lias two 16-cu.
ft. dredges near Dawson, and the following are sizes
of various parts of the machinery on one:
Hull:
Length, feet 136
Beam, feet (including ♦ 5 -ft. overhang! 021..
Depth of hull, feet 12 to 14^4
Digging ladder, length, feet 9S
Weight, tons 108
Lower tumbler, tons 13
Upper tumbler, tons 24
Number of buckets 6S
Weight of buckets, pounds each 4. Tee
Capacity, cubic feet 16
Screen, feet 9% by 50
Stacker with 4S-in. belt, length, feet 115
Centrifugal pumps used, inches 14 and 16
Total motor power 1.100
Weight of dredge complete, tons 1.100
Cost of dredge $475,000
February 28. 1D14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
387
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
Of 2,113,080 tons of ore mined by the Utah Copper
(Jo. during the last quarter of 1913, ftl' , was recovered
by steam-shovels and '.)c/( from underground work.
A dry-crushing ball-mill will discharge 20.07'/< on 40
mesh, as compared with !).3^ with rolls, under certain
conditions and with a 22-mesh screen, according to
E. II. Johnson.
Cost of development at the Nevada Hills mine. Fair-
view. Nevada, in 1913 was as follows: driving and
cross-cutting, $(>. 09; raising. $4.!>4: sinking winzes,
$10.77: shaft-sinking, $62.04: and core-drilling. $2.38
per foot.
Transmission lines should not be stretched too tight.
In December 1913 the Oriental Consolidated company,
operating mines and mills in Korea, had considerable
trouble through the breakage of its power wires. These
were stretched too tight and broke in cold weather,
necessitating slackening them in 52 places.
The transportation of black powder in metallic kegs
in cars hauled by a trolley locomotive has caused more
than one serious accident, the powder being ignited by
a spark made from the passage of ;m electric current.
It is bad practice to take powder and men into the
mine together, or to use a trolley motor to haul a car
containing powder.
Comparative tests have shown that the maximum
efficiency of a centrifugal pump is attained with a
lift of from 15 to 20 ft. With plunger pumps a sim-
ilar efficiency is not reached until the lift is from
35 to 40 ft. After the maximum efficiency has been
reached, the subsequent efficiency in the case of the
centrifugal decreases with every increase of lift, where-
as the efficiency of the plunger type of pump increases
uniformly with the lift.
No classifying apparatus, which depends primarily
on gravitational settlement for satisfactory operation.
can be expected to work efficiently when the feed sup-
ply is not absolutely steady and uniform. Pulsations
are often due to the operation of the pump conveying
the pulp: and in the case where wet crushing is fol-
lowed by sliming, it is always advisable to avoid pulp
elevation as much as possible until after fine grinding
is completed. Pulsations are then avoided in the classi-
fiers, the pulp passing direct to them from the batter-
ies. If this method is adopted there is an additional
^ advantage accruing from the fact that wear and tear
on elevating machinery is generally much less after
the ore has been re ground than before.
Cementing diamond-drill holes is frequently neces-
sary. Ordinary portland cement requires from four to
five days to set, and to avoid this loss of time or the
expense and delay of moving the drill to another hole,
rapid setting cement is sometimes used, which will
permit the resumption of drilling 24 hours after the
hole has been cemented. This cement, however, is so
weak that it will not hold up ground which eaves badly.
A suitable mixture for cementing holes, which has been
tried and found to possess both the advantages of
strength and rapidity of setting, may be obtained by
adding soda to the cement in the proportion of 1 lb.
soda. 3 sacks cement, and 50 gal. water. This will set
in 24 to 36 hours and will be as strong as any neat
cement.
Quick hoisting is characteristic of the small lead
and zinc mines of the Mississippi Valley. It is custom-
ary to hoist in buckets, or 'cans.' as they are locally
termed, working without cross-heads, and occasion-
ally even without exchange of signals between the
"histerman*- at the top and the "hooker" at the bot-
tom. The hoist is set in the head-frame close to the
trap-door through which the bucket comes. Tin- en-
gineer controls his engine with one hand, and with
the other opens and closes the trap, hooks and unhooks
the tail rope, dumps the bucket, and guides it back"
to the shaft. Working in this fashion. 103.") cans,
weighing 1000 lb., have been hoisted from a depth of
275 ft. in an 8-hour shift, using a small first-motion
steam-engine. With an electric hoist at the Diplo-
mat mine, in the Joplin district. 1031 buckets were
hoisted in a 9-hour shift from a depth of 200 ft. At
this mine 5848 buckets were hoisted in ti shifts.
Concreting stamp dies in a mortar-box has been done
with satisfactory results by Chester L. Proebstel. of
Yreka. California, during the past 18 months. The
die is first placed on the ordinary cushion of sand and
then a concrete of 409? portland cement and 60% clean
quart/ sand is used, filling the space around the dies
up to the under side of the chuck-block. The concrete
is put in medium wet, well tamped, and allowed to set
for several days. This will probably seem to be a loss
of time, but is about equaled by the increased capacity
and time saved in eleaning-up during the life of the
die. As the die wears away, the concrete also wears.
and at about the same rate. No difficulty is experienced
in removing the worn out dies, as the concrete is
practically gone ;it the same time. The wear of the
concrete when properly put in is fairly uniform, and
cones toward the centre of the die. thus tending to
throw :dl pulp on to the die with, each return splash.
There are several advantages to be gained in this ar-
rangement : M) better inside amalgamation is insured,
as a'l loose amalgam and quicksilver is kept up near
the inside plates: ' '_' > during a clean-up the amount of
battery sand is small: (3) dies are not removed ;it
monthly or semi-monthly clean-ups: and 4" there is
no danger of dies bouncing or moving.
388
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28. 1914
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO
Scarcity of Silver Coin in Mexico. — Banking and Hardships
of Mining Companies. — Exports of Ork and Concentrate.
— Cixco Minas and El Favor.
The Mexican government is now coining large quantities
of tostones (50-centavo pieces) in an effort to relieve the
difficult situation that has resulted from the hoarding of sil-
ver and the consequent shortage of coin for business oper-
ations. A call was made on the Sociedad Afinadora de Metales,
the Flench refining concern of Mexico City, for 4 tons of
silver per day for a period of 50 days, but as the silver
bullion shipped to Mexico City amounts to only 2'-j tons per
product of the Real del Monte Co. of Pachuca, a subsidiary
of the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co., and
at present the largest producer of silver in Mexico.
A number of mining companies have funds tied up in the
Rank of London & Mexico, which is paying no more than
F200 weekly on each checking account at its main bank and
branches, and have been forced to provide additional funds
for new accounts in other banks. It is reported that some
of the larger companies received information that the bank
planned to restrict payments shortly before it closed tem-
porarily, and it is said that the El Oro Mining & Railway
Co. drew out 1*250.000 in one check. It is understood that
the negotiations with London bankers for a loan of £800,000
for the Bank of Loudon & Mexico have fallen through. Offi-
cials of the finance department have held conferences with
representatives of mining companies, in connection with plans
for reforming the present mining law so as to facilitate the
exportation of ores and mill products ordinarily handled by
GUERRERO MILL OF THE REAL DEL MONTE Y PACHUCA COMPANY.
This -plant has a capacity of 300 tons per clay and cost $S00,000. It consists of 40 stamps crushing through 4 -mesh screens,
S Evans-Waddell Chilean mills, Wilfley and Johnston tables. Dorr classifiers, Abbe tube-mills. Callow cones, agitation ap-
paratus for slime, a decantation and Butters lilter plant, and precipitation on zinc shaving. The Loreto mill, operated by
this Company, has a capacity of 300 tons per day. It consists of jaw-crushers, 14 Chilean mills crushing through 40-mesh
screen, also 40 stamps, Wilfley and Johnston tables, Dorr classifiers, Abbfe and Krupp tube-mills, agitation of slime with
cyanide, decantation and Butters filter plant. Costs at the mills are from PS to 1*10 per ton. Power is supplied at 1*96 per
horse-power year.
day. the Sociedad Afinadora has been unable to fill completely
the government's order. The silver is being purchased at
a rate ol f*5u per kilogram. The government has agreed
to deliver to the companies supplying the silver 1*85,000 in
50-centavo pieces weekly, this amount being more than suf-
ficient for payroll requirements. For some time mining com-
panies in many slates have been forced to pay premiums for
silver coin needed for (heir payrolls, and in some instances
much difficulty has bei n experienced in securing adequate
supplies. The companies shipping to Mexico City at first
arranged to deliver a certain amount of silver and receive
the equivalent in silver coin, less expenses of assaying and
coining, but later the government decided to purchase the
bullion through the Sociedad Afinadora, and that concern
will pay for it in foreign drafts. Of the 2 ' j tons of silver
daily marketed through the Sociedad Afinadora, 1 ton is the
the smelters of the country. The plans are due to the fact
that the majority of the smelters have been forced to close.
Export shipments of ore now are being made through Vera
Cruz by concerns operating in Oaxaca and the state of Mex-
ico, and the Amparo Mining Co., a Jalisco concern, is ship-
ping its concentrate through Manzanillo to the Selby smelter
in California.
The big reduction -plant of the Cinco Minas Co.. of New
York, at the Cinco Minas. in the Hostotipaquillo district of
Jalisco, has been placed in commission, and the 30 stamps
are dropping steadily. It is expected that the mill soon will
be handling 30o short tons of ore per day. A large tonnage
of ore is already blocked out in the mine, and extensive
development is being resumed. The Cinco Minas mill was
lmilt under the direction of Godfrey D. Doveton. who died
recently in Guadalajara as the result of injuries received
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
381)
at Cinco Minas when his right arm was caught in a belt-
conveyor and terribly torn. The addition to the El Favor
mill in the Hostotipaquillo district, consisting of 15 stamps,
2 tube-mills, concentrators, and cyanide annex, is in oper-
ation, treating principally ore from the Mololoa mine, which,
like El Favor, is a Makeever property. In the original El
Favor LMi-stamp mill an increased tonnage of El Favor ores
now is being handled, and the Company is doing some cus-
tom work. The acceptance of custom ores is promoting de-
velopment in the Hostotipaquillo district. Construction work
on the reduction plant at the Casados mine in that district
is nearing completion, and it is expeeted to have the plant
in readiness for operation by next May. From 75 to 100
tons will be handled daily. In a small experimental plant
now in operation at the Casados, an extraction of 85% is
being obtained. Shipments of high-grade ore from Casados
continue at the rate of two carloads per month.
LONDON
Argument in Flotation Processes, and Composition of tiie
Court. — English Interests in Ontario, and New Com-
panies.
As I mentioned in December, the flotation appeal to the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was ordered to be
re-argued before a fuller court. The whole of the week
ended January 31 was occupied by this rehearing, and judg-
ment has been reserved. It will be remembered that the
appeal was lodged by Elniores against the judgment of the
New South Wales court, which held that the Minerals Sep-
aration process, as used by the Sulphide Corporation at Broken
Hill, was not an infringement of the Elmore acid patent of
1901. The court that heard the appeal in December was
composed of Lords Dunedin, Moulton. and Shaw, and as I
pointed out at the time, the last two had sat on the English
case. Whatever the reason, the Lord Chancellor ordered a
re-argument before five judges, and the court consisted of
the Lord Chancellor and Lords Parker, Sumner, Parmoor,
and Dunedin. It will be noted that Lords Shaw and Moul-
ton retired from the case. Of these five judges, the Lord
Chancellor, otherwise Lord Haldane. is a lawyer of unusu-
ally wide interests, from education to the army. His quick
trip to America and back is sufficiently recent for readers
to remember it. Parker and Sumner are judges that have
much to do with patent law, and. curiously enough, before
they were elevated to the bench, had been engaged as counsel
in flotation litigation, though not in connection with the
validity of patents. Parmoor used to be Sir Alfred Cripps.
All these judges are men of high attainments, who have won
their way by their abilities, not pitchforked into their posi-
tions for political services rendered to their parties. Alto-
gether it is a notable court, though naturally no individual
member knows anything about ore dressing. But as Sir
Joseph Porter used to say in the opera: "It is one of the
glories of tins great and happy country that the judges never
know anything about the matter in hand." In this way they
differ from the editors nf technical papers. Nevertheless,
this court has a shrewd idea that Elmore was the first to
mention the function of acid in assisting the selective action
of oil for metallic surfaces. It would not surprise me if
they reversed the Australian judgment.
At the present time, Canadian ore deposits are receiving
a lame share of attention among London speculators. The
two Cobalt companies controlled in London by Rose & Van
Cutsem. and in Canada by Parker and Watson, namely, the
Cobalt Townsite and Casey Cobalt, are doing so well that
English investors are for the first time feeling that they
are getting something from Cobalt. Interest in Porcupine
has mostly disappeared. There is a boom at present in con-
nection with Kirkland Lake properties. A great quantity
of advertisements are being circulated by the Kirkland Lake
Proprietary, which is run by H.- G. Latilla, hitherto con-
nected chiefly with Rhodesia, where he worked in conjunc-
tion with Sir Abe Bailey. One of the weekly papers made
an onslaught on Mr. Latilla and his new promotion, alleging
that all the companies in his office were bogus ones. This
was a serious accusation, but Mr. Latilla has passed it by
with a pleasant account of the large amount of business
his companies have done. The Kirkland Lake Proprietary
will form a subsidiary company to acquire the Tough-Oakes
property, directly Clement Foster arrives in this country with
the necessary deeds. The Company has also bought or has
options on the whole of the capital of the Sylvanite, and
has a similar option on 64% of the Teck-Hughes. In addi-
tion, it has options on 517c of the Burnside claims and 78%
on the Gull Lake. The report by H. H. Johnson on the
Kirkland Lake district is not immune from criticism from
the technological point of view. In many quarters this pro-
motion is not popular. Nevertheless, I ought to say that
a financial group of excellent standing, L. Ehrlich & Co.,
taking their advice from an eminent geologist who has vis-
ited the district, has become enthusiastic.
Another company is the Kirkland Lake Exploration, formed
by the Anglo-Spanish Trust. The latter Company is a pri-
vate enterprise, and its constitution and objects are un-
known, except to those who have time to search the records
at Somerset House and elsewhere. • -The promoters appear
to be a firm of stockbrokers, Wheater, Cornwallis West & Co.,
of Pinner's Hall. The prospectus as advertised asks for
£50,000 cash wherewith to explore and hunt for mines. Par-
ticular interest attaches to this promotion because F. H. Hatch,
the eminent geologist, is on the board of directors and was
advertised as having a call on shares. Naturally, mining
engineers objected to Mr. Hatch becoming associated with
Stock Exchange gambles in this way, and a few days after
the issue of the prospectus he publicly renounced his call,
and was appointed to the position of consulting engineer to
the Company. He has left for Kirkland Lake, and no doubt
his geological knowledge will be of immense value, not nec-
essarily to the Company, but to the world at large.
VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Portland Canal District, Work ok the Tunnel Company,
and Prospects of Other Properties. — Lillooet District.
— Coronation and Why Not Companies.
The latest reports from the Portland Canal district state
that the long cross-cut adit, which the Portland Canal Tun-
nels Co., Ltd.. has been driving for the past year, to prove
whether the orebodies on the Glacier creek and Portland
Canal groups of claims maintain their continuity to any
great depths, has been driven 2S:',o ft., and has passed through
two crushed zones, in each of which a little ore was found.
Driving on both of these zones has been carried on for a
while, resulting, it is now said, in exposing a body of better
grade ore, but only about 6 in. thick. This is in the Glacier
Creek group and at a vertical depth below the old workings
on that property about 2000 ft. At the present time this is
the only work being done in the Portland Canal district.
The other companies, of which there were 12 or 15 working
in 1910, have suspended operations, apparently waiting for
the results of the Tunnel company. W. J. Elmendorf, for-
merly of Spokane, is the manager for the company, and it
is on his advice that this long adit has been driven. In 1910
there was such a boom in this district that mining stocks
of some of the companies were selling readily (in the local
exchanges at above par; but the results from operations dur-
ing that and the succeeding years have been so disappoint-
ing that naturally the stocks have slumped. It is predicted
that if further driving continues to develop orebodies of
commercial grade, the camp will revive and probably another
boom occur.
390
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
During the present winter, work has been carried on by
the Coronation Mining Co., on Cadwallader creek, and the
Why Not Syndicate, on Bridge river, in the Lillooet district.
The former Company has been sinking on the Little Joe
claim, below the No. 4 level, and at last reports had reached
a depth of about 60 ft., having followed profitable ore all
the way. This winze was started near the western end of
the shoot in the Little Joe vein, the length of which pay-shoot
on the No. 4 and upper levels has ranged from about 350 ft.
to nearly 700 ft., the greatest length being found on the No.
1 and 2 levels. A pump is now being installed, and the Com-
pany proposes to continue sinking as deep as can be handled
with windlass, then drive east along the vein. I am informed
that, should the development work prove as satisfactory as
it promises to. from the results obtained from assays of the
ore taken from the winze, machinery will be installed to
do deeper development on a systematic plan. Last year the
ore milled from the vein between No. 3 and 4 levels aver-
aged about $33 per ton in free gold, and the concentrate saved
by blankets averaged i'/r and contained $150 per ton. The
Why Not Syndicate has been driving on the main orebody,
the drift being now in 180 ft. Cross-cutting from the end
of this drift has been started, in the expectation of cutting
another orebody, which shows outcrops paralleling the vein
SURFACE VIEW OF LITTLE JOE CLAIM.
on which the drift has been run. If the gold content in the
main vein averages not less than $8 per ton, operations can
be carried on profitably on this property, as the facilities
for mining, transporting the ore to the millsite, and milling
with water power are extremely favorable for working at a
minimum cost. The other properties on Cadwallader creek
and Bridge river, although idle during the present winter,
will be actively worked during the summer. In fact, it is
expected that operations will be resumed on the Pioneer and
Lome groups of claims, early in the spring. In this district
the snow is usually all off early in April.
The Copper River coalfields are situated on the Copper river,
west of the Bulkley valley, about 30 miles from the new-
town of Smithers on the Grand Trunk Pacific railroad. Re-
cently the firm of Aldous & Murray, Limited, of Vancouver,
secured an option on the coalfields, and shipped a diamond-
drill, with other machinery and supplies, to the property. It
is reported that a wagon-road has just been constructed to
connect this property with Smithers, about 30 miles distant.
This machinery will be transported over it at an early date,
and drilling operations begun to test at depth the various
seams of coal that underlie these fields, which are reported to
cover 16.000 acres. There are said to be six seams of coal
on the property, and the main one is said to average 12,500
tons per acre. The owners of this coalfield are the National
Finance Co., of Vancouver, and it is from that Company that
Aldous & Murray have secured an option, but in whose in-
terests is not yet known, although because of the close con-
nection between that firm and the Grand Trunk Pacific rail-
road, it is considered likely that they are acting for the
railroad company. This, however, is only a conjecture caused
from the fact that Aldous & Murray have been right-of-way
agents for the railway, and they now have the exclusive sale
of the Grand Trunk Pacific townsite of Smithers.
NEW YORK
Financing British Columbia Copper. Braden Copper. Inter-
national Smelting & Refining, and International Agri-
cultural Chemical Companies. — American Institute of
Mining Engineers Meet.
The improved state of the money market is already begin-
ning to exhibit itself in new financing of mining companies
already under way, or merely proposed. I have already re-
ferred to the proposals for Inspiration and British Columbia.
The full details of the British Columbia plan have now been
given out and involve the creation of a new company, the
Canadian Copper Corporation, Ltd., with an authorized capi-
tal of $5,000,000 in $5 shares, and with $1,000,000 in 10 year
6r/( convertible bonds. Hayden, Stone & Co. have underwrit-
ten $600,000 of the bond issue, and such is the magic of a
name that when this fact was announced British Columbia
shares made a sharp advance. The debentures will carry
with them pro rata stock in the Company, and Hayden, Stone
also have an option on the remaining $400,000 in debentures
and 200,000 shares. This entire scheme depends on the ex-
change of over 51% of the stock of the British Columbia
Copper Co. before March 15.
The rumors that have been current for many months that
Braden would have to do some new financing are taking more
definite form. Braden has an authorized bond issue totaling
$S,000.000. divided into $4,000,000 6% first collateral trusts,
all outstanding, $2,000,000 '</, second collateral trusts. $1,000.-
000 outstanding, and $2,000,000 1'U three year convertible de-
bentures, all outstanding. Authorized stock issue totals $14.-
000,000 of which $6,000,000 is outstanding. $7,000,000 is held
in the treasury against the conversion of bonds, and $1,000,-
000 held in reserve against the $1,000,000 remainder of the
second lien 7's, authorized but unissued. The earnings of
the Company are now substantially in excess of its present
bond charges. No definite statement as to what form the
new financing will take has yet been made. Another com-
pany which is expected to do some new financing is the In-
ternational Smelting & Refining Co., which has undertaken
to build the smelter at Miami to treat the Inspiration and
Miami concentration. Although not exactly a mining com-
pany, the International Agricultural Chemical Co. has a
good deal of interest from a mining standpoint, since its
raw materials are largely the product of mining or smelting.
The Company has been carrying a floating debt of $4. $25,000
representing its growth and expansion in the past two years.
This will be taken care of by a new issue of Wr debentures.
The first mortgage 5' r issue of 1928 under which two sepa-
rate pieces of financing have already been accomplished has
now been closed and no prior obligations can be put ahead
of the new $7,000,000 bonds. With this financing. American
Agricultural will have $17,000,000 bonds. $27,000,000 preferred.
and $18,330,000 common; or $45,000,000 of stock paying divi-
dends as an equity behind its bonds.
Details of the earlier sessions of the American Institute
meeting held in this city last week are given on another
page. The sessions of Wednesday and Thursday, however.
were no less interesting.
The number of papers to be presented was so great that it
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
391
was necessary to hold simultaneous sessions in adjoining
rooms. In one room the papers on mining law were the topic
for discussion. H. V. Winchell was to have presided over
this session, but was unable to arrive in time because of a
late train, and J. A. Holmes presided. The first paper was
'The Disposition of Natural Resources,' by G. 0. Smith, pre-
sented in abstract by the author. Dr. Ra-ymoud announced
that he had submitted discussion of this for publication,
but brought out a few important facts. The next paper
was 'Should the Apex Law be Now Repealed,' by C. H.
Shamel, which was read in abstract in the absence of the
author. This was vigorously criticised by Dr. Raymond, who
pointed out that the law of 1S72 was not the outgrowth of
"immemorial custom," but was rather the product of a few
years of local experience, and ridiculed the method of de-
termining the amount of litigation caused by the apex law
used by Mr. Shamel, since a suit which directly arose from
an apex question might be attacked and defended on twenty
different technical points, though the apex question was the
sole originating cause, illustrating his argument by actual
cases. But he chiefly objected to the proposal to have ques-
tions of fact decided by the U. S. Geological Survey, and not
subject to review by the courts. Thomas J. Walsh, U. S.
Senator from Montana and chairman of the Senate Com-
mittee on Mines and Mining, argued in a similar vein; citing
cases from his experience in Montana. This led naturally
up to the next paper, 'The Apex I>aw in the Drumlummon
Controversy,' by C. W. Goodale, appearing on another page,
which was read in abstract in the absence of the author. The
account of the famous controversy was supplemented by Dr.
Raymond, who was connected with the case in the beginning,
and by Senator Walsh, who was one of the attorneys in its
concluding stages twenty years later. M. K. Rodgers told of
some of the difficulties of the apex law according to his wide
experience and stated that he would advise a client to invest
in property in Canada or Mexico, rather than in the United
States, since revolutions in Mexico only damaged a property,
whereas in the I'nlted States it might be lost altogether. He
also told of the admirable foresight of a Swede whose claims
in Alaska fairly bristled with stakes. When asked why his
claim api>eared to have been 'Jumped' so often, he replied.
"I yump him myself every six weeks."
Next a paper on 'Classification of the Public Lands' was
presented in oral abstract by George Otis Smith. An article
by F. F. Sharpless on the 'Segregation and Classification of
the Natural Resources of the Public Domain' was passed
over, in the absence of the author. A paper on 'The Initia-
tion of Title to Mineral Land,' by Allien Burch was read
by G. O. Smith, and another on 'Good Ideas In the Mining
Laws of British Columbia and Mexico,' by F. L, Sizer was
read by T. T. Read. At the afternoon session. H. V. Winchell
presided and read his paper. Why the Mining Laws Should
be Revised.' This was followed by Mining Law Revision:
How to Obtain it,' by E. B. KIrby. Senator Walsh then gave
The review of the present status of mining legislation at
Washington which is elsewhere reproduced. The ensuing
general discussion brought out me views of the many Im-
portant mining men present and made especially clear the
necessity that the new code of mining laws should be drafted
by experienced mining men who are also familiar with the
law. In the adjoining room a session on iron and steel
was held. The sessions for the day were concluded by an
illustrated lecture on the mining of bituminous coal, by
Samuel A. Taylor.
In the evening the annual dinner was held ;it the Waldorf-
Astoria, the same place ;i> last year. The attendance was
unexpectedly large and after over 200 members, their wives,
and guests had been crowded into the dining room, a number
of late comers had to be turned away. At the close of an
excellent dinner tin retiring president. C. I". Rand, with
characteristic modesty, made ;i speech attributing the good
results of the year to everyone else except himself. At its
conclusion W. L. Saunders, the toastmaster, asked anybody
present who had not been mentioned to hold up his hand,
which evoked much applause but no hands. The new presi-
dent, B. B. Thayer, was then introduced and in a brief,
businesslike speech pointed out that Mr. Rand had given
largely of time and effort to the upbuilding of the Institute,
and that his ability to evoke enthusiasm in others was only
a part of what he had done. Mr. Thayer was followed by
Thomas .1. Walsh, senator from Montana, who praised the
mining engineer for his contribution to civilization. Thomas
B. Stearns then spoke of the glories of Colorado, and was
followed by W. A. Clark, ex-senator from Montana, who spoke
of early days in mining education in this country and paid
a tribute to Dr. Raymond, who spoke next and was some-
what pessimistic as to whether the new broom of enthusiasm
in the Institute would continue to sweep clean. The con-
cluding speaker was D. M. Riordan who spoke in his usual
vein.
On Thursday simultaneous sessions were again held. In
the geological session the depth to which underground waters
extend was first discussed. The topic was opened by a paper
by A. C. Lane and was afterward discussed by J. F. Kemp,
F. L. Ransome, L. C. Graton, E. C. Bastin, T. T. Read, and J.
D. Irving. The next topic was the question as to what extent
chalcocite is primary and to what extent a secondary mineral.
The topic was presented by L. C. Graton and was discussed
by ./. D. Irving, T. T. Read, W. Lindgren, and F. L. Ransome.
The third topic taken up was the discussion of the garnet
zones produced by igneous intrusions. This was discussed by
Waldemar Lindgren and, in a written paper, by C. K. Leith.
Meanwhile in the adjoining room the oil and gas session was
dealing with an even more interesting list of papers. The
afternoon session was almost devoted to E. Coste, who first
presented in abstract the paper by A. Adiassewich on the
Russian Oil Fields, and then defended vigorously his own
theory of the formation of petroleum deposits. S. S. Wyer
discussed the proposal to make natural gas lines common
carriers and M. W. Ball discussed the placer law as applied
to oil. R. M. Catlln and F. M. Anderson discussed the occur-
rence of oil shales at Elko, Nevada, where the oil cannot be
extracted by solvents, only by distillation. The session was
concluded by a most interesting paper by I. N. Knapp on
oil and gas sands, illustrated by excellent lantern slides.
There was to have been a session in the afternoon to discuss
papers on precious or base metals. The first paper, by C. R.
Hayward. was presented in abstract by H. O. Hofman, and
Robert Linton presented his interesting paper on cyaniding
silver ores in Mexico, but none of the authors of the eight
other papers on the program were in attendance, and the
session adjourned. This was the sole defect of what was
otherwise one of the best meetings the Institute has held,
and it is to be regretted that authors who have contributed
important papers should not lie on hand to present them and
to answer questions.
Last week was an extraordinarily dull one, as far as mining
news is concerned. Possibly all the mining men were attend-
ing the meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engi-
neers, .ind had no news to give out, or it may have been the
weather, which piled one snowfall on another, blocking the
streets and hampering everybody in the conduct of business.
Interest centres on what will happen in Mexico, now that one
of the bandits who poses as a patriot leader has been so
unwise as to shoot an Englishman. As a result, the attitude
of 'watchful waiting' has received a severe jar and everyone
is speculating on what the outcome will be. The ferocity
and insoh nee of the atrocious act has aroused general re-
sentment, but scarcely to the point of a general demand for
intervention. The copper market litis fallen flat and little
business has been done. Even the export sabs failed and the
week closed with everybody awaiting developments.
392
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1!»14
General Mining News
ALASKA
Bethel
An option and bond on the Royal group of 14 quartz claims,
and the Golden Gate valley placer property of 1000 acres, has
been given to New York people by H. W. Reeth.
Fairbanks
The Newsboy mill crushed 400 tons in January, recovering
$11.25 per ton, with a profit of $500. The whole length of
Cleary creek is active, with shaft-sinking, taking out dumps,
and getting ready for next season. At 1 Below, Hilty & Co.
are finishing the bedrock drain, 1900 ft. long, after a year's
work. It is 3 to 5 ft. wide inside timbers, and 35 ft. deep.
Adjoining claims will benefit by the drain. Ivy & Co. are
digging a drain to connect with Hilty's. DuBerry and Fuller
have helped with the Hilty drain and are ready to hoist
gravel. Work on 3 Below is to be resumed by Cunningham,
Morrison, and Rasmussen. A dump of fair size has been
taken out from the old Boone by Woods and Piper. Shafts
are being sunk on 6 Below by Johnson and Pearson. Lalu,
Black, and Mitchell are taking out good 'pay' from 7 Below.
A large dump is on 8 Below, owned by Nars, Hansen, and
Jorgenson. Work is to be started on 9, 10, and 11 Below in
May.
Juneau
The Alaska Mexican, Alaska Treadwell, and Alaska United
companies have declared dividends of 20c, $1, and 30c. per
share, respectively, payable at San Francisco on February 28.
Nelchina
On bedrock, 14 ft. deep, G. A. White has found gravel worth
$1.50 per square foot, at 16 Above Flat creek. Four feet of
gravel will yield from 1 to 40 cents per pan. A new deposit
has been discovered 18 miles from Flat creek, and the pros-
pectors have 18 in. of gravel giving from 15c. to $1 per pan.
Fairbanks men have bonded claims for $90,000 on Crooked
creek. A Keystone drill will be used next summer. There
are about 300 men and 4 women in the camp at 16 Above,
Flat creek. The winter has been fine, the coldest day being
42° below zero, little wind, and 30 in. of snow.
ARIZONA
Gbekni.ee County
The directors of the Arizona Copper Co., Ltd., report that
after carrying to reserve £34,415, in terms of the agreement
with the debenture holders, and £45,585 for capital expendi-
ture, the surplus for the year ended September 30, 1913, in-
CAVED SQUARE-SET STOPE, ARIZONA COPPER CO. S MINE.
eluding £39,261 brought forward, is £246,911. Deducting pref-
erential dividends amounting to £24,531, the sum of £222.380
is left, out of which the directors recommend a dividend for
the year of 66c. per share, free of tax; of this amount of
dividend 36c. per share was paid in July last. The dividend
absorbs £208,986, and the balance of £13,394 will be carried
forward. The Company has ordered a 150-kw., 250-volt, syn-
chronous converter, three 60-kva. transformers, and switch-
board panels from the General Electric Company.
CALIFORNIA
Amador County
The South Eureka Mining Co. has paid another dividend,
making $41,998 for the current year.
Butte County
A fine diamond was fsund recently by a prospector in
placer ground at Cherokee. He sold it to an Oroville jeweler
for $100. Over 250 stones have been found in this district
to date. The old Magalia or Pershbaker drift gravel mine
in the Magalia district, will probably be opened by driving
a long drift to drain the old workings.
Calaveras County
The Hamby mine, near Mokelumne Hill, which has been
worked in a desultory fashion for 10 years, is being unwat-
ered. Prospects are good, and there is a good hoist and mill
on the property. L. Everett is superintendent.
Nevada County
Rich gold ore is being extracted from the Premier mine,
north of Grass Valley. Jesse R. Butler is superintendent.
On February 22, a cross-cut in the Golden Center mine.
Grass Valley, cut 30 in. of rich gold-bearing ore, which was
highly mineralized. It was found 300 ft. from the shaft, and
gives 400 ft. of backs. Leyner drills are used in development
work.
Placer County
Nevada people have acquired the Little Banner mine, on
the American river, one mile from Auburn, for $25,000. A
300-ft. adit has been driven to cut the vein, and a fair ton-
nage has been proved. The Rawhide mine, on the north fork
of the American river, six miles from Towle, is being worked
again by J. L. Bryson, under lease from the Helester Gold
Mining Company.
Plumas County
Good ore has been opened in the San Jose mine, near Seneca.
Shasta County
The Mt. Bally Mining Co. is to erect a small mill on its
West End mine near Stella. Kennett people are mostly in-
terested, and Briceland Blair is manager. The Gladstone
company, near French Gulch, has paid another dividend of
$9000, making $18,000 for this year.
Siskiyou County
The mine and mill of the Gold Run, at Gilta, are beinu
worked full time with 15 men. R. W. Bender is superin-
tendent.
Sax Diego County
The Montezuma mine consists of 18 claims covering 360
acres in the San Ysidro range, 11 miles from Warner's
Springs, and over $100,000 has been spent in development.
Regular work started in January 1911, and 3255 ft. has been
opened in the Morning Star and Eureka claims, and 599 ft.
in three other claims. Eight ore-shoots have been opened
in the two claims mentioned, giving a high average in gold,
silver, lead, and copper. The main shaft is being sunk to 250
ft., where it is intended to drive 1000 ft. No. 2 drift is in
941 ft. The shoots are up to 160 ft. apart at this level.
In September 1913 the shaft-house and equipment was de-
stroyed by fire, a loss of $5355. This has been renewed by
a larger plant. A 5-stamp mill and concentrator has been
in operation, but a cyanide plant is necessary. David Mc-
Gregor is superintendent.
Febmarv 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
393
Trinity County
On February IS, Frank Schlomberg sold 14 placer claims
on the north fork of Coffee creek. 1G miles from Trinity
Center, to W. H. McEwen, who recently bought the Mad
Ox mine near Whiskeytown. The late owner has worked
one giant for a considerable time. The gravel is said to
amount to 500,000 eu. yd., worth up to 50c. in gold.
Tl'OI.l wine County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Jamestown Exploration Co..
which is operating the Carlin mine, near Jamestown, has
elected a new board of directors composed of C. L. Six, L.
T. Freitas. A. R. Kirkland, W. S. Kelly, and J. H. Utt, and
will establisn its principal office at Stockton. It is under-
stood that the Company will in the future make a weekly
report to the stockholders. The Plummer brothers, of Colum-
bia, have been recovering a good deal of gold from a new
prospect on the Cavcrone ranch, four miles east of Columbia.
Outcrops of the vein contained coarse gold, and the lucky
finders realized several hundred dollars during the first few
days. Prospects for further gold returns are said to lie
decidedly good. The Sugar man mine, on Bald mountain,
north of Sonora. has been producing a large quantity of
gold during the past few weeks, but bow much has been
extracted cannot be learned, though it is said to amount to
several thousand dollars. The mine is worked by Charles
Smith and Robert Watson. The Wilson & Means pocket'
mine, on Jackass hill, near Tuttletown, is again yielding gold
for Charles and James Gillis and H. Howerman, who have
been working the property for a number of years. Since
the find was made a few clays ago. over $10,000 has been
recovered, and it is believed that when a thorough clean-up
has been made, that sum will have been considerably in-
creased. Probably not until the latter part of March will
complete milling operations be resumed at the Shawmut.
Meanwhile repair work and improvements which have been
in progress for some time will be finished.
Sonora, February 21.
Vl'ba Cor my
Good gravel has been opened in the Orient drift-gravel mine
in the Camptonville district. John H. I,nssiatt is superintend-
ent for the lessee, W. H. Hood.
COLORADO
Eagle County
There is nothing new regarding the alleged discovery of
rich carnotlte ore in the Dakota mine, near Eagle. Silver
ore is being transported from the Lady Belle mine to the
cars at Eagle on sleds. The road to the North Dakota and
Best Chance is In bad condition. Mines on the Salt Creek
side of the mountain are opening excellently.
Fremont County
A wagon-load of ore, assaying 34' ; lead, \\->f/c copper, 32
oz. silver, 0.11 oz. gold, with uranium and vanadium con-
tent, has been sent to the Pueblo smelter from the Oak
Creek district, 15 to 20 miles west of Canon City. The ore
was brought in by E. C. Metz. Considerable excitement pre-
vails in Canon City.
Gunnison County
The Glacier Mining Co., which has recently been organized
and which is operating the Star and Independent mines on
Italian mountain, has taken a bond and lease for $25,000
on the mining claims on Italian mountain which was owned
by the late Howard Marshall. The mill is working at the
Iron Cap, near Spencer, and mine men are working under
A. McFarlane.
Lake County ( Leadvii.i.e)
Storms have Interfered with regular work in the district.
The present outlook for Increased activity is good. The
f>adville district mill is working steadily and producing 60
tons of zinc concentrate per day. Residue from the old
Adams mill containing IS to 20% zinc, is being concentrated
to 40 and 45', zinc. Retimbering the Mover shaft of the Iron
Silver Mining Co. is nearly finished. Five furnaces are work-
ing at the Arkansas Valley plant.
Ouray County
The report of the manager of the Mountain Top mine, G.
H. Barnhart. states that the main north drift is 967 ft. long.
The first ore-shoot was 326 ft. long, and 6 to 48 in. wide,
and the paystreak averaged gold 0.153 oz., and silver. 44.47
oz. per ton. The lead content will average 5%. At 560 ft.
north of this shoot, another was cut, which was profitable
for 210 ft. The paystreak was from 12 to 36 in. wide, aver-
aging 13.37% lead. 0.047 oz. gold, and 34.45 oz. silver. About
890 ft. north, the foot-wall side of the drift opened the Big
Spar vein, resulting in a heavy flow of water. The vein
showed no mineralization. Work on No. 6 level and in the
main raise is promising. The Company's Morning Star mill-
site is at Canon and Blythe creeks, and safe from snow-
slides. A better site is west of the Atlas mill, and near the
upper terminal of the proposed Ouray-Sneffels tramway. Sur-
veys have been made for tramways from the Mountain Top-
Sunrise adit to these sites. The respective lengths and falls
are 4956 ft. and 1040 ft., and 5400 ft. and 1070 ft. The flota-
tion process in the Atlas mill works satisfactorily, and as the
.Mountain Top ore is similar, the process may suit. Tests on
ore from the Humboldt mine gave over 90', of the lead and
silver by flotation.
Pitkin County
The Smuggler Leasing Co.. at Aspen, has ordered two 125-
hp. motors and a switchboard panel from the General Elec-
tric Company.
Teller County (Cripple Creek i
A total of 2750 men are employed in the mines, mills,
samplers, and smelters connected with the Cripple Creek
district, according to The Cripple Creek Times. This num-
ber does not include men employed by ore-hauling contrac-
tors. It is expected that IS lessees will be working at the
Golden Cycle mine in a few days. The Gold King Mining
Co.'s annual report shows that the lessee of the mine. Owen
Roberts, shipped 403s tons of ore, worth $57,155, from which
the Company's royalty was $14,817. A dividend of $9368
was paid, equal to 1c. per share on 936,850 shares. The cash
balance on hand is $55,291. The total production to date is
95,492 tons, yielding $1,924,971.
IDAHO
Blaine County
Work is to be resumed at the Independence mine and mill
by Harry J. Allen, managing owner, and about 30 men. All
litigation in connection with the property is finished. It
is reported that a snowslide has either destroyed or covered
the mill, power-house, boarding and bunk houses, and other
equipment of the El Oro mine, on Bear creek, 70 miles from
Hailey.
Idaho County
In an adit being driven on a vein in the Black Pine mine,
two miles from Elk City, rich gold ore has been opened on
the hanging wall. Frank Peck has also opened $100 ore in
the Oro Grande district, between 300 and 400 ft. Several
thousand tons of $12 to $15 ore is blocked out in the Colonel
Sellers, owned by Mrs. Parr. The Elk City district is fairly
active just now.
Shoshone County
Although cut about a month ago, an official announcement
of the opening of 8 ft. of lead ore in the Success mine, near
Wallace, has only just been made. This property is fully
equipped with a mill, and paid $90,000 in dividends in 1913.
H. F. Samuels is general manager. A large low-grade ore-
body has been developed in the Star mine, adjoining the
394
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
Morning, and it is likely that the Federal company will buy
the property, the present bond calling for $750,000. The Hecla
Mining Co., operating at Burke, has paid dividend No. 128,
of 2c. per share, amounting to $20,000. The motors running
in and out of the Kellogg tunnel at the Bunker Hill & Sul-
livan mine will be operated in the near future by a block
signal system now being installed. The 'safety first' policy
at this property shows a reduction in the number of acci-
dents during the past six months. Across the track near
the Kellogg tunnel is a large sign, 'Safety First,' in electric
lights. Following this policy, the Company is doing away
with trolley wires in the mine, except in the Kellogg tun-
nel, having installed electric storage-battery locomotives. The
third one of these locomotives, weighing eight tons, was put
into service this week. One of these has been at work for
TTLT" «aftK>N«&
SECTION OK BUNKER HILL & SULLIVAN MINK.
a year. Edison storage batteries operate the locomotives.
The Bullion and Copper Chief companies will drive a joint
adit, costing $34,000. to cut veins in the properties at about
434 ft. from the surface. John H. Nordquist, of Wallace, will
superintend the work.
MISSOURI
St. Francis County
An appeal from the decision of .Justice C'ardo/.a, of the
Appellate Court of New YorK, has been taken by Robert
Holmes in his suit to restrain the St. Joseph Lead Co. from
borrowing $2,500,000.
MONTANA
Deer Lodge County
On February 20 a cave-in occurred at the Southern Cross
mine, at Georgetown, burying two men. Rescue crews have
been at work. This property is owned by the Anaconda com-
pany, ore being shipped to the Washoe plant for treatment.
Fergus County
During January, the Barnes-King Development Co. pro-
duced 4324 tons of ore, yielding $44,000 in gold. The profit
was $24,000. On March 4. the annual meeting will be held
at Kendall.
Sii.verbow County
The Butte-Duluth mine has been sold to the American
Metals Co. It was reported on by W. H. Weed. Twelve
inches of copper glance has been opened 75 ft. below the
2000-ft. level of the Pilot-Butte. The ore assays 1.98'.; copper
and 6 oz. silver per ton. The middle vein, at 1800 ft., is 30
in. wide, containing 7.4'/; copper and 12 oz. silver per ton.
The shaft will be continued to 2600 ft. Water from the mine
is only hoisted to the ]300-ft. level, from which it flows
through a 700-ft. cross-cut to the Butte & Superior mill. The
Anaconda company's suit against the Pilot-Butte. involving
the South vein, is to be heard on March 20. The Tuolumne
mine produced 184,394 lb. of copper, 9869 oz. silver, and
13 oz. gold in January from 3091 tons of ore. This came
from the 800, 1800, 2000, and 2200-ft. levels. A vein was cut
on No. 24 level on February 13. but was disappointing. From
August 1. 1913, to January 1, 1914,'ore shipments totaled
15,357 tons, returning $66,399, showing a loss of $7100. The
surplus on January 1 was $60,569.
NEVADA
Elko County
In spite of bad weather and its isolated position, mining
at Contact is being pushed along. The Seattle-Contact com-
pany is shipping high-grade copper ore. The Antelope mine
has been opened by three 40-ft. shafts and drifts, and good
ore is extracted.
The deputy state mine inspector. James W. Gaughan, re-
ports that the camp of Bullion is a promising one. Both the
Nevada Bunker Hill and Bullion Nevada companies have
driven adits, which will be timbered and the ventilation im-
proved.
Esmeralda County
The annual report of the Florence Goldfield Min-
ing Co., H. B. Clapp superintendent, contains the
following information: During 1913, 4307 tons of
ore was mined, and 3159 tons treated at the Jumbo
Reduction Co.'s plant at Bonnie Claire, which is
leased to the Florence company. The yield was
$9.11 per ton, with 86'/f recovery. The lease of this
plant was discontinued by previous arrangement, and
since November 988 tons of ore, worth $12.22 per
ton, was sent to the Western Ore Purchasing Co.
and the Belmont Milling Co. The year's revenue was
$41,979, and expenses $85,987. Cash on hand at the
beginning of 1914 was $11,191. Development cov-
ered 2324 ft., at a cost of $4.64 per foot. Work at 800,
1000, and 1200 ft. was unprofitable, and has been stopped.
The orebodies are irregular and ore reserves cannot be esti-
mated. The upper levels should add considerably to the avail-
able ore. At present, the monthly output is from 700 to
1000 tons.
A 5-stamp mill is now working in the Diamondneld por-
tion of the Goldfield district. It is at present crushing ore
from dumps on leases held by the Diamondneld M. & M. Co.
A mineralized vein has been cut at 735 ft. in the Oro shaft.
The water has also increased. T. F. Manning is manager.
During January, the Goldfield Consolidated mill produced
a net realization of $164,914 from 30,198 tons of ore. Costs
totaled $5.85 per ton. of which mining was $3.25 and treat-
ment $1.75 per ton. Development covered 2666 ft. at a cost
of $4.91 per foot. There was nothing of special note from
this work, but the stopes are looking better than for three
months past.
Humboldt County
With a capital of $100,000. the Winnemueca Milling & Ore
Purchasing Co. has been formed. W. G. Adamson, John R.
Turner, of Winnemueca, and H. J. Murrish, of Lovelocks, are
principally interested. A mill is to be built and custom work
done.
Lander County
Placer mining in the Battle Mountain district is increas-
ing, especially in Copper canon, Eldorado canon. Copper
basin. Snow's gulch. Iron canon. Mud Springs, and Tenabo.
Nye County
Ten mines at Tonopah produced 47,207 tons of ore worth
$896,933 in January. The Extension mill is to be enlarged
by another 5 by 16-ft. tube-mill and a Dorr classifier, to in-
crease the daily tonnage to 200 tons. The Jim Butler-West
End extralateral right question is being discussed by the
Companies' officials.
(Special Correspondence.! — About 27 miles from Luning,
in Mineral county, is the Fairplay mining district. This
district is attracting considerable attention again. During
the past eight years considerable development has been done.
and the veins have been proved to a depth of 230 ft. There
are large bodies of ore available, assaying about $25 per ton
Febniarv 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
395
in gold and silver. The ore occurs in andesite and rhyolite.
The outlook for this district is promising. By the addition
of a cyanide plant to the present milling facilities at the
Goldyke, the owners should be able to save the metals and
realize good profits. A townsite has been located, called But-
ler. Fuel and water are found in the immediate vicinity.
The Nevada Chief Mining Co. is operating six claims and
has a 15-hp. hoist. An incline shaft has been sunk to a
depth of 230 ft. The vein was cross-cut at 150 ft. and assayed
about $2n per ton, and in the lower cross-cut the vein is
larger and contains better gold content. The shaft is to be
sunk 100 ft. deeper.
The Nevada Chief Extension Co. has several promising
claims and is preparing to develop them. The Excelsior
Twilight Mining Co. has a good body of ore at a depth of
320 ft. and expects to install a 25-hp. hoist. The Contact
Mining Co. has a 150-ft. shaft. On the 100-ft. level the vein
is about 2'-j ft. wide, assaying $1S per ton. There are sev-
eral other groups located and being developed by experi-
enced mining men who have great faith in the district.
Luning. February 10.
Storky Col'NIY
Work is to be resumed in the Mexican and Union mines,
which have not been operated of late on account of a differ-
ence with the I'nited Comstock Pumping Association. The
Pumping Association is keeping the water just below the
2700-ft. level with Starrett pumps. An earthquake of three
seconds' duration shook Virginia City district on February
18. There was a fairly heavy shock at 2200 ft. in the Ophir
winze, and recks split off. On the 1000-ft. level of the Con-
solidated Virginia, 6 by 12-in. timber broke in several places.
In the Yellow Jacket the movement was very perceptible,
but not much in the Crown Point and Belcher. The Silver
Hill Mining Co. has decided to erect a 50-ton mill and cya-
nide plant in lower Gold canon. Walter Techow will design,
erect, and operate the plant. During 1913 the Crown Point.
Belcher, and Yellow Jacket companies produced 32.3fiX oz. of
bullion from 23.943 tons of ore.
NEW MEXICO
Grant Coimv
The Dordsburg mining district has been described in The
Lordsburg header of February 12. The 85 mine is produc-
ing about 4000 tons of copper ore per month, the output in
1913 being $650,000. A treatment plant of some kind Is
contemplated. A branch of the A. & N. M. railway has been
surveyed to this and other mines. A deal has been com-
pleted whereby the Metropolis mine and a group of claims.
near the R5 mine, were taken over by the Amalgamated Lead
& Copper Mining Co. from J. ('. Waldniann. of San Francisco.
California, and associates. A large tonnage of lead-silver ore.
and copper ore. has been proved, and a concentrating plant
may be elected next fall. Good copper-gold-silver ore has been
opened in the Bonny mine, five miles south of Lordsburg.
The Miser's Chest, adjoining, lias a shaft over 400 ft. deep,
the lower levels being under water. In the At wood, near the
85 and Metropolis, there is a fait tonnage of medium-grade
ore. It has produced $300,000. In the Pyramid camp are
a number of promising claims. In 1!»12 the Lordsbttrg mines
produced 55.340 tons of ore yielding gold, $144,859; silver,
i: 7 -". . 2 ."". 1 oz.; copper. 3,155.5X5 lb.; and lead, 45fi2 lb., worth
$835,915.
OREGON
Bakkii Cm vi v
After being shut down for two years, the North Pole mine,
near Sumpter, is being developed again. Ralph Clarke is in
charge. It is likely that this and the E. & E. mine will be
consolidated. Promising discoveries have been made in the
New Eldorado district southwest of Sumpter. . in a little
known part of the Greenhorn mountains.
UTAH
The radium-bearing ores of this state were discussed on
February 20 by L. O. Howard before the Utah Society of
Engineers. He said that in Utah the ores of vanadium,
uranium, and radium are found in several localities in the
eastern districts. These may be described as follows: In
Uintah county, near Independence, and extending into Wa-
satch county; in Grand county, at Moab, Dewey, Richardson,
and IK miles southeast of Thompson's: in Emery county,
near the town of Greenriver, and at Table mountain, 45
miles southeast of Greenriver: in San Juan county carno-
tite has been reported from the vicinity of Monticello, near
Dry canon, and from Copper cation in the southwest portion
of Kane county, minerals similar to those at Richardson are
found near Paroah: in Wayne county, in the vicinity of
Hanksville and Fruita, and in the Henry mountains, several
carnotite claims have been located. At Table mountain,
Beebe and Browning started prospecting work on their claims
as early as 1903, and in the Greenriver field, location notices
which were put up about the same time have been found.
The ore occurs in a sedimentary formation. The beds have
suffered considerable erosion, but when this has not been
too deep a thin bed of quartzite lies on the highest portions.
Beneath this is a medium coarse to fine conglomerate. Be-
neath the conglomerate lies a coarse-grained white sandstone,
underlain by a thin seam of green shale. The ore is found
principally as an impregnation of the sandstone and lies in
any part of the same near the surface, sometimes immediately
underneath the conglomerate, at others on top of the shale.
The conglomerate is sometimes the source of valuable ore
and occasionally the quartzite shows a slight mineraliza-
tion. The principal mineral is the canary yellow carnotite,
whose color is often obscured, and a variety of earthy min-
erals usually accompany it. The various minerals present
a great variety of colors: black, all shades of green, yellow,
and blood red. The black is sometimes glossy like coal,
sometimes talcy. and sometimes dull earthy. These are
usually the best grades of ore. It occurs in pockets from
a few inches up to five or six feet thick.
J l All COC.NTY
The winze below the 1000-ft. level of the Tintic Standard
is down To ft., and a foot of high-grade galena is being sunk
on. A carload of gold-bearing ore is being shipped from
the Victoria. It will average $75 per ton.
Salt Lakk Coimv
The 1'tah Copper Co. has ordered lour 2500-kva., water-
cooled transformers from the General Electric Company.
WASHINGTON
Fkrry Cot VI v
The Orion Mining Co.. at Covada. lias opened rich silver
ore. Hon n. jn the adit being driven. Good ore is showing
in the Keystone, and lead ore in the Big Joker.
Si t:\ kns Col vrv
Charles F. Soderling. of Spokane, and his associates have
taken a bond on the Mayflower group of three claims in the
Chewelah district, lor $30,000. The first payment is to be
made in 12 months. The property has been operated under
the name of the [tig Bend Mining Co. by Dickey, Brantley,
and Hyde. The lode has been traced on the surface of this
group for f.joo ft. An s-ft. vein containing copper and silver
has been cut l>> a short adit. During 1913 the United Cop-
per Mining Co. produced 14.n:;s tons of ore and concentrate,
yielding KX4.702 ll>. of copper and 134,437 oz. of silver. Min-
ing cost $t;.19 pei tuii. and freight and treatment to the
Grand Porks and Trail smelters were $3.50 and $5 per ton.
respectively. Developments tit loo, 500. and liOO ft. are en-
couraging. The net .iitiings were $149, S31. Conrad Wolfe
is president of the company.
S96
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28. 1914
CANADA
British Columbia
(Special Correspondence.) — S. J. Eubank and D. F. Jones
will diamond -drill their San Diego group of six claims, situ-
ated six miles from the head of Alice arm in the Cassiar
district. There has been considerable development done on
this property, and the showing is good. A horse trail has
been completed from the head of the arm to the property,
and a drill outfit with a capacity of 400 ft. depth has been
ordered and will arrive about May 1.
Anyox, February 16.
The new Hidden Creek smelter of the Granby company is
practically completed, but weather conditions have seriously
interfered with the blowing in of the furnaces. It was ex-
pected that it would have been started on February 10, but
it may take several weeks yet, as there is not sufficient water
in the reservoir lor the hydro-electric plant. During the first
two weeks of February the Grand Forks smelter treated 47,213
tons of ore and shipped 782,000 lb. of blister copper.
Ontario
Bullion shipments from three Cobalt mines during the past
week totaled 258,359 oz„ and 916,405 oz. for the year to date.
On the 460-ft. level of the Beaver Consolidated the granite
intrudes into the Keewatin, and from 4 to 6 in. of ore has
been opened for 15 ft. in the granite, containing about 3000
oz. silver per ton. This development in granite was not
expected and has caused considerable discussion. During
1913 the Trethewey mine produced 619,427 oz. silver worth
Personal
E5?S] K«watin,'biu«mmtrc*k« I . I Huronlui, frMmenttl rook.
| Vein* j Hypothetic*! vein!
OKOI.OGICAL SECTION OF COBALT.
$365,611. Freight, sampling, and smelter charges were
$32,000. Dividends amounted to $150,000, and the surplus
for the current year is $146,148. Ore reserves contain 585,970
oz. silver.
The Dome, at Porcupine, treated 13,900 tons of ore in
January, yielding $111,500. The mill worked 93', of the
possible time.
The following shipments were made in January: Casey
Cobalt, at New Liskeard, 59 tons silver ore; gold ore from
Haileybury, 35 tons; copper ore from the Dane mine, 66 tons;
silver ore from Elk Lake. 32 tons; and nickel ore from the
Alexo mine, Porquis junction, 744 tons.
COLOMBIA
The Pato dredge recovered gold worth $10,600 from 14,500
cu. yd. during the week ended January 27.
MEXICO
SONORA
The Lucky Tiger-Combination Gold Mining Co., operating
at El Tigre, reports that during January the mill crushed
6115 tons of ore. and the cyanide plant treated 7754 tons
of tailing. The yield from shipping ore, concentrate, and
bullion was $135,749. The estimated profit was $60,974. On
February 1 all of the outstanding bonds of the Company were
retired.
Chari.es J. Garvin is in New York.
Thomas B. Stearns is in New York.
Homer L. Carr has gone to Honduras.
L. D. Miles has returned from South Africa.
C. W. Goodale is expected in New York soon.
Charles Peter has returned to Salt Lake City.
H. DeWiit Smith has gone to Kennicott, Alaska.
Morton Weiiher. of New York, is at the St. Francis hotel.
T. J. Anderson sailed from New York for Panama on
February 18.
Ciiahi.es Bitters has returned from Salvador and is in
New York City.
Jack Hoffmann has gone to Teherdin, in the Ural region,
with Charles Ja.mn.
N. B. Knox sailed on the Kronprinzensin Cecelie, February
21, returning to London.
F. C. Moore, manager at the Star of the Congo mine, is
visiting the United States.
James Douglas, L. D. Ricketts, and William Thornton
have been inspecting the Greene Cananea mines.
Ernest Rutherford, Langworthy professor of physics in
the University of Manchester, has been made a knight, taking
the title of K. B.
F. J. Janev, J. M. Hyde. S. Gregory, and A. M. Higgins were
among those attending the argument of the case of Minerals
Separation, Ltd., versus James Hyde on appeal at San Fran-
cisco last week.
I. M. Hyde has returned from a trip through Europe in-
vestigating the newer metallurgical processes and will be
the American representative of Murex Magnetic Co., Ltd., at
San Francisco.
Elwood Mead, chairman of the Victorian Water Commis-
sion, left Sydney on February 7 on the Sonoma for San
Francisco, for the purpose of securing, if possible, a cancella-
tion of his agreement to undertake the duties of professor
of Rural Institutions at the University of California, in order
that he may be able to complete his work in Victoria. In
his absence W. Cattanach will act as chairman of the com-
mission.
Schools and Societies
The Engineers' Club of Philadelphia met on February 21.
when Arthur W. Goodspeed lectured on 'Radio-activity, with
special reference to radium.'
The Civil Engineering Department of the University of
Illinois held a special short course in Highway Engineering
during the last two weeks of January. The number registered
was 191 students, of whom 63 were county superintendents of
highways.
The American Electrochemical Society will hold its an-
nual meeting and election on April 16. The spring meeting,
to be held on April 16, 17. and 18 at New York, will be an
interesting one. Questions to be discussed are, 'Power for
Electrochemical Purposes.' and 'Hydro-elect rometallurgical
Processes.'
The Cleveland Engineering Society held its regular meet-
ing, on February 10, at Cleveland, Ohio, when a paper on
gas power was read by R. H. Fernald of the Bureau of
Mines. A semi-monthly meeting will be held on February
24. when a paper on 'Acoustics and Engineering' will be read
by Dayton C Miller.
Febraarv 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
LOCAL METAI. PRICES
San Francisco, February 26.
Antimony # 9 — $%c
Electrolytic copper IB VJ — 1 a% c
Pig lead 4.25 — 5.20c
Quicksilver (flask) *39.00
Tin 42^—44 c
Spelter 6%— 6%c
Zinc dust, 190 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 Vb to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAI. MARKET.
( By wire from New York. )
NEW YORK. February 26. — Copper still shows a downward
tendency, and little business is being transacted, buyers hold-
ing off. Lead is firm at 4c. per pound, and spelter is quiet at
5.20c, a slight reduction on last week's quotations. The Chino.
Nevada, Ray, and Utah copper companies have declared their
regular quarterly dividends, payable March 31. Trading on the
Stock Exchange today covered 316.100 shares, and bonds worth
$2,678,500. Stocks generally were lower than last week. In
London copper closed firm at £64 6s. 3d. for spot, and £64 18s.9d.
for futures, both small increases. Lead is £19 2s.6d., up 2s.. and
spelter is £21 10s.. remaining unchanged.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Date.
Feb. 19
• 20
" 21
• 22 Sunday
- 23 Holiday
" 24
-.7.50
",7,.".m
57.50
.Ian.
Average week ending.
i .
.62
.50
21 57.58
2* -T.6'1
Feb. 4 57.46
11 5, .5 I
" IS 57.37
'■ 2." :,7.:.::
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 63.01
Feb 61.25
Mch 57.87
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
1914.
57.58
1913.
July 58.70
A UK 59. 32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov 58.76
Dec 57.73
1914.
The tendency of London prices has been good, according to
Samuel Montagu & Co. on February 5. The highest quotations
of the week were on the 2nd, when cash silver was fixed at
26 ll/16d. (54.4c), and forward silver ',d. (0.5c.) lower. Dur-
ing the rest of the week 3/1 6d. (0.4c.l difference obtained.
Business has been of an all-round character, hut Indian buy-
ing orders have been only on a small scale. During the month
of January, the market was not active. This is traceable, inter
alia, to two causes, namely, the usual arrest of fresh busi-
ness In China at the period of the Chinese New Year, and to
the digestive process necessary in regard to the speculative
stock once held by the Indian Specie Bank. Prices have been
maintained within fairly narrow limits, 5/16d. (0.62c.) in the
case of both cash delivery and two months' delivery. A cer-
tain proportion of the bear accounts, open at the end of last
year, has been closed; but the most substantial part Is still
uncovered, or has been renewed. The Indian bazaars have
kept a bearish sentiment throughout, ami have only dealt
from hand to mouth.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published In this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound
Average week ending
■Ian. II 13.97
" 21 14.03
" 28 14.35
Feb. I 14.59
Date.
Feb. 19 14-36
•• 20 14.36
" 21 14.36
22 Sunday
" 23 Holidav
•• 21 14.35
" 25 11.30
" " 11.61
■' 18 lt.r.r,
" -•" 11.34
Monthly averages.
1913.
.16.54
.14.93
.14.72
.15.22
.15.42
1914.
14.21
1913.
July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15.08
Dec 14.25
1914.
Jan
rcb
Mch
Apr
May
June 11.71
Stocks of copper In England and Europe at the end of Janu-
ary were as follows, according to Henry R. Merton & Co.:
English standard copper in Liverpool. Swansea, and Port Tal-
bot. 7925 tons: other standard at Liverpool and Swansea. 1251
tons; and standard at London, Newcastle, and Birmingham,
1113 tons: furnace material at Liverpool and Swansea, 130
tons; fine copper in Havre, France, 1712 tons; Rotterdam, 3650
tons; Hamburg. 3S42 tons; and Bremen. 1621 tons; a total of
21,244 tons. Fine copper afloat from Chile and Australia was
4700 tons. Stocks at other European ports were estimated at
750 tons.
Everybody seems to be in more or less of a fog about the
copper market, though there is really nothing very mystifying
about it. Everyone has known that foreign shipments have
been large, and not a few doubt whether they really reflect
the present state of consumption in Europe. Domestic deliv-
eries in January showed an encouraging increase over Decem-
ber, and certainly do not lag behind the revival in domestic
industry for which everyone is hoping, for there is no deny-
ing that it has not yet given much clear evidence of its sure
arrival. Now that the Rio Tinto strike is finally settled and
the winter weather, which cuts down the output of some mines.
will soon end, production will probably increase, and it is g i
that consumption gives evidence of increasing as well.
LEAD
Lead is quoted in cents per
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
Feb. 19
pound or dollars per hundred
20.
21 .
Sundav
Holiday
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
Average week ending
.Ian. 14
" 21
" 28
Feb. 4
" 11
" 18
1913.
4.2S
4.3 3
4.32
4.36
May 4.34
June 4.33
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
Monthly averages.
1914.
4.11
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1913.
. 4.35
. 4.60
. 4.70
4.37
. 4.16
. 4.02
1.10
. 4. I.'
. 4.1"
. 4.1.'.
. I. no
. 1.0"
. I. ii"
1911
TIN
New York prices control In the American market for tin. since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1914.
37.85
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
lanuary. speculative interest in the til
assumed large proportions, according to
191 1
mar-
Henry
1913.
Jan 50.45
Feb 49.07
Mch 4 6.95
>nr in "(l
May 49.10
June 45.10
At the end of
ket in London
It. Merlon & Co. Bears have been frightened by the rapid ad-
vance into covering their commitments, while a good deal of
I. living for a further rise took place. There has been heavy
buying on the part of American consumers. Transactions dur-
ing the last week were 3500 tons. English ingot tin was £lv:
per ton.
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver Is San Francisco. Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly In this column. Is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by tl .3 carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, In dollars per flask of 75 lb..
are given below:
Week ending | Feb. 12 3d. On
19. ""
Jan
Feb
19.
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.0"
Mav 10.25
June II. ""
39.00
. . .39.00
Monthly averages.
191 I.
39.0"
1913.
39.25 i July 41.00
■ ■•• I Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
.... ! Oct 39.37
• • • • , Nov 39.40
■ ■ • ■ I I'ec 40.00
ZINC
Zinc Is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Feb. 19 5.20
" 20 5.20
•• 21 5.20
" 22 Sundav
'• 23 Holiday
•■ :;4 . . ' 5.20
20
Average week ending
Jan. 14
" 21
28
4
11
18
Feb.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1913
6.88
6.13
5.9 4
5.52
5.23
Monthly averages.
1914
5.1 I
June 5.00
1 9 1 3.
July 5.11
Aug 5.51
Sept 5.55
Oct 5.22
Nov 5.09
Dec 5.07
398
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28, 1914
NEW YOKK STOCK EXCHANGE:
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
February 25.
Listed.
Bid
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
Associated OH us
.8 5)7}
—
Natomas Consol. 6b
Pac. Port. Cement 6s...
■ — '
26
[' 11 listed .
1003
Ass. Oil 58
. - —
82}
Santa Cruz Cement 6s..
86
90
General Petroleum 6s.
. 41
4fi
Union Oil
. —
88
•
STOCKS
Listed.
Bid
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
Amalgamated Oil
. —
86*
General Petroleum
. 1*
6
Associated Oil
. 42}
42)
90
Noble Electric Steel
5
1
E. 1. du Pont pfd
24
Giant
Pac. Port. Cement
69
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd
.. 70
—
Riverside Cement
. 60
—
Pacific Crude Oil
1}
35c
11
Santa Cruz Cement
Stand. Port. Cement ...
. 02)
60
Sterling 0. A D
2-'J
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
February 26.
Atlanta I -16
Belcber -60
Belmont. 8.00
Con. Virginia .18
Florence .55
Goldfleld Con 1.62
Goldfleld Oro .12
Halifax 1.05
Jim Butler 1.00
Jumbo Extension 22
MacNamara 09
Mexican 1.21
Midway 87
Mizpah Extension .46
Montana-Tonopah 11.02
Nevada Hills 37
North Star 39
Ophlr 57
Pittsburg Silver Peak 35
Round Mountain 40
Sierra Nevada .14
Tonopah Extension 1.47
Tonopah Merger 61
Tonopah of Nevada 7.12
Union 11
Victor .30
West End 1.12
Yellow Jacket DO
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask
Argonaut #2.75
Brunswick Con
Hunker Hill 1.85
$1.05
Bid. Ask.
Central Eureka ..JO. 67 $0.70
South Eureka 2.10
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of
Bid
Allouez 8 41
Ariz. Commercial 4}
Butte * Superior 35J
Calumet & Arizona 67
Calumet A Hecla 427
Copper Range 37)
Daly West 2}
East Butte llj
Kranklln 6,1
Granby 84)
Greene Cananea 37$
Isle-Royale 20)
Mass Copper 3
J. C. \Vilson, Mills Building.)
February 26.
Ask
Mohawk t
Nevada Con
North Butte
Old Dominion
Osceola
Quincy
Shannon
Superior* Boston
Tamarack
U. S. Smelting, com
Utah Con
Winona '
Wolverine
42
5
35)
m
430
38
2J
12}
H
85
38
21
3}
Bid
43J
15i
•28}
51
80
64
6)
2ii
40;
41)
12j
H
45;
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. I
Bid.
Ask.
liraden Copper. .
. 7 %
7V4
Braden 6s
.110
150
B. C. Copper. . . .
■ 1%
2
Con. Cop. Mines.
- %
2%
Davis-Daly
■ l7/8
2%
Ely Con
. 1
6
First National . .
-r:'i
3Vt
1
i y2
IS
Hollinger
. 16
Iron Blossom . . .
. 1'h
n/4
. 4 &
5
. 1 %
1 ~U
Bid.
1%
Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
February 26.
Mason Valley.
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am.... D
Nipissing 6 '4
Ohio Copper '4
San Toy 15c.
Stand. Oil of Cal.320
Tri Bullion Vs
Tuolumne %
United Cop. com. %
Wettlaufer . .
Yukon Gold .
Ask
MJ
16*
28j
52
81
65
7
2(
40*
41J
13
48
47
Ask.
3 \
l'i
:;'4
6 v-
February 26.
Bid Ask
Bid Ask
Amalgamated $ 731
Anaconda 35$
A. S. & R., com 65J
Calif. Pet., com 26}
Chlno 41}
Guggenheim Ex 50)
Inspiration I6f
Mexican Pet., com 63}
73g
3ft)
66
27
41*
50J
16j
64
Miami t 22}
Nevada Con 15J
Quicksilver, com 2
Ray Con 1SJ
Tenn. Copper 35}
U. S. Steel, pfd 109}
U. S. Steel, com 64|
Utah Copper C3j
22J
16
2}
19J
35|
110
64}
53J
Sulphur production of the Sicilian Sulphur Combine, dur-
ing the year ended July 31, 1913, was 351,752 metric tons.
This is a decrease of 15,489 tons compared with the previous
year. Seven mines were shut down, and 16 in 1912. Stocks
on hand were 354,169 against 444,381 tons. Total sales
amounted to 497,246 against 603,255 tons. Exports declined
from 447,638 to 434,473 tons. Those to the United States
were only 1792 tons. Competition . with the Union Sulphur
Co.. which will distribute American sulphur in Europe from
headquarters at Rotterdam, has been keen. The general appre-
hensions that foreign competition is liable to seriously dam-
age the Sicilian sulphur industry should be dismissed for the
following reasons, according to the annual review of the
Sicilian Sulphur Combine: (1) That the Freeport Sulphur
Co., which began operations in 1911 in exploiting the sulphur
deposits in Texas, failed to obtain the results it had antici-
pated, due chiefly to considerable technical difficulties; (2)
that Japan has not increased its exports, which is evidenced
by the increasing demand for sulphur from the Pacific mar-
kets; (3) that the rumors of large sulphur deposits on White
island, New Zealand, have not been confirmed; (4) that the
sulphur deposits in Spain are completely exhausted; and (5)
that no definite information has been received announcing
the alleged increase of sulphur production in Mexico.
Final figures of the gold output of the Rand are now avail-
able, and show the following results for 1913, compared with
the previous year:
1912.
Gold, fine ounces 9,124,299
Value £38,757,560
Dividends 8,277,862
Total dividends since 1S86 amount to £100,049,158, and gold
output since 1884, £401,242,675. At the end of December 1913
there were 150,012 native laborers at the gold mines, com-
pared with 191,316 at the end of 1912.
1913.
8,794,824
£37,358,040
8,500,000
Public lands in the United States, restored to entry in
December, covered an area of 1,678,000 acres. The area stand-
ing as withdrawn from entry at the end of last year was
66,270,000 acres. The total area of lands which have been
classified in western states up to the end of December aggre-
gates nearly 295,700,000 acres.
Prices of radium-bearing ores varied greatly in 1913, and
returns to the U. S. Geological Survey showed that the price
per pound for contained uranium oxide ranged from $1 for
ores carrying 0.6% uranium oxide to $4.60 for one lot carrying
3.15% uranium oxide and 4.82% vanadium oxide.
Radium bromide worth $1,055,000 was the equivalent con-
tent of the uranium ores mined in the United States in 1913,
according to the U. S. Geological Survey. The ore exported
to Europe was 942, and that retained in this country was
1198 tons.
The United States Steel Corporation, under its compensa-
tion plan, paid over $2,200,000 in 1913 for injuries to its
employees.
6c.
8c.
2«.
The U.mtkd Mink Workers or America has a membership
of 415.142 men.
February 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
399
THE Jl.'MBO GOLD MINING COMPANY, LTD.
This Company owns 20 claims in the Mazoe valley, abont
.".0 miles north of Salisbury, Rhodesia. The report for the
year ended June 30, 1913, gives the ore crushed as 37,180
tons, yielding £57,804. Operating costs were £57,830, divided
as follows: mining, $2.49: milling. $1.37; sand treatment.
56c; slime treatment, 32c; and general charges, 56c per
short ton. The profit was £16.685.
RAY CONSOLIDATED COPPER COMPANY
The report of this Company, operating in Arizona, covers
the last quarter of 1913. Underground work amounted to
21,042 ft., making 376,972 ft. to date. The orebodies tribu-
tary to No. 1, 2, and 3 shafts produced 62. 33. and 5',. re-
spectively, of the ore mined. Results were as follows:
Ore milled, tons 665,024
Average copper content, per cent 1.7152
Copper output, pounds 1 5,004,727
Recovery, per cent 65.773
Cost of mining, including coarse crushing, cents per
ton 70.768
Cost of milling, including improvements, cents pet-
ton 57.739
Cost of copper produced, cents per pound 9.9801
Mine development extinguishment, cents per ton... 12.5
Profits, including dividends of Ray & Gila Valley
Railroad, etc $ 744.01s
Dividend 543.951
Dividends for 1913 1.631,504
The average price received for copper (luring the quarter
was 14.831c per pound. At present -the mine is producing
almost 8000 tons of ore per day. Practically all construction
work is complete.
CHAMPION REEK GOLD MINING COMPANY OF INDIA,
LIMITED
This Company operates one of the great gold mines of
the world at Kolar, in the state of Mysore, India. The report
for the year ended September 30, 1913, shows that 140
stamps crushed 220,511 tons of quartz, yielding 103,797 oz.
gold, while 339.587 tons of tailing and slime yielded 29,122
oz. gold, the whole product being worth £510.737. Since 1892,
there has been crushed 3,179,185 tons of ore yielding gold
worth £10.620,037. Dividends in 191213 were £130,000, mak-
ing a total of £4,018,966. Royalty paid to the Mysore govern-
ment in 1913 amounted to £28.555. Material and stores at
the end of the fiscal year were valued at £50,517; cash in
I^ondon and India. £68.619: and reserve fund. £45,000. Total
costB were $6.37 per ton milled. The expenditure on shafts,
buildings, and equipment was £64.917.
The report of the superintendent. H. J. Gifford, contains
the following notes: Total work done covered 17,755 ft. De-
velopment south of Garland's shall has been mostly unpro-
ductive owing to the intrusion of a cross-course. At No. 40
level this had not dipped north so rapidly, consequently the
north drift on that level entered ore sooner than expected,
and ore of good width and value has been opened. Ore
will probably be cut again at lower levels south of the cross-
course. Garland's shaft is 42S9 ft. deep at an angle of 70°.
Glen shaft was stink 240 ft., or 41 ft. below No. 43 level.
The country between these two shafts showed favorable re-
sults, and a continuous shoot of good width and value has
been opened In each of the five deepest levels. Development
south of Carmichael's shall has been variable, but the ore
is of good grade. The shoot is 1026 ft. long on No. 44 level.
Air-blasts have been lc--s frequent, but have caused loss of
life among the native miners. In order to minimize risks,
work has been temporarily suspended between No. 19 and 25
levels. Glen and Ribblesdale's shafts have been damaged by
these shocks. The Circular shaft is down 3861 ft., and has
been bricked for that distance. Ore reserves in the mine
total 404.125 tons, not including 46,302 tons to he left to
support certain areas where air-blasts are troublesome. The
Champion Reef lode is not a wide one. being from one to
several feet thick.
Details of the mill work will be published in another part
of this journal. There were 6716 employees during the last
month of the fiscal year, of whom only 143 were Europeans
and 91 Eurasians. The report is accompanied by complete
plans of the mine and other details of its operation. John
Taylor & Sons, of London, are general managers of the
property.
In January 1914 the mill crushed 18,070 tons of ore and
treated 28,632 tons of sand and slime, yielding gold worth
$212,000.
BRUNSWICK CONSOLIDATED GOLD MINING COMPANY
This Company's mine and mill is at Grass Valley. Nevada
county. California, and the report deals with the work done
during 1913. The manager. R. Chester Turner, states that
1219 tons of low-grade ore was mined by lessees from the
old mill ore-shoot, the balance of the 15,334 tons sent to the
mill coming from No. 4 shoot, lessees taking out 2130 and
the Company 11.985 tons. Development covered a total of
2076 ft. From 15 to 22 lessees have been working in the
mine, but as No. 4 shoot is well developed, the tendency is
to limit the quantity of tribute ore. This shoot maintains
its length of from 400 to 500 ft. The vein dips south, and
the upper or northern edge bends or curls over, forming what
appears to be a saddle reef, with the vein dipping north anil
south from the apex of the saddle. Probably on account of
this bending and flattening of the upper portion, the 600-ft.
level cross-cut has not cut the vein. This will most likely
be found considerably west of the cross-cut. The superin-
tendent. C. H. Mallen. reports that No. 4 shoot continues to
furnish the 20-stamp mill with a good grade of milling ore.
From the present workings to the surface is about 900 It.
on the pitch of the vein. The vein is strong, with good
walls and every indication of considerable extent. Little
change has occurred since sloping commenced above the 1250-
ft. level. No doubt is felt that this is one of the big ore-
shoots of Grass Valley. It was found on the 1250-ft. level
and about 2000 ft. east from the old incline shaft, and work-
ing toward the surface, as has been necessary, prevents the
making of reliable estimates of tonnage. The new three-com-
partment shaft is completed to the 1250-ft. station. The rock
is hard, but future repair work will be small. With the
Company's facilities for handling ore and material for the
mine through this shaft, it will In- able to work as many
stamps ;is the mine requires, with much less expense and
greater speed. Sinking has been started under the floor of
the 1250-ft. level, and the vein may be cut in about 200 ft..
depending on its pitch. Mr. Turner also reported that the
connection between the new vertical shaft and the vertical
raise from the 1250-ft. level, in February 1913. was well done,
the difficult surveys being made by E. C. Uren, of Nevada
City. Ore reserves consist of about 15.000 tons, some vary-
ing from $10 to $25 per ion. Mining costs were $5.1 I per
ton. Financial results wen- as follows:
Ore treated, tons 15.334
Gold and silver recovered $2US.359
Output since 1897 sii6.705
Revenue In 1913, Including bullion. 1912 balance, and
sundries 220,583
Expendit lire 1 52,888
Dividend No. 2 23.717
Balance 43.978
400
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
February 28. 1914
A New Rock-Drill Operated by Gasoline
Engine
The Temple-Ingersoll Gasoline-Air' rock-drill has been
placed on the American market during the past month by
the Ingersoll-Rand Co. At present it is made in only one
size, and the equipment employs the same type of drill and
pulsator as are used with the 'Temple-Ingersoll Electric-Air'
drilling unit. The electrical equipment of the latter type,
however, is replaced by a 6-hp. single-cylinder gasoline engine.
The gasoline motor, supply tank, and pulsator are all mount-
ed on a four-wheeled truck to permit easy transportation.
It is believed that the 'Temple-Ingersoll Gasoline-Air' drill
possesses the advantages peculiar to the 'Electric-Air' drill,
and also prove particularly suitable for use in situations
where electric power cannot be economically or advantageously
applied. The following description is furnished by the manu-
facturers:
The gasoline engine is of the jump spark type, the ignition
spark being obtained from dry cells. The circulating water
is obtained from any convenient receptacle placed near the
equipment. A gasoline supply tank, of l'/i gal. capacity, sur-
mounts the engine. The fuel consumption of the engine, run-
ning under load, is about two quarts of gasoline per hour,
so that the average daily fuel consumption would be approxi-
mately three or four gallons.
driven rock-drill of corresponding capacity. The length of
'stroke is varied simply by cranking forward in the shell,
and both stroke and force of blow may be adjusted by the
same means for fast drilling under any circumstances. If a
hole should 'mud up,' the machine can be backed out without
injury while running. The cushioning is such that the pis-
ton, in running, does not normally strike either front or back
head. The system of lubrication of the pulsator is automatic
and complete, the 'splash' method being employed. While
most of the oil drains back to the crank chamber, a portion
is atomized and carried through with the air into the drill.
The drill cylinder diameter is 4% in., and the stroke is 7
in. The drill will accommodate octagon steels of from 1 to
1 Vs-in. diameter, drilling holes of from 114 to 2-in. diameter.
The drill feed is 24 in. The approximate strokes per min-
ute are 440. The machine is designed to drill holes up to
about 12 ft. in depth. Its field covers quarrying and contract-
ing operations, particularly those in isolated locations where
the high cost of coal forms a serious handicap to operations.
Its advantages for winter operations in quarries will also be
apparent to those who have experienced trouble from the
freezing of ordinary drills.
TE.MI'I.E-INGERNOLI. GASOLINE-AIR DRILL.
The drill proper of the 'Gasoline-Air' unit is driven by
pulsations of compressed air created by a pulsator actuated
by the gasoline motor. Gearing transmits the power from
motor to pulsator. The air is never exhausted, but is sim-
ply used over and over again, playing back and forth in a
closed circuit. The pulsator is a simple machine, employing
no water jackets.
The drill is the simplest type possible, a cylinder contain-
ing a moving piston and rotation device, with no valves, chest,
buffers, springs, or side rods. The weight of the drill unit is
about the same as or even less than that of the correspond-
ing air drill. The ordinary air or steam-driven rock-drill
takes a full cylinder of air or steam at full pressure each
stroke, and discharges it to atmosphere at practically full
pressure. No advantage, therefore, is taken of the expansive
properties of the air or steam, and as a result an amount
of power is wasted without doing useful work. The 'Gasoline-
Air' drill operates with a closed system filled with air under
a low pressure, which is simply an agent for transmitting
the effort of the pulsator piston to the drill piston. The air
in the system has been aptly referred to as pneumatic 'spring.'
That the saving in power is great is proved by the fact that,
under ordinary conditions, the drill proper of the 'Gasoline-
Air' unit uses about one-fourth the horse-power required for
the usual air or steam drill, of the same work capacity. It
has a stroke equal to or even greater than that of the air-
Catalogues Received
The National Tube Co. has prepared a bulletin. No. 19,
which includes a complete list of National products, ar-
ranged conveniently for quick reference.
Tut: Piatt Iron Works Co. is now distributing a special
bulletin, No. 741, descriptive of the 'Smith-Vaile' line of
pumps which are now made in wide variety of style and size
to meet all conditions of drive and service. Particular at-
tention is invited to the heavy standard frames, and the
heavy pressures used with both the single and double acting
pumps.
The Dorb Cyanide Machinery Co. catalogue for 1914, now
available, begins appropriately enough with a picture of the
Lundberg, Dorr & Wilson mill at Terry in which Mr. Dorr's
early experiments were conducted. Following this are de-
scription of Dorr classifiers, continuous thickeners, agitators,
and the counter-current system of decantation with lists of
the leading mines in which each is used.
The Pklton Wateb Wheel Co. catalogue for 1914 includes
not only excellent pictures and descriptions of the various
types of wheels, valves, and other machinery built by this
pioneer Pacific Coast concern, but numerous tables and other
data of wide use to engineers. Among other features may
be mentioned tables of weir measurements, tangential water-
wheel tables, and safe working heads and weights of riveted
steel pipes.
C. F. Brain & Co., Pacific sales manager for the Alberger
Pump & Condenser Co. is sending out bulletin 100, containing
a complete description of 'Hammond' water meters, with the
following special bulletins: No. 1, 'Blackburn-Smith' feed
water filter and grease extractor: No. 2, 'American' water
softener; No. 3, 'American' pressure filters: No. 4, 'Waiu-
wrighf feed water heaters for marine service: No. 5, Centri-
fugal Pumps for Irrigation' the latter being a reprint of an
excellent article published in ^\'estern Engineering.
The Marion Steam Shovel Co. has built some of the
largest shovels and dredges in use but it also builds small
shovels and has recently issued an attractive booklet of
particularly convenient size. 4'j by 8% in. describing the
.Marion revolving shovel and illustrating the great variety
of work now being economically accomplished with it. The
catalogue is especially concise, and contains a good index
as well as a table of working dimensions that furnishes a
quick and easy method of obtaining necessary specification
data.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.'
Whole No. 2798
VOLUME 108
NUMBER 10
San Francisco, March 7, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ESTABLISHED MAY 34, 1860
CONTROLLED BY T. A. RICKARD
EDITORIAL STAFF:
San Francisco
H. FOSTER BAIN Editor
EUGENE H. LESLIE 1 . . Assistant Fditors
11. W. von BERNEWITZ J Assistant Editors
New York
THOMAS T. READ ..... Associate Editor
London
T. A. RICKARD Editorial Contributor
EDWARD WALKER Correspondent
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
A. W. Allen. Charles Janln.
Leonard S. Austin. James F. Kemp.
Gelasio Caetanl. C. W. Purington.
Courtenay De Kalb. C. F. Tolman, Jr.
F. Lynwood Garrison. Horace V. Winchell.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE DEWEY PUBLISHING CO.
AT 420 MARKET STREET. SAN FRANCISCO.
Cable Address: Pertusola. Code: Bedford McNeill (2 editions).
BRANCH OFFICES:
CHICAGO — 734 Monadnock Bdg. Tel.: Harrison 1620 and 636.
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LONDON — The Mining Magazine, Salisbury House, E.C.
Cable Address: Oligoclase.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION:
United States and Mexico $3
Canada 14
Other Countries in Postal Union 21 Shillings or $5
L A. GREENE Business Manager
Entered at San Francisco Postofflce as Second-Class Matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITOHIAI Page.
Note* 401
Vocational Training anil .Miners 403
ARTICLES)
Drift Mining in the Frozen Gravel Deposits of Cape
Nome Arthur Gibson 404
Highly Years of the Silver Market 409
Assembling and Erecting W len Tanks
.1 M. Lilligren 411
Costs at the Mexican Mill 415
Lead Smelting at East Helena. Montana. . Bancroft Gore 416
Increasing the Efficiency ...f a Grinding Pan
John Randall 417
A New Battery Frame 419
Wet Crushing In Ball Mills A. W. Allen 419
DISCISSION:
The Rand Banket Stephen J. Lett 420
Solution Control in Cyanidation lames S. Colhath 421
Revision of the Mining Law II. C. Callahan 422
CONCENTRATES 423
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 424
OBHERAL >ll\l><; NEW S 428
DEPARTMENTS)
Personal 432
Decisions Relating to Mining 432
The Metal Markets 434
The Stock Markets 435
Current Prices for Ores and .Minerals 435
Current Prlcen fur Cln mieals 436
Company Reports 436
Recent Patents 437
Book Reviews 437
Recent Publications 438
Catalogues Received 438
EDITORIAL
A CKNOWLEDGMBNT should have been made to
•**■ the Weekly Trinity Journal for the description of
the Globe mine and mill printed in our issue of Feb-
ruary 14. Owing to a misunderstanding of letters, this
was not done at the time the article was printed.
/"\UR congratulations are extended to the Institution
^-' of Mining and Metallurgy which is now con-
veniently housed in its own building. No. 1 West
street. Finsbury Circus, London. We trust that the
new building will prove a home rather than a new
house. The rooms in Salisbury House. 722 to 724 in-
clusive, made vacant by the removal of the Institution,
are now occupied by The Mining Magazine, so we may
fairly claim to be following in the footsteps of the
Institution.
A NONYMOUS contributions can not be published
■**■ 1'or the simple reason that publication of any mat-
ter involves legal responsibility and a rule that is once
broken is almost certain to lead through growing ex-
ceptions to trouble. Where there is any good reason,
as there may well lie. why the name of the author
should not be used, an editor will gladly preserve his
incognito: but material that conies to the editor with
no name, a fanciful name, or an unknown name, must
be sent to the waste basket even though it be often
with regret. We have now a very clever letter re-
garding 'ore' that we are unable to use for these
reasons.
"VTEW theories of ore genesis are constantly "tossnl
■*■" off" by those who develop them "while smoking
a quiet pipe." but who seemingly are content to leave
to others the critical testing of such hypotheses. Not
long ago we saw a letter written to one of the larger
exploration companies from an amateur scientist who
had decided that in all gold-bearing districts the gold
must eventually gravitate to the pools below water-
falls, and who thereupon submitted the idea as a final
solution to the problem of gold finding. With rare
generosity he did not "ask for any amount down, but
a reasonable percentage of what it max- yield." in
Canada and the United States. He also reserved all
rights in other countries, such as Australia. New Zea-
land, and South Africa. We consider this infringe-
ment. Long a<*o we came to the conclusion that placer
gold was found in placers and, not to be outdone in
generosity, we offer the theory to anyone who cares
402
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
for it and shall only ask a modest royalty on any gold
that may be found as a result.
JAVA is to hold a General Colonial Exposition,
** August to November, inclusive, this year. Elab-
orate preparations are being made at Semarang. A
park of 70 acres has been set aside for gardens and
buildings. The Dutch have made a notable success of
their colonial enterprises, and to Americans, whose
minds are in two ways regarding colonies, the exposi-
tion will be especially interesting. It will also afford
a good opportunity to cultivate foreign trade in the
Far East. Those who wish detailed information may
obtain it from Mr. T. Greidanus, 136 Water street,
New York City.
"pvESULPHURIZING ores without roasting is accom-
-*-^ plished at the 'low-grade' mill of the Nipissing
Mines Company by an interesting process described
for our readers by Mr. J. J. Denny, September 27 last.
We understood at the time that the process, which
involves the use of metallic aluminum to break down
the sulphides, was neither patented nor patentable. We
are now informed that application for patents in the
United States and the principal foreign countries had
been made in behalf of the Butters-Johnston Engineer-
ing Syndicate, even before the publication of Mr.
Denny's article. Intending users of the process should
therefore make sure of their ground before adopting it.
TVTUCH as we admire our brilliant contemporary.
■*■"-*- Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering, we cannot
accompany it on its forays into the realms of natural
history. Recently it sought to illustrate the present
situation at Niagara Falls by means of a fable in which
a beaver and an eagle enter into an agreement to
divide the fish they catch, an arrangement which
worked admirably until a tiger appeared and de-
manded a share of the spoil. Possibly the meta-
morphoses effected by the metropolitan fur dealers,
who without difficulty transmute a raccoon into a Hud-
son seal, have so bewildered the New York editor that
he confuses a beaver with an otter and an eagle with
an osprey, but where does the tiger come in? For-
tunately Mr. Theodore Roosevelt is still in South
America and the life of the nature-faking chemical
engineer is therefore not in immediate danger, but we
advise him to accept an engagement which will take
him to the Lena goldfields, or some equally inaccessible
place, at the earliest possible moment.
AT TURKMEN'S compensation acts are beginning to
** be productive of interesting judicial rulings.
The courts have held that rattlesnakes indigenous to
the country constitute an industrial hazard, and a
workman bitten is entitled to compensation. Whether
this should be in liquid form, the New York Sun,
which reports the ruling, does not state. Similarly, a
boy who shot a workman in the eye with an airgun
was considered an industrial hazard, but a brutal boss
who whipped his workman was not, nor was compen-
sation allowed to the relatives of a workman whose
enemy waylaid him and shot him while at work. This
reminds us of the young woman who brought suit for
damages against a railroad company in the West. It
appeared that a brakeman, smitten by her charms, had
thrown her a note tied to a torpedo. The maiden
thrust them both into the kitchen stove and was severe-
ly injured by the resulting explosion. The court, after
careful consideration, ruled that the brakeman 's act
was not in the performance of his normal duties, and
the suit was dismissed.
STATISTICS are an infallible means of conveying
^ misconceptions, especially when hastily considered.
The carefully compiled and accurate statistics of the
Copper Producers' Association show the stocks of cop-
per on hand at the refineries on the first day of each
month. Probably many people regard this as an index
of what may be called the liquid stock of copper avail-
able in this country. We recommend to all such, con-
sideration of the fact that the Association's report
of marketable copper on January 1 was 91.000.000
pounds, while the quarterly reports of the Utah. Chino.
Ray Consolidated, and Nevada Consolidated companies
showed that on the same date they held a total of
109.000,000 pounds of copper. The difference is, of
course, due to the fact that two different things are
represented, the former being refined copper, the lat-
ter blister as well as refined metal. Just as the long
large pipes of a waterworks system have considerable
storage capacity, so the yards of smelters, freight cars,
and warehouses serve to hold a large stock of copper,
which is. in part at least, effective as a reserve stock,
but which does not figure in trade statistics.
TT is not uncommon experience that gold mines turn
A into copper mines in depth, the Mount Morgan be-
ing the most notable example, and it is natural, there-
fore, to find a gold mining company turning its atten-
tion toward copper. These reflections are prompted
by the announcement that the Exploration Company,
Ltd., has invested $450,000 in the bonds of the Chile
Copper Company, the big new mine which the Gug-
genheim Exploration Company has developed at Chu-
quicamata. Chile. The chairman of the Exploration
Company, in his speech at the general meeting of the
Company in London, on February 17, stated his belief
that the estimated cost of 6 cents per pound of copper
laid down in Europe is on the safe side, and estimated
that with a plant treating 10.000 tons per day of the
2 per cent ore. 120.000.000 pounds of copper per year
could be produced at a profit of about $10,000,000
yearly. The Exploration Company had previously ac-
quired investments in copper mining companies in this
country, and its present policy is to increase its cop-
per mining interests. The advent of so well estab-
lished a company into a field where many reputable
large organizations are already engaged is cause for
mutual felicitation. Meanwhile those who are inclined
to read between the lines are likely to consider this
March 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
403
action as evidence of a belief by well informed persons
that a larger field for expansion of operations exists
in copper mining than in gold mining; a belief with
which we agree.
PUBLICATION of the third edition of 'Lindley on
■*■ Mines' is an event. The new edition, which was
given to the public February 27, shows extensive re-
vision and rewriting. The three bulky volumes are
notable not only for the new matter included, but for
the incisive presentation of a vast amount of mate-
rial, here reduced to system and order. They also
make fascinating reading even for the layman, as Mr.
Curtis H. Lindley is no mere 'dry as dust' lawyer.
He knows men, history, and times as well as law, and
this, as well as much diligence, has contributed to
making his book a notable one. Such a work can not
be reviewed in the conventional sense, but we hope at
another time to present an appreciation of it which
shall be adequate in spirit if not in subject-matter.
Vocational Training and Miners
Discussing educational matters a few weeks ago, we
mentioned the contradictory expressions of opinion by
Mr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia
University, and Mr. T. W. Robinson, as regards voca-
tional training. Mr. Butler sees in it a dangerous
agency working toward a stratified social order and
the extinction of individual initiative. On the other
hand. Mr. Robinson believes thai it results in greater
industrial efficiency and increased truth, morality, and
attention to civic duty. This conflict of opinion illus-
trates how little has really been determined regarding
the best way to correlate education with life. In the
old days of household industries vocational training
was obtained at home. The school could well afford to
devote itself exclusively to stimulation of the intel-
lectual life of the pupils, because the other work was
done. As the factories grew up the school held its own,
but the specialization of industry cut off the factory
employee from that broad training which his father
had acquired while learning how to earn his living.
The very absence of such stimulus led him to value it
the more, and America has come to he known for the
lavish expenditure made upon schools. Yet no reflect-
ing person feels sure that the public school system is
doing for future citizens what may rightly and properly
be expected.
We have received from Mr. <;. McM. Ross a thought-
fid letter discussing this fact and calling attention to
the Virginia City School of .Mines, an outgrowth of the
'Comstock Class of MiniiiL' and Metallurgy.' of which
Mr. Ross was the originator. We have had occasion
previously to commend the work of this school and to
express the wish that others of its type might be
founded. It is a school for working miners and is de-
signed to afford to the men in the inines an opportunity
to learn about the things that concern them most in
their daily life. It is akin to the continuation schools
of the German system, though its pupils do not neces-
sarily come to it with the same thorough preparation.
In Illinois, with the hearty cooperation of miners and
operators, the State University is taking up the work
of miners' institutes, and in various parts of the country
there is a feeling of distinct need of a closer relation
between the schools and the lives of miners as well as
of mechanics in general. It is not that more colleges
of mines are wanted, for there are more than enough
now. More engineers are trained than can be absorbed
by the industry, but the man in the ranks does not get
the attention that he deserves. It is not too much to
say that private correspondence schools afford now the
most effective means that we have for meeting the
needs of the miners, though the larger manufacturing
companies make provision for helping their men to
learn. It is well known that the great majority of the
students in the public schools never get beyond the
grades. They go into the mines, mills, and factories
with only the elements of an education, and they face
there a wholly new discipline and a wholly new set of
ideals. In an effort to hold the boys and at the same
time to bring shop and school together, the University
of Cincinnati has arranged with owners of large plants
for a cooperative course. One set of scholars works in
the shops in the morning and in the schools in the after-
noon, and exchanges places with another set at midday.
In this way there is no interruption of routine, and yet
school and work are taught at the same time. Mr.
Ross proposes a similar plan for all lines of work, but
would extend it to the lower grades as well as the high
school and college. This is in accord with sound peda-
gogy, since Madam Montessori has shown that such
training should be begun at the earliest possible mo-
ment. Mr. Ross points out that in each community it
would be possible thus to give at the same time both
vocational training and a general education to each
child. The suggestion is worthy of the most careful
consideration of professional educators. To our way
of thinking, it is the absence of vocational training
that endangers the present free rise of a workman from
the ranks to leadership. There is nothing which would
seem likely to make a man more 'class conscious' in
the disagreeable sense of the term, than the knowledge
that he had, someway, been cheated out of the learning
and broad training that would permit him to rise from
the dead level. Some years ago the farmers woke up
to the fact that the schools and colleges were not doing
for them what they had a right to expect. The re-
sult was the system of agricultural colleges, short
courses, farmers' institutes, experimental farms, and
the whole system of agricultural education which is
the newest and in many ways the most interesting phase
of the American educational system. The first attempts
were crude, and the system is far from perfect even
yet. but it has abundantly justified itself in returns
both of money and human character. If Mr. Ross'
suggestion as a whole' is too radical for ns now, why,
at least, cannot the miners have what the farmers
already have?
404
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7. 1914
THIED BEACH LINE OF WIXTEB DUMPS.
Drift Mining in the Frozen Gravel Deposits of Cape Nome
By Arthur Gibson*
The following data were collected from and based
on actual mining operations at some of the best and
most successful mines on Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
The numbers 1 to 5, inclusive, refer to the columns
and properties in the accompanying tables.
Xo. 1. All work was performed during the winter,
except sluicing and extracting the gold from the pay-
dirt, which latter process was performed in the spring.
Xo. 2 and 3. All work was performed during the
summer.
Xo. 4 and 5. Preparatory work was performed dur-
ing the early spring, and all stoping, actual mining
and sluicing was performed during the summer.
The preparatory work consists in sinking shafts.
driving one or more main drifts through the pay-dirt
from the bottom of the shaft, and cross-drifts from
the main drifts, together with all necessary timbering
and lagging. A sump is provided to collect the water
from condensed steam and melted ice. All necessary
mining machinery must be installed and the necessary
buildings for the workmen erected during the early
spring.
All thawing of the frozen auriferous deposits was
performed during the night shift. All excavation or
actual mining was performed during the day shift.
The waste or overburden necessary to lie removed in
order to provide head-room for the workmen was
thrown back or behind the workmen as the stope pro-
gressed toward the shaft: the pay-dirt was shoveled
into dump-cars, holding from 8 to 13% cu. ft., which
run on light steel rails and are handled by manual
labor. The pay-dirt is dumped into self-dumping
buckets at the bottom of the shaft and hoisted to tin1
surface bv means of steam-driven hoists and steed
cables, and deposited or emptied during the winter
season in a dump, at property Xo. 1 : and during the
summer season either in large wooden hoppers (in
capacities from 70 to over 200 cu. yd.), at Xo. 2, 3,
and 4. or directly into a large mud-box at the head
of the string of sluice-boxes, as at Xo. 5.
The dump of pay-dirt at Xo. 1 was piped or hy-
draulicked down with a giant or nozzle, and the con-
centration or bottom of the dump was shoveled into
sluice-boxes by manual labor, and the tailing was re-
moved by horse teams and scrapers. This work was
conducted day and night continuously until com-
pleted. At properties Xo. 2. 3, and 4 the pay-dirt
was sluiced intermittently, whenever the hoppers were
filled, or about once each day. and at Xo. 5 the pay-
dirt was sluiced as fast as it was hoisted and depos-
ited or emptied into the mud-box. The water required
for sluicing purposes was in all cases supplied by in-
dependent distillate engines driving pumping plants,
except at properties Xo. 2 and 3, which being worked
together had one pumping plant in common.
At property Xo. 1 the pay-dirt averages 1 ft. above
and l'u ft. in bedrock. The deposit above bedrock
appears to be an ancient sea bottom, and is composed
of coarse gravel and sand with a great deal of white
quartz and plenty of well preserved peeten shells. At
properties Xo. 2 and 3 the pay-dirt averages l1^ ft.
above and 1V+ ft. in bedrock. The deposit above bed-
rock here also appears to be an ancient sea bottom,
composed of sand, gravel, and boulders, with plenty
of well preserved peeten shells. At Xo. 4 the pay-dirt
averages 2 ft. above and 1*4 ft. in bedrock. The
deposit above bedrock is composed of well washed
coarse gravel and sand. At Xo. •"> the pay-dirt aver-
March 7. 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
405
OX LITTLE CREEK IX 1906.
DETAILED COST OF DRIFT MINING AT CAPE NOME
Name of Operators
Number
Depth of shaft, feet
Thickness of .pay-dirt, feet
Thickness of waste, feet
Total depth of stope, feet
Number of boilers
Total boiler horsepower
Ground thawed per day, cu. yd /
Pay-dirt hoisted per day, cu. yd
Capacity of self-dumping bucket, cu. ft
Average number of buckets hoisted per day
Crude or fuel oil consumed per day:
For thawing, gallons
For hoisting, gallons
Total gallons
Per cubic yard thawed, gallons
Per cubic yard hoisted, gallons
Total per cubic yard of pay-dirt, gallons
Duty per barrel of crude oil. cu. yd. thawed
Duty per barrel of crude oil, cu. yd. hoisted
Distillate consumed per day pumping water, gallons
Duty per gallon of distillate, cu. yd. sluiced
Number of men employed per day:
Thawing—
Pointmen
Fireman
Total
Mining-
Manager
Foreman
Engineer
Laborers
Total
5°
—
0
;
z
O
S3*
> *
a g>
TO
o
C
S
- *>
>*
>*
53 <tT
s
' o
< a
< O
2 a
g °
o o
o b
(K
crc •
k
(5
rc
£•
:_
S"
t*
as
J5
T)
T> 's
~!
~
— o
l.
2t
3.
4.
5.
:,::
SI
81
45
50
2.5
2.5
2.5
3.5
2.166
1.5
o
2
1.5
2.33:;
4
4.5
1.5
-
4.:,
1
■>
2
1
1
4.",
7"
70
:::.
50
12S
205
2 •"• 7
12s. 57
327.13
SO
114
143
90
1 57.5
is
16
24
13.5
13.5
120
192.4
161
180
315
168
16s
lfi.N
si
210
52.50
41'
12
31.50
52.50
220.50
210
LM'i
115.50
202.50
1.3125
0.81951
it,i;5:!7
0.65334
0.64195
0.656
0.368
U.294
0.35
0.333
2.756
1.842
1.469
1.283
1 .667
32
51.25
64.25
64.2S
65.426
64
114
1 13
120
126
I32.S
30
30
14
IS
2.726
2.s
1.767
6.429
S.756
.,
4
2
•>
1
1
1
1
1
4
4
5
■"-
::
1
i.',
l.,
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
16
17
17
9
20
19
19'
19'
12
23
406
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
DETAILED COST OF DRIFT MINING AT CAPE NOME— (Continued)
Name of Operators
&
O
o
u
o o
TO
£
r-
c-i
o
a
ere
■z
? p
x ~
3 „
« =<
— ' o
Number
Sluicing —
Engineer
Laborer
Total
Grand total men per day
Duty per man per day in cubic yards:
Thawing waste and pay-dirt
Mining waste and pay-dirt 3
Mining waste and pay-dirt J
Mining pay-dirt only 3
Mining pay-dirt only )
Sluicing pay-dirt 3
Final combined, for pay-dirt 3
Cost of crude oil delivered, per barrel
Cost of distillate delivered, per gallon, cents
Rate of wages per day:
Winter —
Pointmen
Firemen
Manager
Foreman
Engineer
Common labor
Cook
Summer —
Pointmen
Assistant Pointmen
Firemen
Manager
Foreman
Engineer
Common labor
Cook
Cook's helper
Average cost of board per man per day, including fuel and
cooks' wages
Thawing, average cost per day:
Crude or fuel oil
Labor and board
Repairs and renewals
Total operating cost
Mining, average cost per day:
Crude or fuel oil
Management and board
Labor and board
Repairs and renewals
Total operating cost
Sluicing, average cost per day:
Distillate
Labor and board
Repairs and renewals
Total operating cost
$1.25
1%
25
$1.08
y2
i%
26
$1.0S
16
$1.15
27
32
51.25
51.4
42.85
109.04
7.11
10.79
13.53
11.69
14.87
8
12.06
15.12
14.28
16.36
4.44
6
7.53
8.18
7.16
5
6.7
8.41
10
7.87
18.11
76
95.33
90
157.5
4.65
5.61
6.00
6.06
$2.97
$3.30
$3.30
$2.90
$2.71
24.25
25.17
25.17
25.5
25.83
$4.00
$4.00
$4.00
3.50
3.50
3.50
10.00
10.00
10.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.00
$3 to $4
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00
5.50
$6.00
5.50
5.50
5.50
5.50
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
7.00
7.00
6.50
6.67
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
$5 to $6
5.00
5.00
5.00
2.50
$L
$11.SS
$13.20
$13.20
$5.S0
$13.55
20.50
27.82
34.90
20.45
21.05
7.50
7.50
7.50
2.50
7.50
$39.SS
$4S.52
$55.60
$28.75
$42.10
$3.71
$3.30
$3.30
$2.18
$3.39
11.25
5.54
5.54
11.15
11.35
79.50
IIS. 52
118.52
70.15
142.37
7.50
7.50
7.50
7.50
7.50
$101.96
$134.86
$134.86
$90.9S
$164.61
$7.55
$7.55
$3.57
$4.65
2
9.62
9.62
6.15
7.35
2.50
2.50
1.50
1.50
$19.67
$19.67
$11.22
$13.50
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
DETAILED COST OF DRIFT MINING AT CAPE NOME— (Continual)
4( Ci
Name of Operators
O
5~ *
f *°
TO .
O
CD
< O
2 :
15 ■
—
< o
2 :
79 •
— 2.
5 g
Number 1. 2.
Cost per cubic yard of pay-dirL (cents i :
Thawing—
Crude or fuel oil 14.s."> 11.58
Labor and board 25. (12 24. 4n
Repairs and renewals 9.38 6.5S
Total operating cost 49.86 42.56
Mining-
Crude or fuel oil 4.64 2.89
Management and board 14.06 4. Si;
Labor and board !<n.37 1(13.97
Repairs and renewals 9.37 6.58
Total operating cost 127.14 US. 311
Sluicing—
Distillate S.S9 6.62
Management and board 3.10
Labor and board 42.64 8.44
Repairs and renewals 9.27 2.19
Total operating, cost '...'. 63.90 17.2.")
Recapitulation:
Thawing 49.85 42.56
Mining 127.44 118.30
Sluicing 63.90 17.25
Grand total operating cost per cu. yd. of pay-dirt.... 241.19 17s.ll
Value of mining outfit $5.0*) $7.50(>
Value of pumping outfit 2.5^0 2.500
Tatal value J". 500 $10.onn
Columns No. 1. 2. and 3 refer to the Linda Association claim on Centi r creek: No.
No. 5. the Otter creek property. ■
13.7
12.47
38.88
31.94
94.31
10 LOW
13.7."
12.47
146.94
4. Bend)
145..""
JI'.iiiiii
1.200
$3.20(1
1, ('cuter
9.23
6.44
S.60
24.41
22 7'*
13.37
5.24
2.7s
4.76
3S.SS
31.94
26. i^l
2.31
2.42
2.15
3.87
12.39
7.21
S2.SS
77.95
90.39
5.25
S.33
4.76
K4.31
101.09
104.51
5.28
3.97
2.95
6.72
6.S3
1.67
1.75
1.67
0.95
104.51
*s.57
139. si
$2,000
1.000
$3,000
creek ; and
ages 2 in. above and 2 ft. in bedrock. The deposit
above bedrock is a tine or small black graphite-stained
gravel, and sand in [daces.
The bedrock in properties No. 1. 2. 3, and 4 is a
more or less broken-up mica schist. At No. 5 it is
a broken-up black slate, which, when exposed to the
air gives off a peculiar sulphurous odor. The waste
or overburden at properties NO. 1. 2. and •'{ is a coarse
gray sand: at No. 4 a light gray-brown sand and clay:
and at No. 5, a fine light red gravel or gray sand.
All fuel used for thawing and hoisting in each of
the eases hereinafter cited was California crude oil.
The variation in cost of fuel noted in the annexed
table is partly due to the fact that the initial price
was raised during ;he last year, although the former
and lower prices were maintained in some cases because
of contracts which had not yet expired; and (tartly to
the different freight rales, which are proportional to
the various distances between the supply station al
Nome and the mines, and arc lower during the winter
than in the summer. The price of distillate at Nome
was 23]/->c. per gallon. The additional cost hereafter
noted is due to freight charges.
The cost data tabulated above cover only the 'total
operating expense during actual mining operations, and
do not include interest on the investment, depreciation,
or any expense incurred through prospecting or pre-
paratory work.
/. Cubic yards thawed includes both pay-dirt and
waste. Wherever reference is made in this article to
cubic yards. I he same is based on loose or excavated
dirt, measured by the number of buckets of pay-dirt
hoisted. The quantity of waste is estimated accord-
ing to the relative thickness of waste compared with
408
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
the thickness of the pay-dirt in this ease.
2. Number of men employed and cost per day for
sluicing up the pay-dirt in No. 1 property cannot he
tabulated. However, the following statement gives
the total number of men employed and the total ex-
pense of sluicing all of the
pay-dirt, amounting to 6520
cu. yd. hoisted during the win-
ter : 10 men were employed
per day during the ground-
sluicing process and 21 men
per day during the shoveling
in process. The wages paid
were $6 per man per day on
account of working 12-hour
shifts.
3. Duty per man per day
in cubic yards, exclusive of
manager.
I. Duty per man per day
in cubic yards, based on num-
ber of laborers only.
Repairs and renewals are in
some cases closely estimated,
no true records being avail-
able.
The large consumption of
distillate while sluicing the
pay-dirt on No. 1 property
was due to pumping water
continuously for 24 hours per
day for 18 days and handling
G520 cu. yd. of dirt with a
considerably larger volume of
water than was necessary un-
der the conditions obtaining
a^ shown at No. 2, 3, 4, and 5
properties.
No. 2 and 3 properties had
approximately twice the head
to pump against that No. 4
and 5 had, which explains the
greater consumption of dis-
tillate. Property No. 4 pumped
intermittently, while No. 5
pumped continuously during
the day shift, which explains
the greater consumption of
distillate of the later. Prop-
erties No. 2 and 3, being op-
erated under one manage-
ment, reduces the operating
expense for No. 2 by 7.98c. and No. 3 by 6.35c. per
cubic yard below what it would have been had each
of these plants been operated independently; or. in
other words, the total operating cost per cubic yard of
pay-dirt of No. 2 and 3. if operated independently,
would have been 186.09c. and 153.29c. in place of
178.11c. and 146.94c.. respectively, as actually ob-
taining.
The following conclusions may be drawn :
(A) The cost of thawing is unquestionably higher
during the winter than the summer season.
(B) Actual mining likewise is apparently more ex-
pensive during the winter than the summer.
\ WI.NTKK lll'lir; THE BUCKET DROPS DOWN' A VERTICAL SHAFT AND LOADS FROM A SUMP.
i«jftH*l
1 T> \_
^&k
\m ifeto
^v j^H ^M
ETr
p -
' '^^ ^^^f^^B
^^^HSbim^m
T
5P^E&W"-? .' - ST^< '^•^V^^KT . '^v.
•*v&> ***££
**^^Mla
^^P «J)1E BSus »i^**"-^.*-. i
^r LI ESDfe&*^.":. ^H*
W^ K "
lasPl^^^* >s^9H^
w^^iC^'"- J^
flpr^^ — r"v
Sefe: |
vjp
Wr&&r S' 1
ftS
^^ ' ••^"^^^^w*
HiBS&ti Hn
GROUND SLUICING A WINTER DUMP.
(C) Sluicing the pay-dirt mined and hoisted during
the winter necessitates rehandling the dirt, which
greatly increases the operating cost of winter mining.
It is also evident that plants operating with hoppers
require more labor than do those where the pay-dirt
is deposited directly into a mud-box.
(D) The total operating cost proves beyond a doubt
that winter mining is the more expensive. Preparing
March 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
409-
or blocking out the ground in the spring, under the overburden necessary to be removed in order to pro-
low winter rate of wages, and mining the gravel dur-
ing the summer under the system of property No. 5,
is the most profitable method.
(E) The pay-streaks herein cited average in thick-
ness from 2 ft. 2 in. to 3 ft. 6 in., and the waste or
vide head-room for the workmen averages in thick-
ness from 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. 4 in. It is therefore evi-
dent that the operating cost per cubic yard of pay-
dirt will be materially reduced according to any in-
crease in the thickness of the paystreak.
Eighty Years of the Silver Market
Owners of silver-producing mines in Australia, Can- 1833 to the end of 1913. The average prices are in
ada. Mexico, and the United States keep a close watch pence per ounce, and to convert into United States
on the prices of this metal and the causes of fluctu- coinage multiply by 2. The imports and exports refer
ations. The following valuable table, compiled by to transactions in London, which is the great market
Pixley and Abell, bullion brokers of London, shows for silver. Quotations since the first of the year ap-
the movements of the silver and causes thereof, from pear in our market pages.
Years. Average.
1833 59ft
1834 594$
1835 59H
1836 60
1837 59ft
1838 594.
1839 60f
1840 60f
1841 60ft
1842 59ft
1843 59ft
1844 594,
1845 59J
1846 59ft
1847 59H
1848 594.
1849 592
1850 60ft
1851 61
1852 604.
1853 614.
1854 614.
1855 61ft
1856 61ft
1857 61}
1858 61ft
1850 62ft
1860 61^4.
1861 60H
1862 61ft
1863 61|
1864 61§
1865 61ft
1866 61i
1867 60ft
1868 60|
Imports of
bars and coin.
™ TO
o »
©
si
■r. ,c
.2 a
■3-
■r. -
O
£6,700,000
14.772.460
10.394.000
6.590,000
10.753.000
10.888.130
10,827,300
6.980.000
10,778.000
8.020,000
7,716,420
Exports
to the East
£1,895,023
2.146,465
2.036.167
2,610,101
3.010,190
1,945,264
1,786,253
1,841,335
3,143,292
4,794,678
3,752,472
2,495,959
2,939,922
1,973,391
4,204,503
3,396,807
3,811,809
5.052,059
1,715,100
2.447.450
3,117,980
3,095,490
6.431.733
12.113,991
16.731.915
4.753,933
14.828,521
8.478,739
6.824,807
10.091,460
8.263,011
6,254,004
3.598.058
2.365,626
642,912
1.635.642
Remarks.
Continuance of East India Co. Slavery abolished, compensation
to owners, £20,000,000. Renewal of bank charter, bank
notes a legal tender.
Great Importation of gold into New York. Substitution of
metallic currency for paper in the United States.
Extinction of United States national debt. Bank of United
States wound up, owing to refusal of Congress to re-char-
ter it.
Banking and commercial embarrassments In United States.
Spanish civil war.
Commencement of panic in London. Discounts refused. Many
houses trading with the United States stop payment. Ac-
cession of Queen Victoria. Rebellion in Canada.
Resumption of specie payments In United States. Famine in
various parts of British India. Afghan war.
Banks In United States suspend payments in specie. War with
China.
Misunderstanding with France. Treaty of London for settle-
ment of Eastern question.
Great depression in every branch of manufacturing industry.
Peace with China. Income Tax Act passed.
Treaty of commerce opens China to all nations.
Rank Charter Act passed. Consols 101 'i-
Prior to September this year, the bank never reduced the rate
below 4 per cent.
Railway mania. Sikh war.
Commercial and railway panic. Repeal of corn laws.
Year of panic. £10,000.000 granted for relief of famine in Ire-
land. Gold discovered in California.
Sikh war.
First Importation of Callfornlan gold into England. Annexa-
tion of the Punjaub.
Average of consols 96^.
Discovery of gold in Australia.
Consols touched 102, and averaged 995,,.
Australian mint established.
Russian war began.
Loan of 16 millions. Fall of Sebastopol.
Russian war ends.
Panic. Suspension of Bank charter Act. Indian mutinv. Loan
of £1.000,000 to East In. Ha Co.
End of Indian mutiny.
Loan of £5,216,:>28 to Hast India Co.
Commercial treaty with France.
Financial depression in India. American Civil War begins.
Great distress in cotton manufacturing districts. Panic.
Large exports of gold to the Continent to pay for silver.
£13,000,000 silver exported from France.
Close of American war.
Commercial and Joint stork companies panic Bank declined
to sell bar gold.
Great decline In export of silver, only £2,")00,000 sent from
France.
Abyssinian expedition.
410
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7. 1014
EIGHTY YEARS OF THE SILVER MARKET— (Co ntinued)
Years
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
Average.
60iV
60T«j
604
60A
58^
56+
MB
52#
51*
52|
514*
51J
50T%
505
485
45|
445
421
42+1
45^
39J4
355
29 J
30^
27*
26{f
27&
28*
07JL
— * i e
24 ,V
244
26|
•>7J3
Imports of
bars and coin.
£6,730.000
10,649.0(10
16,520.000
11.140.500
12.302,220
11.797,990
9,506,757
13,585.608
21,625,652
11.453,105
10.520.012
6.827.471
6.902,210
9.243,375
9.468.002
9.546.496
9.377.601
8.166.249
7,471.639
7.825.380
9.184.940
10.385.659
9.316,200
10,746,382
11,913,395
11.005.507
10.669.682
14,329.116
18.032,091
14.677,799
12,727,989
13.322.300
11.501.678
9.764.296
10.310,330
11,687,339
12,992.014
to
£2
1
3
5
•_>
7
3
10
17
5
7
6
4
6
i
8
8
5
6
8
8
i
11
11
10
6
6
Ixports
the East.
.362,943
579.473
712.473
654.451
497.576
092.726
714.404
914.407
007.458
842,577
034.967
135.520
288.008
423.27C
125.454
418.525
9.
7
S.
10
8
30J
17.288.063
15
30&
15.983.892
12
24^
10.326,889
10
23{i
11.814,889
8
245
14.100,310
8
24 ,<■;,
14.293.747
9
281 ',,
16.778,304
14
27 ,'•
14.495.049
10
,742.829
985.642
018.419
565.305
,051.780
038.319
.643.405
.565.334
.752.230
(Peace between
Remarks.
Distress in Lancashire.
Franco-Prussian war. Panics.
£8,500,000 fold exported to Hanse towns
France and Germany.)
£S, 050. 000 gold exported to Hanse towns. (Commencement of
decline in price of silver.)
£10,000,000 gold exported to Hans.- towns. (German Govern-
ment announces the demonetization of silver.)
Enormous increase of bullion in Bank of France, iZZ 000 »00
mostly gold.
Heavy commercial failures. Large export of gold to Germany.
Continued decline in price of silver.
Remarkable fluctuations in rates of Indian exchanges and l>«r
silver.
Great famine in India. Russo-Turkish war.
General depression in trade. Large bank failures. Russo-
Turkish war ended.
Suspension of sales by German Government. Marked diminu-
tion in production of Callfornian mines.
Consols touched 100?i. Reported existence of large quantities
of gold in south India.
Meeting of conference in Paris respecting bimetallism, which
adjourned without coming to any practical conclusion.
War with Egypt.
Completion of Italian order for gold.
War in Egypt, income tax increased. Franco-Chinese compli-
cations.
Suspension .if the coinage of the Bland dollar, recommended
by the President of the United States.
010.92c
qac 900 1 Great depression in trade
327.113
807.400
575.713
456.709
082.719
,881.885
649.411
041.162
484.933
,897.015
223,397
949.285
Depression in trade continued, assisted by war rumors.
Deaths of two German emperors successively caused great un-
easiness War rumors subsided later. Stringency .>f
money earlier than usual toward close of the year.
Home coinage of silver unusually large.
Serious panics In London and Xew York. Extension of silver
legislation in the United States.
Chilean 1 evolution. Failure of United States Legislature to
maintain silver juices. Large Continental orders.
Further depression in silver. Inoperative monetary conference
at Brussels.
Indian mints closed to free coinage of silver. Repeal of Sher-
man Act. Australian hank crisis.
Duty of a'', imposed on silver entering India. War between
China and japan.
Speculation in African mines. Large indemnity to Japan. Con-
sols touched 108'8. U. S. currency difficulties.
Consols touched 114. Defeat of silver party in U. S. election.
Extensive coinage of silver by Russia.
Turco-Grcek war. Famine and plague in India. Gold stand-
ard adopted by Japan.
Spanish-American war. Indian Monetary Conference. Euro-
pean extension in China. Soudan reconquered.
Boer war. 6% bank rate in December. Consols down to 9t\.
Continuation of Boer war. Large coinage of rupees. Boxer
rebellion in China.
Death of Queen Victoria. Assassination of President MeKinlev.
Continuation of Boer war. Combination of American smel-
ters.
End of Boer war. Heavy fall in silver. War Indemnity un-
settles China trade.
Straits Settlements and Siam adopt gold standard. Large pur-
chases by the Indian Government. U. S. buys for new
Philippine coinage. Mexican Currency Commission.
Russo-Japanese war. Monetary reform in Mexico. Continued
buying by Indian Government.
Mexican mints closed to free coinage of silver. End of Russo-
Japanese war. Internal troubles In Russia. Continued
Inning by Indian Government.
Heavy purchases by Indian Government. Large exports of dol-
lars from Mexico. Resumption of purchases by IT. S. Gov-
ernment. Straits exchange fixed at -/4 per dollar.
Cessation of Indian buying. Sharp fall in silver. Financial
crisis In U. S. Bank rate ~r'r.
,11 Large gold exports to Paris. General depression of trade.
243.9l><S!| Political unrest in southeastern Europe.
... _1 _ Some improvement in trade. Good crops, especially of cotton.
9oO. llil in India.
-, Death of King Edward VII. Indian Import duty on silver in-
t>4<\443 creased from 5', ad val. to 4 annas per ounce.
an- -n ■ strikes and labor unrest in England.
8o;>. (96 1:. hellion In China. Italian war in Tripoli.
Establishment of. provisional government in China. Indian
'}-l"> -174. Government purchased £6,000,000 silver. War between
■*■*•».*•* Turkey and Balkan States.
China loan of £25.000,000. Indian Government bought £5.590.-
7')U 07C """ silver. Failure of Indian Specie Bank. Civil war in
<■>•'••' <o Mexico.
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
411
Assembling and Erecting Wooden Tanks
P>V -T. M. LlT.LIGIfEX
Redwood tanks are an important part of the equip-
ment of many reduction plants. The general features
connected with the erection are familiar, hut in the
making of a good tank there are many details known
only to those who have had the experience. Particu-
larly is a knowledge of details essential in erecting
a tank with warped material.
The first important consideration is the selection of
material. Whatever the number and size of tanks
may lie. the contract with the mill should call for well
seasoned material because this class and no other will
give the best results. The manufacturer generally
turns out first-class stock, and the shipments leave
the plant in good condition, whether seasoned or un-.
seasoned. Owing to the softness of the wood, the
transfer and haulage to the miii ■ mill should be
under intelligent direction to avoid damage. When
the material arrives at its destination it should be
piled and protected from rain. snow, and direct sun-
shine to prevent shrinkage and warping. Where pos-
sible, the mill furnishing the redwood delays shipment
purposely so that the material may have no chance to
check, warp, shrink, or become water-soaked. How-
ever, it is not always possible to arrange shipments
to out-of-the-way places so that material will arrive
as used, and some warping and shrinkage will usually
occur, especially in wood not properly seasoned.
Warped material adds greatly to the difficulties of
erection, and as the minimum of twist is met with in
well seasoned stock, the necessity of specifying this
grade in ordering, and taking proper care of it at the
plant afterward, will 1k> appreciated.
Foundations
The foundation may be either of timber or concrete,
but whatever class is used there arc two essentials to
be observed. First, that the tank bottom be supported
by chine joists or stringers, at intervals of not more
than 30 in. for tanks about 12 ft. high, and 24 in. for
20-ft. tanks. The joists may vary in size, though it is
customary to use (i by 8-in. or (i by 10-in. timber. The
centres for joists on tanks of different size can be
proportioned from the two given as the height of or-
dinary tanks does not often run above 20 ft. The
limit of distance apart for low tanks can be consid-
ered as 3fi in. The second essential to be noted is
carrying tin- joists out to within at least :? in. of the
stave chine; all should be level, and without project-
ing nails. The foundation should be built up suffi-
ciently high to give plenty of room under the tank
for free circulation of air. Rot is the most deadly
enemy id' redwood tanks, and if the circulation of
air is not provided the life of the tank is materially
lessened.
Laying Out Bottom
With the bottom supports sufficient in number and
properly spaced and cut, the next step is laying out
the bottom. The line from which the work starts is
struck at right angles to the joists and marked across
all of them by pencil. The line is determined by first
finding the exact centre of the foundation, and then
measuring from this point a distance equal to the
distance of the trammel mark from the edge of the
centre plank. The trammel mark is a point on the
centre plank and is the centre of the tank bottom ;
it is made at the mill at the time the bottom is laid
out for cutting. Any convenient piece such as a 2 by
4 in. is nailed flush to the line to serve as a backing
in laying the first half.
Bottom planks are generally marked with a letter
and number, the letter denoting the tank, while the
number gives the position of the plank starting from
one side. When bringing in the bottom pieces they
may be placed roughly in their respective positions,
piling three high to allow room to lay out the centre;
this also permits the guard pieces at each end to be
conveniently knocked off. The two outside pieces,
known as cants, are carefully placed to one side to
avoid injury, as the points, being slender, are easily
damaged.
Starting from the 2 by 4 in., the planks are laid
on both sides as their numbers indicate, snugly against
each other. This is to observe any warping or wide
cracks. When planks are in two pieces, as they gen-
erally are in large tanks, they should be of exactly
the same width where they butt together. When they
are not. they are taken up. scribed, and dressed down
to the line with a plane, the finishing being done with
a jointer.
In finishing a plank, the outer end should be slight-
ly wider than the butt, because in tightening up the
tank after the staves and bands are in position a tight
joint is assured at the ends of the bottom pieces. If
the pieces are true, a tight joint will result along the
entire length id' the plank, but if a difference in
width makes it necessary to dress down otic or both,
it is best to have a very light taper run from butt to
outside end; the difference in width between butt and
end is taken care of when the bottom is drawn to-
gether.
When a small amount of water is first put in a
finished tank the bottom may have a tendency to lift
up at one or more places due to the crosswise swell-
ing of the planks, hi a measure, the spring of the
bottom can be almost entirely avoided by cutting out
about three-eighths of an inch from that plank which
is distant about one-sixth of the diameter from each
end-picee: tapering the cut from centre to outer ends
412
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
should be carefully observed. This is illustrated at
a, Fig. 1. At first glance it would seem that cutting
out this amount from the piece would leave an open
seam, but the fact is that the tightening process brings
the pieces together to a good joint, and in the subse-
quent swelling there is less tendency for the bottom
to rise.
When all the bottom planks have been carefully
looked over and trued up, the pieces are again roughly
piled to make room at the centre, and the work started
of laying the bottom permanently. Beginning at the
Fig. 1.
centre and on that side of the centre line from which
the numbers start, the two centre planks are laid
down snug against the strip, the outer ends equally
distant from the joists. Wooden pins are then in-
serted in the dowel holes, and the next set plank laid
on to a close fit. Where two planks form one bottom
piece, the butts are sawed for inserting a flat iron or
wooden slip tongue. Care must be used in driving the
iron ones, as there is a chance that they will run
either up or down, thus making a bad butt joint.
Wooden slip-tongues are preferable to iron, for the
wood will swell and give a tight joint. If there is
need for driving the plank to make a close fit, a block
of wood should be used as a buffer; under no cir-
cumstances should the edges of the plank be struck
with a hammer.
Laying the pieces, proceed until all of the first half
is in place. This is then tied together by nailing a
piece of 2 by 4-in. timber from cant to centre at ap-
proximately right angles to the lengths, the purpose
being to hold this half of the bottom until the second
half has been laid. The strip marking the centre line
is then removed and the balance of the bottom put
in place. The entire bottom is then tied together
with a second piece of 2 by 4-in. timber. A line is
then scribed around the rim of the bottom the depth
of the croze, to serve as a mark for determining when
the staves and bottom come together.
Setting Staves
The diameter and height of tank determine the
character of scaffolding required in setting up the
staves. This is largely a matter of individual taste,
but the scaffold should be strong, well braced, and
with platforms at suitable heights for convenient and
rapid work. On low tanks, and even on tanks of con-
siderable height, where the staves are all quite straight,
it is possible to do the erecting without a scaffold
by toe-nailing the staves to each other from the in-
side, and using the usual inside bracing. However,
as a matter of general safety, it is best to use a scaf-
fold on all tanks higher than eight or ten feet. The
arrangement of staves preparatory to erection depends
upon the proportion of height to diameter. If the
diameter is considerably greater than the height, the
staves are laid on the finished bottom in eight piles,
as shown in Fig. 2, four consisting of 'straights.' two
Fig. 2.
of ' lefts, ' and two of ' rights. ' The warp of a stave,
looking at it from the inside chine end, determines
whether it is 'right.' 'left,' or 'straight.' Fig. 3 illus-
trates this in a somewhat exaggerated form.
-V glance at Fig. 2 shows the straight staves are
so piled that they can readily be set up at each of
the cant pieces, and at opposite sides of the centre.
There are several reasons for so placing them. The
rim of the cant pieces are the weakest parts in the
bottom, and partly because of this the straight staves
are used, as they can be set very close together and
held in position with the least strain on the rim. It
is essential that straight staves be provided for oppo-
site sides of the centre, because between each section
the 'rights' and 'lefts' are erected.
Fig. 3 shows 'right and 'left' staves on opposite
sides of a straight one. If a number of staves of the
same warp were set up each side of a section of
March 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
413
straight staves, as shown in Fig. 4, there would be
a tendency, when the tank is tightened, to pull one
way and thus give a lop-sided tank ; whereas, when
they are set up as shown in Fig. 3, there is an equal
K/fA/-
S/r-aSf/i/ left
T [— II I C
Mil
i i i
Fig.
•Sfra/gh/-
4
S/ra/yAA
I I 1
1 I 1
Fig. 4.
pull on both sides of the straight staves. If there is
a preponderance of ' rijrhts. ' which is likely, more care
must be used to insure an acceptable tank. If the
length of a stave is too great to permit piling them
on the bottom, they arc set on end against the scaf-
fold or placed outside around the bottom within easy
reach. In any event, they are to be set up according
to the diagram in Fig. '-'.
If the staves arc not marked at the mill, from 15
to 18 straight ones arc selected for use in marking
the position of the bands. The distance apart of each
band is marked with pencil or chalk, and as the erec-
tion proceeds these staves are set in at more or less
regular intervals. The placing of the bands is thus
easily and rapidly done.
Obviously, the first stave set in position should be
straight. To be assured the staves will not fall in
while being set and before enough bands are on to
hold them, it is usual to set them out of plumb in
the proportion of 4 in. to 12 ft. in height, as shown
in Fig. 5. A side brace is nailed to the first stave
only, while the inside braces are nailed on at regular
intervals until all staves have been placed in position.
The braces serve the purpose of steadying the staves
and overcoming any tendency of pitching in. Nar-
row strips of wood are laid on the stave tops and
nailed, holding the stave in position after being set.
The member of the crew whose duty it is to do this
also takes care that the alignment and spacing of the
tops is correct.
The stave croze is so cut that it will slip over the
V
7anA Soffom
Fn;. 5.
rim one-third its distance, as indicated at u. Fig. 5,
and a tap with a hammer drives it in half its depth.
which is the proper distance in first setting the stave.
This proves true only of properly seasoned and well
cared for material. In poorly seasoned stock, or that
which has been exposed to rain or sunshine, the croze
may be large or small, depending upon conditions. If
large, it becomes necessary to insert a strip of canvas
or burlap to care for the shrinkage; if small, the edge
of the croze must be battered a little. In the latter
case there is danger of the chine breaking off; while
in the first case there is a good chance that leaks
will develop. All of which emphasizes the necessity
of getting the right material in the first place and
taking care of it afterward.
A very important matter is to encourage a uni-
formly close contact between all the staves, which is
absolutely necessary in getting a tight tank. The
staves are always set as close together as possible,
especially on the cants, and when [Hilled in by the
bands, draw closer until the stave and rim touch ; if
drawn more than this, the wood is crushed. The line
previously scribed around the circumference is a good
indicator for determining when the stave is up. The
414
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
compression gained by drawing the bottom plank to-
gether affects the .staves at the ends of the plank, but
does not have an equal influence at the cant pieces.
At each of these the staves are brought closer together
by providing four pressure points, as shown in Fig. 1.
When the staves are being set, several of the bottom
planks are opened a little at the ends and a thin
wedge oi- shingle slipped into the seam, particular care
being taken that the staves are set very close at each
of the four points. Later, the shingle or wedge is
removed. When the staves are finally drawn in by
the bands, and the bottom planks come together, the
staves at each of the four points exert a pressure upon
the staves to each side. The point of least resistance
is along the smoother rim of the cant pieces rather
than along the cross grain of the plank ends, and
consequently the staves at the cants are moved to a
close contact.
Even when considerable care has been taken in set-
ting the staves and drawing up the tank, small open-
ings may be observed near the bottom. If they are
few. a simple and effective emergency remedy is to
drive a chisel into the stave from inside about one-
half inch from the edge. This presses the wood out,
closing the opening: a redwood wedge is then driven
into the chisel mark and the opening permanently
closed. If there are several small openings together,
the procedure is to cut a short length of 4 by 6-in.
lumber to fit the diameter of the inside. Placing this
block' on the bottom and against the side of the tank,
it is beaten with a hammer from a point where the
staves are tight toward the openings. The staves
will 'work' in the direction of the open spaces. The
bottom bands must be loosened to give the staves room
to spring out and move. When this has been done,
and the bands are finally tightened for the hist pull,
the joints will come together tight.
Banding and Trimming
Putting on the bands begins immediately after the
last stave is in place. The second band from the bot-
tom is the first to go on. and when drawn up snug
will usually hold the staves in position. Before the
inside braces are knocked off. a second band is put
on about three feet above the first. If the staves flare
out too much to allow this band to come together.
the connection is made by using a short bolt and lug.
the extension being removed later. With two bands
on. the braces and top strips can be removed, and the
staves drawn together to approximately a vertical
position, after which the bands are put on in regular
order.
The marked staves indicate the position of the bands,
and each full band is made up of several sections,
the number in each depending upon the diameter of
the tank. The line of the lugs connecting the see-
lions should be carried up at a uniform angle. If the
lugs were placed directly one over the other, forming a
vertical line, there would be one stave each side of
the lug that would not be touched by the band. As
a result, when the bands were drawn up, the untouched
staves would buckle, leaving open joints. When the
lugs are carried forward and upward progressively,
all staves are in contact with some of the bands and
there is no inclination to buckle. The threaded end
of each section should project through the lug to the
left, as this gives a downward pull in tightening the
nuts: a matter of some importance from the viewpoint
of labor saved when it is considered that there may
be as many as 300 nuts on one tank.
When several bands have been placed in position
and drawn fairly tight, trimming the staves begins.
This is done with a block of hard wood and a ham-
mer. Starting at the bottom, the staves are beaten
into position all around the tank, care being taken from
the first that the staves come together without a stag-
gered or saw-tooth effect. As the trimming proceeds
upward, the bands above are kept just tight enough
to permit working the staves into place by light blows
of the hammer. Some staves may be bowed enough
to require beating from the inside, but it is usually
possible to work them out by hammering the adjoining
staves alternately. With bands at proper tension, a
light blow on the block is more effective than a hard
one.
By the time the tank has been trimmed, all the
bands will be quite tight, and everything about ready
for the final pull. During the time the bands were
being put on and when the tank was assuming final
form, any tendency to list should be remedied by
bracing the side opposite and drawing up the bands
on that side : this pulls the listed side into position.
All sections of each band should be tightened uniform-
ly. When all is complete, the final tightening of the
bands begins at the top and ends at the bottom.
Cone Bottoms
Cone bottoms are put in tanks to facilitate sluicing
out whatever may be put into them. The use to which
the tank will be put determines the pitch of the cone,
which may vary from very flat to 45° or more. A few
years ago cone-bottom tanks were made in such shape
that the cone was watertight and supported the entire
weight of the contained material. Present practice is
to put the cone in on top of the flat bottom and leave
space between the staves so the weight of the material
will be on the well supported flat bottom and not on
the cone.
Fig. 6 shows three ways in which the cone may be
arranged. The first. 'A.' is generally used, as this
does not involve a special stave. The opening be-
tween the staves at the circumference of the tank
should be sufficient to allow the material going into
the tank to settle through freely. The number of rings
supporting the cone varies with the diameter: a 20-ft.
tank may be supplied with one or two. while in a
wider tank there may be three. The rings are made
up of segments cut from 2-in. lumber and are 4 in.
wide. As a rule, the number of segments to a ring
are marked on several of the pieces, so there will be
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
41.")
no confusion in getting the right ones for the differ-
ent diameters. Before laying out the segments the
circle is marked on the tank bottom and the ring
built around this mark. The ring supports may be
cither of 2 by 4-in. or 4 by 4-in. lumber: the weight
to be supported is not great, but the supports should
Fig. 6.
be well nailed to the ring and bottom to overcome the
buoyancy of the wood. When the ring is raised and
the supports put under, the circle indicates the posi-
tion very readily. The second arrangement of staves,
shown at 'B,' is sometimes used. This involves a
out. This gives a good opening and one large enough
for all purposes.
A cast iron cone for the bottom is usually provided
(b. Fig. 7). and to this the staves are fitted. If no
casting is furnished, the points of the stave can be.
protected by fitting on a flat iron ring. A ribbon of
1 by 4 in. nailed around the inside of the tank (a. Fig.
7. and Fig. 6) supports the ends of the stave. All
staves are well nailed to the rings, and the ends are
nailed to the bottom and sides of the tank.
In concluding these notes, it is well to emphasize
the necessity of specifying the class and condition of
material when ordering tanks, irrespective of si/e or
number. If the proper foresight is observed at this
time, ami due precaution taken in handling the mate-
ria] later, little trouble will be experienced in erect-
ing satisfactory tanks. The wood should be clear,
straight grained, containing no knots, sap. or gum-
holes. If possible, it should be from air-dried lumber,
as kiln-dried material does not possess the 'life' found
in the other. The ends of all staves and bottom pieces
should be painted with an air-tight paint to prevent
shrinkage and rot. The bottom planks should be cut
from long lengths, and the ends well guarded against
damage. It is well, also, to have the chines nailed,
as they are easily damaged and not very easily patched
up. These are the important points for consideration;
by keeping them in mind from the first, a great deal
of time and labor will be saved.
Costs at the Mexican Mill
This plant oj>erates at Virginia City, Nevat
gave the following results during the year cm
tober 31 :
Ore treated, tons
Value of heads, gold, ounces per ton from 0.156
Value of heads, silver, ounces per ton (ram 5.09
Extraction, per cent S9.20
Gold recovered, ounces
Silver recovered, ounces
Value of bullion
Costs per ton:
Crushing and convey-
ing $0,074
Power 0.479
Labor 0.59:!
Repairs and renewals.. 0.33*
Chemicals 0.660
Water 0.177
Lubricants 0.015
la. and
led (),•-
29,247
to 1.19
to 21.45
to 93.44
17.870
322,758
$564,258
Heating
(Jem ill mill expense.
Melting
Marketing bullion . . . .
Assaying
Taxes and insurance.
.$o.] tit;
. 0.239
. 0.075
. 0.207
. 0.002
. 0.109
Total $3,200
long and short stave. The area of openings is larger
than in the first arrangement and is equally efficient
in letting the material settle through to the bottom.
._,, , . ., ,, , Medium ordinary lump.... 97.32
*C shows a somewhat similar arrangement to A,' Sll|)erior ollip 94.0s
only in this case each stave is cut about two-thirds superior ordinary lump... 154.09
its length and a strip about one-half inch wide taken '58 to 60% carbon test. 'J56 to 57% carbon test
Plumbago prices in Ceylon are increasing,
by the following table from a Daily Consult
- Per ton. -
January
Quality. 1912.
Medium lump $85.97
Superior flying dust
Common dust
Medium ordinary lump
as shown
//• Rrporl :
45.42
'25.95
97.32
January
1913.
1123.27
f.8.13
26.7ti
134.63
131.38
178.42
October,
1913.
$162.20
113.54
■66.50
197.88
194.64
235.18
416
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
.March 7. 1914
Lead Smelting at East Helena, Montana
By Bancroft Gore
Investigation of methods to overcome silver-lead
losses in fume discharged into the atmosphere from
pot roasting and Dwight-Lloyd sintering departments
was under way at East Helena in 1913, use being
made of an experimental baghouse in the hope that
the gases from these departments could be filtered as
in the ease of the blast-furnace fumes, without destruc-
tion to the cotton bags. The long life of the bags
for the blast-furnace is said to be due to the very low
temperature of the gases (so low that during very
severe winter weather, recourse is had to preheat-
ing them at entrance to baghouse to prevent freezing
of the cotton fabric) and to the neutral character of
these fumes, the greater part of the S03 being neu-
tralized by the excess of lead and zinc oxides. An im-
portant clue to this smoke problem was discovered
when an attempt was made to obtain a good mechan-
ical mixture of the gases from the two departments.
The resulting mixture, due to lead content of gases
from the sintering department, gave favorable results
with the experimental bags, and there is little doubt
that during the present year all these fumes at pres-
ent escaping will be diverted to a separate baghouse.
This improvement will not only bring in a large rev-
enue each year in the form of silver-lead recovered
in the baghouse fume, but will eliminate any possible
claims for damages from owners of adjacent agricul-
tural land, which is fast becoming valuable for in-
tensive farming, under irrigation.
Blast-furnace work at this plant has reached a high
degree of perfection, in spite of the difficulties aris-
ing from the extremely high content of lead in mate-
rial smelted consisting mainly of concentration prod-
ucts from the Coeur d'Alene lead mining district in
Idaho. It is a pleasure for anyone who has tried to
get good work out of a blast-furnace feeding it any
kind of material that happened to be on hand, such
as raw flue-dust, fine ores, crude slime, mud. pasty
briquettes, and other rubbish, to see these furnaces
running along so merrily on 'predigested food' in tin-
form of sintered and semi-fused products from the
pot-roasting and Dwight-Lloyd sintering departments.
These products, along with some coarse oxidized ore.
slag-shells, and a little limerock with some scrap iron
and occasional fragments of receiver-bottoms, make an
ideal mixture for the blast-furnace, giving it a high
capacity, even sinking of the charge, clean, cool shaft.
with fire showing in all the tuyeres. It has been found
that under present conditions more material can be
smelted with less fuel in three blast-furnaces than was
formerly handled by four when treating crude or un-
sintered material.
An interesting attempt was made to adapt the
trapped slag spout of copper work to the local con-
ditions, eliminating the labor of intermittent tapping
of slag and matte. Owing to the heavy flow of matte
and slag from these furnaces, this would have been
a most desirable improvement. The first trial proved
a failure, and the spout was removed, but its defects
in design were made clear, and whenever a good oppor-
tunity is available, the spout, improved in design, will
be tried again.
Contrary to predictions of many metallurgists, pre-
roasting and sintering in pots has not been driven out
by developments in the automatic sintering machines
of the Dwight-Lloyd type. Each process seems to hold
its own, the total product of pre-roasted material be-
ing about equally divided. It would appear at first
sight that the labor needed to attend the pots, the
constant vigilance needed to prevent blow-holes and
accomplish even roasting, the intermittent operation of
these pots, and the cost of breaking up the sintered
'buttons' would work out to their disadvantage. The
contrary is the case, however, the automatic sinterers
being used only for very fine material containing under
11% sulphur. The machines are very sensitive to
slight variations in the charge, due probably to the
lead content, which at times reaches 40%. and unless
the analysis of the feed is kept within very narrow
limits, the charge either fuses fast to the grates or
passes to the stock bins with a large proportion of
fine material and crude charge. The pots find favor
because of their less exacting requirements, the mate-
rial fed being somewhat coarser than that sent to the
machines, with the exception of the fine roasted matte,
practically all of which goes to the pot roasters.
One of the difficulties incidental to the automatic
roasters was the clogging of the herring-bone slits in
the grate bars. This was overcome at the East Helena
plant by a simple but effective labor-saving device con-
sisting of a heavy steel roller made up of individual
sharp-edged discs spaced to correspond with the grate
slits which were made to run parallel with the motion
of the pallets. Heavy weights on this roller, which
extended over the hearth a few feet ahead of the feed
box, .pressed the sharp edge of each steel disc into
the corresponding hearth slot, forcing out any obstruc-
tion to the blast.
Coal in Chile costs from $7 to $8 per ton. Imported
fuel pays no duty. The consumption of fuel oil is in-
creasing, especially at nitrate works and mines. Fifty
per cent of the .oil comes from the United States, the
balance from Peru, while 66% of the coal comes from
England. During the first half-year of 1913 the con-
sumption of fuels was as follows: domestic coal, 585.-
!»-H> : foreign coal. 653,667 ; coke, 23.050 : and fuel oil,
about 160,000 metric tons.
March 7. 191,4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
41i
Increasing the Efficiency of a Grinding Pan
By John Kandall
The experiments here noted were conducted at the
mill of the Beck Mining Co.. near Atlantic City, Wyo-
ming. The ore consists of a quartz mixed with tough
hard schist with a variable amount of soft oxidized
material. The mill has four Nissen stamps crushing
in cyanide solution 26 tons of ore per day to 16-mesh
screens, but various screens, some as fine as 32 mesh,
have been used. The pulp from the stamps goes to
a mechanical classifier, the sand from the classifier is
discharged into a 5-ft. grinding pan. and thence for-
merly joined the slime in an agitator, and from the
agitator went through a series of three Dorr thicken-
ers for washing under the counter-current system.
The product from the pan is thence returned to the
classifier and travels in a closed circuit until ground
fine enough to be classified as slime. I would state
at the outset that the performance of the pan. al-
though considerably improved, is at present by no
means good, my reason for making this incomplete
work public being that there are sonic details that
seem instructive and likely to lead to further improve-
ment by others.
Construction of Pan Tested
The pan as originally built had but four shoes and
a solid ring die with no channels, and when first started
was principally occupied in grinding iron, with little
or no effect upon the ore. This construction was im-
proved by D. C. Kelso, the Company's superintend-
ent, by having a new muller and die-ring cast carry-
ing 8 shoes and 8 dies with 1' ->-in. channels between.
Another important defect in the construction of
the pan is that found in pans of a number of differ-
ent makes, namely, that of connecting the driving yoke
to the muller by means of 4 prominent lugs on top of
the latter. These lugs act precisely like the vanes
of a centrifugal pump to induce a strong outward
current over instead of under the muller and shoes,
this action being clearly discerned in this case by the
wear in the top of the muller. It no doubt tends to
reduce the circulation of the pulp under the shoes.
As this defect could not be remedied without consid-
erable expense, it was allowed to remain.
With the improved shoes and dies the pan was slim-
ing 1.7 tons of ore per day to 150 mesh when I took
charge of it in August 1913. The desirability of de-
creasing the amount of sand going to the thickeners
and securing better gold extraction was the chief in-
centive to a study of its operation. No further
changes were made in the pairs construction, but the
usual plowshare-shaped battles set around tin; sides
of this as well as most other pans were taken out.
These baffles were found to be unnecessary, as the
pulp thrown outward by the shoe channels rises up
the sides of the pan and is forced to return to the
centre, this vortex action seeming to be more regular
without the baffles. A very heavy and elaborately
made cast iron feed hopper was also removed as being
wholly unnecessary and adding too much weight to
the shoes. No changes were made in the speed of
the pan. .which runs at 68 r.p.m. Experiments were
then made in running the pan on thick pulp,
my theory being that thickening the pulp would
cause a greater number of sand grains to occupy
a given space under the shoes and thus increase
the grinding capacity. This produced surprising
results, making an estimated increase in the duty
of the pan of over 50% and greatly lessening diffi-
culties arising from sand in the Dorr thickeners. On
this particular ore and with 16-mesh battery screens.
which were then put on, as low as 30% moisture in
the pan was found to be most satisfactory, a pulp
thicker than this causing a higher consumption of
power without any corresponding advantage. This
amount of moisture seems very low. but was about
5% more than enough to fill the voids between the
ore particles when settled without shaking. I am in-
clined to the belief that the proper amount of mois-
ture for a tube-mill as well as a pan is not a fixed
quantity as generally supposed, but depends upon the
percentage of voids in the material. The amount of
moisture going to the pan is regulated by adjusting
the spray near the sand-discharge end of the classi-
fier. Under these conditions, with the pan feed con-
taining 82.6% on 100 mesh and 17.47, through 100
mesh, the pan product was 50.6% on 100 and 49.47'
through 100 mesh. Moisture samples were taken
from various points at and near the surface while
the pan was in motion, and corresponded with that
in the feed and discharge. Whether there was a zone
below the surface containing more moisture or finer
material was not ascertained.
Removing Material
All the sizings given in this article were made by
panning the slime from the sample through the fines!
screen used until the sand was clean, separately dry-
ing the two portions, and then sifting the sand in
the usual manner. The next improvement determined
upon was a means of removing as fast as possible the
49.4% of fine material shown by the sizing of the
pan product to he continually circulating under the
shoes and occupying space there to no useful pur-
pose. Accordingly, a 6-in. belt elevator with 5-in.
buckets was planned to return the pan product to
the classifier. The elevator was put in operation Sep-
tember 24. 1913, and since that time the pan has taken
care of the entire product of the stamps with coarser
418 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS March 7, 1914
_150 58-l tioD of the driving spider or yoke with the muller,
causing the shoes to groove, wear rapidlv, and con-
ioo.o „ ' ; ' .
sume an unnecessary amount of power. In this par-
Subtracting the amount slimed by the stamps from ticular pan it seems to cause the shoes to chatter on
the total amount slimed to 150 mesh, the amount th(1 dies at times ,|nd consume nearly four times the
slimed to 150 mesh by the pan is 17.8%. or 4.6 tons. necessary amount of power. This defect, although
This low duty of the pan to 150 mesh is offset by the nQt h) al, e.|S(,s nroducing sueh marked results, is
fact that it is grinding all but 1.1% of the mill product f()|m(| jn ]|i()st pang made in tfae ^.^ States ^
to -80 mesh, allowing the entire mill tonnage to be ^ , ^^ rf ^ ^ ^^ ^ ithe ^^ & ^
treated as slime. ,,„,.,. ,„An • »t Colorado Springs, that builds a pan with the uni-
Data collected by Harley B. Wright m 1009 give . . J '
j J versal joint connection used in Western Australia,
the average duty of Kalgoorhe 5-ft. pans at 5.6 tons .
*„„ „ -, , .i, ,. I wo ot these ( olorai o Springs pans. .-> tt. in diameter.
to 150 mesh. M. W. von Bernewitz has given the aver- > * » •
„ ,. . ,rn „i, „+ 7 ^ +,m,u al'(' running at 42 r.p.ni. at the \ ulture mill, near
age dutv of the same pans to 150 mesh at i.o tons. i
.,',,, • i „...„+:„„ ;,, ., Wick en burg, Arizona, hacli is grinding 3a tons per
which no doubt represents improved practice in n »• ~
, . . Tiii ti i , f ^„„ ^,..,„t;,.„ day, o;.)% ot the product being fine enough to pass
country which probably has the best pan practice. • ' ' v
„,.,... .i t wi.,,,+;„ i 'it,- through a 100-mesh screen. In replv to an inquiry
These investigations upon the pan at Atlantic ( ,it> . ' • D,
, ., •„ .ii„«j *.. flint on the pan subject, I have a letter from A. L. Bloom-
were incomplete when the mill was obliged to shut ■ .','... ,, ., ... ... (, .
„ . , -. i „„„.„„,.„+ t.i,r,.-+ held, superintendent at the dolden ( vcle null. Colo-
down on account of bad roads and consequent short- »
„„, ,.., t^t.1. lju .„„„„ Qfl miioo rado Springs, m which he savs: "I he pans were a
age of fuel which had to be hauled by wagon .38 miles. • • i
, „ .■ !„„,„™mD„» complete failure in Western Australia until the univer-
However. plans are under way for the improvement ■
1 , . . » , . . v . ., „:„:j „„nM sal joint connection between voke and muller was put
of the pan. the chief defect being the rigid connec- •» J f
' 75.9 on. Lnder no cireumstances could vou induce me to
—1 ;>0 .
■ run a pan with the old rigid attachment.
100.0 The Freeman pan described by Mr. von Bernewitz
Table ii. Sizing of pan product returned to classifier: mois- jn tne Mining and Scientific Press, May 17, 1913, secures
ture 28.0 per cent. H good circulation and prevents slime from- getting
Size, mesh. 915 under the shoes by means of a cylindrical baffle fast-
.-<■ cued to the muller and extending above the level of
... 40 + 80 '
sn 4-100 17° ""' l)n'l'- "ms ">rclng all the unground material to
_100 +150 4" pass under the shoes. There are various opinions as
-150 121 to the advantage of Ibis arrangement, which probably
depends upon other details for its success. In con-
100.0 ' ' ... ,
structing a pmi of this tvpe. it is necessary that there
Tuni.- III — Average of four sizings of the battery product of . -ni.il.
lAiu.K 111. AveidoC ui & should be no die channels, else the pulp will be thrown
the Nissen stamps, the first and second being taken troin . , -,
four 16-mesh rolled slot wire screens, opening 0.031 in.; rapidly out through the shoe channels and return
the third from three 16-mesh and one 10-mesh rolled slot, through the stationary die channels. It would also
opening 0.046 in.; and the fourth from two 10-mesh square- seem best that a pan of this type should have inward
opening 21-gage wire and two 10-mesh rolled slot. There s|1()(, ,.),.,„, „,ls which would leave the pulp-current un-
was no marked difference in the samples, the -ISO mesh ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ determjned „ ,„„,.,, as ,u)ssible
running from 54 to 63.3 per cent. ,,, .. , , . ,
; bv the teed alone and thus it would move so slowlv as
Size mesh Percent. ■
' ,., ., to give each particle ot sand nianv chances to be
+ 40 ' °-°
■ A 4. so 1:>,;1 ground before passing out. With good outside classi-
- so 4-100 ss Hcation and a considerable amount of pulp moving in
-100 +150 •"' '■' the closed circuit, so as to keep the amount of slime
battery screens. 16 to 10-mesh displacing the 20-niesh j„ ,|1(, p,ul (jowll to a low point, there might not be
formerly used. It was found that the sand passing ,,iucli advantage in the use of the baffle. The work
through the 80-mesh screen yielded good extraction. ur jjr siilinlein in changing a pan to this type and
and. in order to make the classifier separate at this providing outside classification has lately shown ex-
point. Mr. Kelso adopted the expedient of cutting a eellent results, and indications are not wanting that
square notch 4 in. wide and 4 in. deep in the over- t|1(1 jjrj71(ijnjr pan is destined to make good in this
flow weir of the classifier. The good classification e0untry. particularly where small units are desirable.
thus effected at the desired point is shown by the ^he slow progress so far made seems to be due prin-
following sizing: eipally to the fact that the construction which an-
Tabi.e I.— Sizing of slime overflow from classifier, being the swered fairly well when pans were used for amalga-
entire mill tonnage as sent to the agitator and Don mation has since been too closely followed where grind-
thickeners for treatment. in„. js tlu> 0bjPet aimed at.
Sizemesh- Percent. d^ B^k ^ manager, and Mr.
- 10 4- sn 1.1 . , . . ....
sn 10(J 1:!0 Kelso, the superintendent, tor permission to publish
100 j_150 10.0 the results obtained at the mill near Atlantic City.
March 7. 1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
419
A New Battery Frame
A large volume could be published on the subject of
battery frames, including those which have been sug-
gested, those discarded, and those at present preferred.
The constant effort has been to decrease the breakages
inherent in the stamp-mill, and to gain greater effi-
ciency in crushing. Including old and new installa-
tions throughout the world there are the following
types of battery frames: 'H' and A" frame of east
iron; 'A' front knee, and standard wood frame; Xis-
WORKING MODEL OK STAMPS IX NEW BATTEBY FKAME.
sen: Holinan pneumatic: reinforced concrete and iron
standards as tried at the City Deep on the Rand: and
'II' construction of box girders. Even this list does
not include all. The question of foundations bas been
all important in the framing: but concrete is rapidly
superseding everything else. Frames of wood are used
in the majority of mills, but due to sbrinkage of this
material, and its being somewhat elastic, the breakages
of cam shafts and stamp steins continue. Another
fault in battery framing is the joining of ore-bins to
the frame by timber which supports the cam and
feeder floors, and is also supposed to be a means of
stiffening the battery frame. Orebins are empty some
days and full on others. Consequently, various strains
are set up which result in the frame being pulled out
of line, which eventually reacts on the working parts.
Many efforts have been made toward constructing a
self-contained battery, and the accompanying cut
shows such a type as designed by A. D. Foote of Grass
Valley, and made by the Taylor Foundry & Engineer-
ing Co. The main battery posts are of cast steel
weighing 4.VK") lb. each. They are bolted to a concrete
mortar block. The cross pieces, holding the guides,
are planed at the ends to fit the posts accurately. The
cam shafts are 6V&. in. diameter; the stamps weigh 1250
lb. each, and have 3C>-in. stems. Such a battery is
self-contained, requires no support from orebins or by
knee framing, and will have no 'give'. It should re-
sult in a small repair bill. Ten stamps constructed
from this design are now working satisfactorily at
the Tightuer mine, near Alleghany, Sierra county,
California. Results of the performance of this plant
will be published when available.
Wet Crushing in BalllMills
By A. W. Allen
The wet crushing Krupp ball-mill is a machine whose
merits of high efficiency, combined with simplicity of
operation, have hardly been sufficienty recognized.
The mill itself does not differ materially from the
machine used for dry crushing. In addition to the
ordinary casing, the wet crusher is provided with a
water spray which delivers over the whole width of
the fine outer screening, just after the latter leaves
the trough at the bottom of the mill. This trough
consists of a spitzkasten in which the water-level is
maintained at a fixed, but adjustable, level by means
id' a constant overflow. The discharge from the
spitzkasten terminates in a 'gooseneck': and nozzles
of varying aperture are available for the purpose of
regulating the percentage of water that goes out in
the discharge.
A certain amount of classification takes place in the
spitzkasten. and advantage may be taken of this fact
by keeping the underflow separate from the overflow.
As the mill revolves, a certain amount of water is
caught and delivered into the centre of the mill, to
assist grinding. At the same time the outer screen-
ing is kept clear, and an immediate discharge of
ground product ensured by the large area of clean
screening exposed, the operation being helped by the
vibration of the mill. As in the dry-crushing machine,
the power is conveyed through toothed gearing. The
best work with the wet crusher is obtained on a uni-
formly compact ore. broken to about a IC.-in. ring.
A coarser feed is only feasible with a friable ore. The
wear on liners is high, but not disproportionate to. the
tonnage ground. A set of liners lasts about five
months: and. under normal conditions, the additional
steel consumption in a No. "> mill amounts to about
lti lb. pei- 'J4 hours, this being the maximum weight
of the balls used for grinding purposes. Outer screens
last for several weeks without attention; and instances
have been recorded where the mill has been run for
some months without a shut-down for any cause what-
ever. The correct feed is determined by the sound of
the mill: and the result of under or overfeeding is im-
mediately recognized by the experienced millman. The
feeder used is of the bumper type, and is capable of
delicate adjustment.
420
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914.
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are in-
vited to use this department for the discussion of tech-
nical and other matters pertaining to mining; and
metallurgy. The Editor welcomes the expression of
views contrary to his own, believing that careful
criticism is more valuable than casual compliment.
Insertion of any contribution is determined by Its
probable interest to the readers of this journal.
The Rand Banket
The Editor:
•Sir — The wealth of detail in the series of articles
by Mr. Horwood, together with the excellent photo-
graphs, makes local knowledge almost superfluous. I
have read the articles with much enjo.yment. At the
same time, some points raised are not quite convincing,
and. as the subject has been so fully and ably dis-
cussed by those with local knowledge, the doubts
raised by an outsider or any healthy criticism may at
least help to make the discussion interesting. The
most striking statement, to my mind, is contained in
the first 14 lines of the second column on page 965.'
In tlie course of exploration and prospecting work. I
have frequently noticed pyritic and other concretions
in sedimentary rocks, under such conditions as to
render the concretions devoid of economic importance.
but I have had no difficulty in understanding their
mode of formation, at least to my own satisfaction.
This matter of concretions has been fully discussed
by J. E. Todd in a paper read before the Geological
Society of America in 1903.- and, as the conditions pre-
vailing during the mineralization of the banket and
formation of buckshot pebbles are quite in accordance
with those required by Mr. Todd, and are those gen-
erally accepted, I see no reason in straining after a
mi. re complex origin, and rather wonder that the paper
in question has been overlooked apparently by Mr.
Horwood.
By the courtesy of the curators at the Geological
Museum. London, I have had an opportunity of handling
at leisure, the specimen marked 'Rietfontein Mine A.
Buckshot Reef." presented in March 1905, by F. 11.
Hatch, and I noted that the pyritic pebbles are hard.
irregularly disposed, and at times close together,
though never actually coalescing. The conditions
necessary for the formation of these buckshot pebbles.
I take to have been: (1) A slowly moving solution
because the pebbles are so very round, and this is fur-
ther confirmed by Mr. Horwood 's statement that the
replacement of quartz pebbles by pyrite in many eases
has been by equal volumes: (2) presence of nuclei
because of the irregular disposition of the pebbles; (3)
hot or concentrated solution— because the pebbles are
so close together.
As to the nuclei, \ have read Mr. Horwood 's earlier
paper on the mode of occurrence and genesis of the
iSee Mining and Scientific Press, December 20, 1913.
-•Concretions and Their Geological Effects.' by J. E. Todd,
Bull Geol. Society of America, Vol. XIV, pp. 353,388, Septem-
ber 12, 1913.
carbon in the Rand banket, but from the method of
collection adopted in the tests, it is impossible to say
whether any of the carbon was originally present in
the pebbles as nuclei, though it is possible.
In the summary on page 614.'! Mr. Horwood has evi-
dently forgotten for the moment the definite rejection
of the 'molecule for molecule' idea of Mr. Lindgren in
the paper he quotes. Radiate structure is, of course,
a common type of concretion. The growth of either
type of pebble is quite simple, once a start has been
made, but the starting is the interesting point, and
any further information of a definite character as to
nuclei in the one case or of the selection of particular
pebbles for replacement, when there are so many others
available, in the other case, will be welcome. There is.
of course, an appreciable difference in the specific heat
and conductivity of various kinds of quartz, as there is
between one and another mineral, and if the mineral-
izing solutions were in a sufficiently critical state, these
properties might be involved. However, there are
other possible reasons for the selection of particular
pebbles for replacement, and to these I shall now refer.
•/. U. Irving says:4 "The least easily attacked rocks
among the sediments are those containing high per-
centages of alumina," and R. B. Young, in discussing
Mr. Horwood 's paper on the carbon in the Rand banket,
says: "There is abundant evidence all throughout the
banket that aluminum silicates offer great resistance
to replacement by pyrite, if. indeed, they are ever re-
placed at all, whereas no constituent is more easily
replaced than quartz." He then goes on to give per-
fectly logical reasons why, owing to sub-capillary
spaces in the quartzite, these pebbles should be singled
out for attack. Against Messrs. Young and Irving.
there is Mr. Horwood's statement on page 678,; that
"pyrite more readily replaces silicates, such as those
of aluminum and the alkalies than it does quartz." In
the absence of definite proof, the contention of Mr.
Young and Mr. Irving seems more reasonable, and I
would ask Mr. Horwood whether he has dissolved any
of the replaced portion of these slaty quartzite pebbles
and proved the absence of aluminum silicates.
Evidently there is an intimate genetic association of
the gold, carbon, and pyrite. but. though the pyrite or
the carbon, particularly the former, might precipitate
the gold, the reverse may be. and possibly is. what
happened in both cases, that is. the gold may have
caused the precipitation of some of the carbon and of
the pyrite, as indicated below. Mr. Young has recorded
the association of much gold with a markedly unusual
amount of tourmaline. Also he says that muscovite in
sericitic aggregates or in large flakes is always present
in banket showing coarse gold. With tourmaline and
sericite. by reason of their mode of formation, we may
associate gelatinous silica, and we then have a favor-
able medium for the concentration or collection of
"Mining and Scientific Press. October 18. 1913.
(Replacement Orebodies.' .1. D. Irving, 'Types of Ore De-
posits," page 251.
■Mining and Scientific Press. November 1, 1913.
March 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
421
gold.6 and one, moreover, that might account for some
of the carbon. The carbon that Hues the fissures and
[ - "does not soil the fingers" is probably deposited under
pressure and at a considerable temperature in a man-
ner similar to the 'gas carbon' deposited in retorts
during the manufacture of illuminating gas.
I refer above to the authigenic tourmaline which, as
Mr. Young says,' forms the bulk of the tourmaline in
the banket, though there is some of allogenic origin.
In the matrix we also have a porous medium and one
which could impede the diffusion of the reducing hydro-
carbons, though not to anything like the same extent as
gelatinous silica, and so, while we would have precipi-
tation of the gold, it would be in a fine state of division,
though not ultra-microscopic. Much of the banket
gold is in a fine state of division. 1 am seeking in this
connection to establish a reason for the concentration
of coarse gold with sericite and tourmaline; high tem-
perature alone will not suffice, for the temperature,
etc.. necessary for the formation of tourmaline would
li«' unfavorable to the deposition of gold.
I am aware that Messrs. Hatschek and Simon, in ex-
perimenting with gold, only precipitated pure gold,
but they had precipitated various insoluble compounds,
and there seems to me to be no reason why an alloy
of gold and silver should not be precipitated, as has
been suggested by A. N. Winchell8 in another case,
under circumstances that might have prevailed at one
time during the mineralization of the banket. The
enrichment of replaced slaty quartzite pebbles could
be explained on similar grounds, the sub-capillary
openings providing the porous medium inducing a
preliminary deposit of gold previous to the replace-
ment of the pebble by pyrite : or the incomplete re-
placement according as to whether pyrite does or does
not replace aluminum silicate.
While on this matter of gelatinous silica, it is in-
teresting to recall a paper by W. M. Courtis," in which
he says, when trying to find some characteristic micro-
scopic features of rich gold-quartz as compared with
low-grade quartz: "From the examination of many
rich gold-quartz specimens, the conclusion was formed
that the quartz was in a gelatinous condition when the
gold was introduced." Mr. Hatschek. in the paper
already quoted, laid stress on the perfectly natural
fact, and one previously recognized in the case of
sandstones, that segregations in gels have a great ten-
dency to form a spheroidal shape.
On page 721"' Mr. Horwood quotes J. 1*. hidings,
but Mr. Iddings would not obliterate the rough out-
lines of pebbles in the way Mr. Horwood suggests, for
he (Iddings) says:" "Nor does it follow that curved.
«'Gels in Relation to the Deposits', E. Hatschek and A. L.
Simon. Proc. Inst. M. * M., Vol. XXI. April 18, 1912.
■ ■four, of Geol Soe. So. Af„ Vol. XII, page 83.
""Geology of the National Mining District, Nevada,' A. N.
Winchell, Mining and Scientific Press. November 23, 1912.
"'Gold Quartz.' by W. M. Courtis. Trans. Am. Inst. Mln. Eng.,
Vol. XVIII, 1889-90, pp. 639-644.
^"Mining and Nrientifii Press, November 8. 1913-.
or rounded, surfaces develop only through solution of
plane-faced crystals. There may be interference with
the regular development of crystal faces and plane sur-
faces due to irregularities of diffusion of crystallizing
molecules and also to the viscosity of the liquid."
If the coloration of pebbles is due to chromium, and
the presence of coloration is a measure of the richness
of the banket, then, an increase in chromium content
should show a diminished gold content, for gold is
much more volatile than chromium and would travel
farther from its ultimate source before depositing:
moreover, a marked increase of chromium would mean
an end of the gold. If. as suggested on page 811,12
the pyrite and gold were deposited from an eutectic
mixture, we would expect a fixed ratio between the
gold and pyrite. Does this exist ?
Another point in connection with this eutectic mix-
ture and one which, like the chromium, may be of im-
mense economic importance, where such vast interests
are at stake — and in any case is of great interest — be-
fore the eutectic point is reached one or other mineral
is usually in excess and is deposited alone until that
point is reached. If then the ratio of gold and pyrite
in an eutectic mixture is determined, we should know
that as soon as a point was reached in the lodes where
the proportion of pyrite — presumably the mineral
originally in excess — showed a marked increase, that
point would mark the vertical limit of the gold in
depth. In this connection it is important to differen-
tiate between a mere decrease in assay-value of the
lode, which might only indicate the approach of a poor
zone, and an increase in the proportion of pyrite to
gold. Mr. Young, in one of his papers, says: "In one
case there is not only a ring of pyrite surrounding the
carbon, but also another within the carbon itself."
From this it would appear as though the mineralization
was intermittent, that is. had been due to a pulsating
action, and so the Rand in common with other gold-
fields may yet experience alternating rich and poor
zones and eventually will come to ;m end: when this
will be. is a question for the men with local knowledge.
Stephen J. Lei
London. Januarv 1">.
Solution Control in Cyanidation
The Editor:
Sir — Mr. Allen, in his letter published in the Minimi
and Scientific Press, February 21. takes me as well as
himself much more seriously than T do. My statements
are in general qualified and I admit room for argu-
ment, upon which point only we seem to be in accord.
My letter in your issue of October 11, 1913, is couched
in the simple phraseology of the cyanide plant and does
not admit of misconstruction by an operator. Any
pretended misunderstanding as to the meaning of
"zinc in solution "or "throwing away cyanide solution"
is mere quibbling and evidently intended as a criticism
"'Igneous Rocks.' J. I'. Iddings, Vol. I, 1909.
^-Mining and Scientific Press. November 22, 1913.
422
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
of the writing rather than of the matter under dis-
cussion. I would respectfully suggest that the argu-
ment, if continued, be limited to the question of "di-
rect determination of free cyanide by titration with
silver nitrate." My contention is that it can be deter-
mined with a fair degree of accuracy regardless of
ordinary zinc content and alkalinity; and I further
contend that conditions may exist which do not per-
mit of the use of this or any other simple method. In
other words, it might be impossible for an operator to
determine free cyanide. I have been in such a posi-
tion and venture to assume others hare.
The success of this method depends largely on the
ability of the operator to detect a very faint but defi-
nite change in the transparency of the solution. Mr.
Allen's statement, "in the presence of zinc compounds
there is no definite end point to be observed," would
indicate that he neglected my "elementary" precau-
tion to have flask and solution perfectly clear. Refer-
ring to quotation from Clennel's 'Chemistry of Cya-
nide Solutions.' this work was written many years ago.
and I am inclined to believe that the quotation does not
apply to the point in question. At any rate, the
method has been used continuously for six or seven
years at a plant which has been for a considerable part
of the time under Mr. Clennel's supervision. Further-
more, it was E. M. Hamilton, who evidently enjoys the
esteem of Mr. Allen judging from his complimentary
reference, who first brought the metliod under dis-
cussion to my attention some six or seven years ago.
and I know from personal association with Mr. Hamil-
ton covering a period of years that he uses this method.
Does Mi'. Allen still most emphatically disagree?
James S. Colbatu.
Los Angeles, February 25.
Revision of the Mining Law
The Editor:
Sir — I believe there would be a greater activity
in prospecting if the United States mining laws were
fashioned after the Australian mining laws.
Owners of all mining claims should be required to
employ at least two men to every full claim of 600
by 1500 ft. The Australian law requires five men to
each 25 acres. All mining claims should be in dis-
tricts in charge of some mining warden or land office
agent. The title should be in the form of a lease for
21 years; the lease renewable at the end of that time
if the owners wish to continue work. If the owner
does not comply with the working conditions of two
men per claim for a period of 30 days, unless other-
wise granted exemption by the warden, the claim
should be considered abandoned and subject to re-
location by giving notice to the warden and posting
notice on the claim by the new locator. Re-location
by old owners should not be allowed. All United
States patented mining claims should be regulated
by state laws compelling the owners to develop the
ground.
I know that the miner or prospector at first will
consider a law of this character severe, but in prac-
tice he would find that it has many advantages, and
the state will be assured that its mineral resources
are not being shepherded by those who will not develop
them. The mining warden should have certain dis-
cretionary power, and in the case of the prospector
who is anxious to develop his claim a working time
limit could be given which would entitle him to ex-
emption for six months.
The principal fault with the United States mining
law is that it is too liberal, and the average locator
of a mining claim has concluded that his title was
secure when he put up his notice of location. He
throws a stone at a point where he guesses his monu-
ments should be, and files for record a statement of
discovery which does not exist. The prospector who
is honest in his location and does a certain amount
of work on a fair showing has too often been discour-
aged and abandoned his claim, or sold it out to some
local resident who holds the ground by a semblance
of work or by false affidavits as to assessment work.
I know of mining claims in California that have been
held for 30 years, and the total value of the develop-
ment during that time performed by so-called annual
assessment work amounts to nil.
It is true that there is but little new territory to
be explored by the prospector, and the young and
venturesome have no change. The so-called 'grub-
staker' or the grubstaked prospector did but little
to develop the country. There are as many men as
ever who are willing to do their own work and pay
their own way if given a chance, and if protected by
better laws when they develop a mine. The greatest
trouble is that there are any number of good mining
properties and undeveloped ground tied up either by
the United States patent or unpatented claims, owned
or pretended to be owned by people who will not de-
velop the ground or let others do so.
The mining territories of the United States should
be formed into mining districts, and the federal gov-
ernment or each state could well afford to keep up
a court, including a mining warden, clerks, and min-
ing surveyors, who for a small fee woidd adjust the
mining claims and titles under the new law. so that
the prospector would be protected in his claim so
lonjr as he performed the necessary work according
to law.
In my mining experience, extending for a consid-
erable time in Australia. I knew of no mining lawsuit
as to the title of the ground, and no disputes but such
as could be settled in the warden's court. In this
country it is safe to say that no development or dis-
covery is safe from any number of mining lawsuits.
and the owners are often tied up for years on the
questions of title. These conditions are all brought
about by our poor mining laws and constitute a great
disadvantage to the prospector.
H. C. Cai.i.aiiax.
San Francisco. February 12.
March 7, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
423
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and
give information dealing with the practice of mining,
milling and smelting.
of not affording means for transport of material by
overhead cranes. '"} 0 i
Slag produced at Mt. Morgan contains 4o% silica.
Horse traction has superseded electric traction in the
Mt. Morgan mine, as the latter system was too costly
and a source of danger.
Of 2,113,080 tons of ore treated during the last quar-
ter of 1913 by the Utah Copper Co.. 56% was handled
by the Magna, and 44% by the Arthur plant.
Stripping overburden at the L'tah Copper Co.*s prop-
erty during 1913. when 90% of the ore was mined
by steam-shovels, amounted to 4. S3"). 489 cubic yards.
Abrasive wheels, such as used in all machine shops,
should lie encased by steel plates, except ;it the point
used for grinding, to prevent their fixing and injuring
mechanics.
Wage reductions to meet the cost of insurance un-
der the Workmen's Compensation Act have been de-
clared illegal by the California Industrial Accident
Commission.
Carbide ash, that is. carbide after having been used
in a lamp, has a greater coefficient of friction than
resin, and makes excellent dressing for a friction
clutch that tends to slip.
Working time at the Great Cobar copper mines. New
South Wales, allowing for Christmas holidays. Sun-
days, abstentions, and minor accidents, only amounts
to about 290 days per year.
The deposit of niter on (amp creek, near Melrose.
Montana, while probably not of commercial im-
portance, affords an example of a nitrate deposit in
a region having a fairly heavy rainfall.
Associated with lead ore on the 600-ft. level of the
Shattuek-Arizona mine are small 'kidneys' of vana-
dium ore. Copper ore is also intermixed, and al-
though a complex ore. a method of treatment is being
devised.
Railroads caused nearly half the forest fires in Colo-
rado and Wyoming last year-, and nearly one-sixth
were started by lightning. In California, lightning
started more than half, with railroads a comparatively
insignificant cause.
Saw-tooth buildings have a low cost when compared
with any other type id' building. Complete with ce-
ment floor and roof, the cost is about $1 per square
foot. This style of construction has the disadvantage
Electricity plays an important part in the transmis-
sion of power in a modern cyanide plant. Tube-mills
and other machines may be arranged irrespective of
their position as regards line shafting, and ammeter
readings are a valuable check on power consumption.
They can be used as an indication of pebble load in
tube-mills, or for the purpose of estimating the thick-
ness of pulp in mechanical agitators.
Cup grease instead of white lead can be used with
satisfactory and economical results in air-line connec-
tions. Cup grease costs less per pound and the amount
used will be less in weight. In a large mine where air-
lines are being constantly extended, changed, and re-
paired, the saving effected will be no small item. The
economy in using some dressing in connections to pre-
vent the threads from rusting tight is apparent.
Compressed air is a useful and often necessary com-
modity around a modern reduction plant. One of the
reasons for its comparatively high cost is the fact
that small losses around the mill are unnoticeable,
although in the aggregate they may represent a con-
siderable amount of wasted power. A contributory
cause to such loss is the practice of laying compressed
air mains and branch connections underground. Valve
fittings and piping are liable to leak under such con-
ditions and such loss is unavoidable ami difficult to
detect.
Pulp agitation by most systems yields a higher solu-
tion of metal with a higher dilution. A thick pulp
generally means slow extraction coupled with in-
creased horse-power for agitation. The preferable
method is to agitate with a pulp of a thinness to
give maximum solution in the minimum of time, after-
ward dewatering before filtration. The efficiency as
well as the capacity of the filter is largely influenced
by the condition of the pulp. With a thin pulp con-
taining appreciable amounts of sand, the operation
of filtration is slow and inefficient.
Troubles usually encountered in the working id' a
wet Krupp ball-mill are mostly due to a variation
in the class of ore and to insufficient water-supply.
Unless the ore is uniform, it will be necessary to give
constant attention to tin' question of feed. A change
from fine to hard rock without a readjustment of the
feed will result in overloading the mill, with cumula-
tive ill effects. On the other hand, it is n ssary
that the water in the spitzkasten be kept at the re-
quired level. To this end the box should be supplied
with a valve operated by a float, connected with the
water-supply, in addition to the ordinary equipment.
Should the water-level in the box get below normal,
there will be an immediate drop in output from the
mill. As a result, the rate of feed will exc d the
rate of output and the mill will rapidly (don up.
424
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
.March 7. 1914
NEW YORK
Temiskaming Company's Affairs. — Tennessee Copper Report.
— Guggenheim Exploration Dividend. — Butte & Superior
Output. — British Columbia Copper Affairs. — Iron and
Steel. Oil and Gas Meetings of the A. I. M. E.
A storm is brewing in the management of the Temiskaming.
The annual report for last year showed gross receipts $438,500
and a net profit of $117,500, dividends during the year amount-
ing to $75,000. There is much dissatisfaction with this lean
shaving, and Hamilton B. Wills will lead a movement for
a change of control. He calls attention to the fact that the
present directors only hold together 1375 shares out of the
total of 2,500,000, and urges that the interests of the Com-
pany will be better served if its management is in the hands
of men who have a larger interest in the Company than
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in the stock market, and that a larger representation of
mining men is necessary. The mill is now treating 100 tons
of ore per day, and it is stated that the total gross cost per
ounce of silver produced is 42 cents. There would certainly
seem to be room for improvement in this, and it is openly
intimated that any new management could certainly do as
well as the old.
The Tennessee Copper Co. has made its annual report,
showing an output of 17,797,338 lb. copper, at a cost of
10.2c. per pound or $2.93 per ton of ore. Of this, 4,257,822
lb. was from custom ore. The acid production was 197,713
tons. The gross receipts of the Company were $1,158,503,
net profits $966,000, and dividends $450,000, the total surplus
now being $1,865,000. The announcement was also made that
the contract with the International Agricultural Corporation
had been modified, so that the excess of acid not required
by that Company will hereafter be marketed by the Tennes-
see company. There has been much discussion over this
contract, some of the International shareholders complain-
ing that they were burdened with a white elephant in being
obliged to take all the acid the mining company could make,
while the latter people point out that they have handled
it all right so far. The matter is settled now, anyway. Utley
Wedge has succeeded E. H. Westlake as vice-president, pre-
saging closer relations with the Pennsylvania Salt Manufac-
turing Co., that may perhaps open another market for the
Tennessee acid. Mr. Westlake has been active in the gold-
mining interests of the General Development Co., and now
that it has sold its dredging property in Colorado it may
be that this Company is planning to give some active atten-
. tion to South America, especially Colombia, where it has
been dabbling in gold properties.
It is reported that the Guggenheim Exploration Co. will
increase its dividend rate to 14'/f, or $3.50 per share. Cer-
tainly the Company has been doing well, and it has a surplus
of $24,811,000 over its $20,800,000 in shares outstanding.
The Butte & Superior continues to do well, and it is
stated that the output for February will be 10,250,000 lb. of
zinc, 260,000 oz. of silver, and 500 oz. of gold.
British Columbia shareholders seem to be in a good deal
of a fog as to what is going to happen to them after they
pay over their $1 per share for the new debentures of the
Canada Copper Corporation, and exchange their stock. In
a recent circular, Newman Erb assures them that the British
Columbia has no money in its treasury, and unless they do
fork out it is likely to lose its options on additional prop-
erty and therewith the money that has been spent on them.
Under the circumstances the minority shareholder feels very
much in the position of the Presbyterian: damned if you do,
and damned if you don't.'
At the morning session of the iron and steel meeting of
the American Institute of Mining Engineers, held on Febru-
ary 18, Albert Sauveur presided. The first paper was by
H. M. Howe and A. G. Levy, entitled, 'Notes on Plastic De-
termination of Steel During Overstrain.' The paper was essen-
tially a series of fine and instructive microphotographs with
explanations by Mr. Howe. The discussion was opened by
R. C. Carpenter, of London, who spoke at some length and
called attention to the work of Mr. Beilby. Brief remarks
were also made by H. D. Hibbard, Mr. Webster, W. S. Lind-
gren, and R. H. Sweetser, and the discussion was closed by
Mr. Howe. The exchange of international pleasantries be-
tween Mr. Carpenter on one side and Mr. Sauveur and Mr.
Howe on the other side, added to the good feeling. A. Sau-
veur's paper was 'Notes on Some Heating and Cooling Curves
of Carpenter's Electrolytic Iron.' The discussion by Mr. Car-
penter and Mr. Howe centred around the real existence of
the point A2 in the iron diagram. J. E. Johnson. Jr.'s paper
dealt with the Influence on Quality of Cast Iron Exerted
by Oxygen, Nitrogen, Etc' This was probably the most sen-
sational paper of the session. It was discussed at consider-
able length. Mr. Johnson showed a series of microphoto-
graphs, always two side by side, the two being of the same
chemical composition with the only exception that in one
the oxygen content was higher than in the other. In all
these pairs of diagrams the iron with the smaller oxygen
content showed the graphite in large flakes, indicating little
strength, while in the iron with the higher oxygen content
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
425
the graphite was broken up into smaller particles so as to
give a much stronger structure. The discussion was opened
by R. Moldenke, who said that he agreed with much that
was in Mr. Johnson's paper, but that he could not agree
with the main result that oxygen is beneficial. Mr. Hibbard
and Mr. Webster spoke briefly. Mr. Howe thought that Mr.
Johnson simply claimed that not the oxygen itself, but the
accompanying reduction of the graphite from large flakes
to smaller particles, was the really beneficial element. John
Howe called attention to the new test figures given by Mr.
Johnson which were not in the published paper and which
appeared to strongly confirm Mr. Johnson's claims. Bradley
Stoughton answered R. Moldenke and expressed himself as
being impressed with Mr. Johnson's results. In Mr. John-
son's microphotographs the irons with more oxygen have a
better structure. The oxygen may have an influence in throw-
ing the eutectic point to the right, though there is no evi-
ik nee to that effect, but only inference. W. Campbell sug-
gested a possible means through which throwing out of the
graphite (resulting in the all-important structure) might be
affected by the oxygen content. Mr. Sweetser and Mr. Hibbard
spoke briefly, and Mr. Johnson concluded, describing how re-
cently he had actually improved Iron by adding oxygen.
B. Hopkinson and Sir Robert Hadfield's paper covered the
'Research with Regard to the Non-Magnetic and Magnetic
Conditions of Manganese Steel.' In the absence of the au-
thors, the paper was read by J. W. Richards. It was dis-
cussed by W. S. Potter, A. Sauveur, H. M. Howe, and J. W.
Richards. 'On the Heat Treatment of Steel Castings,' a paper
by C. I). Young, O. D. A. Pease, and C. H. Strand, was pre-
sented by Mr. Pease. The discussion was by E. F. Cone and
John Howe.
C. M. Weld read by title 'Notes on Irou Ore Deposits near
Hongkong. China.' The concluding paper of the morning
session was presented by W. S. Potter on Manganese Steel,
with Special Reference to the Relation of Physical Proper-
ties of Microstructure and Critical Ranges.' This was a very
long paper with a great number of microphotographs. The
presentation lasted until 1:30 p.m., and the audience had
dwindled down to 14. including the author, chairman, and
the newspa|>ermen. There was no discussion, but the chair-
man. Mr. Sauveur. complimented the author on the enor-
mous amount of information contained in the paper.
At the afternoon session, J. W. Richards presided. The
'American Steel Kail Situation,' by R. W. Hunt, was read by
title in the absence of the author. 'Manganese Steel Rails,'
by Sir Robert Hadfleld. was read by title, and discussed by
W. S. Potter and J. W. Richards. Blast-furnace Operation
with a Turbo-Blower,' by S. G. Valentine, was the next
paper, with discussion by J. E. Johnson. Jr., J. W. Richards,
K. Nibecker. and L. Waldo. Some of the speakers doubted
the correctness of the figures given by the author, as being
possibly based on wrong calibrations of instruments. 'Gas
Cleaning at Duquesne Blast-furnace' was read by A. N. Diehl.
This rather Interesting paper elicited considerable discus-
sion which brought out a full account of gas cleaning at
the Edgar Thompson works of the Carnegie Steel Co. 'Pig
Steel from Ore In Electric Furnaces.' by R. M. Keeney, was
read by title. Mr. Richards expressed his great interest In
the paper. Heinrich J. Freyn's paper, 'On the 1'tilization
of Blast-Furnace and Coke-Oven Gas for Power Purposes,"
was an interesting and elaborate one, which resulted In
considerable discussion. The paper by C. B. Murray on Need
of Uniform Methods of Sampling Lake Superior Iron Ore,'
was read by title, but gave some extended discussion by Mr.
Kelley and Mr. Sweetser. to which Mr. Murray replied.
At the oil and gas meeting there was a large number of
papers read by title or in abstract. These Included 'Geol-
ogy and Technology of the California Oilfields.' by Ralph
Arnold and V. R. Garfias; Chlorides in Oilfield Waters,' by
C. W. Washburne; Water Intrusion and Methods of Preven-
tion in California Oilfields,' by Franklyn W. Oatman; 'The
Age and Manner of Formation of Petroleum Deposits," by
E. T. Dumble; 'The Killing of the Burning Gas Well in the
Caddo Oilfield, Louisiana,' by C. D. Keen; 'Is It Feasible to
Make Common Carriers of Natural-Gas Transmission. Lines?'
by Samuel S. Wyer: Rock Disturbances Theory of Petroleum
Emanations r. Anticlinal or Structural Theory of Petroleum
Emanations,' by Eugene Coste; 'The Russian Oilfields,' by
A. Adiassevich, presented in abstract by Mr. Coste; and an
illustrated address on 'Oil and Gas Sands' by I. N. Knapp.
The organic and inorganic theories of the origin of oil
were discussed by Mr. Coste, who favors the latter theory,
while Mr. von Hofer's paper backed the organic theory.
TORONTO, CANADA
Speculation in Stocks and Peterson Lake. — NipissinVs
Future Profits. — Schumacher and Dally Companies. —
Ikon Ore on Islands in Hudson Bay.
There has lately been a marked revival of activity in
the demand for Cobalt stocks, and a large number of the
cheaper issues have changed hands at advancing prices. The
most noteworthy feature was the sudden rise in Peterson
Lake, which about a week ago advanced from 25c. to 50c.
on the news of a discovery of high-grade ore on the former
Kerry leasehold, which is now being operated by the Peter-
son Lake. An old drift was followed from the Keewatin into
the conglomerate formation, where two veins, 3 and 4 ft. wide,
of high-grade ore were cut. On the strength of the demand
created by this find, about 200,000 shares were sold in one
day. The price has since dropped considerably, as the result
of profit taking by shareholders tired of waiting for div-
idends. While the lower-priced stocks are looking up, Nipis-
sing has been rather under a cloud and subject to depres-
sion, owing to the likelihood that the present dividend rate
of "'•..% per quarter may be cut. To maintain this rate
requires an annual profit of $1,800,000, and the present pro-
duction barely reaches that point. The output for 1913 was
approximately 4,600,000 oz., which was produced at a cost
of 17.39c. per ounce. This year it is estimated that the cost
will be at least 18c, while the average price of silver is
not likely to exceed 57e. per ounce, so that, allowing that
the output is maintained, the profit is calculated at $1,794,000.
As the management is disposed to be conservative and will
certainly provide against the possibility of running short of
funds for development, a reduction in the dividend rate
appears probable in default of important new discoveries
of high-grade ore.
The Schumacher, hitherto a private enterprise, which has
160 acres adjoining the Dixon claims and the Mclntyre, has
been incorporated with an authorized capital of $2,000,000,
and will put its stock on the market. Another new incor-
poration is the Lally Gold Mines, Ltd., which takes over the
Lally mine In Turnbull township, where considerable develop-
ment has been done and a quantity of ore is on the dump.
Machinery is ready for installation. The authorized capital
is $3,000,000.
The I'ngava Miners & Traders. Ltd., a Montreal company,
has been granted by the Canadian government 30 mining
claims on Clarke, Armstrong, and Curran islands in Hudson
bay, about five miles from the mainland on the eastern shore
of the bay. W. Tees Curran. the manager for the Company,
has made several exploring expeditions in that region to search
for minerals, and upward of $50,000 is said to have been
spent In work on the islands where extensive iron ore de-
posits have been found. The iron ore content of the beds
on two oi the islands, which vary from 7 to 15 ft. in thick-
ness, is estimated at 165,000,000 tons, and the ore is stated
to be of tine quality. An expedition will leave Montreal for
the islands before long.
426
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
-March 7. 1914
PORCUPINE, ONTARIO
Hollinger Meeting. — McIntybe Development. — Porcupine
Crown Dividend. — Crown Reserve Meeting. — Mann
Mike Sold.
The third annual meeting of the Hollinger Gold Mines,
Ltd., was held at Montreal on February 2, N. A. Timmins
presiding. The past year has been a prosperous one, details
of which were given in this journal of February 14. The
Mclntyre company is developing its lower levels from the
Pearl Lake shaft with good results. A vein 8 ft. wide has
been cut at the 600-ft. level. This is the deepest working
in the camp. The Porcupine Crown company has paid its
initial dividend of 3%, and will be put on a 12% per year
basis. The annual report shows a profit of $150,572. The
Company has added $124,048 to the value of its equipment
during the year. The president, Mr. Carson, stated that the
mill would shortly be treating 180 tons of ore per day.
At the annual meeting of the Crown Reserve, held at
Montreal on January 29, Mr. Carson, the president, announced
that it was proposed to continue the payment of dividends
on the present basis of 2% per month and to explore the
bottom of Kerr lake. Development work done during the
year was far in excess of any previous year's record, total-
ing 5345 ft. The production of the year was 1,776,678 oz..
and the net value of shipments $1,040,117. The profits were
$528,287. The Temiskaming is again shipping ore, several
short shoots of high-grade ore having recently been cut. The
main shaft is being sunk to 800 ft. Negotiations which have
been carried on for some time for the purchase of the Mann
mine, Gowganda, by an English syndicate headed by Claude
Maitland, have been satisfactorily closed, and the purchasers
have assumed control. The syndicate includes Sir John
Graham of Glasgow and Hudson Bros, of Newcastle, and
it is understood that they are preparing to spend a large
sum in development. The purchase price is said to be
$500,000.
In connection with new regulations concerning oil in Can-
ada, the Dominion parliament has been requested by the
British Goverment to adopt legislation prohibiting the export
of oil in time of war. New regulations have also been pro-
mulgated as to the disposal of petroleum and of natural gas
rights on Dominion lands, under which the price of leases
is fixed at 25c. per acre for the first year and 50c. per acre
for each subsequent year, the leases to last for 21 years, and
to be renewable for a similar term. The maximum area to
be leased to any one person is fixed at 1920 acres, and lessees
must have on their property an equipment to the value of
$5000 within one year and begin operations within 15 months.
Where several locations are grouped, the equipment need
not exceed in value $10,000.
LUNING, NEVADA
Situation, Ore Production, and Prospects of the Luning
Mining District. — Shipper, Luning Gold, Luning-Idaho,
Champion, Alameda, Copper Queen, Wagner Azurite, and
Anderson Mines.
The Luning district, that portion of Mineral county lying
east of Hawthorne and north of Mina, and the adjacent part
of Nye county, so named from the fact that Luning is the
natural distributing and shipping point for the territory, has
long been known to possess remarkable surface copper show-
ings as well as promising prospects for other metals. Until
recently development work has been of such a character,
and done in such a manner, that no real benefit has accrued
therefrom. Within 18 months, systematic development has
been started by well financed companies or individuals, and
in every case the results obtained have more than justified
the operators in their undertakings. During the past year
9759 tons of copper ore was shipped from the district. This
ore contained from 3 to 16% copper, 10 to 30 oz. silver per
ton, as well as small amounts of gold. A leaching plant is
now being constructed by the Wagner-Azurite company, and
local operators are awaiting with great interest the results
of this undertaking, as the successful operation of such a
plant, with its low treatment cost, as compared to the exist-
ing freight and smelter rates, will render commercially valu-
able a large tonnage of ore that cannot under present con-
ditions be worked at a profit. This will mean increased min-
ing activity, and the coming season should witness develop-
ments of note in this district. Ancient limestone, cut by mon-
zonite and granitic intrusions and flows, forms the surface
in the vicinity of Luning, though different local areas show
exposures of porphyritic rocks and later intrusions.
The Shipper Copper Mining Co. owns two claims situated
about 3% miles southeast of Luning. Control of the Com-
pany was secured by a group of operators from Spokane and
other towns of eastern Washington, in July 1913. and the
property financed for development. Traversing the claims in
a northeasterly and southwesterly direction are two, and
sometimes three, parallel outcrops. These are easily traced
for 3000 ft., and show commercial copper ore at intervals
throughout their length. They are in dolomite, though a
bed of blue limestone may ultimately prove to be the hang-
ing wall of the deposit. An incline shaft has been sunk to
the 400-ft. level, giving a vertical depth of 300 ft. below the
surface, and several hundred feet of laterals have been driven.
This work has demonstrated that the veins cut the limestone
beds at a slight angle and that the grade of the ore is im-
proving as depth is attained, though the veins still show
evidence of prolonged leaching action. Cross-cuts will soon
be driven to determine the width of the mineralized zone,
and work on a 3000-ft. adit will be commenced early this
summer. This will develop the property 900 ft. below the
present workings, and preliminary work has shown that ore
of a shipping grade occurs at the point selected to begin
work. The Shipper has produced about $17,000 worth of
ore during the past two years.
A reorganization of the Luning Gold Mines Syndicate is
complete, it having 13 claims situated about six miles north-
east of Luning. Extensive development has been done on
the property. Large bodies of ore have been blocked out,
of sufficient value to pay a good profit, could it be worked
on the property, but not of high enough grade to stand the
expense of shipment to Salt Lake. These veins contain gold,
silver, and lead. The veins run nearly north and south.
About two years ago a cross-vein was discovered, carrying
considerable gold and silver, and about $7000 worth of ore
has been shipped since, from above the 50-ft. level. Little
work has been done recently, but the Company expects to
start work on a larger scale soon and cut the vein with an
adit about 400 ft. below the croppings. The adit necessary
would be about 450 ft. long. On its completion the Com-
pany will be able to make a large production of ore that
will pay a handsome profit. Some of the former carload
shipments yielded $50 per ton.
The Luning-Idaho Mining Co. has 13 claims adjoining the
property of the Luning Gold Mines Co., and several of those
veins enter its property, and sufficient work has been done
to prove the continuation of the veins. The claims have a
good copper showing, and most of the work has been done
on the copper veins or deposits. The deposit is about 250 ft.
wide, and appears to have a granite hanging and quartzite
foot-wall, and can be traced on the surface for about 300<i ft.
The work done consists of several open-cuts, trenches, and
shafts, dug to determine the proper place to sink a working
shaft. A shaft is being sunk and is down about 30 ft., all in
."> to 12% copper ore. Sulphides are just making their appear-
ance. As soon as roads are completed to ore dumps, ship-
ping will be started. This seems to be a well defined vein.
March. 7, 19U
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
427
and should make a large producer with a small expenditure.
The Champion property consists of seven patented claims,
and has been developed to a depth of 400 ft. Considerable
ore has been shipped in past years, and there are about 2000
tons of commercial ore on the dumps at present.
C. R. Dwight and T. R. Davies have recently undertaken
the development of the Alameda property under a lease and
bond agreement. The 13 claims comprising this group in-
clude the old Lime Point mine that is credited locally with
a production of $800,000. The present operators are devel-
oping two veins whose outcrops are traceable on the sur-
face for about 2000 ft. These are apparently fissure veins
in limestone, and recent work indicates that the property
is one of great merit. Seventy-three tons of copper ore, car-
rying 8% copper and 4 oz. silver, extracted during develop-
ment work, was shipped to the smelter last month.
The Copper Queen group, consisting of 64 claims, has
recently lieen bonded by A. C. James and associates. Con-
siderable surface work has been done preparatory to in-
augurating an extensive plan of developing the promising
surface showings that were uncovered by Fermina Sarrias,
r»
R_£_G_q_N_
I_ D_ A _H O
3y«
MAP OF NEVADA.
the owntr. The ore occurs in the form of carbonates, oxides,
silicates, and some sulphides, occurring in the garnetized lime,
along its contact with the granitic intrusions.
The Wagner Azurite Copper Co. owns 16 claims adjoining
the Nevada Champion and Anderson properties, about four
miles east of Luning. By a system of open-cuts and shafts,
the property has been opened for a length of •"■, mile and
a width of 1500 ft., between a monzonite foot and quartzlte
hanging wall. The orebodies show strong on the surface,
giving an average of 2>i94 copper. The ore carries % oz.
of silver to 1% of copper, and also some gold. The work-
ing shaft, at present is only 100 ft. deep, with cross-cuts at
the ",0 and 100-ft. levels. With the present development there
is apparently 50,000 tons of commercial ore available. The
Company is now erecting a plant for the treatment of these
ores and expects to be operating within about 30 days. The
plant was designed by John D. Fields, and is to have a
capacity of 100 tons per day. It is a departure from the
usual leaching practice in that the ore is ground fine and
leached In a specially designed agitator containing an
acid-proof filter. The pulp, after treatment with sulphuric
acid, is treated by amalgamation to recover the gold and
silver content. The copper is recovered from the solution
by iron precipitation, but it is expected that electric power
will be obtained in a short time, which will permit the in-
stallaton of electrical equipment to produce the highest grade
of electrolytic copper.
The Anderson mine, situated 4*A miles due east of Luning,
was taken over upon a lease and bond by the Mason Valley
Mines Co. about a year ago. The Company has worked it
continuously since that time, and has shipped 6000 tons of
ore with an average copper content of Z% and 1 oz. silver.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Results in 1913. — A General Decline in Stocks. — Dividends
Paid. — Great Cobar Affairs.
The year 1913 is not one to be looked back to with pleasure
by holders of mining stocks. In view of the decline in
the price of the chief industrial metals, the drop in the min-
ing shares outside of gold mining is not surprising. The
Barrier, Broken Hill, shares show a decided fall. The de-
cline in the value of Broken Hill Proprietary shares amounts
to approximately $2,500,000, or about $2.50 per share, equal
to more than '!?,'', on the price ruling at the beginning of
last year. That is not, proportionally, the most serious de-
cline. Setting aside Junction shares, which have declined
from $2 to 60c, equal to a total drop of $280,000, for reasons
not connected with movements in the metal market, the
greater percentage decline has been in Block 14, which has
dropped almost $1 on a price of about $2.75 per share, that
is to say, over 36%, equal to a total of $100,000. Zinc Cor-
poration shares have not moved, and North have appreciated
slightly, a little over i' ', : but everything else has dropped,
the total fall for the 10 important big companies operating
in the field being $6,711,143, making the present value of
$42,886,610. The dividends paid during the year totaled
$7,170,124. or including investment companies dependent
upon the success of the mines, about $8,250,000. The Broken
Hill South paid its shareholders nearly $1,500,000 in divid-
ends, the North Broken Hill. $1,200,000, and the Proprietary
over $1,000,000; and the Sulphide Corporation, Zinc Corpora-
tion. Amalgamated Zinc, the Silverton Tramway Co., and
British Broken Hill, all between $500,000 and $1,000,000. the
three first named being much nearer the larger amount than
the smaller. Most of the shares in all the leading companies
are held in Great Britain and Rurope.
In view of the easing in the juice of copper, it is not
remarkable that copper shares have followed the lead of
the Broken Hill silver lead companies along the downward
path. The principal copper mines are, in Queensland, Mt.
Elliott and Hampden: in New South Wales. Great Cobar;
and in Tasmania. Mt. Lyell; and all these are materially
lower than they were a year ago. though it is only in the
case of the last named that the state of the metal market
must be held responsible. Among tin shares, the chief mar-
ket movements have been in those of the Ardlethan field.
New South Wales, where an unwarranted boom suffered an
ignominious collapse. Cold shares have not been much in
favor and have ruled generally lower. Among the companies
mentioned above as having experienced a heavy decline in
market values is the Great Cobar. The $25 shares a year
ago were as low as $1.25, and the accounts will probably
show loss for the year just ended. The Company has been
considerably overcapitalized.
428
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 1, 1914
ALASKA
Dogs are mostly used in Alaska for transport in winter:
but Pete Bucholz, of Fairbanks, who has gone to the Beaver
district, is trying to use a tame moose for this purpose. This
will be the first time that these animals have been employed.
Juneau
January gold returns from the mines working on Douglas
Island are as follows:
Alaska Alaska Alaska
Mexican. Treadwell. United.
Development, feet 34 252 1377
Stock of broken ore, tons .. +2899 —51,846 —19,924
Stamps working 120 540 240
Ore crushed, tons 19,656 69,930 37,039
Concentrate saved, tons .... 377 1445 742
Gold by amalgamation $20,593 $120,576 $41,614
Gold by cyanidation 18,635 75,785 27,437
Total realizable value 38,836 194,398 68,361
Estimated net profit 8,288 114,544 13,257
There was a loss of $247 in working the 700-Ft. claim, which
produced ore worth $1.53 per ton. Development in this prop-
erty, operated by the Alaska United, covered 1236 ft. The
work on the 1570, 1750, and 2100-ft. levels consisted of, prin-
cipally, skip-chute raises and cutting the station and orebins
at the central shaft.
Ruby
Mining on the creeks around Ruby is progressing fairly
well, according to E. C. Hill, United States commissioner at
this centre. Not so many winter dumps will be taken out
on Long creek as last winter, but the summer will be busy
enough. The Greenstone ground has been bonded by T. J.
Coffey and associates to J. Holmgren, Duncan Michie, and
Pete Jenson for $65,000, and great interest is taken in de-
velopments. Ruby is dull at present, owing to the number
of people going to new fields. About 400 went taking over
$200,000. Some are returning to the district, which produced
about $600,000 last season. This year's output will be higher.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
The Calumet & Arizona mine is sending 2200 tons of ore
daily to the smelter and stockpile. Transport of ore from
the Briggs to the Junction shaft by electric locomotives is
about to start. This line will be extended to the Hoatson. A
25-lb. rail is used in the C. & A. underground electric lines.
On the 1400-ft. level it is 3300 ft. long, and on to the Hoatson
will be another 2200 feet. Installing the pump at 1S00 ft. in
the Junction is under way, and is a trying job. Prospecting
on the 1400-ft. level is promising. Sulphide ore is soon to
be extracted from the Pittsburg & Duluth area, entered from
the Cole shaft. There is a large tonnage of oxidized ore
developed at 900 and 1000 ft. at this shaft.
Gir.v County
(Special Correspondence. ) — Experiments are still being
continued in the old mill of the Old Dominion, with the view-
to determining the method of concentration best adapted to
the ores, but it is anticipated that a definite decision will soon
be arrived at, and the remainder of the equipment necessary
for the new plant will shortly be ordered. In the mine, ore
production and development work are being increased some-
what. Motor haulage is being installed on the 1200-ft. level,
and heavy rails are now being laid and the trolley wire strung
along the drifts. Two new 3-ton locomotives have been or-
dered for this service. On the 1800-ft. level, the foundation
for a Worthington pump has been finished and the pump will
soon be working. Excavation for the big pump station on
that level will commence immediately, and a drift will be run
over to the 'A' shaft. Three furnaces are in blast at the
smelter.
Globe, February 21.
(Special Correspondence.) — The U. S. Reclamation Service
has the copper wire for transmission of power strung up to
the tower at the millsite of the Inspiration. However, this
wire has yet to be tightened and the insulators placed before
it will be ready for service.
Miami, February 21.
The Gibson mine has been acquired under bond and lease
by G. A. Whitford and O. B. Kemp, of Nevada and California
for J. R. Davis of San Francisco and B. F. Carney of Berke-
ley, California. A mill, using a flotation process, of 60 to 80-
ton daily capacity, will be erected. The mine, which is in the
Pinal mountains, 9 miles west of Miami, and 16 miles from
Globe, has produced $1,600,000 since 1906.
Fine samples of asbestos have been discovered in the Ash
Creek district, 35 miles northwest of Globe, by West & Sons.
The property of the London Arizona Consolidated Copper
Co., consisting of approximately 2357 acres of mineral lands,
is situated in the Banner mining district, in the recognized
copper belt of the state. The Globe district lies about 25 miles
north: the Hayden plant of the American Smelting & Refining
Co. is about 3'.j miles from the property, and the district is
served by the Phoenix & Eastern railway, a branch of the
Southern Pacific. The ores contain copper, with less impor-
tant quantities of lead and silver. The veins have been proved
to 1200 and 1400 ft. The property has been favorably re-
ported on by S. F. Parrish of Los Angeles, Henry Kehoe of
Spokane, E. W. Brooks of Los Angeles, W. B. Potter of St.
Louis, R. D. O. Johnson of Winkelman, Walter G. Swart of
Denver, and Edmund Juessen of San Francisco.
Reserves in the Southwest Miami, according to the superin-
tendent. Mr. Hoar, are 981,000 tons of 1.59J copper ore, and
probably 895,000 tons of 1.494 ore. The developed and proba-
ble ore is estimated at 4,294,000 tons containing 1.29> copper.
Drilling is to be continued with two machines, there being
funds for about six months.
A contract has been let to the General Electric Co. for three
6000-kw. turbo-generators for the joint power station of the
Inspiration Consolidated and International Smelting & Re-
fining companies. This plant will be between Globe and
Miami. C. C. Moore, of Los Angeles, will supply the steel
building.
Mohave County
Four shafts and other work has opened good ore in the
Arabian Consolidated mines, in the Union Pass district. Sul-
phide ore has just been reached in the Arizona Southwestern
mine, and the shaft is to be sunk within 30 days. Some good
copper ore is to be sent to the Copper Queen smelter from
J. J. Connolly of Bobtail Basin. The Rainbow Mountain Min-
ing Co.'s property, at Chloride, is opening well, especially at
400 feet. Shipments will be made soon. The ore contains
gold, silver, and lead.
Pinal County
(Special Correspondence.) — The management of the Magma
mine states that the company intends to build an aerial tram
from Superior to one of three points, Miami. Ray, or a point
on the desert to which a spur will be laid from the main line
of the Southern Pacific. The final choice of route depends on
several conditions, principally what encouragement the offi-
cials of Pinal and Gila counties give, and the terms and length
of contracts they will be able to secure from the three differ-
ent smelters involved, namely, the International Smelting &
Refining Co.'s plant now building at Miami, the El Paso smel-
ter, and the one at Hayden. The line to Miami would be 1".
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
42!)
miles long, that out on the desert would be 10 miles, and the
one to Ray would be the longest of the three. The con-
templated line's importance is best understood when it is
stated that the present rate paid tor freight from the Superior
district to the railway at Florence is $10 per ton, and that
the cost of delivering it by an aerial tram to Miami, for in-
stance, would be about $1 per ton. The line will not only
carry the Magma's output but will have a considerable revenue
for that company in handling of output of the entire Pioneer
district, and incoming supplies at only half the present
freight rate. Estimates have already been secured from steel
companies and the management has practically finished its
estimates, although it will not give out the approximate cost
of such a line. That to Miami, however, probably would cost
somewhere from $200,000 to $400,000, according to the size
of towers, weight of equipment, and general details of con-
struction.
Superior, February 28.
Yavapai County
In the Silver Cord and Brooks claims, gold-silver-lead ore
has been proved to continue for a great length by adits, open-
cuts, and cross-cuts. Rich gold-copper ore has been opened
in the claims owned by F. Williams and J. Hobbs, two miles
from Copper Basin. A deal is pending for 800,000 tons of
tailing of the Congress mine. Developments in the Pocahon-
tas mine have been good. Improvements at the Blue Bell mine
and Humboldt smelter continue.
CALIFORNIA
Occurrence of graphite has been reported at various times
from Calaveras, Fresno, Los Angeles. .Mendocino, San Bernar-
dino, Siskiyou, Sonoma, and Tuolumne counties, according to
F. McN. Hamilton, of the State Mining Bureau. In 1913,
Calaveras county produced 2500 lit. of graphite having a spot
value of $20 per ton. Save a small amount mined in Sonoma
county in 1901-2, this is the first commercial yield of the min-
eral. Prices vary from $10 to $200 per ton for impure and
high grades respectively.
Deposits of iron ore of varying size and quality are known
to exist in 31 of the 58 counties in the state. The pro-
duction during 1913 amounted to 2343 short tons valued at
$4485, as compared with the 1912 output of 2508 tons with a
spot value of $1 per ton.
A.MAIMIK Cor STY
Work on foundations for the new Plymouth mill is still
under way, and concrete is being poured. Several contracts
have been let for the plant, anions; which are the stamps and
boxes by I). I). Demurest Co.; two 8 ft. diameter by 22-ln.
cylinder Hardinge pebble mills by the Hardinge Conical Mill
Co.; and Isbell vanners by the lsbell Mining Machinery Com-
pany.
Bl"l it. Cot > i v
The Natomas Consolidated ot California, which operates
dredges at Thermalito, near Oroville, is taking steps to exter-
minate the mosquito there. Charles Thurman has men en-
gaged in pouring crude oil on the surface of the abandoned
ponds to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding.
Two dredges of the Oroville Dredging Co. recovered $5699
during the last week of .January.
El.OORAIlO Cor NTT
W. H. Friendhoff of the ('. S. Geological Survey, and E. L.
Scott of the Forest Service, have been examining mineral
claims on the Georgetown divide. A field deputy from the
division office at San Francisco, with E. E. Jones of the Forest
Service, is inspecting the forest reserve in the eastern part
of Eldorado and the northern part of Amador counties.
I xvo Cot NT Y
The annual report of the Tecopa Consolidated company,
operating at Resting Springs, shows that the Gunsite mine
produced 10,000 tons of ore worth $128,000. Of this, $40,000
was paid for freight. Net profits from this mine were $52,000.
The Noon Day produced 1000 tons yielding $1499 profit. Min-
ing cost from $1.66 to $3.62 per ton. The monthly payroll is
$4000 at present. A plant of 30 to 50-ton capacity, costing
about $25,000, will probably be built. This would concentrate
low-grade ores. The mines are opening satisfactorily. X. L.
Graves is president.
Nevada County
(Special Correspondence.) — A hoist with a capacity of 4
to 5 tons, from a depth of 7500 ft. on an incline of 30°. is to
be installed at the Empire mines. Grass Valley. A 60-stamp
mill will be erected during the current year: but the plans are
not yet complete.
Grass Valley. February 25.
On February 26, masked and armed bandits held up the
night shift in the Central cyanide plant of the North Star
Mines and stole from 50 to 100 lb. of gold precipitate worth
VIEW OK IIKASS VALLEY FROM EMPIRE MINT.
from $2000 to $3000. The robbers cut the telephone wires from
the plant, so that an early alarm could not be given. Evidently
they knew of the routine work of the mill, as a clean-up was
to have been made on the day of the robbery. A. B. Foote is
superintendent of the North Star Mines.
The men who robbed the North Star Mines cyanide plant
have since been captured.
Placer County
Over 4<mi acres of land in the Gold Hill district, in Auburn
ravine, has been purchased by I.. Gardella of Oroville, who
will drill it and erect a dredge (lining the current year.
SlSKIYOl' Col'NTY
The Hutte Dredging Co. is sending lumber and material to
Greenhorn gulch, near Yreka, and will construct a dredge
to cost $150,000, In charge of operations are L. T. Parkes of
San Francisco. B. F. Masten and E. W. Stebbins of Oakland.
Trinity County
Ten to twelve Inches of specimen ore and four feet of low-
grade material has been opened at a depth of 135 ft. in the
Democrat No. 1 mine, two miles from Weaverville. E. E.
Harrigan is owner of the property.
Tuolumne County
The O. K. group of claims, joining the Tarantula on the
north, have been bonded to Los Angeles people. Several men
have started work at the property. An experimental cyanide
plant is being installed near the Harvard mine, by W. H.
Staver. formerly of the Liberty Bell mine, Colorado. He will
show that concentrate can be more economically treated locally
than by shipping to smelters. O. E. Prestegard is assisting
Mr. Staver.
430
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
-March 7. 1914
COLORADO
Teller County (Cbipple Cheek)
The annual report of the Acacia Gold Mining Co. shows
that, with the exception of the south Burns shaft, the prop-
erty was worked by lessees. Fair ore was opened on No. 9
level at this shaft. Total receipts were $10,303, including
$2032 for royalties. There was a deficit of $4173 for the year.
Cash on hand amounts to $3358. R. MacKenzie is manager.
No annual meeting of the Jennie Sample Consolidated Mining
Co. is to be held; but the report shows that lessees mined
1440 tons of ore yielding $27,571, producing $4177 net royalty
for the Company. Cash on hand is $2341, with no debts. The
Beacon Hill property of the El Paso Consolidated is expected
to produce 3500 tons of $30 ore in February. A dividend of
10c. per share and 490,000 shares has been paid. Henry Mar-
tin, a sub-lessee at the W. P. H. mine on Ironclad hill, has
opened 12 ft. of rich ore between the 200 and 300-ft. levels.
This is supposed to be the faulted Harrison and Sevier shoot,
which produced $315,000 in' 1904.
Estimates of the February gold output of the district show
71,293 tons treated, worth $988, 57S. Dividends totaled $145,000.
IDAHO
Blaine County
There will be considerable activity in the Wood River dis-
trict in the spring and summer, especially at the Plughoff and
Reed at Glendale, Minnie Moore, Queen of the Hills and
Queen Extension, Croesus, Clipper, Hidden Treasure. Donahue
and Warning, Red Elephant, Bullion, Nay Aug, Boston-Idaho,
Boulder, Million, Independence, Noonday, North Star, and
others.
Shoshone County
On March 4 the Bunker Hill & Sullivan company paid divi-
dend No. 198, amounting to $81,750. Developments in the
Wisconsin mine, 2% miles northeast of Kellogg, are extremely
good, and if they continue, a mill will be erected later on.
Louis Bolduc is manager.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
Copper shipped over the South Shore railway during the
first three weeks of February shows an increase of about
720,000 lb. over the same period of 1913. The old Allouez
conglomerate lode has been opened by a cross-cut in the Frank-
lin mine, at a depth of 3200 ft., and contains more copper
than in the upper levels. On March 20, the Calumet & Hecla
Mining Co. will pay a dividend of $5 per share, amounting to
$500,000. The total paid to date amounts to $129,400,000. The
annual report of the Victoria Mining Co. shows the following:
Development, feet 7,42s
'Rock' hoisted, tons 159,565
Sorted out (14'/ I. tons 22.4(12
Copper production, pounds 1,42S,693
Revenue from all sources $228.:!:'..".
Loss on operations 7,494
Labor troubles caused the loss, but development and output
were ahead of the previous year. Seven Ingersoll water Ley-
ner drills, operated by one man each, were started during the
latter part of the year 1913.
NEVADA
According to A. F. Gegan, Nevada representative of the
Hercules Powder Co., and who covers the districts west of
Palisade, mining generally in the state is sound and steadily
increasing. The consumption of dynamite is considerably
heavier than a year ago. Goldfield is more active: Tonopah is
very busy; Manhattan is quieter, but will improve soon; Round
Mountain is developing well; Battle Mountain, Copper Canon,
and Kimberley are promising; Buckhorn has its new mill work-
ing; Yerington copper is temporarily quieter; more miners are
being employed at Luning, which is described in the 'Special
Correspondence' portion of this journal; and the Pioneer and
Good Springs districts are improving.
Chubchill County
The Nevada Hills mill produced $36,304 from 4415 tons of
ore in January with a profit of $6638. The loss in residue
was $1.41 per ton. Cash on hand and in banks is $51,682, and
total resources $194,003, with no liabilities. All litigation is
finished at a cost of $2500. An old ore dump was bought for
$5220 and is being milled at a profit.
E.S.MEBALDA. COUNTY
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Goldfield Con-
solidated Mines Co., held at Reno on February 26, a dividend
of 30c. per share was declared, payable April 30 to stockholders
who are of record on March 31. This will amount to $1,067,744,
making a total of $27,398,215 to date, equal to $7.70 per share.
The February yield of the Goldfield Consolidated was $344,-
000, from 26,774 tons of ore, with a net profit of $179,000.
Humboldt County
The Rochester Hills Mining Co. has a capital of $1,000,000
shares of $1 each, and operates a property producing silver
and gold ores at Rochester. The annual report deals with
the year 1913. A. A. Codd is president, and H. C. Zulch, mine
superintendent. The former's report states that this is the Com-
pany's first year and it has been entirely satisfactory. The
question of ore and supplies transport to and from the dis-
trict mines to Oreana, on the Southern Pacific, was solved
i*5*5?
yvA"v<in ''
■km
VEBTICAL section through VEIN. LOOKING WEST.
ROCHESTER HILLS MINING COMPANY.
by constructing a narrow-gage railway 41J. and a wagon-
road 9 miles long. The equipment consists of a Baldwin oil-
burning steam locomotive, a 60-hp. gasoline locomotive, two
fiat cars, 10 ore-cars, ore-bins of 500-ton capacity, depot, and
dwellings. The rails are 35 and 62 lb. per yard. This line
has been of great benefit to the Rochester district. With a
power-plant consisting of one 25-hp. Fairbanks-Morse oil en-
gine, a 240-cu. ft. per minute duplex air-compressor, six ma-
chine drills. Westinghouse generator of 50-light capacity, and
a U-hp. Fairbanks-Morse hoist, as much as 250 tons of ore
has been mined in a day. The mine is now 225 ft. below
the adit level, and a larger equipment is to be installed.
This consists of a 75-kva. generator, a 50-hp. motor and appa-
March 7. 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 431
ratus, a 9-drill, 2-stage air-compressor, drill sharpener, and the Iron Blossom. Development at 1900 ft. is encouraging, but
an electric hoist. During 1913 the sum of $43,959 was spent work has been stopped on levels between this and 700 ft. The
on equipment generally. The mine was developed by an annual report of the Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co. shows that
adit level, from which was sunk a 2-compartment shaft and ore shipments were worth $515,324, containing 7514 oz. gold,
manway. The shaft is 165 ft. below the adit. Levels have 417,279 oz. silver, 4,639,073 lb. lead, and 157,596 lb. copper, all
been driven every 50 ft. A rich vein, known as the East, increases on 1912. Development covered 3872 ft., at a cost of
about 300 ft. east of the present vein, is to be developed at $9.13 per foot. Net earnings were $147, 19S. From S to IS in.
an early date. of silver-gold-copper ore is being opened on the lowest level
Herman C. Zulch reported that development covered 2316 of the United Tintic mine,
ft. The accompanying section of the mine shows the ore SvLT lakk County
which is shipped at a profit, and the mill ore, which is from Larger crushers are t0 be installed at the Lark m„, of the
4 to 14 ft. wide, worth $12 to $16 per ton, and amounting ohjo Copper Cq The three un,tg Qf ^ p]ant haye a ^^^
to 25,000 tons. Late in January 1914 a shoot was opened on ^ m ^ ^ ^ day. ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ made
the hanging wall of the 150-ft. level, assay.ng $o to $8 gold ^ ^ ^ ,ncreased tQ ]0()0 tQns each Xe( earnings of the
and $40 to $87 silver per ton. Financial results were as utah.Apex MIning Co. for the last quarter of 1913 were $26145
follows: compared with $4S,752 in the third term. This decrease was
Ore shipped to smelter, short tons 9.167 dug tQ mogt Qf thg mjne bejug sealed in order to try to cap.
Gross value * • ture a bandit who was hiding there, bad weather preventing
Smelter charges, equal to $6.20 per ton 72,464 ^ an<J concentrate shi1)nients and a drop in the price of lead.
Transport, equal to $4.40 per ton 40,684 I)evelopment work nas been excellent. By April 1 the mill
Net return oVa-o W1" ^e treating 350 tons of ore per day. Twenty tons dailv of
Revenue in 1913 from ore and stock sales, etc 187,8.3 ^ carbonate Qre is bejng mined by Wa(]e and Tibby ,essees
Expenditure on all work . ao ^ ^ Co]umbus Consolidated portion of the Wasatch Mines
Cash on hand '• C() ,g property at Alla. Tne railroad from the smelters to
Nye County Wasatch has reduced transport charge from $2.05 to $1.75 per
Bullion taxes paid in the county during the September quar- ton.
ter of 1913 amounted to $37,157. Of this the Belmont company Summit County
at Tonopah contributed $27,650, part of which was due from At lne snake Creek tunnel the advance is 8V> ft. per shift.
1912, and the first and second quarters of 1913. The Clifford- Tne now of water is 2000 gal. per minute, but as it is warm
Nay mine shipped 49:>,n lb. of ore worth $2492 per ton during the men are not inconvenienced thereby. The face is at
the third quarter. On April 1. the Belmont company will pay present 1200 ft. below the surface. Excellent reports come
25c. per share, equal to $375.00(1. The shaft vein was opened trom the silver King Consolidated, especially from the 1550-
last week on No. 13 level, showing ■', ft. of good ore. The West ft ]eveI Twenty-five men are working at 800 and 1200 ft.
End shaft is to be sunk from 800 to 1000 ft. The new hoist in tne old Dalv nljne, and high-grade ore is being marketed.
recently raised 1550 tons with a 2-ton skip in 24 hours, costing From the American Flag, $46 to $50 ore has been sent to
1.7c. per ton. about half the cost with the old engine. At 698 Salt Lake city Tnis company has bought the Grasselli
ft. in the Montana, the Macdonald vein is 12 to 15 ft. wide, of ./im. piant at Park City, which will be overhauled and the
which 4 ft. is good mill ore. To permit of a survey being HoU ,,r0Cess installed. The snowfall at Park City in Janu-
made of the disputed ground, the Jim Butler and West End a,.y wa8 gj 2 In., and the greatest depth in the mountains
companies will suspend mining in the Eureka claim of the was 120 in npar Park city.
former until March 10. Probablv there will lie no litigation
tormer until ™a WASHINGTON
over the matter. •
SOUTH DAKOTA PlKK(K County
Governor Lister has ordered an investigation of the strike
of 400 laborers at the American Smelting & Refining Co.'s
Eastern people have acquired an option on the Far West sme,te]. ,u Ruston a town adjoining Tacoma, according to
and other claims in the Carbonate district. Water caused a adv(ces recelved ;lt Central Labor Union headquarters. The
suspension of work years ago. The Titanic company holds ,ndustrja, Workel.s of the World and Western Federation of
leases and options on several well know,, claims south of the mnen havp been interfering as usual. A shipment of 250
Far West, and is doing a considerable amount of prospecting. tong q{ Qn {rQm Cordova> A]aska containing ,;-,,, copper and
The Oro Hondo mine, situated about a mile trom Lead, and ]c q? ^^y ^ (on hag bppn n„.|ljv„(1 a, the gme]ter dnring
adjoining the Homestake on the south, is to be reworked by (hp wpek
John T. Milliken. of Cripple Creek. Colorado, under the man- CANADA
agement of Joseph E. Carr. The shaft is 1050 ft. deep and
almost full of water. This will I,.- baled out and the shaft British Coi.lmuia
sunk another 1000 feet. The provincial legislature is alive to the value of radium.
Porn u Cor.NTY and nas taken out of the ordinary mineral classification all
.. , ,. „ ,. „„, (q. nnn .„ ores containing this mineral. A reward of $5000 is offered
After drilling over 2000 ft. and spending trom $2;>.000 to , . ,
„ , „ ,,., ,. ; ,, ,,„ ■„_„ to anvone discover, ng such ores, the government reserving
$30,000 at Gettysburg, the Fox Oil < ". is drawing the inner ',, _> . , , . , ,.
,, , , to tself 50'r o the value ot the discoveries.
casing of the well. It is said that the well is not deep enough
to cut the oil strata and suitable drilling machinery was not Ontario
used_ All records for silver shipments. were broken ot, February
UTAH -■*• when the Nipissing sent 381 tons, containing 452,336 oz..
worth $260, 6S1. to England. At the Temlskaming mine, at
Juaii Coixty Cobalt, the shaft is down 710 ft. Below the Keewatin, in the
The Gemini mine, according to ,T. H. McChrystal, superin- diabase, a new series of veins is being opened. Eighteen drills
tendent, produced $600,000 from about 20.000 tons of ore in are working. The mill is treating 100 tons of ore per day.
1913. Of this, nearly $170, was from lessees' ore. The During January the Hudson Bay mine produced 1972 tons of
present output of the mine is 1S00 tons per month. Two hun- ore yielding 56,983 oz. silver, with S9% recovery. The tailing
dred tons of 7 to S'J copper ore is being shipped monthly from averaged 2.S oz. per ton.
432
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7. 1914
Coal Land — Purchase Price
Where a coal land applicant filed a proper application to
purchase, complied with the regulations of the Department as
to publication of notice, etc., and paid the price of the land
as determined by conditions then existent as to distance
from a completed railroad, he is entitled to purchase at that
price notwithstanding the subsequent completion, prior to
allowance of entry, of a railroad within fifteen miles of the
tract.
Minerals by Adverse Possession Again
The Supreme Court of Alabama (Black Warrior Coal Co. v.
West, 54 Southern, 200), by a four to three decision, held that
Milly West had no interest in the minerals in controversy.
Milly urged that her ancestor owned a piece of land upon
which one Garner entered adversely and after the statutory
period acquired title. Before the statute of limitation had
run, Garner conveyed to the predecessor of the coal company
all the minerals in the land. Garner maintained his posses-
sion. There was no actual separate possession of the miner-
als. She contended that Garner's deed operated a severance
of agricultural from mineral rights, created two separate
estates, was an abandonment of the possession of the minerals,
and, as the grantee failed to take possession of the minerals,
her ancestor's title to minerals was unaffected by adverse pos-
session, which confessedly ripened as to the surface.
The prevailing opinion appears to be logical. Why three
judges should dissent is not clear. May we surmise an innate
aversion to title by adverse possession (characterized by a
Western court as "title by larceny")?
The West case controlled four judges of the same court to
deny a right which seems rather to be fortified by it (Moore v.
Empire Land Co., 61 Southern, 940; opinion by Anderson J.,
who dissented in the West case). No opinion is expressed by
the other three members of the court, two of whom also dis-
sented in the West case.
In the Moore case a remote grantor of Kay while endeavor-
ing to acquire title by possession, conveyed surface to the pre-
decessor of a land company, and under that deed continuous
possession had been maintained with no one in actual pos-
session of the minerals. The court holds that when Kay con-
veyed the surface apart from minerals, this as a severance,
was a mere legal fiction, and in absence of actual possession
of minerals did not operate to sever possession of minerals
from possession of surface. The court states that "in the
absence of a physical severance, the possession of the surface,
and the holder of the surface, if the grantor of the mineral
right, or if the holder of the surface was the gran,'.ee of the
surface right, then he held the possession of the mineral right
for the benefit of his grantor of the surface right, but who re-
served the mineral right."
This appeals to us as a correct statement of principles
though the court adopts it with reluctance because announced
by a majority only in the West case; nevertheless the court
concludes that the land company has title to the minerals by
adverse possession. Can it be that one who holds "possession
of the mineral right for the benefit of his grantor of the sur-
face right, but who reserved the mineral right" can thus ac-
quire his grantor's reserved mineral right? Wherein is the
benefit to the grantor? Can one hold under a deed at the same
time that he claims adversely to it?
A possible solution of the apparent inconsistency is that
some possessor held under a deed that ignored the mineral
reservation and purported to convey full title; but this would
require consideration of other principles, and no such condi-
tion is revealed by the report of the case.
F. H. Morley is at Pasadena.
H. H. Webb is in San Francisco.
Dorsey Hager has been in San Francisco.
Edwin Higoins was in San Francisco Monday.
C. C. Broadwater has returned from New York.
H. C. Hoover has left for New York and London.
Reeves Davis, of Happy Camp, is in San Francisco.
J. D. Hubbard is at Chico, Butte county, California.
Charles Bitters was expected in San Francisco today.
F. C Ai. shore, of San Francisco, is in Arizona examining
mines.
Malcolm Maclaren is returning to London from Kalgoorlie
by way of India.
Gelasio Caetam was at the Plymouth mine, Amador county,
California, this week.
Harry G. Hann is drilling alluvial ground for the Lenskoi
Gold Mining Company.
W. H. Weed has been in Butte examining the property of
the Butte-Duluth Mining Company.
Stanley Harrold, who has been visiting California, will
return to Venezuela the last of the month.
P. F. Hare, manager of the Pierce Company, Ltd., dredge
at Pierce, Idaho, is in London. He will examine placers in
Peru.
Ferdinand McCann has gone to the Philippines to take
charge of the cyanide plant of the Keystone M. Co., at Aroroy,
Masbate.
Walter W. Bradley and Fred L. Lowell, of the California
State Mining Bureau, are examining mining districts in Tuo-
lumne county.
Howi.and Bancroft has gone to New York, and expects to
sail for Peru today. He will return to Denver at the be-
ginning of June.
Morton Webber, who has been in California, has gone to
Salt Lake City and Butte, from which latter place he will
return to New York.
F. McN. Hamilton and Errol MacBoyi.e. of the California
State Mining Bureau, have just returned from a tour of the
Mother Lode counties.
Robert S. Taylor, and Edward Rector are in San Francisco
for the Deister Concentrator Co. in connection with the Mine
& Smelter Supply Co. litigation.
W. H. Staver, assisted by O. E. Prestegard, is installing
a small experiment cyanide plant near the Harvard mine,
Sonora. Tuolumne county, California.
The Montana section of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers held its annual meeting at Butte on February 6,
over 50 members being present. The old officers were re-
elected. E. P. Mathewson is chairman; Frank M. Smith, vice-
chairman; and D. C. Bard, secretary. The above, with J.
L. Bruce and Oscar Rohn, constitute the executive committee.
After the business meeting the following papers were read
and discussed: The Drumlummon Mine," by C. W. Goodale:
Economy and Efficiency of Reverberatory Smelting.' by C.
D. Demond; and The Labor Crisis in Chile,' by Bancroft Gore.
During the period October 1 to November 30 there were
7251 men employed at the Lena Goldfields, Siberia, and
102,074 cu. yd. of gravel was mined. Only 10,161 cu. yd., aver-
aging $S.46 per yard, was washed on account of the winter
season.
.March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
433
New York Metal Market Review
In February there was a continuance of heavy copper ex-
ports, but a falling off in foreign buying toward the end of
the month, which, with a lessened domestic demand, caused
a decline in prices. There were heavy sales of lead, mostly
at low prices, and American metal was exported to London.
In spelter there was good buying in keeping with the greater
activity of the sheet mills, but it did not last long. Antimony
presented little of interest. There were some fairly good
movements in tin, some of which were largely due to manipu-
lation to which there was a reaction and this metal's reputa-
tion for violent fluctuation was maintained. Aluminum va-
ried but little in price, for the reason that foreign metal exer-
cised a steadying influence. In nearly all metals the early
days of the month saw advances, after which a steady de-
cline set in.
COPPER
Exports of copper in January and February were main-
tained and in the former month reached the big total of
35,566 tons. Following heavy buying, both foreign and do-
mestic, in the last few days of January, electrolytic stiffened
and advanced to about 14.75c. cash. New York, which was
quoted when February opened. Prior to the movement re-
ferred to the demand from abroad had been much the heaviest,
but in early February domestic consumers took the lead. In
the face of the advance came a puzzle for the trade in that
the American Brass Co. reduced its prices for brass and
copper products Vic. per pound. Various theories were ad-
vanced for this step, one being that the Company had bought
enough copper for its needs at a low price and was willing
to take a proportionate profit, while another was that it did
not concede the justification for the advance in price and had
decided to take a hand in the game and show its disapproval.
A second flurry of buying was a good one. though somewhat
spotty, quotations varying from 14.62'.j to 14.70c. cash, New
York, with Europe again figuring In a majority of the sales.
After the issuance on February 9. of the Copper Producers'
statement for January, which was favorable in that it showed
a decrease in stock of 4,142,182 Hi. and that domestic de-
liveries had increased over 26,000,000 lb. over those of De-
cember, though still short 20,000,000 lb. of normal, there was
some moderate buying of electrolytic, and the market settled
at about 14.62V.C cash, New York, where it stood until Febru-
ary 21, when it dropped to 14.50c. cash. New York, a price
made by second hands. Toward the middle of February it
became Known that the demand for brass and copper products
had eased off again and that some of the Naugatuck valley
mills had again reduced their working hours. Toward the
end of the month the market was quiet, although foreign de-
liveries were keeping up at a good pace. Throughout most of
the month the producers were holding ostensibly to their 'peg'
price of 14.87 L.c. delivered, cash 30 days, or 14.75c. cash. New
York: but, as already indicated, the metal was to be had at
lower figures, and toward the end of the month there was a
break in the peg price, and at least one producer had made
sales on a basis of 14.62V.jC. rash. New York. Second hands
would take 14.50c. or less. Lake was nominally quoted at
15c. throughout February, though sales of choice brands were
made at 15.12L.C. cash. New York, and 15.25c. cash. New
York. Lake was scarce and the producers were picking their
customers. Copper exports up to and including February 2fi
were 26,140 tons. The Waterbury average for January was
14.75c. per pound.
LEAD
At the beginning of February the American Smelting &
Refining Co. advanced its price 5 points to 4.15c, New York,
while the St. Louis quotation moved to 4.05c. Demand was
fair when the advance was made, but it eased off shortly after,
and with more definite rumors of government action against
the large interest, a declining tendency in London, and quiet
in the domestic market, it became apparent that lower prices
were to be expected. These expectations were realized on
February 11, when the New York price was made 4c. a drop
which was more than the trade looked for. despite the softness
which had prevailed. At the new price business was induced,
but many independent sellers withdrew from the market
rather than meet the low price. Later in the month they
offered to take business again, but consumers evidently had
filled up and there was little doing. The St. Louis mice had
dropped to 3.87 '»c. and remained there from February 11 to
near the close of the month. When the low prices were
established there came about what had long been expected,
the exportation of American lead to London. It was done
very quietly, and while the fact was confirmed, the amount
shipped could not be ascertained. It was regarded as natural
that lead should go abroad in view of the narrow margin be-
tween New York and London prices. The former, of course.
were shaded in what transactions there were. One reason for
sending lead abroad was the accumulation of a surplus here.
Still more exports are expected.
SPELTER
Starting at around 5.40c New York, and 5.25c St. Louis,
spelter advanced and in the second week of February reached
5.45 to 5.50c New York, the higher prices being predicated
on a much better demand from the sheet mills, which accom-
panied the better trend in iron and steel generally. Toward
the third quarter of the month the demand subsided and
quotations declined to 5.35 to 5.40c New York, with St. Louis
15 points lower. On the decline the West was pressing for
business, but not much was stirring.
ANTIMONY
In late January and early February there were fair quantities
of antimony taken, after which the demand eased off and there
was little of interest in the metal in the remainder of the
month. Quotations for Hallett's were uniform at 7 to 7.25c
Cookson's declined a few points. 7.20 to 7.25c being quoted
February 26. Chinese and Hungarian brands showed weak-
ness also, being quoted at 5.87'.;. to 0.12'.. cents.
PIG TIN
Although tin touched 41c early in February, its general
course was downward and the quotation for prompt on Febru-
ary 25 was 38.12 '-..c. The months buying was in fits and
starts and at times there was fairly heavy buying. February
3, for instance, probably 300 tons was taken in deliveries that
ran from spot to June, both dealers and consumers taking the
metal. February 4, between 500 tons and 70u tons was sold
at 41 to 41.25c, dealers taking many tons in an effort to hold
the market up. Thereafter dullness ensued and it was seen
that a decline was inevitable. The manipulation caused lack
of confidence on the part of buyers, especially those who had
bought when the higher prices prevailed. February 18 there
was a slight turn from the downward trend and about 200
tons was taken at prices that ranged between ;!9.25 and 39. Inc.
Immediately thereafter dullness was in full force again and
there were more sellers than buyers and the former were de-
pressing the market to make business. The only buying in
the week ended Fehuary 25 was of a band-to-mouth character.
The course of prices in London is indicated by the fact that
quotations on February 11 were £1X5 5s. for spot and ElNti
7s.fid. for futures, while on February 25 there were 1:17:] 10s.
for spot and S.'17."> 10s. for futures. Deliveries into consump-
tion in January reached the excellent total of 3600 tons, as
compared with 3700 tons in the same month of 191.'!. The
total visible supply January 31, 1914, was I I.N59 tons, which
was 888 tons above that of January 31, 191.1. On February 26
the arrivals of the month totaled 302(1 tons and there was
afloat on that day 297u tons. February deliveries into con-
gumption are estimated as between 2800 to 3000 tons.
■434
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
I <>( VI METAL, PRICES
San Francisco is not a primary market for the common
metals except quicksilver. The prices quoted below therefore
represent sales of small lots and are not such as an ore pro-
deer could expect to realize. Ore contracts usually call for
settlement on the basis of Eastern prices, less freight and
treatment charges. The prices quoted are in cents per pound,
except in the case of quicksilver, which is quoted in dollars per
Mask of 75 pounds.
San Francisco, March 5.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 1514 — 15 %c
Pig lead 4.25— 5.20c
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 42%— 41 c
Spelter 6% — 6'^c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7 >^ to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL, MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW" YORK, March 5. — Electrolytic copper is still weak, de-
clining from 14.25 to 14.15c. per pound. Exports from the United
States in February totaled 34,384 tons, against 26,767 tons a
year ago. The Miami February output was 3,393,400 lb. Lead
is steady at 4c. and spelter is easier at 5.15c. per pound. Tin
is quiet at 37.87 to 38.12c. and antimony is dull. In London,
copper is £64 2s.6d. for spot and £64 12s.6d. for futures, prices
unchanged. Lead is £19 17s.6d., off 2s.6d. Gold bars worth
$2,000,000 have been engaged for shipment to Paris from New
York, making $16,000,000 for the present movement.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of tine silver.
Date. ._ ...
Feb. 26 »J-»JJ
or D i .50
•• 28:::'.::.. 57.62
Mch. 1 Sunday
2 wires down
.", wires down 25.
4 5S.25 Mch. 4.
Monthly averages
1913. 1914
Jan 63.01
Feb 61.25
Mch 57.8
Jan.
Feb
Average week ending.
21 57. 58
28. " T.fi'l
4 57.46
11 .I,..) i
18 57.37
Apr.
May-
June
.59.26
.60.21
.59.03
.58
July
.53
Aug
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
COP
PER
1913.
.58.70
.59.32
.60.53
. 60.8S
.58.76
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound
Date.
IVh. 26. .
Mch.
.14.:
.14.:
1
9
Sunday
14.20
o
14.20
Average week ending
Jan. 21 1 1.03
•' 28 1 I.S.-
Feb. 4 14.59
" 11 14.61
" 18 14.55
•' 25 1 1.34
Mch. 4 1 L22
1913.
.16.54
. 1 4.93
.14.72
.15.22
.15.42
.1 1.71
Monthly averages.
1914
14.21
14.16
1912.
Julv 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15. (is
Dee 14.25
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June
Consumption of foreign copper in Germany in 1913 was
221,350 tons, according to L. Vogelstein & Co. The total in
1912 was 195,917 tons. Of the past -year's imports, 94,638 tons
came from the United States.
According to the Department of Commerce, imports of cop-
per and manufactures thereof for December 1913 amounted to
$3,142,810, compared with $4,609,063 for December 1912. For
the year ended with December 1913 the total was $44, 479. 56s.
compared with $44,315,525 for the year ended December 1912.
The exports of copper and manufactures thereof for December
1913 were $12,666,621, compared with $11,480,000 for December
1912. For the calendar year of 1913, exports were $144,909,117.
compared with $126,770,167 in 1912.
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver Is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and. as quoted weekly in this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by th.3 carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Week ending I Feb. 19 39.00
Feb, 5 39.00 •• 26 39.00
" 12 39.00 I Mch. 5 39.00
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May-
June
1913.
.39.37
.41.00
.40.20
.41.00
.40.25
.41.00
1914.
39.25
39.00
1913.
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Dec 40.00
1914.
LEAD
Lead Is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.0H
4.00
Average week ending
Jan. 21.
" 28.
Feb. 4 .
" 11.
" 18.
Mch.
zo.
4.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1913.
. 4.28
. 4.33
. 4.32
. 4.36
4.34
Monthly averages.
1914.
4.11
4.02
1913.
July 4.35
Aug 4.60
Sept 4.70
Oct 4.37
Nov 4.16
Dec 4.02
4.10
. 4.10
. 4.15
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
1914.
June 4*.
At the beginning of March 1914 neither zinc nor lead at
Joplin is selling as high as fchey did at the correspond-
ing period of 1913; but the outlook for better prices is fairly
good. At tli is time last year offerings were declining, and
man}- mines which were able to operate at tin- higher prices
that had prevailed were beginning to shut down. Zinc sul-
phide ores of 60',^ metallic zinc now sell for $41 to $44, basis,
with premium grades selling up to $47, these figures repre-
senting an advance of about $1 per ton over prices that pre-
vailed one month ago. Spelter at East St. Louis has been
holding fairly firm at $5.25 to $5.35 per 100 lb. For the cor-
responding week of 1913, zinc sulphides brought $45 to $48.
basis, with premium grades selling up to $51 per ton. Cala-
mine is in good demand at $21 to $23 per ton, basis of 40%
metallic zinc, with premium grades bringing up to $27. In
the corresponding week of 1913 calamine brought $24 to $26,
basis, with premium grades bringing as high as $33. Lead
ore remains unchanged at $50 per ton, basis of 80% metallic
lead, witli premium grades bringing as higli as $4 in excess
of this figure. Pig lead, at East St. Louis, is easier at $3.90.
In the corresponding week of 1913 lead ore brought $53.50,
basis, with pig lead quoted firm at $4.20. The entire dis-
trict is now producing about 4800 tons of zinc sulphide per
week, the average of which will be about 58% metallic zinc,
while much of it carries sufficient iron to warrant penalizing.
The calamine output is about 400 tons per week which will
average nearly 40% while the lead ore output is about 800
tons which will average almost SO per cent.
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands. St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Feb.
-2'
. 5.15
5 15
Mch.
28
1 Sunday
. 5.15
:, l .",
5 1 5
5 1 5
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
. 6.8S
. 6.13
5 94
M
onthly
1914.
5.14
5.2 2
. 5.23
. 5.00
Average week ending
Jan. 21 5.05
" 28 5.20
Feb. 4 5 25
" 11 5.25
" 18 5.25
" 25 5 20
Mch. 4 5.15
1913. 1914.
July 5.11
Aug 5.51 ....
Sept 5.55
Oct 5.22
Nov 5.09 ....
Dec 5.07
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin, since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
.50.45
.49.07
.46.95
.49.00
.49.10
.45.10
1914.
37.85
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
1914
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
435
LO
(By cable, through
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
March 4.
Listed. Bid Ask
Associated Oil as S 97} 98}
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 6s — "8
General Petroleum 6s. . 41 46
Unlisted.
Natomas t'onsol. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s...
Santa Cruz Cement 6s..
Union Oil
STOCKS
Listed. Bid Ask
Amalgamated Oil — 86}
Associated Oil 41J 42
E. I. du Pont pfd — 90
Giant 80 87
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd 70 —
Pacific Crude Oil 10c 30c
Sterling O. 4 D 1} —
NEVADA
85
Bid
Unlisted.
General Petroleum 4]
Noble Electric Steel 5
Natomas Consol 1}
Pac. Port. Cement —
Riverside Cement 60
Santa Cruz Cement 50J
Stand. Port. Cement 22
STOCKS
Ask
■->«
100}
90
88
Ask
5}
60
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
March 5.
Atlanta I .18 Montana-Tonopah
Belcher .80 Nevada Hills
Belmont. 8.00
Con. Virginia 11
Florence .54
GcldfleldCon 1.70 1
Qoldfleld Oro .11
Halifax 80
Jim Butler 93
Jumbo Extension 26
MacN'amara 10
Mexican. 1.10
Midway .37
Ml/. pah Kx tension .44
North Star
Ophlr
Pittsburg Silver Peak
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension ...
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada ....
Union
Victor
West End
Yellow Jacket
..11.00
.. .36
.. .38
.. .32
.. .37
.. .40
.. .11
. 1.70
. .57
. 7.00
. .11
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
March 5.
Bid
Allouez 8 41}
Ariz. Commercial 5}
Butte A Superior 35
Calumet 4 Arizona 87]
Calumet 4 Hecla.. 430
Copper Range 37}
Daly Weit 2}
Eaat Butte Ill
Franklin 61
Granby 84}
Greene Cananea 37
Isle-Royale 21
Mass Copper 3
Ask
42 Mohawk | 44
H Nevada Con 164
35| North Butte 28}
88 ! Old Dominion 53
435 Osceola 80
38 (Julncy S3
2J j Shannon 6|
11} Superior * Boston 2}
6j Tamarack 41
84} U. S. Smelting, com 41
:* Utah Con 10}
21} Winona 4}
Si Wolverine 45)
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. F. Hutton & Co.. Kohl Building.)
March 4.
Ask. I
Bid Ask
44}
16}
28}
53}
81
84
«
«1J
41}
111
4}
46
Bid.
Braden Copper... 7% 7*4
Braden 6s 153 158
B. C. Copper IU 1 »i
Con. Cop. Mines.. 2»4 2%
Davis-Daly 1% 2
Ely Con 4 6
First National ... »>i 3 >/s
Glroux 1 it
Holllnger 16 18
Iron Blossom.... 1 ',4 1 yt
Kerr Lake 4 s; t ".
La Rose 1 % 1 7i
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
Mason Valley
McKinley-Dar
Mines Co. Am
NIplsslBg 6 '^
Ohio Copper
San Toy
Stand. Oil of Cal
Tri Bullion
Tuolumne
United Cop. com.
Yukon Gold
Bid.
Ask.
3%
3%
1H
114
2>4
2*4
614
6%
hi
hi
1 5c.
22c.
341
343
%
hi
si
1
\i
%
3
3'8
Mi
Bid Ask
Amalgamated S 74 74}
Anaconda 35} 36
A. S. 4 R., com 87} 68
Calif. Pet., com 2K} 27
Chlno 41 i 42
Guggenheim Ex 53} 53}
Inspiration if} 17
Mexican Pet., com 67, 67}
rch
Bid Ask
Miami $ 22] 23}
Nevada Con 16 16}
Quicksilver.com 2 2j
Ray Con 20} 20J
Tenn. Copper 36} 35}
U. s. .steel, pfd 101 ; 101}
U. s. Steel, com 65 65}
Utah Copper 64 j 55
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell...
Alaska United
Arizona
California Oilfields..
Camp Bird
Cobalt Townslte
El Oro
Esperanza
Granville
British Broken Hill ..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shoe...
Great Boulder Prop..
Ivanhoe
Kalgurli
Mount Boppy
NDON QUOTATIONS
the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co..
New York.)
March 5.
s. d. I £ s.
7 6 Kern River Oilfields 0 7
10 0 Mexico Mines 5 2
2 6 Messina 1 12
0 0 Oroville 0 12
0 0 Pacific Oilfields 0 2
12 li RloTlnto 70 0
2 12 6 , Santa Gertrudls 0 16
0 15 0 Tanganyika 2 2
0 18 9 Tomboy 1 2
0 10 0
AUSTRALASIAN
Marcli 5.
£ s. d.
Mount Elliott
Mount Lyell
Mount Morgan...
Walhi
Walhl Grand June
/.inc Corporation, Ord.
£ s
3 15
1 3
3 ::
2 13
1 7
1 2
Current Prices for Ores and Minerals
(Corrected monthly by Atkins. Kroll & Co.)
The prices are approximate, subject to fluctuation, and to
variation according to quantity, quality, and delivery required.
They are quoted, except as noted, f.o.b. San Francisco. Buying
prices marked *.
Mln. Max.
Antimony ore, 50*. fk ton *S18.00 $20.00
Arsenic, white, refined, > lb 0.02} 0.03}
Arsenic, red, refined, fi lb 0.08 0.08}
Asbestos, chrysotlle 100.00 350.00
Asbestos, amphlbole 5.00 10.00
Asphaltum, refined, f, ton 11.50 20.00
Barium carbonate, precipitated, y\ ton 40.C0 45.00
Barium chloride.commerclal.fi ton 40.00 42.50
Barium sulphate (barytes), prepared, Tfk ton 20.00 30.00
Bismuth ore. 15* fi ton *260.00 upward
Chrome ore, according to quality, v ton 10.00 12.50
China clay, English, levigated, $ ton 15.00 20.00
Cobalt metal, refined, f. o. b. London, f, lb ,.. _ 2.50
Coke, foundry, ft 2240 lb 15.00 20.00
Diamonds:
Borts, according to size and quality, f carat 2.00 15.00
Carbons, according to size and quality, fi carat 55.00 XO.OO
Feldspar, f* ton 6.00 25.00
Firebrick:
Bauxite, ft M 175.00
Magneslte, ft M 190.00 275.00
Silica, * M 50.00 55.00
Flint pebbles for tube-mills, Danish, "# 2240 lb 21.00 22.50
Fluorspar, f, ton 10.00 15.00
Fullers earth, according to quality. » ton 20.00 30.00
Gilaonlte. f. ton 35.00 40.00
Graphite:
Amorphous, ft lb 0.01} 0.02}
Crystalline, ft lb 0.04 0.13
Gypsum, ft ton 7.60 10.00
Infusorial earth, y ton 10.00 15.00
Iridium 55.00
Magneslte, crude, ft ton 5.00 7.50
Magneslte, dead calcined, f> ton 20.00 26.00
Magneslte, brick (see firebrick).
Manganese ore, oxide, crude, ft ton 10.00 15.00
Manganese, prepared, according to quality, f! ton 30.00 70.00
Mica, according to size and quality, "f lb 0.05 1.00
Molybdenite, 90* MoS,, f) ton 500.00 750.00
Monazltesand (5$thorla). ~p ton 150.00 200.00
Nickel metal, refined, 19 lb 0.43 n.fio
Ochre, extra strength, levigated, f! 100 lb 2.00 2.50
Osmlridlum, ft oz 25.00
Platinum, native, crude, ft oz 30.00 45.00
Sllex lining for tube-mills ft -"240 lb 35.50 37.50
Sulphur, crude, fi ton 20.00 25.00
Sulphur, powdered, ft ton 30.00 :S5.00
Sulphur, 80%, pi ton 16.50 18.60
Talc, prepared, according to quality, ft ton 20.00 50.00
Tin ore, 60<t. ft ton 450.00 3C0.00
Tungsten ore, 65* 425.00 460.00
Uranium ore, 10% mln 25.00 per unit
Vanadium ore, 15*V,o3, f ton 150.00 I80.CJ
Wolframite (see tungsten ore).
Zinc ore. 60 * up.fl ton *15.00 20.00
4:50
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
Current Prices for Chemicals
(Corrected monthly by Braun-Knecht-Heimann Co.)
Prices quoted are for ordinary quantities in packages as
specified. For round lots lower prices may be expected, while
in smaller quantities advanced prices are ordinarily charged.
Prices named are f.o.b. San Francisco and subject to fluctuation.
Other conditions govern Mexican and foreign business.
Mln. Max.
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66°, drums, y 1001b 10.85 J1.10
Acid, Bulphuric, com'l, 66°, carboy, y 100 lb 1.25 1.75
Acid, sulphuric, C. P.,9-lb. bottle, bbl., y lb 0.13 0.18
Acid, sulphuric, C. P., bulk, carboy, y lb 0.09J 0.12
Acid, muriatic, com'l, carboy, y 1001b 1.86 3.00
Acid, muriatic, C. P., 6-lb. bottle, bbl., y lb 0.15 0.20
Acid, muriatic, C. P., bulk, carboy, y lb 0.10J 0.15
Acid, nitric, com'l, carboy, y 100 lb 6.00 6.50
Acid, nitric, C. P., 7-lb. bottle, bbl., y lb 0.16 0.22
Acid, nitric, C. P., bulk, carboy, y lb.» 0.12J 0.15
Argols, ground, bbl., y lb 0.10 0.20
Borax, cryst. and cone, bags, y 100 lb 3.00 4.35
Borax, powdered, bbl., y 100 lb 3.38 4.60
Borax glass, gd. 30 mesh, cases, tin lined, y 100 lb 10.50 13.50
Bone ash, 60 to 80 mesh, bbl., y 100 lb 5.50 6.50
Bromine, 1-lb. bottle, y lb 0.55 0.65
Candles, adamantine, 14 oz., 40 sets, * case 4.60 4.80
Candles, adamantine, 14 oz., 60 sets, y case 5.25 5.46
Candles, Stearic, 14 oz., 40 sets, y case 5.00 5.20
Candles, Stearic, 14 oz., 60 sets, y case 6.70 5.90
Clay, domestic fire, sack, y 1001b 1.50 2.00
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 100-lb. case, y lb 0.18 0.22
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 200-lb. case, y lb 0.18 0.22
Cyanide, 129%, 100-lb. case, y lb 0.22 0.261
Cyanide, 129*, 200-lb. case, y lb 0.22 0.26
Lead acetate, brown, broken casks, y 100 lb 9.00 10.50
Lead acetate, white, broken casks, y 100 lb 10.50 10.75
Lead acetate, white, crystals, y 100 lb 12.50 13.25
Lead, C. P., test., gran., y 100 lb 13.00 15.00
Lead, C. P., sheet, y 100 lb 15.00 18.00
Litharge, C. P., silver free, y 100 lb 11.50 13.60
Litharge, com'l, y 100 lb 8.00 9.50
Manganese ox., blk., dom. in bags, y ton 20.00 25.00
Manganese ox., blk., Caucasian, in casks, y ton 39.00 60.00
(85* Mn02— j* Fe)
Nitre, double refd, small cryst., bbl., y 100 lb 7.00 8.00
Nitre, double refd, granular, bbl., y 100 lb 6.50 7.50
Nitre, double refd, powdered, bbl., y 100 lb 7.25 8.00
Potassium bicarbonate, cryst., y 100 lb 12.00 15.00
Potassium carbonate, calcined, y 100 lb 7.50 9.00
Potassium permanganate, drum, y lb 0.10} 0.13
Silica, powdered, bags, y lb 0.03 0.06
Soda, carbonate (ash), bbl., y 100 lb 1.50 1.711
Soda, bicarbonate, bbl., y 100 lb 2.00 2.60
Soda, caustic, ground, 98*, bbl., y 100 lb 3.00 3.26
Soda, caustic, solid, 98*, drums, y 100 lb 250 275
Zinc shavings, 850 fine, bbl., y 100 lb 12.00 13.00
Zinc sheet, No. 9—18 by 84. drum, y 100 lb 10.20 11.00
♦Extra chaige for packing nitric acid for shipment to conform to
regulations.
BARNES-KING DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
This Company operates at Kendall, Fergus county, Montana,
anrl the profit and loss account from August 27, 1912, to De-
cember 31, 1913, shows the following: Gross earnings, $414.-
594;; expenses, $274,S89; balance, $139,705; other income,
$7910; total income, $147,615; less extraordinary expenses.
$17,709: leaving a net profit of $129,906.
NEVADA HILLS MINING COMPANY
This Company operates a mine and treatment plant at
Fairview, Churchill county, Nevada, the area being 107.5 acres,
and the report covers the past year. The report of E. A.
Julian, general manager, and Fred J. Siebert, consulting en-
gineer, contains the following information: Development
covered, 6243 ft., including 903 ft. of core-drilling, the total
to date being 35.660 ft. The Webber shaft is now down to
S54 ft., timbered with 10 by 10-in. Oregon pine. Through
prospecting along the Nevada Hills vein and its branches,
on the east and west sides of the Big fault, it appears that
the limits of the vein have been defined. On the west side
of this fault the Eagle vein was opened with encouraging
results. On the east side this vein was cut on the 650-ft.
level, and opened for 160 ft. in unprofitable ore. Thirty
feet above the level good ore was cut. Drilling .has cut the
Eagle vein at 800 ft., where the width and gold content Is
better than above. Reserves of ore should supply the mill
for another year. The mine produced 41,919 tons of ore
averaging $13.85 per ton, as follows: Nevada Hills vein
east of Big fault, 14,538 tons, worth $18.26 per ton; west of
Big fault, 11,793 tons, worth $12.47; and the Eagle vein,
15,588 tons of $10.78 ore; the total value being $580,468.
The cost of mining was $3.80 per ton of ore produced, or
$2.62 per ton of ore and waste produced. The stamp-mill
and cyanide plant yielded gold worth $510,413. with an aver-
age recovery of 88.4<7r, at a cost of $2,839 per ton. The total
expenditure, including development, mining, milling, mar-
keting bullion and concentrate, general, and construction,
was $333,448, leaving a net profit of $176,966. The Com-
pany's resources amount to $186,802, with no liabilities, con-
sisting of accounts and bills receivable, $50,763; cash,
$60,618; supplies, $43,602; concentrate and bullion in tran-
sit, $11,819; and gold in solution, $20,000.
MOUNT MORGAN GOLD MINING COMPANY, LTD.
The great gold and copper mine operated by this Com-
pany is situated in Queensland, Australia, and the report
covers the half-year ended November 30, 1913. The general
manager, B. Magnus, states that in order that the mine
may be in a position to supply the necessary concentrating
ore during the coming year, an undue proportion of pre-
paratory work had to be undertaken during the term. This
entailed close to 1700 ft. of driving and sinking, against
20S ft. in the previous period, and has naturally absorbed
a great number of miners. In the near future an extra 500
tons of ore per day for the concentrator will be required,
and the Company is trying to get the necessary number
of miners required to produce this, but finds great difficulty
in doing so, owing to the extreme scarcity of such labor
throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The aver-
age daily ore extraction during the six months was 840 tons.
The material mined was as follows: copper ore, 117,108:
sundry ores, 12,209; waste, 21,680; and filling sent under-
ground, 46,646 tons. Ore reserves amount to 1,285,000 tons
of high grade, 1,960,000 tons of low grade, and probably
another 3,000,000 tons of concentrating ore.
At the Many Peaks pyrite mine 35,769 tons of ore was
mined. The usual work was done at the Marmor limestone
quarries. At the coal areas, several thousand feet of dia-
mond-drilling has been done, proving large seams of good
coal, so it has been decided to open one of the properties.
The smelter handled 152.016 tons of mixed ores, yielding
4354 long tons of copper and 54,992 oz. gold. The revenue
was £496,936, and profit £172,846. Adding £46,591 from the
previous year, the balance was £219,437, out of which £27,883
was written off for maintenance, equipment, coal prospect-
ing, and experimental work: £24,707 for depreciation: £100.-
000 for dividends, and £66,847 carried forward. The reserve,
contingent, insurance fund, and undivided profit total £302,-
233. Experiments with concentration are still under way.
and the Minerals Separation recoveries corroborate those
of the Company's metallurgists. Four new boilers were
erected, others are being installed, while three turbo-blowers
and two air-compressors were erected. Contractors for the
new smelter building are considerably behind time. A
Dwight-Lloyd sintering plant is to be installed for the flue-
dust. A. A. Boyd is mine superintendent, and J. W. Motile
reduction works superintendent.
March 7. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
437
1,072,373. — Process of Producing Cyanogen Compounds and
the Like. Charles E. Acker, Ossining, N. Y„ assignor to The
Nitrogen Co., a corporation of New York.
Reacting on an impalpable amorphous carbide with a nitro-
genous reagent, at a temperature above 500°.
1,071,847. — Magnetically Operated Conveying and Dis-
charging Apparatus. Wylie Gemmel Wilson, Elizabeth, N. J.,
assignor to W. G. Wilson Co., Montclair, N. J., a corporation of
New Jersey.
An annular chambered conveyor casing having an inner cir-
cumferential wall of magnetic conductivity, an endless con-
veyor mounted in said annular chamber and provided with
pocket forming disks and soft iron pieces; and a rotatable
magnet structure mounted in the space inclosed by the inner
circumferential wall of the annular chamber.
1.074,192. — Slime Dewatering Gravity Device. Ira F.
Monell, Boulder, Colo.
A pulp classifying and slime thickening apparatus com-
prising a tank having a long narrow settling chamber divided
into a plurality of compartments each of which has an open-
ing in its bottom, the upper end of said narrow chamber
merging into a flaring current chamber, the opening between
said current chamber and settling chamber being reduced, a
plurality of baffle boards depending into said current chamber
and arranged over the compartments of the settling chamber
and means for restricting the capacity of said openings.
1,074,114. — Case-Hardening Process kor Articles of Iron.
Steel and Steei. Allots. Frederico Giolitti, Turin, Italy,
assignor to Societa Anomina Italiana Gio. Ansaldo Armstrong
£ Co., Genoa, Italy.
A process for case-hardening objects of iron, steel, and steel
alloys, comprising the following steps: packing the objects to
be treated in granular carbon in a retainer, heating the con-
tainer from an external source, passing a current of air
through the carbon, and adjusting the rate of flow to obtain
the desired concentration of carbon in the treated article;
the tem|>erature and duration of the treatment being kept
constant.
1,071,870. — Centrifugal Concentrator. Martin Prior Boss,
San Francisco, Cal.
A revolving separating basin comprising an outer pan having
l>eripheral discharges, an inner pan separated from the outer
pan to provide a water chamber between the two pans and a
crown ring on the top of the outer pan and shelving inwardly
over and beyond the rim of the inner pan, and separated from
the top of said rim to provide an annular space for the outflow
of the concentrate separated from the pulp to said inner pan,
against the inflow of an excess of water supplied to the water
chamber, said crown ring having a conical inner wall with a
continuous outward slope from its lower to its upper edge.
1.071,714. — Slime Concentrator. William F. Deister, Fort
Wayne. Ind.
Combination of a table having a mineral discharge edge in
its front side, and inclined downwardly from its head and up-
wardly from its rear side, continuous or unbroken riffles, ex-
tending from the head diagonally across the table toward the
front side thereof; means for feeding pulp directly into the
channel intermediate the riffles, means for the direct discharge
of concentrate from the table at the termination of the riffle
channels extending from the point of feed, and means for so
vibrating the table that the concentrate will move along the
riffles and away from the rear side of the table.
Quantitative Analysis. By Edward G. Mahin. P. 511. 111.,
index. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1914. For sale by
the Mining and Scientific Press. Price, $3.
Mr. Mahin, associate professor of chemistry in Purdue Uni-
versity, in writing this text-book on chemistry has attempted
"to present a theoretical and practical discussion of the sub-
ject, sufficiently simple to be comprehended by the average
student but not so elementary as to destroy his self-respect."
The first half of the book contains a general discussion of the
objects and methods of quantitative analysis, and the re-
mainder is devoted to methods of analysis of industrial pro-
ducts and raw materials. It appears to be a good, general text-
book which may be especially useful to students of industrial
chemistry.
A Reader of Scientific and Technical Spanish. By
Cornells De Witt Willcox. P. 58S. 111., vocabulary. Sturgis
& Walton Company, New York, 1913. For sale by the Mining
and Scientific Press. Price, $1.75.
As is indicated by its title, this book is intended for the
use of students in colleges and technological schools who are
engaged in the study of the Spanish language and expect to
practice engineering in countries where Spanish is spoken.
The book consists of nineteen chapters, each of which is de-
voted to a technical subject, such as: physics, chemistry,
electricity, steam, compressed air, mining, bridges, railways,
automobiles, aeronautics, etc. The chapters are abstracts
or excerpts from Spanish publications, chiefly from 'La
Fisica Moderna.' They are elementary in character and
written In popular style, but afford an excellent opportunity
for acquiring a technical vocabulary. The terms used in the
chapter on mining are not those in common use in Mexico,
so this part of the vocabulary would be of little assistance
to mining men in that country, although the technical terms
may be in use in Spain or the Philippines. The Reader' is
a good text-book for technical students In high-schools and
colleges, and also for engineers who are beginning the study
of Spanish.
The Sampling and Assay of the Precious Mktai.s. By
Ernest A. Smith. P. 4fi(l. 111., index. Charles Griffin & Co.,
Ltd., London, 1913. For sale by the Mining and Scientific
Press. Price. $4.50.
Assaying is a branch of metallurgy which has attracted
large numbers of students, consequently a good number of
works have been published on the subject. It may be said
that the majority of them have been worth while, and the
one under review can be included in that list. The author,
who is connected with the Royal School of Mines, London,
states that his book is primarily intended for students, hav-
ing been written chiefly at the request of his old students. In
the design and equipment of assay offices, modern practice is
discussed Including the style of building, machinery, and the
latest furnaces. Including coke, coal, and gas-fired, are de-
scribed. How to use a balance properly is explained in a
simple manner. Sampling ores and other products has been
discussed at great length in technical papers, and in this vol-
ume the author lias given late practice. While given at length,
the operation of assaying contains nothing new; but the
sampling and valuation of gold and silver bullion by dry and
wet methods has been carefully done. Chapter XXII covers
the assay of auriferous and argentiferous metallurgical pro-
ducts, chapter XXIII is on laboratory work in a cyanide mill,
while the last I'.ti pages thoroughly deal with platinum and
its allied metals.
438
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 7, 1914
Industrial Progress
The Progress of the Mineral Industry of Tasmania. Com-
piled by W. H. Wallace. P. 26. Hobart, Tasmania, 1913.
The Gold of the Shinari mp at Paria. By Andrew C.
Lawson. Reprint from Economic Geology, August, 1913. P. 14.
111.
Mining Laws of the United States and California. Cali-
fornia State Mining Bureau, Bulletin No. 66. San Francisco,
1914.
The Meteorological Aspect of the Smoke Problem. By
Herbert H. Kimball. Smoke investigation Bulletin No. 5. P.
51. 111. University of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania, 1913.
The Rand Banket. By C. B. Horwood. Reprint from the
Mining and Scientific Press. P. 76. 111. San Francisco, Jan-
uary, 1914. This series of articles has already received edi-
torial comment and been fairly well discussed in the columns
of this journal.
Commission on Conservation in Canada. Report of the 4th
annual meeting held at Ottawa. January 21-22, 1913. P. 23S.
111., index. Toronto, 1913. This report deals with an interest-
ing subject, and it contains the reports on committees on
minerals, lands, public health, forests, fisheries, game and fur-
bearing animals, and smoke prevention.
Hudson Bay Exploring Expedition, 1912. By J. B. Tyrrell.
Reprint from 22nd report of the Ontario Bureau of Mines,
1913. P. 51. 111., maps. An account of an expedition to Port
Nelson at the mouth of the Nelson river on Hudson bay to
select certain lands in that country, and information on the
character, resources, and possibilities of the district.
Production of Iron and Steel in Canada, 1912. By John
McLeish. P. 39. Department of Mines, Ottawa, 1913. Canadian
mines furnished 215,883 tons of iron ore during the year,
but the blast-furnaces consumed 2,090,753 tons, and steel
furnaces 43,006 tons. The pig iron output was 1,014,587 tons.
All departments of the iron industry showed increases over
1911.
United States Bureau of Mines publications:
Metal-Mine Accidents in 1912. Compiled by Albert H. Fay.
Technical. paper No. 61. P. 76.
Errors in Gas Analysis. By G. A. Burrell and F. M. Sei-
bert. Technical paper No. 54. P. 16.
The Use and Misuse of Explosives in Coal Mining. By
J. J. Rutledge. Miners' Circular No. 7. P. 52.
Notes ox the Prevention of Dust and Gas Explosions in
Coal Mines. By George S. Rice. Technical paper 56. P. 24.
Coal-Mink Fatalities in the United States. October and
November, 1913. Compiled by Albert H. Fay. P. 22 and 23,
respectively.
Mine-Accident Prevention at Lake Superior Iron Mines.
By Dwight E. Woodbridge. Technical paper 30. P. 38. 111.
A large number of men are employed, and an enormous ton-
nage of ore is mined from the properties in this area, and an
interesting account is given of occurrence of accidents, and
what is being done for their prevention.
Tests of Permissible Explosives. By Clarence Hall and
Spencer P. Howell. Bulletin 66. P. 313. 111., index. This
paper gives the results of tests of all permissible explosives
tested by the Bureau of Mines experiment station at Pitts-
burgh, between May 15. 1909, and March 1, 1913. An explosive
is considered permissible for use in coal mines when it is
similar in all respects to the sample that passed the tests re-
quired by the Bureau, and when it is used in accordance with
the conditions prescribed. A fee of $150 is charged for test-
ing any explosive.
IMPROVED HUNTINGTON CENTRIFUGAL ROLLER
QUARTZ MILL
Huntington mills are useful and efficient machines for
crushing fairly hard or soft ores which have been broken to
1 to 2-in. size, and reducing this to as fine as 50 mesh. The
mills are easily erected, and are especially useful for small
mines producing such ores. They are good amalgamators,
and recover a high percentage of gold inside without unnec-
essary flouring of the quicksilver. Some faults with the old
type of mill are the following: (1) roller shells work loose
and fall down: (2) the screen discharge is imperfect; (3) ex-
cessive wear of the ring die directly under the feed spout;
(4) short life of roller shells and ring dies; (5) uneven
motion of the roller shells due to wood wedges: and (6) poor
means of lubricating the roller shafts, resulting in regular
shut-downs to oil up and other troubles. The improved Hunt-
ington mill, manufactured by the United Iron Works of
Oakland, California, claims to eliminate these faults by (1) dis-
pensing with wood wedges and using a roller head turned
on a strong taper to fit the bored taper of roller shell; (2) the
screen discharge is all around the mill housing instead of
covering one-half of it; (3) a central feed is supplied which
discharges ore equally in front of each roll, making even wear:
(4) roller shells and ring die are double the usual thickness,
and are forged and rolled chrome steel: (5) shells and die
are machined all over; and (6) an oil hole extends right
down roller shafts and a cross hole drilled to meet this
one near the top of the roller head sleeve, and by a spring
grease cup the shafts are lubricated continuously for 24 to
4S hours, and only feeds while the mill is working. Standard
sizes of these mills are 3*4, 5, and 6 ft. diameter, weighing
7000, 14,000, and 22,000 lb., and with capacities of 10 to 20,
20 to 40. and 50 to 100 tons per 24 hours. This firm also
makes an ore feeder of the Challenge type suitable for feed-
ing its mill.
The California Exploration Co. has let the contract for the
New Plymouth Consolidated mill. It will include Demarest
stamps, two S ft. by 2-in. Hardinge pebble mills, and Isbell
vanners.
'Science has no enemy save the ignorant/
Whole No. 2799 Z™*Ti
San Francisco, March 14, 1914
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page.
. 430
440
EDITORIAL:
Notes
Louis Janin
Mining in China li"
ARTICLES!
The Globe Mining District. Arizona. .William L. Tovote 442
The Victorian Dredging Industry ■ • • • •• ■ ••••• J6U
The Smuggler Union Air Lift ^ alter L. Reid 4r>2
Leaching of Zinc Ore at the Afterthought Mine
Frank L. Wilson 453
(1. L. Sheldon 454
John H. .Miles 455
Will H. Coghill 456
Accidental Discoveries of Mines....
Winter Dredging in Idaho
Standardization of Terms. .........
Mining and Washing Brown Hematite ores ^ ^^ ^
General Rules for Safety ■••■■• tin
ore Treatment at the Camp Bird Mill. ........ .... 460
Precipitation and Clean-Up at the Lake \ lew j*1",^— m
Geologica! Notes on Port Arthur and Vicinity ./. _. .. ^
Production of Spelter in United States in 1913 476
Metal Production of the Daly-Judge Mine I. ,
DISCUSSION l
Underestimating the Cost nf Milling Plants.. „ . — — 46,
What Is the Matter With Prospecting?. . ../.^.Traveler 463
'".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..'...'......... 464
465
470
CONCENTRATES
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
GENERAL MINING NEWS
DEPARTMENTS:
Calendar of Society Meetings
The Meta^ Markets J'2
The Stock Markets Ji"
Recent Patents
Industrial Progress
474
474
478
EDITORIAL
VY 7E print this week the first part nf an elaborate
** paper upon the geology and ore deposits at
Globe, written by Mr. W. L. Tovote. whose earlier
papers on the Clifton-Morenci and other Arizona cop-
per mining districts will be recalled by our readers
with pleasure. The paper illustrates not only the care-
ful geological work that is now done as part of the
routine of American mining companies, but in its free
publication also evidences the generous attitude of the
Southwestern mining companies toward making public
facts of general interest and value.
O AFETY is being made the first consideration at an
*^ increasing number of works, and at the mines and
plants of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company
every effort is being made to impress upon officers and
men the paramount necessity of guarding life and limb.
A convenient book of rules has been prepared and
printed in English, Italian! Greek, and a Slavic lan-
guage, for circulation among the men. We print an
extract which exemplifies the practical character of
these regulations. A monthly bulletin is also published.
In it each accident is recorded with full details, and,
where necessary, simple sketches showing how similar
accidents are to be avoided.
CABLE advices announce that in the case before the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, involving
the question of infringement of the Klmore process by
that of Minerals Separation, decision has just been
given in favor of Minerals Separation. The matter
was discussed in our London correspondence of Febru-
ary 28, and earlier. While some of the points involved
were adjudicated in November 1909 in action before
the House of Lords, in which case Minerals Separation
won, the present decision is on appeal in the interest
of the Elmore process from a decision rendered July
24. 1911, in New South Wales, and involves additional
matters. The court of last resort now holds that the
Elmore (latent is valid, but "limited to any process of
separation in which oil is adequate in quantity and of
sufficient tenacity to entrap or coat mineral particles
in a watery pulp and to hold or carry such particles
until separation is effected." It is also held that "re-
spondents do not either directly or indirectly use the
invention claimed by appellants, but a process essen-
tially distinct, and that there is no infringement." In
the absence of the full text of the decision it is im-
440
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
possible to tell exactly what weight to place upon the
phrase "entrap or coat." The fact that the quantity
and tenacity of the oil is mentioned seems to indicate
that the court had in mind making sharp distinction
between the bulk oil notation of the Elmore process
and froth agitation of the Minerals Separation.
OPELTER production in the United States in 1913
^ amounted to 34G.676 tons, according to figures col-
lected for the United States Geological Survey, by Mr.
C. E. Siebenthal and printed this week. Comparison
of this figure with the 345,575 tons estimated by Mr.
Siebenthal at the first of the year and printed in our
issue of January 3 and the 356,146 tons estimated by
a New York contemporary January 10, would seem to
indicate that the staff of the Geological Survey is in
eloser touch with the metal producers than might be
inferred from the repeated insistence of the .journal in
question that the opinion of the Survey statisticians as
to metal markets is of no consequence.
/COMPLAINTS of the agriculturalist against the
^ miner are old as industry. Agricola wrote that
"the strongest argument of the detractors is that the
fields are devastated by mining operations" and quotes
many an ancient author. None the less, mining has
gone on steadily, as it will doubtless continue to do.
The world cannot get along without either grain or
metals and undue waste in either agriculture or mining
should be stopped. Without question, it will be de-
creased as attention is directed to the matter and to
the possibilities of improved methods of work are
learned. The dredge men and the valley farmers have
been in controversy both in California and Victoria,
and we reprmt this week the substance of a report
made to the Victorian Parliament upon the matter. It
must be confessed that it tends strongly to confirm the
claims made against the dredge men. If. however,
that represents the facts it is important to have it
fully and fairly stated. Our own impressions are to the
effect that destruction of valuable farming land by
gold dredging is relatively insignificant.
Louis Janin
Death of Louis Janin at Santa Barbara last week
removes another of that group of brilliant engineers
who contributed so mightily to placing mining in the
western United States upon a sound technical basis.
In our semi-centennial number, May 21. 1910, Almon
D. Hodges, Jr.. another member of this group, gave
a graphic picture of San Francisco and the Comstock
when the latter was at its greatest productivity. It
was a period when silver was apparently to be picked
up by the most inexpert, as had been true of gold be-
fore, and when the professional engineer had to climb
over a mountain of prejudice if he would reach the
lonely heights of the few who could demand big fees
for advice on technical matters. There were not many
who were soundly prepared to give such advice, and
among those few Louis Janin was by no means least.
Of French descent, American born, educated at Frei-
berg, and drilled in mining as actually conducted in
what was then the greatest scene of mining activity
in the world, Louis Janin built up a reputation for
skill and sound judgment that placed him in the very
front of the profession. He examined and reported
upon many of the properties throughout North America
that have since become most famous, and while
still young for such a mission he was called to Japan
to assist in re-making the mining industry of that em-
pire, even before the revolution, when the Shogun was
making the first attempts to acquire for that ancient
country the best of the knowledge and skill of other
lands. Janin 's advice was sought on all the big min-
ing lawsuits so long as he remained in practice, and
even in those later years when at the pleasant little
ranch at Gaviotta or among the idlers at Santa Bar-
bara he, as he jokingly referred to it, was "waiting to
die," many a request for advice and help found its way
to him from the largest interests. Louis Janin 's coun-
sel was sought because it was always honest, it was
always based on real study, and it was illuminated by
wide experience and much reading. His example was
a most helpful one. He took the responsibilities of his
profession seriously. To him mining engineering was
no mere glorified manner of scrambling into wealth,
but was ever a field for serious investigation and for
exercise of discriminating, responsible judgment. He
held his assistants to hard work. "Get the facts,"
was his repeated injunction, and the men who have
gone out from his service to make brilliant successes
in their profession, among whom Mr. H. C. Hoover
and Mr. John Hays Hammond may be mentioned, have
shown always the ability to get the facts which is the
first requisite to any sound report on a property or a
business venture.
Louis Janin was a many sided man, and neither space
nor time is available here for more than this brief an-
nouncement. At another time we hope to tell con-
nectedly the details of his most interesting life and
career. For the present we express sympathy with
his relatives and friends and our pleasure in belonging
in a calling that breeds up men with such professional
ideals.
Mining in China
Interest in China has been greatly stimulated of late
by a joint arrangement between the Standard Oil Com-
pany and the Chinese government to develop the petro-
leum resources of western China, and by the arrang-
ing for a loan of $20,000,000 under the auspices of
the American Red Cross Society, which is to be ex-
pended in conservancy work for the prevention of
floods along the course of the Huai river. This work
is to be done by the J. G. White Corporation, which
has an established reputation for engineering works
of large magnitude. The Red Cross Society and other
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
441
philanthropic organizations have for many years been
raising considerable sums for the relief of flood suffer-
ers in China, and it is an exhibition of admirable
intelligence which prompts the expenditure of money
to prevent the occurrence of suffering and at the same
time produce revenue, since the crop yield in the
affected region can be greatly increased by proper irri-
gation. Aside from its aspects of humanitarianism
and good business, this scheme has an even more im-
portant bearing on international relations. The great
American public knows little about China and cares
less, being content with the idea that it is the point
of origin of 'chop suey' and laundrymen. and is largely
inhabited by opium smokers and missionaries. As a
matter of fact, 'chop suey' is unknown outside the
American 'Chinese' restaurant, men do not do laundry
work in China except for foreigners, opium smoking
has been almost suppressed, and the missionary, with
his schools and hospitals, has been the most effective
agency in the renascence of that ancient empire. This
lack of interest is based on a lack of commercial re-
lations, and American participation in the recent loans
to China was a failure, largely because Chinese bonds
could find no market here, our Government did not
officially endorse the American banking group, and
there was no public sentiment which would urge the
Government to do so. The patronage of the far-reach-
ing organization of the Red Cross Society should be
able to reach that best possible market for bonds — the
small investor who is not trading in the general mar-
ket: and the widespread holding of Chinese securities
should develop in time a keen interest and more exact
knowledge of China in the American public.
The details of arrangements made by the Standard
Oil Company are, like most of the operations of that
concern, shrouded in obscurity. Out of the maze of
contradictory statements which have been made may
be gleaned the fact that a joint company is to be
formed in which the Chinese government will receive
a minority interest (said to be 40 per cent) in return
for securing such lands, working rights, and rights-of-
way for pipe-lines and railways as the Company may
require. Geologists and drill crews have already been
sent to Shensi, where the promising property at Yen
Chang ai0° E., 36°30' X.). formerly developed by
Chinese and Japanese, has been turned over to the
new Company. From this point west, northwest, and
south, for great distances, is an area which is but
little known, and which offers some promise at least
of developing oilfields of considerable importance. In
Ssu-chuan the Chinese have for centuries been using
the natural gas obtained from deep brine wells for the
purpose of evaporating the brine, but the amount of
oil here obtained is insignificant. It must be remem-
bered, however, that the f'hinese sought for brine, not
oil, and a better-directed search may have different
results. In any case, the action is significant, for three
reasons: it indicates the eonfidence of a well informed
business organization in the republican government,
it is a unique instance of a partnership between an
Oriental government and a foreign corporation, and
it may lead up to the development of a large new
supply of fuel oil and cause international readjust-
ments that cannot now be even guessed.
Despite these important happenings, mining in China
languishes as a whole. A single exception to this must
be made, for coal mining prospers, especially the mines
that are under foreign management. From now on
the coal industry will take care of itself, for the Chi-
nese are familiar with the profits that have been and
are being made, and are equally familiar with coal-
mining methods. Iron mining languishes for two rea-
sons. Whenever money for new railways is borrowed
from abroad, a 'rider' is attached to the agreement
providing that the equipment must be bought in the
country which furnishes the money. As a result. China
has become the greatest museum of railroad equip-
ment anywhere to be found. Because of this the Chi-
nese steel company at Hanyang has labored under great
difficulties, often being unable to secure specifications
on which to bid in competition with foreign makers.
The finances of the Company have been so poorly
handled that its control has passed into the hands of
Japanese bankers. The net result is far from encour-
aging to those Chinese who consider embarking in
the iron and steel business. Of mining for other met-
als, it may be generally said that the Chinese are un-
willing to grant concessions to foreign companies, hav-
ing learned better by numerous unfortunate experi-
ences, while it is impossible to raise much domestic
capital for mining ventures, since there are ample
opportunities for investment in enterprises with which
Chinese merchants are more familiar.
The most hopeful signs of progress are the recent
statements of Chang Chien. minister of commerce and
industry. Since 1900. numerous attempts have been
made to draw up a satisfactory set of mining regu-.
lations, without success. The most important defects
have been that the areas allowed to a mining com-
pany have been too small, a heavy royalty was de-
manded, and the conditions under which foreign cap-
ital could be invested in mines were so disadvanta-
geous that certainly no foreigner would invest in mines.
It is now proposed to increase the area to about a
square mile (ten times the former size), to collect a
tax on output rather than a royalty, and to permit
free dealing in mining shares, which would mean that
the control of companies could be secured by foreign
investors. The experience of the past two decades
indicates that a mine with modern equipment, but
under native control and management, lias almost no
hope of making much profit. If progress is continued
along the lines which Chang Chien lias mapped out,
there is good hope that the backward mining industry
of a country of great natural resources may at last
be galvanized into productive activity.
442
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
OLD DOMINION, LOOKING EAST.
The Globe Mining District, Arizona
By "William L. Tovote
The Globe mining district, Gila county, Arizona, is
one of the older mining centres of the Southwest, and
has seen boom and depression for more than the last
35 years. It is more flourishing now than it has been
for a long time, if ever, but an overboosting at the
Miami end for real estate and other commercial pur-
poses tends to turn this boom into a premature de-
pression. Silver mining was the start of the mining in-
dustry here, but today copper is paramount. The mines
of the district in order of production are the Miami,
Old Dominion, Black "Warrior, Superior & Boston, Iron
Cap, and Gibson. The Arizona Commercial and a few
old mines that bid fair to become successful producers
are in course of reopening. A number of prospects are
worked in a desultory fashion, some of them being of
decided merit.
Production and Reserves
The Inspiration Consolidated, with ore reserves up-
ward of 45.000,000 tons and a proposed production of
7500 tons per day, looms large as the probable greatest
producer in the future. The Miami and Old Dominion
each produce at present about 30,000,000 lb. of copper
per year. The former a little more, the latter a little
less, but the Old Dominion may possibly exceed the
Miami, when the remodeling of concentrator and hoist-
ing plant, now under way. is finished. Black Warrior is
now shipping 125 tons of 7% ore per day under lease-
hold. The Superior & Boston, after prospecting for
years the fault that dislocated the Great Eastern vein.
has recently picked up the displaced extension and
opened a body of promising ore and is getting ready
to ship 150 tons per day of about 6% ore. The Iron
Cap produces perhaps 600 tons per month of 8% ore
besides high-grade copper-glance ore with considera-
ble silver. The Gibson used to ship about 300 tons of
20% ore per month and is now being reopened, after a
short shut-down, under new management and getting
ready to build a mill and utilize the large accumula-
tions of low-grade ore in the mine and dumps. Arizona
Commercial, when ready, should produce about an
equivalent of 50 tons of 6% ore per day, but the de-
velopment has as yet not proved any large ore reserves.
The list of probable producers might be increased if
some of the prospects, especially at the Miami end. now
in the developing stage, prove sufficient tonnage and
commercial grades of ore. The district ranks at present
third in Arizona in copper production and close to the
Clifton-Morenei. W7ith the Inspiration coming into the
field and the modern improvements and expansion
under way now at the Arizona Copper Co. at Clifton,
both districts will contend for a while for this second
place, but Globe ought to outdistance Clifton ultimately
and even crowd Bisbee closely for first.
Outside of the copper, the silver production of the
district should show considerable increase, as several
of the older silver mines that gave birth to the camp
in the early seventies are worked under leasehold or
are in process of reopening, especially the great Stone-
wall McMillan vein, and the extremely rich ore found
locally augurs well for the future, even if some of the
veins are rather narrow and the ore bunchy. There
are furthermore, besides numerous copper and silver
prospects, some small gold veins and a few rather meri-
torious lead-silver, lead-copper-zinc, and zinc prospects.
Vanadium minerals and carnotite also occur.
General Geology
The geological history of the district starts with
marine deposits of Archean age. the Pinal schist. A
gap in sedimentation between these and the Cambrian
points to continental development. The Cambrian
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
443
Or.D DOMINION, LOOKING NORTHEAST.
shows submerging to deep-sea and subsequent risings ;
it is represented by conglomerates, silts, shale, lime-
stone, quartzites, and sandstone. The Silurian remains
unrepresented in spite of the fact that in the Clifton
district, not far away, unmistakable Silurian sediments
are exposed ; but it must be borne in mind that the
upper quartzite series, generally attributed to the
Cambrian, is not fossiliferous and might possibly be
of Silurian age, especially since the Devonian rests
conformably upon it. The Devonian is represented by
about 300 ft. of fossiliferous limestone, sometimes
gritty at the base, and continues without dividing
horizons. The same character of sediments (limestones
and calcareous shales with occasional sandy beds) con-
tinue through the Mississippian into the Pennsylvania^
Here sedimentation ceases, commencing again only
with the roughly stratified creek gravels and lacustrine
conglomerates of Tertiary or Quaternary age, here
divided into 'Whitetail conglomerate' and 'Gila con-
glomerate' (Ransome) by an intervening surface flow
of daeite.
There have been three main periods of volcanic
activity in this district. The oldest antedates the Cam-
brian and is represented mainly by granitic rocks,
named by F. L. Ransome, the Madera diorite. Solitude
granite, and Ruin granite. The second and most im-
portant, because connected with the ore deposition, is
of Mesozoic age and occurred after sedimentation had
ceased and erosion had had its turn. It included the
great diabase extrusion, followed by a smaller intrusion
of diorite-porphyry. and another outpouring of great
masses of granite-porphyry (Schultze granite). The
third and last is evidenced by great surface flows of
daeite. probably of Tertiary aire. There are rocks of
several smaller volcanic eruptions in addition to those
of these main periods. These include diorite-porphyry
sills of uncertain age. and basaltic lava flows, one of
Cambrian age and resting upon the Cambrian lime-
stone, and one of Quaternary age intercalated in the
Gila conglomerate.
Geological Structure
The structure of the district owes its present con-
figuration mainly to the great diabase extrusion, and
to subsequent faulting. Whatever faulting and dis-
section might have existed prior to the Mesozoic period
of volcanic activity, has been almost entirely obliter-
ated. The subsequent faulting and that following the
daeite outpouring was so tremendous in scope and
effect that -Mr. Ransome coined the term 'regional
brecciation' for the configuration produced by it. A
great massive of pre-Cambrian granite to the north of
the district, that sends out the two branches, the
Apache and Pinal mountains, served as an upholding
buttress, but between these granite-schist massives the
country collapsed, and irregularly detached masses of
sediments descend from their slopes, while a wide
fringe of the same sediments less disrupted surrounds
them on the outside. The Globe district embraces the
Apache and Pinal mountain country, while the Ray
district adjoins it on the west slope of the Finals.
How far reaching an influence upon the structure
the diabase eruption had, is best seen from the fact that
it added more material to the outer crust »i' the rocky
shell, than had been accumulated during the whole
Paleozoic sedimentation above the Archean Pinal schist.
The sediments amounted to about 2000 ft. and were
disrupted by sills, dikes, and intrusive masses, some-
times bodily shifted and perhaps almost floating in
the surrounding masses of semi-consolidated magma.
Two columnar sections. Fig. 1, showing approximately
the sedimentary column before and after the diabase
eruption, explain this better than words.
The reaction from this volcanic cataclysm caused
settling of the overburdened surface. Faults began to
dissect the country and ore genesis began in fissures.
These post-diabasic faults, important as scats of ore
deposits, have generally a northeast-southwest course.
A second period of intense faulting followed the out-
pouring of the daeite. These faults have generally a
444
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
-•■viSVJVsV. ■
" ^Jtp^t"- IAk.r **.
OLD DOMINION FAULT PLANE.
northwest-southeast strike and displace the older north-
east-southwest fissures. As a rule they are not pri-
marily ore bearing, but have sometimes followed planes
of weaknesses produced by diabase intrusions, and
might in this case comprise primary ore deposits. At
times secondary ore occurs along these faults near their
intersection with mineralized veins. The tracing of
these relative fault movements becomes more compli-
cated as some of the northeast-southwest faults have
been reopened during the post-dacite period of faulting,
as for instance the Old Dominion vein. Here the prob-
lem is perhaps even more complicated, as some facts
(the unequal distribution of diabase sills in foot and
hanging for one) point to an existence even antedating
the diabase intrusion for that particular fault.
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SKETCH 01 SEDIMENTARY COLUMN BEFOBE AND AFTER
SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN
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300
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600
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DIABASE ERUPTION. THE DIABASE SILLS ABE NOT UNIFORM, BUT
HORIZON AND THICKNESS.
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March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
445
WEATHERING OF THE DACITE AT GLOBE.
Some of the faults have individual throws exceed-
ing a thousand feet (the Old Dominion, for instance,
and others might have possibly several times that
amount) but it is scarcely possible to arrive at reliable
estimates in a country where sediments of originally
close proximity may have been shifted 1000 ft. by in-
truded diabase sills. The post-daeitic fault movement
caused concerted step faulting amounting to perhaps
6000 ft. between the Apache and the Pinal mountains.
Lower Cambrian sediments top the Apache granite
massive at an altitude of about 7000 ft., the top of the
Pinals at about the same elevation is granite and schist
stripped of sediments, while the lowest (16th) level of
the Old Dominion (elevation 2400 ft.) is still in Devon-
ian limestone overlain less than 200 ft. above by the
Cenozoic Whitetail conglomerate. On top of this rests
normally a dacite surface now overlain in turn by the
oldest rock in the district, except the Pinal schist, the
pre-Cambrian Madera diorite. here brought up by
overthrust faulting. This marks an overthrust there-
fore that lifted the block of Madera diorite at least
3000 ft. From this overthrust mass of Madera diorite
along Pinal creek to the main massive of the same rock,
a distance of about seven miles, stretches an unbroken
area of Gila conglomerate screening any further faults
or vein outcrops. But, assuming the overthrust antrle
of between 20 and 30° as constant, this would call for
a length of approximately two miles for the overthrust
movement, a distance which might coincide with that
to the lowest structural depression between Apache
and Pinal mountains.
Types of Ore Deposits
There are three types of ore deposits represented in
the district: (1) mineralized fault fissures; (2) dis-
seminated sulphide impregnations in fracture zones;
(3) irregular metasomatic bodies of secondary ore.
The first type was first explored and is generally gen-
etically the oldest. The second attracts more atten-
tion at present. The commercial value of the second
lies in copper exclusively. For the first type copper is
the commanding metal, but it includes also deposits of
silver, lead, zinc, and gold. The third is sometimes so
closely linked with the first as to form only a local
phase due to conditions of complex Assuring and adapt-
ability of country rock. In this case the secondary
minerals are partly at least derived from primary sul-
phides oxidized in situ, but it forms also an indepen-
dent type in the Black Warrior and the Geneva mines,
where chrysocolla, derived most likely from the oxida-
tion and erosion of the neighboring Miami-Inspiration
orebody, replaces the lower horizon of the dacite. here
resting on Pinal schist.
Mineralized Fault Fissures
These fissure veins have their main representative
in the Old Dominion, the first mine operated in the
district, and the one most thoroughly explored. It is
Fill. 2. IDEAL CROSS-SEI riON THROUGH EAST EM) OF OLD DOMINION
VEIN. NOTE THAT THE THICKNESS OF THE UPPER QUARTZITE
HERE IS APPARENTLY ABOUT 800 FT., FAR IN EXCESS OF THE
400 TO 450 FT. GIVEN BY F. L. RANSOMK.
446
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
opened by four shafts, named A, B, C, and Kingdon.
The first three are in the foot-wall, the last in the
hanging wall. Its lowest level is the 16th, about 1400
ft. below the collar of A, the main working shaft.
The Old Dominion vein is not a simple fault-fissure,
but a complex system of roughly parallel northeast-
southwest veins, which alternately join and separate.
The main vein has an individual throw of over 1000
ft. in the west end of the mine, a throw that lessens
considerably toward the east, where at the same time
its tendency to split in several branches becomes more
pronounced. It has a dip of about 65° to the south,
while generally the northeast-southwest veins of the
district dip rather to the north, with dips from 35 or
40° up to nearly vertical. Outside of the system of
veins linked with the Old Dominion there are a number
of similar systems in close proximity as well as scat-
tered over the district, but most of them have not re-
ceived more than scant attention.
The East End
Along the eastern extension of the Old Dominion
system of veins and some of its branches are situated
the Grey mine, Copper Hill mine, Iron Cap mine (Iron
Cap and Williams shafts), the Eureka shaft of the
Arizona Commercial Copper Co., and the Superior &
Boston. None of these mines has developed orebodies
approaching in size or richness those of the Old Do-
minion. There is a gradual change in character of ore
from the west end of the Old Dominion toward the
Grey mine that points to a difference in genesis, while
the Grey mine and the mines farther east are surpris-
ingly similar. The outcrops here are as a rule either
in diabase or in some of the Cambrian quartzites,
though sometimes at the contact of these two rocks.
"Where diabase is the country rock the outcrops con-
sist of discolored and weathered diabase, sometimes
containing lenses of rusty quartz and stained brown
or black by oxides of iron or manganese. The upper-
most part of the veins, sometimes down to several hun-
dred feet, are barren, with the exception of some minor
veins that contain considerable in the form of chloride
and bromide, more rarely native silver, at the grass
roots : but these veins have not shown much in depth,
so far as they have been tried. Their prospecting
does not allow of a final conclusion, but they might
possibly form a type somewhat distinct from the gen-
eral copper veins notwithstanding that they blend de-
cidedly into each other. Manganese stained outcrops
are a good indication of silver.
The copper veins proper are, as mentioned before,
usually barren and leached in their upper levels where
diabase forms both walls. Farther down, oxidized cop-
per minerals begin to appear as well as the oxides of
manganese and iron. The gangue as a rule is altered
diabase, whose feldspar is first saturated with and then
replaced by copper salts. Inclusions of brecciated sedi-
ments in the vein usually cause a concentration of
metals. The copper minerals are principally mala-
chite and chrysocolla, azurite being rare.
Sometimes a transition zone with native copper and
cuprite appears at the bottom of the oxidized zone, but
this is lacking in many cases. Where quartzite or
limestone, and to a lesser degree, where a diabase-sedi-
ment contact forms the walls of the vein outcrop, cop-
per ore begins right at the grass roots. Sometimes
traces of diabase mark the vein in these sediments, but
as a rule the existence of intrusive diabase dikes is
rather hard to prove in the zone of surface alteration.
The copper minerals are chrysocolla, malachite, cuprite,
brochantite, melanochalcite, and copper pitch. Native
copper, so plentiful in the Old Dominion mine, is rather
scarce in these veins. The metallic minerals replace and
pervade the crushed sediments, apparently causing a
concentration of silica in quartz grains and first at-
tacking the calcareous or aluminous components of
the country rock, but ultimately even replacing ap-
parently pure quartz. Veinlets of manganese oxide
(wad) accompany the ore and micaceous hematite or
limonite are practically universally present, intimately
mixed with the ore or disseminated or in stringers
through the sediments. Zones of enrichment show
large accumulations of silicious iron oxide, usually
limonite, with irregular bunches of copper minerals
throughout this mass. Where these veins change from
a quartzite to a diabase country rock in depth, a barren
zone usually follows below the quartzite, sometimes
for several hundred feet at a stretch, but micaceous
hematite continues in most eases. Exceptionally, the
case has been observed where the vein outcrop in
quartzite was barren, the ore beginning in the diabase
below, but this vein might possibly belong to a different
period of mineralization.
In depth these differences of mineralization of the
outcrops disappear and the veins are dikes of diabase
between walls of sediments on both sides, diabase and
sediments, or diabase on both sides. The gangue is
prominently micaceous hematite with subordinate
quartz, siderite, dolomite, or calcite. The ore is a mix-
ture of pyrite, chalcopyrite, and bornite in this gangue.
Chalcocitization is as a rule not much in evidence, but
exceptionally bunches of almost pure chalcocite are
found, accompanied as, for instance, at the Iron Cap
by much silver due to an admixture of argentite. Here
an imitation of structure approaching pseudomorphosis
after hematite can be observed.
The Old Dominion Mine
The Old Dominion vein has been considered a fault-
fissure with diabase foot and sedimentary hanging wall.
This is not exactly correct, but approaches the fact, as
an intrusion or sill of diabase at least 1200 ft. thick
forms the foot-wall for a great part of the mine. But
actually the vein can be included between diabase foot
and sedimentary hanging, diabase foot and hanging,
or sedimentary foot and diabase hanging wall. It con-
tains three ore-shoots as far as explored: the central
orebody — the oldest and biggest — and the east and
west orebodies more recently opened. The central ore-
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
447
body has an exceptionally strong surface cropping of
silicions limonite between diabase foot and Devonian
limestone hanging. The other two show no surface
indications.
The east orebody approaches a simple fissure vein
in character. Hematite is not abundant, in fact rather
scarce. The gangue is an intrusive diabase dike with
inclusions of crushed sediments, principally quartzite.
The diabase is not everywhere easily recognizable and
quartz grains included in it sometimes suggest the ad-
mixture of an acid porphyry. But I have never been
able to identify acid porphyry beyond a doubt, and
usually the quartz grains, sparingly as they occur, are
of rounded outline or in seams, being therefore prob-
ably either of sedimentary origin included in the fault
breccia or vein quartz.
0<?/ <«■
. : -. -. v : ■■•■■■• :--2'J*4/*\ "
/</">le*/4>/ .'/. v -,V
/oo ft
Fit;. .'J. IDEAL CROSS-SECTION THBOL'Oll KAST OREBODY, I.\ THE
LOWEST PRESENT WORKING. SHOWING THE DIABASE DIKE AS
THE ONLY SEAT OF ORE.
The lowest level, the 16th. has a Cambrian limestone
foot-wall and Cambrian upper quartzite hanging wall,
the former not altered at all, the latter slightly re-
crystallized and invaded by sulphides only for a few
feet from the vein, if at all. Between both lies a dia-
base dike up to 100 ft. thick, and this dike contains the
ore. Sulphide impregnations and small veinlets extend
fairly well all through it, lint along certain zones
marked especially by kaolinization and serpentization
rich shoots of bornite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite occur.
These sulphides penetrate included slabs of quartzite as
well as the diabase dike.
While the oxidized part of the vein, except where
limestone forms the hanging wall, parallels very closely
the veins farther east, both the transition zone of native
copper and cuprite as well as ehalcocitization are very
prominently developed. The sedimentary blocks in
the vein show a lagging behind the diabase; that is,
they parallel the barren diabase and ore-bearing
quartzite outcrops farther east. Oxidized ore appears
■ Vpper
■ :'Qvcrr/-z;/-e
Fig.
4. IDEAL CROSS-SECTION THROUGH THE OLD DOMINION IX
LOWER LEVELS OF THE CEXTBAL PARI' OF THE MINE.
in the diabase at greater depths and then is not as rich
as in the sediments, which seem to have absorbed by
migration and replacement a great deal of the ore
originally contained in the diabase. Chalcocite ore in
diabase occurs side by side with native copper-cuprite
ore and even malachite in the quartzite, and rich sul-
phides in the quartzite parallel pyritic ore in the
diabase.
The central orebody differs from the east orebody
in that bornite is not found at all here, while it is al-
most paramount there. Chalcopyrite is exceedingly
rare. The sulphide zone starts in with secondary chal-
cocite and grades into pyrite. Native copper is fre-
quently intergrown with chalcocite in the transition
zone of the vein, and sheets and flakes of the metal
impregnate the diabase country rock often for con-
siderable distances. The central and west orebodies
also diverge widely from the straight fissure vein type
of the east orebody. inasmuch as a number of parallel
veins approach the main vein from the hanging wall
and the main ore-shoots frequently extend away from
the foot into the hanging wall country.
Structurally the west orebody is very complicated in
consequence of intricate step-faulting. These faults,
while attaining throws of 400 ft. each along two main
planes about 1000 ft. apart, are accompanied by nu-
merous smaller faults and seem to represent one single
movement. They converge north of the vein, probably
448
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
Fig. 5. ideal geological plan of faulted west side of old
dominion" vein about the twelfth level.
joining there, and diverge to the south. Still more in-
tricate becomes the disruption of the vein by a re-
opening of the Old Dominion vein contemporaneously
with the cross-faulting. Along the 16th level of the
Old Dominion there is from east to west the following
horizons, partly due to this faulting: (1) rich primary
sulphides, bornite, and chalcopyrite (east orebody) ;
(2) lean pyrite (central orebody) ; (3) chalcocite pyrite
(west orebody) ; (4) malachite and oxidized ores
(downthrown part of west orebody). The west ore-
body is a close parallel to the uppermost part of the
central orebody, that caused the Old Dominion to be
classed as a replacement deposit. Here as there Devon-
ian limestone occurs in the hanging wall, which ac-
counts for this abnormal development of the vein.
This limestone has been altered over areas up to sev-
eral hundred feet square, to hematite and limonite
grading through increasingly silicious impurities to
Z)/abase
D /abase
over/o/'n
rusty chert and sand and soft iron-stained
leaehed-out calcareous clay. Dike-like
masses of white or yellow kaolin occur fre-
quently, also sheets or dikes of loose friable
micaceous hematite. Both of these are
sometimes linked. Except for the occurrence
of hematite the type is practically the same
as the Bisbee orebodies. Since dikes and
sills of diabase are sometimes recognizable
beyond a doubt through this zone of altera-
tion, I consider the kaolin and hematite
dikes as alterations of, or indications for,
similar intrusive masses. The ore occurs as
irregular masses in this altered zone and is
frequently terminated rather by economic
considerations than an actual lack of ad-
mixed copper. The change from altered to
unaltered limestone is more frequently ab-
rupt than gradual.
The pronounced difference in throw be-
-* — s — - . - . - ^ ^ ■ ■ ■ -/ ■ ;--'*- . ■ - ■
'fiuar/frnary^
type/- Qvarfa/'/e \$ £
■ ■ ' ■ :■••■*: :••- 5
Fig. 6. ideal cross-section through west end of old dominiok
vein, showing reopening of the fault and overthrust
mass of madera diorite.
■f-zite
Fig. 7. plan of faults.
Fig. S. cross-section of faults.
March 14. 11)14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
44'.)
tween east and west end of the Old Dominion vein is
most easily explained from the fact that a second fault
joins it near the Grey mine. Between these two faults
a block of ground, triangular both in horizontal and
vertical section, has dropped down. Where both faults
join, the throw is eliminated and the vein changes dip.
It is surprising that the joining of the two faults lias
apparently, not produced any noticeable enrichment,
and that the joining fault, which is most probably of the
same age as the Old Dominion, has not been found ore-
bearing where intersected. But since very little work
has been done on it. the established facts are not neces-
sarily final.
Of the number of parallel veins partly connected
with the Old Dominion system and explored in the
same mine. I might mention the Maggie. Josh Billings.
Kirkey. Buffalo. Nevada, and Xo. J. all of which have
produced ore. Usually those that wen- rich near the
surface have proved disappointing in depth, and some
vice versa. Some of these minor veins depart slightly
in character from tin- main vein by lack of hematite
and increasing content of pyrite and quartz, and were
probably formed at ;i period slightly later than the Old
Dominion.
The Pinal Schist Area
The No. J vein is probably identical with the Great
Eastern vein of the Superior A: Boston. A very flat dip
to the north (40r i is a prominent characteristie of both.
Of the same type are the veins in the Pinal schist area
of the Pinal mountains, between Globe and Ray. in-
cluding the Gibson, fob- & Goodwin. Bobtail, Inde-
pendence, and numerous other prospeets of surpris-
ingly similar characteristics. Their similarity with the
Great Eastern, twenty and more miles distant, is
brought home especially where this vein has Pinal
schist for wall rock.
The veins in tin- schist ana are conspicuous by a
laek of surface indications. The whole area has been
apparently eroded very rapidly and this erosion out-
stripped oxidation. Outcrops of rusty cavernous quartz
are sometimes found, but usually the veins can be
traced only by outcrops of light yellowish silicious
schist-breccia contrasting with the general silky gray
color of the serieite-schist. Sulphides begin practically
at the grass-roots, chaleocitization is almost lacking,
and pyrite. chalcopyrite. and occasional bornite are
the predominant minerals. Hematite is found.
The Bobtail, a prospect at present idle, is very ex-
ceptional for this district in mineralization because
of having hiibnerite MnWO, and a gray copper ore.
either tennantite or more likely enargite. besides the
usual sulphides, in a very quartzy gangue. Sphalerite
is found in most of these veins, which form a connect-
ing link between the copper and zinc veins of the dis-
trict. The Gibson is the only one of this group that
has produced sneci ssfully until now.
Zinc-Lead Veins
The zinc-lead veins are bound to diabase areas and
are all in the first stages of prospecting. The gangue
is quartzy and the mineralization varies from straight
sphalerite to galena-sphaleritc-pyritc with occasional
chalcopyrite. They are usually narrow, but well min-
eralized, and include among their number rather
promising prospects. They are prominent around
Pinto creek, especially in Powers gulch; but are repre-
sented also in the neighborhood of the Old Dominion.
The zincblende is of the dark black as well as the
resinous variety.
Sometimes the lead prevails over the zinc in the com-
position of these veins, and in that case silver is liable
to be an important accessory, especially in the oxidized
zone. The outcrops in this case are usually less iron
stained, but vanadium compounds are found frequently,
mainly vanadinite. but if copper minerals are present
cuprodescloi/.ite is also.
Copper Veins in Schultze Granite
The second period of mineralization, that lias its
most important representative in the .Miami-Inspira-
tion orebody. has formed also vein deposits. These
have up to now not attained commercial importance.
and are as a rule narrow veins in the Schultze granite
area containing stringers of vein quartz and chalco-
pyrite in a gangue of crushed and kaolini/.ed granitc-
porphyry. Chalcocite occurs rather pure, probably as
a secondary mineral. The oxidized zone is rich in
azurite in contradistinction to the above mentioned
veins where azurite was conspicuous by its absence.
Gold Veins
These are small veins of usually quartzy Bangui-.
The quartz is very cavernous, probably due to leached-
out pyrite. but not necessarily iron stained. Scrieite is
common, lead occurs sometimes.
(To Br Continued.)
In drilling for artesian water at Casiguran. Sorsogon.
in the Philippine Islands, the government officials in
the Bureau of Science have found gold in the rock
cuttings at a depth of 2">0 to 300 feet. Colors Were
obtained by panning crushed samples, and the residue
after panning assayed r*5.30 per ton. The driller's In"
showed the well to be in sand for nearly its entire
depth of .VJO ft., excepting the rock- mentioned between
L'.Vt and MX) ft. This consists of pumice, obsidian,
basalt, and a felsitic to porphyritic light-colored rock.
The gold is mostly free and very fine. It seems that
the well passed through tin- edge of a volcanic (low
or fine volcanic breccia, mixed with pumicioiiH volcanic
tuffs and alluvial sands. The rock containing the '.'old
has been impregnated with solutions carrying silica
ami other minerals. Cold has never been reported
from this district before, and this constitutes a genuine
discovery.
West Africa is now importing it- own silver coins
from England, which will eventually displace the I'rit -
isli silver coinage.
450
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
The Victorian Dredging Industry
•The long looked for report of the special hoard ap-
pointed by the Victorian government to inquire into
matters connected with and arising out of dredging
anil sluicing for gold, and other metals, in that state,
was presented to Parliament January .'50. Its effect
upon the industry is likely to be serious. On most
points the report is unanimous, although, as the chair-
man (W. Davidson) mentions in a note to the Premier,
accompanying the report, such unanimity was arrived
at by a series of compromises ; there is, however, a
minority report, signed by three members of the board,
in which the maximum of solids permissible is as high
as 450 gr. per gallon, against 100 gr. in the majority
report. The principal recommendations of the board
arc that no dredging leases should be granted for land
of a value over £3 per acre, that 100 gr. of solids
in suspension should be the maximum permissible, that
no leases should be granted for dredging or sluicing
with respect to river beds or banks, nor any leases with-
in a chain of any river, that resoiling should be to
a depth of 2 ft., and that the Sludge Abatement Board
should have plenary powers over all dredging and
sluicing leases. It is also recommended that no rea-
sonable effort should be spared to reserve good land
from destruction by dredging or sluicing.
Effect of Ancient Workings
The report traces the development of the industry
in Victoria, and of the government policy in relation
thereto. Long prior to the development of bucket-
dredging for gold mining, the effects of gold mining
generally, and more especially of shallow alluvial dig-
ging and sluicing, on watercourses and agricultural
lands, had called for serious consideration. In the
course of its investigations the board encountered nu-
merous instances in which present levels were several
feet higher than the original surfaces of extensive al-
luvial flats. A notable and typical instance was that
of the Sandy Creek valley. The whole of this area
had. since the discovery of gold in Sandy creek, been
covered with deposits, resulting indubitably from allu-
vial gold digging in its primitive ways, to depths rang-
ing up to 4 ft., which, in the passing of years, had de-
veloped a soil, now chiefly utilized for the fattening of
cattle. Bucket dredging is. and has been, almost en-
tirely conducted in Victoria, under leasehold tenures.
granted by the Department of Mines. Since 1900 there
have been issued 176 bucket dredging leases, apparent-
ly for an aggregate area of 20,704 acres, while there
are now in existence 52 such leases, of a real aggregate
of 9830 acres. As the report indicates, however, it does
not follow that the difference in the totals (40.874
acresi consists of land that has been dredged, as.
owing to the consolidation of numbers of the original
leases, many areas occur twice in the major aggregate.
In the earlier stages of the operations in river beds
*From the Australian Mining Standard, February 5, 1914.
and adjacent lands, there do not appear to have been
any restrictions placed on the dredging owners as to
the disposal of the dredged material after its passage
through the machine, and. so far as the board had been
able to ascertain, in no case was any effort made to
restrict the amount of polluting matter that might pass
into ami down the district main water courses, or to
restore in any degree the surfaces of dredged areas.
Since the creation of the Sludge Abatement Board, it
has been the practice to include in all dredging leases
certain covenants, designed to secure water courses and
lands against pollution or injury from dredging opera-
tions. It is only since 1906, however, that these coven-
ants have been embodied in full in dredging leases.
Tlie duty of seeing that they are observed falls upon
three official inspectors of dredging, who make periodic
inspections of all dredging and sluicing operations
within their respective districts, report to headquar-
ters as to the observance of covenants, and. within
limits. <iive directions to dredge masters as to the
disposal of debris, and the control of effluent water. It
cannot be said (adds the report) that the board con-
siders the relations existing between these officers, the
Department, and the Sludge Abatement Board, as
being on a quite satisfactory basis.
Attention is called to the anomaly of Crown land.
for which no compensation is sought, being leased for
dredging at a rental of 5s. per acre per annum, while
adjoining it. and included in the same mining lease,
is land only lately acquired as freehold from the
Crown, for which the owner receives compensa-
tion at the rate of £9 per acre, and the opinion
is expressed that considerable revenue might have
been derived by the state if an equitable charge had
been made for the Crown lands required for dredging.
Until recently, the Department of Mines paid no heed
to the nature or value of the lands, whether Crown
or freehold, leased by it for dredging; but early in
1909 it was decided that no land of a value of £3 per
acre and upward should be so leased. This restric-
tion is not embodied in any act of Parliament, but is
being given effect to by ministerial order only.
Original Condition of Land
Referring to the Ovens and Buckland Rivers dis-
trict, the report says that prior to the inception of
bucket dredging, the whole of the flatter areas was
covered with good alluvial soil, of varying depths.
while in exceptional plots there are evidences in it of
great productivity for many of the forms of agricul-
ture. A considerable portion of the valley was work-
ed, and very likely reworked, by the alluvial gold
diggers of the fifties and sixties, to the destruction
of the original timber and vegetation, the honeycomb-
in g of the land with shafts and drifts, and the part up-
turning of the surface. There are also evidences of
hvdraulic sluicing, on both the flats and the adjacent
March 14. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
451
terraees. having been extensively carried on. and al-
though, as is visible in many places, a fairly dense
afforestation followed on the abandonment of the val-
ley by the diggers, in many instances the value of the
land for agricultural purposes must have been greatly
reduced before dredging began. The board admits
that it found proofs, not only that efforts are being
made by many dredge owners to comply with the re-
soiling conditions of their leases, but also that the
deposition of sludge is not always and permanently
destructive. In one instance, on the Buckland. the
Buffalo dredge had resoiled an area of four acres, with
good results. A portion of the four acres was sown
down, which yielded 2\-_> tons of hay to the acre. The
cost of resoiling. however, is regarded as being heavy.
about £54 an acre. As to the pollution of the Loddon
river, the board does not hold dredging solely respon-
sible for it.
Pollution of Streams
In the Castlemaine-Loddon district the board inves-
tigated numerous complaints of water pollution by the
dredges. The board found that the effluent from a
dredge, the Guildford, was being discharged directly
into the Loddon river. In the Ovens and Buckland
valleys, at Sandy creek, and in the Loddon. below
Campbell's creek, lands are now being dredged which
the board is strongly of opinion should not have been
leased for such purpose. There may be enumerated the
bases of the Tewksbury No. 1. near Bright; the Kia
Ora. on the Ovens river, at Eurobin ; the Confidence,
at Eurobin; the Ovens Junction, the Myrtle Queen, at
Myrtleford: and the Guildford, on the Loddon; while
in the Sandy creek region, where no great national
damage has yet been done, it has to be noted that
the leases of the Briseis company cover most of this
very rich valley, down to Huon-lane. The board con-
siders it nothing to the purpose that the owners of the
lands are being compensated, possibly richly, nor does
it attach much importance to the inclusion of resoiling
conditions in the leases, for the reason that the mem-
bers are unanimous in the belief that no other forms
of restoration avail in returning these lands to their
pristine productiveness. If any system can be devised
by which all dredging leases now in existence can be
so curtailed in area as to eliminate from them all land
of agricultural value, either present or potential, no
delay should take place in putting it into execution;
and this point it desires to accentuate beyond any
other. It may be accepted as a fact, the board con-
siders, that, so far as has been observed, all the lands,
or very nearly so. which might be dredged without in-
jury to the future of the state, have either been actually
dredged, or are included in existing leases.
There are now lying at the Department of Mines, 61
applications, covering 11,525 acres of land, for dredg-
ing and sluicing purposes, of which it is proposed that
3880 acres shall be dredged, and the following in-
stances are quoted as indicating the character of much
of the countrv that is sought to be used for dredging
or sluicing: Ovens Valley. (Killawarra. 900 acres.)
This land is situated near the Ovens and Murray rivers,
and is of the general character of the Murray valley
country, being of great productiveness. Murraj' Val-
ley. (Corryong, 1200 acres.) This is notable grazing
country, which will, with railway connections, if not
meanwhile destroyed, become thickly populated. Mur-
ray Valley. (Surveyor's Creek. 1080 acres.) Character-
istic grazing country of the Upper Murray. Loddon
Valley. (Ravenswood. 450 acres.) This is a continua-
tion of the Ilarcourt fruit producing country. Morra-
bool Valley. (Morrisons'. 2300 acres.) This is fair
grazing country, with tracts of good agricultural land,
within 23 miles of Ballarat.
"The board advises most decidedly against the con-
tinuance of bucket dredging on land suitable for agri-
culture. The board recognizes the wisdom of the
Ministerial order of 1909. by which a maximum value
of £3 per acre was placed on land which might be
dredged. It thinks this maximum fit most should be
retained, and recommends that the provision be given
force of law by enactment. In reference to valuable
lands being included in existing leases, the board feels
that, if these can be rescued from the dredge or sluieer.
no reasonable effort should be spared to do so. Even if
the policy of the non-issue of leases for land of £3 per
acre and upward in value be permanently adopted.
it is considered to be essential that the true value of
any land applied for. and its potentialities, shall be as-
certained, and this demands the assistance of an agri-
cultural land expert valuer. This is recommended for
observance in connection with all future applications
for dredging leases.
Recommendations of Board
"The board cannot acquiesce in the contention that
good land, after having been dredged, may be restored
by the processes laid down by the Department of Mines.
Even resoiling does not apply where the depth of over-
burden is less than two feet. Yet two feet of soil in
its natural state is frequently of great value, and al-
ways capable of producing crops. When dredged, it
is lost absolutely. Nor can the board accept the view
that where the overburden is over two feet, the results
of 'advance stripping.' and depositing wet. from dredge
buckets, on shingle heaps, are restoration. It is idle, in
the opinion of the board, to contend that land so treated
is not seriously injured permanently. By its general
observance under covenant, the present condition of
two feet of overburden and under might be eliminated
from those relating to resoiling, inasmuch as the ma-
terial would be removed in dry condition in advance
of dredging, and spread systematically over the rear
shingle and silt. This system the board recommends
for adoption in connection with all leases that may
possibly be issued henceforth, and also with those
which, after due investigation, it may be considered
equitable to renew; and, further, should in any cir-
cumstances in the future, dredging leases be granted
over areas possessing over two feet of overburden, at
452
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
least two feet in depth of that material shall be de-
posited 'dry' on properly leveled and prepared sur-
faces, or shingle and silt.
' ' Under no circumstances should permission be given
for the disturbance, by dredging or sluicing, of the bed
or banks of any river or principal stream and should
any land be found of a less value than £3 per acre,
which it may be desired to dredge, no lease boundary
shall approach nearer to the bank of a stream than
one chain, and that only such 'grips' for abstracting
water for dredging operations from such river or creek
shall be cut as shall, after inspection, be authorized by
an officer of the Sludge Abatement Board."
The board advises against lessees being permitted
to construct dams on streams, for flotation or other
purposes; that in no case shall settling or precipitation
dams be constructed across rivers or creeks, or than
as represented by a line in cross-section of 4 horizontal
to 1 vertical, from the bed of such river or creek, and
that all such precipitating works shall be constructed
above flood level, or. where that is found impractica-
ble, the construction to be of a stable character, to de-
signs to be approved by the Sludge Abatement Board,
and carried out subject to that board's inspection,
supervision, and direction. The present allowance of
800 gr. of earthy material per gallon of effluent water,
whether from dredging or sluicing operations, is re-
garded as an excessive maximum, which, if availed of
in practice to the full limit, would produce heavy dis-
coloration and deposition in the streams which must
ultimately receive it. A majority of the board, six
members, proposes a reduction of this minimum to
100 gr. per gal., while a minority, numbering three,
considers that the reduction should be from 800 gr. to
450 gr. Out of 278 cases in 52 instances, of dredging
and sluicing, the rate of matter in suspense was under
100 gr.. in 62 it was over the maximum of 800 gr. per
gal. The report also recommends that all miners' right
holdings for dredging and sluicing shall be brought
under the control of the Department of Mines and the
Sludge Abatement Board, as regards disposal of
dredged or sluiced material, and effluent water, exactly
as are the dredging and sluicing leased areas.
The Smuggler Union Air Lift
By Walter L. Reid
The accompanying figure illustrates the design of
the air lifts which I have adopted in the Smuggler
Union mills at Telluride. The advantages of this lift,
which have been demonstrated by several months
operation, are as follows:
1. It automatically takes the exact amount of air
required at any moment. This is decidedly important,
as our experience has shown that trouble may be
caused from too large an air volume quite as fre-
quently as from fluctuations in the quantity of pulp
to be raised. Again, where several air lifts are being
supplied by a compressor operating up to capacity, this
control serves to keep the air requirements for the
several lifts more nearly uniform.
2. Owing to the check valve being placed near the
outflow of the air line, there is practically no choking
of the air line itself.
3. Should the lift pack full of sand and slime, while
standing during a prolonged shut-down of the com-
pressor, it can usually be started in a few minutes
with no other attention than to turn on the high pres-
sure water or solution line; this has been done after
^
OC//C/C Of>EH/H6 t?ATF VAL vr
TO COSJTROl A/K
\
U-l
QC/eX OPEfJ'HG GATE YALVF
T~0 C OA/Tl*Oi- AIR.
/S/6" *>**ss*/*r
the lift had been standing for four days filled with
sand to the top of the intake box.
4. When necessary to renew any of the fittings
that may wear, the section A can be quickly removed
by taking out the bolts on the two flange unions.
The intake box provides an ideal place for screening
the feed so that no chips or other debris are allowed
to flow into the lift.
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
453
Leaching of Zinc Ore at the Afterthought Mine
Bv Frank L. Wilson-
The ore of the Afterthought mine. Ingot. California,
contains so high a zinc content that ordinary smelt-
ing methods are not practicable. The ore is a com-
plex 'black jack' averaging 14.3 to 15.6% zinc and
11.6% iron, the zinc at times reaching 30 to 40%.
Most of the sulphide ore averages about 18.7% sul-
phur. This ore gave considerable trouble in smelt-
ing, because the zinc and barite caused clogging of
the tap-hole and crusting over of the top of the charge.
The zinc had to be in part carried away in the slag
and matte, and in part was volatilized. When the
plant of the Great Western Gold Co., as it was then
known, was in operation during 1905, 1900, and 1907,
the ore was smelted in a 150 by 42-in. blast-furnace de-
signed by S. E. Bretherton. Mr. Bretherton devised
the scheme of using hot blast and running the fur-
nace with a low column of ore above the tuyeres and
a hot top to overcome these difficulties. Results
showed that 40.92% of the zinc entered the slag. 11.04%
the matte, and 47.98% was volatilized. During a period
of 5 months, in which the furnace was in operation
128 days. '2.040.031 lb. of zinc was volatilized, or an
average of 10.000 lb. per 24 hours. \o attempt was
made at that time in save tin- zinc fume, because of
financial difficulties.
The coke and supplies I'm- the smelter and mine
were hauled by wagon from Bella Vista, a distance
of about 13 miles. This expense, added to the haul-
ing of the matte produced back to Bella Vista, led
to a complete shut-down of the plant in December
1907. at which time copper was at a low price. De-
velopment at the mine was continued intermittently
and repair work kept up. In ;i report presented to
the directors of the Company in 1911. there was shown
to be over $11.1)00.00(1 worth of ore developed. This
ore will average at least 20 to 25'/ /.inc. and large
blocks will run as high as 30 to 45'/ zinc. During
the interval of six years' inactivity, the exposed wood
timbering al the smelter lias had to lie repaired. The
iron Hue-dust chamber has given some trouble also.
From time to time the expensive machinery about
the plant has had to be overhauled, for there have
been continued hopes that operations would be re-
sumed. In all. the plant has been fairly well pre-
served.
Afterthought ore was sent to several places and
tested for zinc extraction and recovery. Of the many
processes tried, the ammonia carbon-dioxide process
was found to be the most proficient. David Mosher.
of San Francisco, first suggested the use of ammonia
and carbon dioxide in solution, as devised by Carl
Schnabel. Mr. Mosher at that time was interested
in the ammonia-cyanide process. I made a series of
tests on zinc extraction from the Afterthought ore
with ammoniacal solutions in connection with my
graduating thesis at the University of California. The
results so clearly proved the value of the process that
several patents were applied for, which have since
been secured. As a result of these tests, it was de-
cided to install this process on a commercial scale
at the mine, and to work out the suggestions that had
presented themselves in the preliminary tests on the
Afterthought and other ores. A preliminary testing
plant of 25 lb. capacity was erected and further
checked the smaller tests.0 No pressure was used,
it being desired to see if the more expensive plant
could be done away with. It was found, however,
that with pressure the time and amount of solution
is cut down to a minimum, which greatly offsets any
extra expense in the initial cost of the plant. Using
pressure, the ore is agitated, leached, and washed in
8 hours, and only 5 tons of solution to 1 ton of ore
lias to be treated for the recovery of the zinc, copper,
and gases. A testing plant using pressure is now in
use with a capacity of 50 lb. per 8 hours.
The ammoniacal solution is separated from the ore
in a laboratory Kelly filter-press, and the solution
then treated with scrap zinc or zinc dust for the re-
moval of copper and any silver that might have passed
into solution. This is again filtered, the cement copper
being sold for pigment or thrown with the residue in
to the matting furnace, and the clear solution is sent
to a battery of stills, where the free ammonia and
carbon dioxide are boiled off by the use of live steam
and caught in properly constructed absorbers. The
zinc precipitates as a granular and semi-tlocculent
white basic carbonate. This precipitate is filtered
through a press and is either sold as the carbonate
or calcined to oxide, which has been pronounced of
excellent quality for paint body.
In July 1913 the stockholders, at a special meeting
held in Indianapolis, decided to try. under the lead-
ership of George L. Porter, to raise a bond-pool of
$250,000 to liquidate all debts, construct a 50-ton re-
duction plant at Ingot, and have a reserve fund for
immediate operation expenses. Nearly all of this pool
has been subscribed, and hopes are high for resump-
tion of operations on a large commercial scale in the
near future.
The Laloki mine, on the island of Papua or New
Guinea, north of Australia, contains 145.000 tons of
basic ore averaging about V', copper and 2.25% gold
above the 140-ft. level. An option held by the Great
Fitzroy Mines. Ltd.. has been exercised by Bewick,
Moreing & Co.. the general managers.
*'Smelting Zinc-Copper Ores,' S. E. Bretherton, Mining and
Hcientifii Pn-ss. April 12. 1913.
454
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
Accidental Discoveries of Mines
By G. L. Sheldon
Many years ago two prospectors were grubstaked
by a saloon-keeper in a town not far from the present
Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho. They were given a
burro on which to pack their food and supplies. They
returned for more grub several times. Finally, being
discouraged and 'out of sorts,' they quarreled and di-
vided up the outfit. One struck out down the gulch,
the other, to whom the gun and burro fell, went to
hunt his burro. He found him up on the side of the
mountain standing upon the outcrop of what is
today one of the largest dividend-paying mines of the
district.
In the early days of the Granite Mountain mine,
Montana, which has paid many millions in dividends,
when the shaft was about 100 ft. deep, driving was
being done from the bottom of the shaft. It was cus-
tomary for the miners to drill and shoot a certain
number of holes for a shift's work, and they were
given a sufficient number of sticks of powder for the
holes drilled. The ground was pretty tough, and as
the shift-boss was an easy-going man. some of the
miners would throw some of their powder through the
cracks of the timbers near the bottom of the shaft,
thus avoiding the drilling of one or two holes. One
day one of the miners, the last one going up, threw
a stick of powder, with a lighted fuse attached, in
behind the timbers. The explosion was so terrific that
it proved that many of the miners had been caching
their powder there. The explosion opened up another
parallel vein which was very rich.
A one-time partner of mine, in the early '70s, trav-
eling on foot along the main trail from Red Mountain
to Ironton, Colorado, sat down under a tree at the
side of the trail to rest. Having a small prospector's
pick in his hand, he broke a piece off the rock near-
est to him, and this proved to be galena. An hour's
prospecting on the mountainside disclosed the vein,
although hundreds of good practical miners had
passed over the trail without noticing the float. He
took out $20,000 worth of ore, and sold the claim for
$70,000.
At the Camp Bird claim, near Ouray, Colorado, the
men doing the annual assessment work late in the fall
cut some material in the drift that was different from
the rock which they had been driving. On account
of a heavy snowfall they were obliged to leave the
property in haste, and forgot to take samples of the
new material with them. Eventually this rock, which
had been thrown on the dump, proved to be rich ore
and led to the discovery of the now well known Camp
Bird mine.
Years ago at Delamar's Trade Dollar mine, in Idaho.
a new foreman examining a dump made before his
arrival, noticed some strange material that had been
thrown over the dump and found that it was rich sil-
ver ore. Not long afterward, for some trivial cause,
the foreman was discharged, and later the owner him-
self ostensibh' discovered this ore in the mine. He
was ashamed to have it known that he had been
throwing the ore over the dump.
The good luck of the wife of the original discoverer
of the Enterprise mine, at Rico, Colorado, led to its
discovery. In sinking a wet shaft, the owner had be-
come heavily in debt, when his wife was fortunate
enough to draw a $4000 prize in the Louisiana lot-
tery. She had the nerve to put it into the mine, re-
ceiving an undivided one-half interest. With this they
were enabled to sink farther, and eventually opened
a blanket vein which led to the discovery of tin-
same vein on adjoining properties. After taking out
a million, the Enterprise was sold for one and one-
quarter million dollars.
The Tomboy mine, Telluride, Colorado, in its pros-
pect days, was taken over by a hardware merchant,
the surface indications being poor, for a debt of $1200.
This led to its development into a paying mine, and
it was afterward sold to an English company for more
than a million dollars. It is still paying dividends.
The Republic mine, Chihuahua, Mexico, was discov-
ered by the wife of a peon, who was washing clothes
in a creek. Her attention was attracted by some
pretty stones; she took them home and her husband
recognized them as rich silver ore. He found the vein
a few hundred feet above the place where it crossed
the creek, the vein being exposed in the cliffs for 200
ft. An American, who lived near, purchased a half
interest for 1*1500. After doing some development
work and shipping some high-grade ore, they sold the
property for $150,000. The mine is paying dividend.';
today.
It is claimed that the rich gold camp of San Jose d"
Gracia, Sinaloa. Mexico, was discovered by the Span-
iards about 100 years ago. Having heard of gold in
that section, they were investigating the district. Be-
ing out of meat and seeing an Indian hut and goat
corral, with goats within, they rode up to buy some
goats and noticed that the corral was made of gold-
bearing quartz. Upon examination the rock was found
to be rich in free gold. The vein was discovered
nearby and a rich mine was opened which is still pro-
ducing.
The calamine deposits of Leadville. Colorado, were
for many years unrecognized by the best mining men
of the country. Hundreds of tons of this ore was
thrown on the dumps, until finally some one happened
along who recognized the ore. This discovery led to
the rejuvenation of the old camp. The same is true.
of the l'otosi mine in southeastern Nevada, the eighth
patented mine in the United States, worked by the
Mormons in 1860 for lead. Until recent years no one
knew what composed the immense deposits of grayish.
sandy material. Finally, an engineer, who happened
to be passing that way. saw the deposits and noticed
that they consisted of calamine, containing 347c zinc.
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
4.55
Winter Dredging in Idaho
Rv John* H. Miles
Gold dredging in the winter has many disadvan-
tages, and mining men may be interested in the fol-
lowing remarks, concerning the operation of the 18-
cu. ft. boat built by the Yuba Construction Co. for the
Roston & Idaho Gold Dredging Co.. and now com-
pleting its third season's work. The dredge is at
Idaho City, Idaho, and when it is noted that this
place is near the 44th parallel and has an altitude of
nearly a mile, it will be understood that its climate is
somewhat different from that of the California fields.
There is very little trouble with ice forming on tin-
pond until the temperature reaches 10° below zero,
when ice begins to form in the corners. If the cut is
narrow enough so that the boat can go from one side
to the other in 6 or 8 hours, there is not much diffi-
culty, as little ice will form in that length of time.
Rut if the pond is over TOO. ft. wide, it is impossible
to carry a 10-ft. step and cross the pond in less than
16 hours. This gives ice time to form about one-half
inch thick. As the boat moves across the pond it
forces the ice into the corners, making a solid mass
three to four feet under water and two to three feet
above water. It is often necessary to dynamite to
loosen the ice so that the boat can dig the corners.
This trouble increases as the thermometer drops, and
when 20 to 24° below is reached it is necessary to stop
digging and move the boat across the pond as fast as
possible, keeping the pumps, bucket line, stacker, and
screen running. If the trip can be made in about 40
minutes, the water is kept so agitated that ice will
not form more than one-fourth inch thick during the
boat's journey. All the time large cakes of ice are
taken up by the bucket line and carried through the
boat to the tailing pile and this helps to clear the
pond, especially in the corners.
Although it sometimes gets colder than this for a
few hours, the cold snaps seldom average worse than
24° below, and this usually lasts only a couple of days.
The ground freezes about three feet deep and caves
off in great slabs which have to be broken up by the
buckets. Some difficulty is experienced in handling
these chunks in the hopper and on the conveyor belt.
The snow is a serious handicap in moving the lines,
although the system used gets around this trouble
very well. Two 1^-in. cables are stretched, one on
each side of the boat and running 3000 ft. ahead, and
anchored at 200-ft. intervals. This is equivalent to a
continuous dead man on each side. All side lines are
moved every 24 hours, and by so doing are kept at the
proper angle with the boat to give the best results.
With the help of four horses and two men, all side
lines can be moved ahead in about two hours without
losing any running time. After a fresh fall of snow
the teams break new trails for line changing. One team,
used for emergency night work, is kept in a portable
stable which is moved along as the boat advances. The
amount of snowfall has not exceeded four feet in the
past three years.
Another problem is to heat the boat to a degree of
comfort for the men and keep the stacker rollers and
drum free from ice without using too much fuel. Wood
is the only fuel available, at a cost of $4 per cord;
five cords per day are used in the coldest weather.
The dredge boiler is 80 lip. and is connected to over
one mile of 2-in. heating pipe. There are also four
home-made electric heaters connected in series across
2200 volts. These arc used alone until the ther-
mometer reaches the zero mark. The capacity of the
four heaters is 44 kw. The frames and the heavy
screens which guard the heaters are thoroughly
grounded: the outfit has proved a useful feature for
the earlier part of the cold season. The stacker needs
heat as soon as the temperature is at the freezing
point. From 32° above down to 10° below, the stacker
and winch room are supplied from a 2-in. auxiliary
line. As the weather gets colder, steam is turned into
the 4-in. main line that heats the boat in general. The
steam pipes under the tables are not used, except on
clean-up days, until 15° is reached. The ice that
forms on the tail sluices, stacker, and ladder is broken
456
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
off every other day. Ice troubles in all have not caused
more than a total of 4 days lost running time to date,
though the dredge is now in its third winter.
This boat is now equipped with 18-cu. ft. buckets in
place of the 15-cu. ft. buckets originally furnished.
The November yardage was 385.196, averaging 683 yd.
per hour; the December yardage was 403.144. or 703
yd. per hour. Yardage is measured under the same
system used at Natoma, California, one-third slope
being deducted for sides. The crew consists of 9
men. as follows : 3 winchmen at 56c. per hour ; 3 oilers
at 50e. : 1 deck-hand, night only, 10 hours, at 40c. ;
1 teamster and 1 shore-man, each 10 hours, at 321/<>c.
This is probably the only large dredge operating with
Standardization of Terms
ICE ON* DIOOIN'G LADDER.
only one oiler on a shift. The boat is equipped with
inter-communicating telephones. There is an auto-
matic stop for stacker and screen that is tripped when-
ever the stacker belt gets overloaded. This is neces-
sary on account of the large frozen chunks that lodge
between the side boards of the conveyor.
The tables have a combined area of 6000 sq. ft., and
to wash the maximum capacity it is necessary to use
three 14-in. pumps handling nearly 20.000 gal. per
minute. The main drive belt is now 36-in. leather.
double ply. Leather belts are used on the screen and
stacker motors. All other belts are rubber. The con-
veyor belt is speeded up to 465 ft. per minute — about
100 ft. faster than usual practice.
It is of interest that the November and December
yardage of this boat, already noted, approaches a total
of a round million tons.
Seven Edwards roasting furnaces are working at
the central treatment plant of the Ashanti Goldfields
mines. West Africa.
Mt. Rainier, Washington, is 14.408 ft. high.
By Will H. Coghill
The Chemical, Metallurgical, and Mining Society of
South Africa has recently adopted and published cer-
tain terms and definitions with a view to establishing
uniformity in the use of technical terms, and we might
emulate our South African friends to our profit.
One fault is the continual use of certain terms that
have been picked up from chemistry. These have been
borrowed from the chemist and used in such a ruth-
less manner in metallurgy and geology that our credi-
tor is now advocating that we be a little more con-
sistent and thus avoid
foreclosure proceedings.
The term neutral is
much used by metallurg-
ists. The student in chem-
istry learns that neutral
means having the proper-
ties neither of an acid nor
a base. Bnt this is only
his first lesson. When he
gets about half way
through his 'Principles of
Copper Smelting,' he
learns that atmosphere
can also be neutral, be-
cause a neutral atmos-
phere is one that is neither
oxidizing nor strongly re-
ducing.
If one is inclined to
browse among the Eng-
lish authors, he will find,
on p. 296 of Roberts- Austin's 'Introduction to Metal-
lurgy,' thai "2ROSiO= is the neutral silicate of the
metallurgists."
1 am unable to glean one bit from this statement,
but was taught in school that a neutral slag was a very
fluid corroding slag: more fluid than if the silica con-
tent were either increased or decreased. However,
when it came to furnace linings, neutral bobbed up
again, this time the antithesis of the neutral slag, in
the form of a chromite brick which would neither fuse
nor corrode. After all. it is not so strange that it is
difficult to correlate neutral, for we read in Hofman,
that : "The so-called neutral ore is of different compo-
sition in different districts, even differing sometimes in
the same district."
The silicate degree is confusing. In chemistry the
student becomes more or less familiar with ortho. meta,
di, and tri. but when he gets to metallurgy, some one
must sugar-coat mono-silicate, bisilicate, and trisilicate,
and administer them to the patient. When the coat-
ing dissolves, he finds that, while in chemistry 4EL.O-
3Si02 was trisilicic acid, in metallurgy 4RO-3Si02 is
a sesquisilicate. because the ratio of oxygen in the
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
457
base to oxygen in the acid is 2 to 3. Needless
to say, the pills fail and the instructor is obliged to
have the class learn to sing. Ratio of the oxygen in the
base to the oxygen in acid, sub, mono, bi, tri, to the
tune of Yale Boola for weeks before it soaks in.
Acid and Basic
The student may run the gauntlet in metallurgy
and geology until he gets to acid and basic, but if he
sticks through that ordeal there is hope that he will
fight it out to the end. Maybe the eomplexness of the
subject lends attraction, for young men are looking for
worlds to conquer and pass up the easy subjects be-
cause anyone can learn them and competition for posi-
tions in such lines would be too severe. In chemistry
the student learns that the radical. Oil. in the formula
of a salt means a basic salt and in mineralogy he natur-
ally correlates calamine. ZnJOII ) ,Si(). as a basic sili-
cate and makes a test for IL.O. He begins to feel, how-
ever, that he has lost the scent after he has searched a
whole page of analyses of iron blast-furnace slags, all
of which are said to be basic and finds no column,
'per cent H„0.' It begins to seem like a true para-
dox when his assay report on ores that contained a
large amount of acid trisilicate tails to cheek the rec-
ords in the office, within the proverbial four-hun-
dredth, because his slag was too basic: when magnesia
(MgO) is recommended as a basic refractory material.
when he takes a flip to the lead refinery where he sees
great stacks of base lead bullion, so called because it
contains gold, silver, copper, iron, bismuth, antimony.
arsenic, etc.. and last of all. but not least, when his
geology instructor talks at length about the composi-
tion of basic rock- and does not mention bis old friend
'OH', he discovers that he has made a mistake by
beginning with basic instead of acid, because acid be-
gins with a and basic with b. Thereupon, in Kemp,
he finds that acid is a descriptive term applied to those
igneous rocks that contain more than 65% SiO... but
begins to lose courage when be notes the apology, that :
"The statement that acid rocks are least fusible often
puzzles a student who is familiar with blast-furnace
practice and the composition of slags, in which the
most silicious are regarded as the most fusible. . . . "
Kemp's definition does not make much of an impres-
sion, because apologies by a superior are inexcusable
in the eyes of the student. He then finds that borax is
classed as an acid flux. Procuring a piece of borax
and litmus paper, he moistens the borax and applies
the litmus and. behold, borax is basic. A splendid bit
of sarcasm it was. when a professor of biology asked
a candidate for a master's degree in geology if he
could distinguish between acid and basic rocks, with
litmus paper.
Why Not Speak Correctly?
There may be those who will say: What is the dif-
ference whether the furnace-man calls his slag acid
or silicious. basic, or iionsilic.ious, so lone; as he can run
the furnace at a profit .' Such an argument is of about
the same weight as the time-worn statement that one
man can see as far into the ground as another. It can
only be said in reply that if one wishes to use terms
loosely, there is no penalty fixed by law.
It must be admitted that the terms cited do make an
awful jumble for the veteran, to say nothing of the re-
cruits. They were borrowed from the chemist when
chemistry was a mere system and now that chemistry is
fast developing into a science and acid and base are de-
fined in terms of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, they
should be dropped or used just as the chemist does.
What Does Neutral Mean?
On page 23 of Ilixon's 'Lead and Copper Smelting.'
lie speaks of a slag as " . . . near enough to a neutral
slag to flow freely. . . . " Now of all things on earth
that Hixon does not mean, it is neutral, for his neutral
slag would rapidly corrode a basic lining and thus act
as an acid slag or corrode an acid lining and thus
act as a base. This is absolutely contradictory to the
definition of neutral. He means a eutectic slag. Eutec-
tie is an every-day word with metallographers. It
means: "Of maximum fusibility: said of an alloy or
mixture which has the lowest melting point which is
possible to obtain by the given components." It is
ready to dissolve more of any of its components when
the temperature is elevated, and remain fluid. This
is a description of the so-called neutral slag. (By the
law of probabilities, it would not happen once in a mil-
lion times.) Therefore, 1 will say eutectic instead id'
neutral slags. When neutral atmosphere and neutral
refractory material is spoken of. inert, "not affect-
ing other substances when brought into contact with
them." is what is meant. When we say acid, we mean
silicious. When we say basic we mean nonsilicious.
Why not say what we mean:' A silicious slag or rock
is one in which the Mowing temperature would be re-
duced by decreasing the silica content: a non-silicious
slag or rock is one in which the flowing-temperature
would be reduced by increasing the silica content.
Flowing-temperature, not formation-temperature, is the
theme with Peters in bis discussion of slags, and Kemp,
immediately following his definition, discusses the flow
id' the acid and basic magma. We then have, silicious,
non-silicious. and inert refractory material. The neu-
tral ores can be called self-fluxing and borax can be
said to act as a silicious flux. Instead of saying ratio
of oxygen in the base to oxygen in the acid, would it
not be better to say, ratio of oxygen in the metallic
oxide to oxygen in the silica .'
A shortage of firewood at the Ashanti Ooldfields
mines. AVest Africa, has resulted in the installation of
suction-gas engines for driving generators and an air-
compressor. The plant now consists of three gas-elec-
tric generator sets, and one air-compressor set with two
700-hp. gas producers, and one 300-hp. producer. One
generator set will always be used as a standby. It is
expected that, early in 1914 all of the motors for the
central treatment plant will be working, before the
annual firewood troubles start.
458
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
Mining and Washing Brown Hematite Ores
By W. R. Dodge
The total production of crude iron ores for the year
1912 was 63,859.728 short tons. Of this amount, 3%
or nearly 2.000.000 tons was brown hematite, the min-
ing of which in Virginia. Tennessee, Georgia, and
Alabama forms an important industry. The deposits
are widely distributed throughout the Appalachian
system from Alabama to eastern Canada, there being
also important deposits in Texas. Iowa, and Colorado.
The composition of the ore in its pure state is
Fe4O3(OH)0 and contains: iron, 59.92%; oxygen,
25.64% ; and water, 14.44 per cent.
Many hypotheses have been advanced as to the
origin of these deposits, the conditions in each region
varying somewhat: but the general opinion is that
through the agency of surface waters, which have
leached through and drained from a large area made
up of porous ferruginous soils, the iron has been dis-
solved and kept in solution. This solution has col-
lected in basins or cavities in the impervious soil or
strata, and the dissolved iron has been precipitated
from the solution either by lime or potash, according
as to whether the basin or cavity was composed of
limestone or slate. These rocks have in turn been de-
composed and a residue of clay has been left by their
alteration.
Occurrence and Testing of Ores
The ore takes the form of geodes or 'pots.' pipes,
stalactitic masses, cellular aggregates, and smaller
lumps and grains, from which the barren clays and
ocres are removed by washing. The ore is but a frac-
tion of the material mined. It occurs in irregular
streaks throughout the clays, also often widely dis-
tributed over the surface in lumps and nodules form-
ing a gossan. The mining must of necessity be by
stripping and by open-cuts, as underground mining
would present great difficulties and the cost be ex-
cessive.
An estimate of the value and extent of these de-
posits is usually made by drilling or by sinking test
pits ; the latter being preferable, as they are cheaply
sunk in the soft decomposed clayey soil and render a
visible examination possible. The pits are generally
3]/2 ft. diameter and 30 to 60 ft. deep. They are sunk
at regular intervals, corresponding to the checker-
board system of squares, the sides of each square being
200 ft. A pit is sunk at the intersection of the lines
forming each square. The dirt removed from these
pits is carefully sampled, the grains and lumps are re-
coverd by washing the clay, and the tons per cubic
yard are calculated.
Ideal conditions for mining with steam-shovels exist
where the deposit lies in a low hill and close to the
surface. The latter condition precludes the necessity
of the expense of stripping the overburden. This
situation on a hillside enables the ground to be worked
in benches or terraces, and good drainage is obtained,
which is extremely important where the soil is of clay.
Steam-Shovel Mining
These banks or terraces are so arranged as to give a
cutting face of 10 to 20 ft. vertically, with a base wide
enough to hold comfortably the steam-shovel and the
narrow-gage railroad track serving it, the width being
usually 25 to 30 ft. These banks, one below the other,
are cut simultaneously. All obstructions ahead of the
shovels, such as trees, underbrush, and boulders, must
be removed. A large tree 3 ft. diameter and 60 to 80
ft. high is felled, sawn into logs, and the stump dyna-
mited by two men in ten hours. The brush is piled
into heaps and burned. The boulders are shattered
with dynamite. The steam-shovels for this work must
have maximum digging capacities, yet be light of
weight to allow of quick change of position over a
rough grade. The Vulcan shovel is a favorite for this
work. The 35-ton 1-yd. dipper size has a capacity of
500 to 700 yd. per 10 hours. Each shovel has a crew
of 5 men, and consumes 21/£ to 3 tons of coal per day.
Narrow-gage (36-in.) steam trains, made up of loco-
motive and five 3-yd. cars, transport the material
mined by the shovels to the washer. The locomotives
are of the saddle-tank type, ranging in weight from
10 to 18 tons, according to the load requirements.
They will easily handle a 15 to 18-yd. train up a 4%
grade. The average speed over a good track is 8 to
10 miles per hour. A 12-ton locomotive consumes one
ton of coal per 10 hours, and has a crew consisting of
an engineer and a fireman. The tram cars for carry-
ing the ore are of the high-frame, wooden body, side-
dumping type. The body is 8 ft. long. 6 ft. wide, and
18 to 20 in. deep. They hold three yards. The body is
hinged along its longitudinal axis, these hinges resting
on the tops of A-shaped steel trusses carried on the
trucks. The body is held in balance by means of four
chains, two on each side. The car is emptied by re-
leasing the chains opposite the side it is wished to
dump, whereby the body is overbalanced and the load
is allowed to fall out. The side doors are supported
independently of the body and do not rotate with it.
thereby allowing the dirt to slide out underneath them.
Three men are required to dump these cars.
Construction of Tracks
The rails for the permanent main track are usually
40 to 56 lb. per yard. Oak ties are placed at 2-ft. in-
tervals. In the headings, along the banks that are
being mined by the shovels, the tracks must be con-
stantly shifted in order to serve the shovels as they
change their positions. The rails here are lighter, 30
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
459
to 36 lb. per yard. Whole sections of this track, 100
to 150 ft. in length all intact with ties, etc., are moved
at one time by the track gang of eight to twelve men.
No preliminary grading is done, other than a rough
evening up of the ground. The track is strung out
and the low places under the ties filled in with blocks
or logs. Water-pipe lines are laid by the side of the
track to serve the shovels.
A hillside position is chosen for the washer in order
to secure sufficient elevation. The total height re-
quired from the standard-gage railroad track beneath
the shipping bins to the crude-ore bins at the top of
the plant varies from 40 to 60 ft. The crude ore is
received at the top of the plant in a V-shaped hopper.
5 to 6 ft. wide across the top, 2 to 3 ft. deep at its
upper end, and 50 to 60 ft. long, or long enough to re-
ceive the loads of a 5-car train of dirt. This hopper
has a false bottom of 65-lb. rails, placed bottom side
up, with 4-in. spaces between them, thus forming a
grizzly. This grizzly is set on a grade of l1/? to 2 in.
to the foot, slanting toward the washer. The function
of this grizzly is to support the ore in a mass above
the true bottom, two feet below it, and to enable the
large lumps and boulders to be broken. Beneath this
grizzly is the true bottom of the hopper, which is a
cast iron lined flume set on a grade of 2% in. to the
foot. This flume is Wfe ft. wide and the liners are semi-
circular in section. 1 in. thick and 4 ft. long. Water
is admitted at the upper end of the flume and flushes
away the dirt as it is fed down through the grizzly by
men with long picks.
Washing and Screening
The water and ore enters a revolving trommel with
2-in. round holes. This trommel is cone-shaped and
mounted on tires, which are in turn carried on friction
rollers and driven by them. The trommel, besides re-
moving the oversize, also acts as a distributer of pulp
to the log-washer beneath it. The oversize, consisting
of lump ore with impurities as mud and clay balls, is
washed by spray pipes and discharged upon a pan-
conveyor picking belt. Here the impurities are re-
moved and the clean ore is sent to the ore-bins for
shipment.
The undersize from the trommel passes through the
log-washer. This consists of two wooden or steel logs,
octagonal in section. I1- ft. diam. across flats, and
20 to 30 ft. long. The logs are mounted on gudgeons
and have a pitch of 1 in. per foot. They work in a
rectangular flat bottomed box 7 ft. 4 in. wide. 4 ft.
deep at their lower end. and 2 ft. deep at the upper end,
according to the length of the logs. The lower gud-
geons are enclosed in grit-proof step bearings under
water. To the upper gudgeons, which are out of
water and work in journals, is fastened the driving
gear. To the logs are bolted blades or paddles of
hard steel, !> to 10 in. long, 5*4 in. wide, and 1*4 in.
thick, in such a manner as to form an interrupted
screw conveyor. The undersides of the logs rotate
toward each other.
The crude ore pulp is fed to the logs near their
lower end, while clean water is admitted at the upper
end. The pulp is in constant agitation, the clay and
mud being disintegrated and washed out as slime at
the sides of the box. The ore settles to the bottom
and is worked by the action of the logs to the upper
or discharge end. The speed of the logs is 12 to 15
revolutions per minute.
Treating Fine Material
The discharged material still retains impurities as
slime, clay, and tine sand. It is further cleansed by
being washed in a double-shell perforated screen. The
outer dimensions of the screen are : length, 8 ft. ; di-
ameter, 42 in. The driving gear and the tires are at-
tached at the extreme ends. The tires, in turn, rest on
rollers. The outer shell is of Xo. 18 steel plate with per-
forations 1/16 in. by y2 in. The inner shell is 32 in.
diameter and of Vi in. steel plate with perforations
% in. by l1/^ in. This inner shell is intended to receive
the major part of the wear and thus protect the outer
shell. There being no spider arms to this screen, spray
pipes are extended into it to wash adhering mud and
sand from the ore.
The product from this screen is discharged upon a
pan conveyor which serves as a picking belt. The im-
purities, such as gravel and clay balls are here removed
and the clean ore passes to the shipping bins. The pan
conveyor is made up of a series of pans, each pan be-
ing of % in. steel plate. 15 to 18 in. long, 23 in. wide.
with sides 2VL' i«- high, bent up at right angles. The
rear end of each pan has a 1-in. angle iron riveted to
it to prevent material from slipping back when the
conveyor is inclined at a steep angle. The next
pan rests on this angle iron. These pans arc car-
ried on links, two to each pan. The links are of the
same length as the pans and are connected by a steel
pin which extends across the full width of each pan.
The head and foot of the conveyor arc carried on
smooth, flanged friction rollers. Between these at 4-
ft. intervals are 12-in. rollers which give additional
support for the links passing over them. The washed
ore carried by this conveyor is discharged into the
shipping bin, from which standard-gage railroad ears
are loaded directly beneath.
Capacity of Plant
A standard MaeLanahan-Stone washer, as above
described, having four logs, will wash 1000 to 1500 yd.
of dirt in 10 hours. It requires 1200 to 1500 gal. of
water per minute and 75 hp. to operate. The ratio of
crude ore mined by the shovels to the washed ore
ranges at several of the mines from 3 to 1. to 12 to 1.
A general average is 5 to 1.
The sludge or slime discharged from the washer is
carried by flumes to the sludge pond, which covers
a tract of 25 to 50 acres. These ponds are usually
formed artificially by enclosing some low basin with
embankments or levees 10 to 15 ft. high. They are
built higher as the pond fills with sludge. Approxi-
460
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
mately 50% of the water in the slime settles out and
is decanted off for re-use.
Pumping of the water is one of the most important
items in ore washing. One plant using a duplex,
double-acting, compound steam pump with 12-in. suc-
tion and 10-in. discharge, pumps 1000 gal. per minute
through a t/.-mile pipe to an elevation of 60 ft., at a
cost of 414c. per 1000 gal. A neighboring plant with a
new installation of steam turbines direct connected to
rotary pumps, furnishing 8900 gal. per minute, ex-
pects a lower cost than this.
Low costs in the mining and washing of brown ores
depend on good weather conditions, uniformity of the
ore deposit, a plentiful supply of water, and a small
amount of stripping of overburden. A well managed
property under the above conditions, and where the
ratio of the crude ore or 'dirt' to washed ore is not
greater than 6 to 1. can produce ore containing ?0<%
iron for 50 to 75c. per ton.
General Rules for Safety"
1. "Where gasoline is used for lighting steam-shovel
and churn or well drill operations, safety cans arc pro-
vided and must be used by employees for conveying
and handling the limited supply allowed for each shift.
Tin- use of other than the approved safety, non-explo-
sive cans for gasoline or other inflammable liquids is
positively prohibited.
2. In the use of calcium carbide and acetylene gas
machines, for lighting steam-shovel and all mine oper-
ations, the transportation and storage of the calcium
carbide and the care of all equipment, generators.
charging apparatus, and other details must be under
the supervision of employees instructed and informed
in the care and attendance of same.
3. Employees whose duties are prescribed by the
above rule must always observe regular time, during
daylight hours only, for attending to and charging all
apparatus. Carbide charges must be sufficient to fur-
nish gas continuously for the maximum lighting period
to all burners installed, and generators must be of
sufficient capacity to avoid recharging at night.
4. In the case of calcium carbide lights, all employees
must observe the following cautions: (a) Never open
or recharge a light in the presence of an open name;
(h) never test the generator or piping for leaks witli
a Hame: (c) never apply flame to an outlet from which
the burner has been removed; (d) never use a lighted
match, lamp, candle, lantern, or open light near the
machine.
5. Operators and employees of chum-drills or well-
boring machines must not attempt to oil. wipe, or
repair inaccessible parts while machine is running.
Stop the machine before oiling parts that have to be
reached by thrusting arm through wheels or between
belts and pulleys.
li. Mechanics, shop employees, and repairmen are
»FYom the book of 'Rules and Regulations' of the Nevada
Consolidated Copper Company.
instructed: (a) Mot to strike highly tempered steel
with a hammer or other metal object. Use a piece
of wood or brass placed against it for hammer to
strike: (b) never to shift a moving belt by hand. This
rule applies to and must be observed by all employees
on drills and other belt-driven machines or machinery;
(c) not to wear loose or baggy clothing. Jumpers
tucked inside of overalls might prevent clothing from
being caught in machinery.
7. Employees are instructed, and it is hereby made
part of the duty of every employee, to help protect
ami maintain equipment in safe condition.
8. Defective equipment, or impaired or damaged
hand tools, must not be used. Employees must return
worn or defective tools to their foremen, who will
furnish them with tools in good condition and repair.
'.). Old planks or boards with nails protruding must
not be thrown aside to lay around tracks or yards.
Blood poisoning and the loss of a leg may result from
stepping on a rusty nail. For their own and their
fellow-workmen's protection, employees are urged to
take an interest in this too frequent cause of injury.
When an old plank or piece of board with upturned
nail is found, either bend the nail down or call it
to attention of foreman, who will have it removed.
10. Employees who arc careless of the safety of
themselves or others will be discharged and dismissed
from the service of the Company.
11. The use of intoxicants by employees while on
duty is prohibited. Their use. or the frequenting of
places where they are sold, is sufficient cause for dis-
missal. Employees are required to report any fellow-
workman who is intoxicated while on duty.
12. Violation of. or the refusal to obey any of these
rule's, or of any special instructions not in conflict
herewith and issued by proper authority, will be
deemed sufficient cause for prompt dismissal.
Ore Treatment at the Camp Bird Mill
During the year ended June 30, 1913, the following
results were obtained :
Ore treated, tons 30,012
Metal content:
Gold, ounces 0-958
Si'ver. ounces 3.830
Lead, per cent 1-420
Copper, per cent 0.217
Value per ton $22.51
Total value 675,630
Net recovery 597,239
Of the total value extracted, there was obtained by
amalgamation 49.28%. concentration 43.91%. and cya-
nidation 6.817c: of which gold constitutes 85.74%, sil-
ver 9.92. lead 2.33, and copper 2.01 per cent.
The Komata Reefs mine, New Zealand, has been shut
down. During the past 16 years it produced gold and
silver worth $2,016,000. Of this. $86,400 was from the
sealing of plates, equal to an absorption of about 2.3
pel- cent.
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
461
Precipitation and Clean-Up at the Lake
View Mill
By J. P. Caddy
•This plant treats sulpho-tellnride ores from the
Lake View & Star mines, Kalgoorlie, by wet crush-
ing with stamps. Freeman pans. Wilfley tables, tube-
mills, agitation with bromo-eyanide, and filter-pressing
at the rate of 18.000 tons per month. Concentrate is
roasted, ground in pans, agitated, and filter-pressed.
All cyanide solutions go to the same sumps, are
pumped through two classifiers to a gold-solution tank,
after passing a 3-in. Kennedy meter. From this read-
ing and the value of the solutions, the amount of
gold in the zinc-boxes can be closely estimated. There
are 11 zinc-boxes containing 12 compartments each.
only eight being filled with shaving. The capacity of
each box is 23 cu. ft., one cubic foot of zinc weighing
12 pounds. About 75 tons of solution flows through
each box daily, or 3.26 tons per cubic foot of zinc.
The solution is worth $2.88 to $3.36 per ton, contains
0.06% KCN, with no protective alkalinity. The boxes
are dressed three times and eleaned-up twice a month.
New zinc is packed in the lower compartments after
being dipped in a solution of lead acetate. Taking
a solution entering the boxes worth $3.06 per ton, the
value after No. 2. 4, 6. and S compartments is 42 to
53c, 28c. 12c, and 3.6c per ton. Zinc consumption
averages 3500 lb. per month.
Clean-up apparatus consists of a washing tub 30 by
42 by 144 in., with sloping sides and bottom, fitted
with 10 and 20-mesh screens; a lead-lined acid tub 6
ft. diameter and 2 ft. deep with sloping bottom to
a 3-in. cock ; Dehne lead-lined centre-filling filter-press
of 12 frames, filled by a pressure tank ; three cast iron
roasting muffles. 12 by 20 by 53 in., with 1%-in. bot-
toms; a tilting furnace to take a No. 9 Morgan cru-
cible; two well furnaces to hold a No. 150 and No. 60
crucible, respectively, and two cast-iron amalgam re-
torts 7 by 15 by 42 in., each holding three cast iron
trays, 4 by 8 by 12 in. The clean-up of the zinc-boxes
is similar to the usual Kalgoorlie practice, the total
time taken from starting on the boxes to getting bars
ready for the bank is only 18 hours. Six men are
employed. Only the short zinc under the 20-mesh
screen is treated with sulphuric acid, the monthly con-
sumption bein<r 1100 lb. Cakes of gold slime from
the press are roasted for 1 ' •_• hi-., then fluxed for the
tilting furnace. This furnace receives the first charge
about 41/q hi-, after starling the first clean-up. and the
last of the sold slime is ready for roasting 10 hr. after
starting. Fluxes are borax. 50%. and sand. 10 to 15%.
The No. 150 crucible is sometimes used for melting
the fluxed slime. The No. 60 is for making bars of 700
oz. each. Amalgam collected in the mill is also re-
torted and melted during the clean-up. A month's
yield will be 1220 lb. of roasted slime, giving 4200 oz.
•Abstract from the Monthly Journal of the Chamber of
Mines of Western Australia.
bullion. 830 fine hi gold, 115 in silver, and 55" base.
The amalgam yields 1500 oz. bullion, that from the
concentrate being 975 in gold. 17 silver, and 8 base.
Geological Notes on Port Arthur and
Vicinity
By Wakben D. Smith
The extreme lower end of the Liaotung peninsula
is studded with numerous treeless hills, having gener-
ally rounded tops and which are of moderate height.
The famous 203-^1 etre hill is one of the highest in
the immediate vicinity of Port Arthur. The small
streams draining the country are in wide, almost tiat-
bottomed, valleys. The lower end of the main stream
emptying into the harbor of Port Arthur is drowned
in its lower portion; in fact, the harbor itself is
nothing more than a submerged portion of this stream
and of one or two of its former tributaries. The
harbor is silting up at the present time, and apparently
at a rapid rate. In a word, the topography has
reached maturity, and late maturity at that. The
absolute lack of forests will only hasten senility. In
the vicinity of Port Arthur the Japanese authorities
have begun to reforest the hills with Scotch pine. It
may be that the experiment will be successful and that
erosion will be checked in this locality.
As far as I could see from my extremely casual
survey of the country during the few short hours'
leave from the ship, the dominant rock in the district
seemed to be quartzite, bedded and tipped at various
angles, having some lenses and veins of pure quartz.
On Pompelly's map of China* the lower portion of
Liaotung peninsula is colored to indicate Devonian
limestone. It is possible that this limestone has been
metamorphosized into a highly silicious rock and re-
sembles quartzite. In places there may be conglom-
erate overlying it consisting of pebbles of this forma-
tion, for specimens of it are to be seen in the military
museum in Fort Arthur. Both these formations are
exceedingly hard. According to the Japanese authori-
ties, their tunnels advanced during the siege only 50
centimetres per day. The formation is intersected
in all directions by fractures and joints, and there-
fore should be more easily excavated by persons
trained in practical mining. One reason why greater
headway was not made by the Japanese military en-
gineers was undoubtedly due to the fact that they
could not use powder or dynamite at the time through
fear of giving the Russians an idea where they were
working. Quartzite being simply- metamorphosized
sandstone, and hence having a high percentage of
silica, would afford little or no soil, and this seems to
be true here. Such country should not be expected
to afford much sustenance for troops.
Port Arthur affords a striking example of the bear-
ing of geology upon human affairs.
''Geologic Researches in China, Mongolia, and Japan.' R.
Pompelly. Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, lSfi*).
46:
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
and other matters pertaining to mining and metallurgy.
The Editor welcomes the expression -of views contrary
to hia own believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to the readers
of this journal.
Underestimating the Cost of Milling Plants
The Editor :
Sir — The planning and designing of ore-treatment
mills has been the subject of several articles, very
much to the point, during the last year in the Milling
,tii<l Scientific Press, especially those of Sydney Addi-
ton.* On account of the importance of this subject
to the mining industry, I trust that you will consider
a further discussion of it is warranted.
The failure of mills to do what is expected of them
is one of the reasons why investors are shy of the
mining field. Everyone who reads this can call to his
mind examples of rusting mills. The man who is not
technically acquainted with mining and metallurgy
often considers that this is one of the inherent risks
of mining. He thinks that the success of a mill is
a matter of chance. If you are lucky, you get a mill
which treats your ore successfully. There is enough
of the speculative element in the finding of ore, with-
out introducing any in its treatment. It is a matter
of much importance to the man who makes his living
by mining to remove as much as possible of this risk.
There are two kinds of failures in mills, though dif-
fering mainly in degree. The one kind is the mill
which is so poorly adapted to the treatment of its
particular ore, and the return from the mill is so much
less than the cost of operating it. that it is shut down
in a very short time. The valuable metals go down
the creek instead of into concentrate or bullion. The
unlucky owners decide the ore is refractory, they have
spent all their available capital, and the property is
shut down. This kind of a failure is of course con-
spicuous, and is the usual kind thought of when the
subject is mentioned.
The other kind of failure is the one in which the
profits from the mill are not as large as they would
be if the mill were properly designed. The returns,
however, are still more than the cost of production,
and the mill continues to operate. Now unless some
"one with an investigating turn of mind is connected
with this mill at some time or other, the loss of profits
may never be detected. If it is detected, some of the
machinery may be thrown on the junk pile, to make
room for equipment better adapted, or additional ap-
paratus may be added and alterations made to adapt
the plant to the scheme of treatment. In either case
the profits will generally not be as large as if it were
planned correctly in the first place. There is both
the loss of money in the scrapped material and the
•See Mining ami Hcirntific Press. July 19, 1913. ft seq.
alterations made, and also that which is more impor-
tant, as it is cumulative, the loss due to a higher
working cost in the poorly planned mill. A mill whose
flow-sheet has been juggled around a few times gen-
erally costs more to operate than it should.
The first type of failure is gradually becoming rarer,
though even now I can recall three or four of this
class in the last couple of years in the Northwest. Of
the other class, we have no means of knowing the
number. From the experience of every metallurgist,
however, it is safe to say they are still with us. As
long as mills continue to be planned from machinery
catalogues, and by engineers whose specialty is min-
ing and not milling, so long will such mills continue
to operate at a loss to their owners. The remedy, as
Mr. Additon points out, is the design of the mill by
a metallurgist, the same metallurgist who conducted
the testing of the ore, which is essential to a correct
design.
The testing of the ore comes first, and is the foun-
dation on which the correct design must rest. It is
also the part of the planning which is often neglected,
or not done in a thorough enough manner. In the
first place, an ore test must be made on actual mill-
ing machinery to give results which can be duplicated
later on in the mill. It must be made on a sufficient
quantity of ore, so that errors are minimized as much
as possible. I believe that, too often still, small tests
are relied upon for information on which to base mill
design. It is a well known fact that the old bottle
amalgamation test, the pan concentration test, and
others, are inaccurate. When such tests are relied on
for a test of a combination of processes, or to get a
comparison between different combinations, the re-
sults are little short of worthless.
It is just in this matter of the comparison of dif-
ferent combinations of processes that the thorough
test is most valuable, and also where it is less used
than it should be. For instance, a mill is planned
for an orebody. A property nearby with what seems
to be similar ore, is treating by amalgamation, fine
grinding, and agitation in cyanide solution. As a
matter of precaution, therefore, a test is made of the
ore by the same method. This test shows a fair mar-
gin between recovery and operating costs. It is ac-
cordingly selected as the right process, and a mill de-
signed to fit. But in such a ease as this there should
have been a comparison between the following com-
binations: amalgamation, fine grinding, and agitation
(the one chosen) : amalgamation, concentration, fine
grinding, and agitation ; amalgamation, classifying into
sand and slime, and leaching sand and agitating slime,
with and without concentration. Perhaps cyaniding
alone, leaving out amalgamation, should have been
tried, and to make the test complete, several variations
of the above should have been tested. When the re-
sults of each of these tests had been tabulated and
compared, the best process could then have been wisely
chosen.
There have been a number of examples recently of
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
463
mills changing their scheme of treatment. Some that
have been concentrating before cyaniding have re-
jected their concentrators, and thrown their work on
the cyanide plant. Others have dispensed with fine
grinding and now agitate only the natural slime, leach-
ing the sand. Others have abandoned amalgamation.
or have added it. All of these changes are expensive,
and in many cases could have been prevented had a
complete comparison been made at first of the differ-
ent combinations of processes which were possibilities
in the treatment of the ore in question. Until the
importance of a thorough testing of the possibilities
of treatment of an ore is realized, and the possibili-
ties are thoroughly compared by proper testing, so
long will mills continue to operate at an unnecessarily
high cost, or to send to the tailing dump metal which
might otherwise have been turned into profits.
Seattle. .January 21. I. F. Laucxs.
What Is the Matter With Prospecting?
The Editor:
Sir — I have been reading the symposium on the lack
of prospecting in the last few issues of the Press, and
I think that most of the contributors have overlooked
the most important feature in the whole matter, and
that is the class of labor at present employed in the
mines. Fifteen years ago you could make a shift boss
out of practically any man in the mine. Today go
into a stope of any the mines in the larger districts
and ask the first man you meet a question about the
mine, and two-thirds of the time you will be greeted
with a blank expression and a shake of the head. Go
up to the shaft when the shift is going to work or
step into the office of the labor agent and listen to
the inquiries of 'Catch a job dis morn?' Then try
to imagine these men as prospectors. To these men
a steady job where they save a considerable portion
of their wages, and look forward to a home in the
old country as an ideal, is all sufficient. They do not
even know whether they are working in a gold or
a copper mine. It is the job they want, without any
reference to where it is so long as it pays. There is
no interest or fascination to their work. As this type
of labor now represents about two-thirds of the men
around the mines, it is easy to see the reason for the
decrease of the number who were willing to 'stake
a pal' or 'take a chance' themselves ten years ago.
Whisper in any of our Alaskan towns that gold ha-s
been found on some of the creeks hitherto unknown.
and every English-speaking miner that can get away
is off on the stampede and the 'bohunk' grabs the
job that is left. The new camps are settled by English-
speaking people: the foreign element comes when con-
ditions are settled and work by the day may be ob-
tained. Thus with the decrease of the easily found
placers (or lodes), the American turns his attention
to other lines and the foreigner settles down to the
routine work.
Juneau, Alaska. February 8. Tiiavkleh.
Ore
The Editor:
Sir — No one appreciates the good fun in Mr. (low's
letter more than the not unhappy victim of it. The
compliment that I most appreciate is criticism that
manages to be both penetrating and polite — like that
of the gentleman in Sumatra. As I have said else-
where, I am not a professor but only a professional,
merely an engineer become editor and therefore claim-
ing no right to pass judgment on technical writing
except in so far as any professional is entitled to
give hints to amateurs. The fact that my living is
made by the exercise of the pen, and the fact that
I have a keen delight in learning to write well, does,
I believe, justify me in elucidating principles and in
criticizing errors in technical writing. That claim
does not for a moment include the assumption that
my own writing is above reproach — it would be absurd
to say above criticism — for I am delightfully conscious
that every year I learn more words and acquire a
little more command in the use of them. Most of
the errors against which I protest can be found illus-
trated in my own writings, but more in those that
are least recent, for I try to practice what I preach.
Not with complete success, as Mr. Gow has discovered.
I'ndoubtedly, 'which' in the case quoted, is definitive
and should be replaced by 'that'. This distinction
liet ween defining and non-defining clauses, with the
consequent choice between the relative pronouns, is
one that T have taken pains to advocate, and usually
t" apply. Therefore, the definition ought to read:
"Ore is metal-bearing rock that, at a given time and
place, can be mined at a profit," not as Mr. Gow
phrases it. "that can. at a given" etc., be mined. It
is an error to split your verb. Permit me to assure
Mr. Gow that it is nut done in the best families. As
regards "today.' I spell it without a hyphen for the
same reason as a great many other progressive people
do so. and therefore as most of the leading newspapers
of America, because the hyphen in to-day has ceased
to perform any grammatical function: it is atrophied.
The "to' and the "day' are no longer betrothed, but
married: they constitute a verbal unit. It is estimated
that 200.000.000 persons write to-day, to-morrow, and
to-night three times daily, on average, wasting there-
by, in hyphens, pnough energy collectively to propel
an ordinary passenger train round the world.
In regard to the redundancies and contradictions
against which Mr. (low tilts so cheerfully. 1 demur
to the contradiction, and I accept the redundancy. In
the text of the lecture, from which my critic quotes,
I was more anxious to be explicit than to be academic.
Repetitions and redundancies are hardly blemishes in
a lecture, when an effort is being made to emphasize
a particular point. Tf I am only redundant on such
occasions. I shall not be ashamed. However. I end. as
I began, with raising my lance in salute to a discern-
ing and amiable critic.
London, February 18. T. A. Rickard.
464
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with the practice of mining, milling,
and smeltng.
Electric blasting is causing considerable discussion
on the Rand.
Temperature increase in 13 Rand mines from depths
of 980 to 2000 ft. varies from 1° in 61 ft. to 1° in
134 feet.
Sand filling of stopes in the Angelo mine on the
Rand costs 10 cents per ton of sand lowered. This
is done by the 'flushing' system.
To obtain the highest practical effect from a given
charge of explosive, it is generally considered important
that there should be no air spaces between the ex-
plosive and the side of the hole.
Miners take many risks, in spite of repeated warn-
ings. Tamping dynamite in holes to be blasted should
only be done with a wooden rod. A man in the Ivan-
hoe mine, Kalgoorlie, recently tamped a hole with a
steel drill (.)\'-2 ft. long, which resulted in the drill
being blown through his shoulder.
Lumber for dredges should be properly seasoned
before use in construction. Green timber shrinks as
it dries, and would pull dredge gear out of line. It
is also necessary, where timber is liable to be wet
and dry alternately on a boat, such as that near the
bucket line, to cover it with flat iron to prevent rot-
ting.
Dangers in mining are many, and accidents are
simple causes. A mine in Victoria, Australia, was
recently unwatered, and on two men entering a raise
above the 200-ft. level, an explosion occurred, although
neither was hurt. Gas had evidently accumulated and
been compressed by the water into the top of the
raise, and the lights exploded it. Old winzes in
mines gradually fill with water, which gets foul if
there is no drainage. When driving raises to con-
nect with such winzes, care is needed, especially when
nearing the bottom of the winzes. A drill-hole should
be made through the intervening ground, and the
water gradually drained through it. In Western Aus-
tralia, several years ago. two men lost their lives
through a sudden rush of water from a winze to
which they were driving in a raise.
Shafts now being sunk by the Oliver Iron Mining
Co., on the Mesabi range, Minnesota, are being
equipped with concrete sets. The concrete 'timbers'
are made of the same size and framed practically the
same as their wood prototypes, with the exception
that the wall and end-plates are given a bevel in a
vertical plane at the end to help the corner bearing.
The reinforcing is *4-in. rods throughout, although it
would seem that expanded metal or wire mesh would
be better for the laths. The standard spacing of the
sets is 5 ft., and the wall and end-plates are 12 by
12 in. The laths are 4 in. thick and 4 ft. 2 in. long.
The tops and bottoms of the wall and end-plates are
notched at the outside, so that the laths are set flush
with the back of the sets. The wall plates are heavy,
weighing about 3300 lb., and are rather hard to handle
in the shaft, but are said to be giving good satisfac-
tion wdien installed. The Company maintains a con-
crete plant at Hibbing for making the sets, and ships
them to the various mines. The bearing timbers are
large steel I-beams, which are cased with concrete after
being placed in position. The part of the shaft from
the first bearing set to the collar is usually made
monolithic. The sets are carried as close as possible
to the bottom in sinking, but the dividers for the last
four sets are of wood, which is removed and the con-
crete dividers placed as the work of sinking pro-
gresses. The miners claim that, although heavy, the
sets go into place nicely, and it is possible to install
them just about as quickly as the wood sets. The
hangers used are of 2-in. round iron, with a ring in
one, and a hook in the other to facilitate removal in
case of necessity.
Orebodies are often below the beds of lakes, rivers,
or the ocean, and their extraction is dangerous until
arrangements have been made to cope with the water.
Instances of this are found at Cobalt, Ontario, where
Kerr lake has been drained, and Cobalt lake is being
emptied to get the rich silver ores; coal mining under
the sea in Japan and Australia : tin mining under
the sea in Cornwall, England ; iron mining under the
sea in Nova Scotia ; and gold and silver mining under
a river at Karangahake, New Zealand. The latest in-
stance of ore recovery is in the Mesabi iron range.
Minnesota, where it is reported that the Oliver Iron
Mining Co., the mining subsidiary of the United States
Steel Corporation, has made an appropriation to drain
Carson lake, covering an orebody in the vicinity of
Hibbing. This work is said to involve the pumping
of about 200,000,000 gal. of water. The contract has
been let to construct a ditch to carry the water to
Kelley lake. The water is to be pumped by three
large centrifugal pumps, presumably motor driven,
placing the machinery on a barge and extending the
discharge pipe as the water recedes. Shafts are to
be sunk as soon as the lake is dry. and an attempt
will be made to operate the property as an under-
ground mine, as the over-burden is too heavy for
the best results with an open-pit mining method.
The amount of water to be handled in the under-
ground system may necessitate a change later to an
open pit. but this can only be definitely determined
after experiments have been made. The fee of the
property is owned by the state, which will derive a
large sum in rovalties from the work.
March 14. 1!H4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
465
Special Correspondence
LONDON
Dolcoath Ti.\- Mine Developments and Past Half-Year's Re-
sults.— The Exploration Company and Its Investments.
About a year ago I recorded that the bottom levels, over
3000 ft. in the Dolcoath mine were poor, and that R. Arthur
Thomas, the manager, had decided to prospect laterally in
order to find the continuation of lodes that had in earlier
days been worked for copper. These are known as the Entral
lodes. It was of course unfortunate that just as the new
vertical shaft costing £100,000 had reached the bottom levels
centrate per ton of ore has continuped to decrease. The
statement for the half-year ended December 31 has just been
issued, and it shows that the condition of things is even worse
than anticipated, and the quotation of the shares on the
Stock Exchange has been knocked badly. The yield of con-
centrate per ton of ore has continued to decrease. The
figure for the half-year was 29.3 lb. per ton, as compared with
30.2 lb. during the first half of the year, 32 lb. a year ago, and
79 lb. during the present Company's first half-year ended De-
cember 1895. The amount of ore milled was 56,409 tons, as
compared with 58,304 tons during the previous half-year, and
60,631 tons a year ago, and the yield of concentrate was 738
tons as compared with 7S6 tons and 868 tons respectively. The
Company has also been hit by the drop in the price of tin,
and the receipts were only £79,672, as compared with £105,964
and £119,486. the average price of black tin having been £107
as compared with £134 and £137. Other items of revenue
brought the total income to £80,736. The working cost was
£65,293, and the lord's royalty £5311. leaving a profit of £10,131,
out of which £4966 was written off for depreciation, leaving a
divisible profit of £5165. Bringing £16,858 forward from the
previous year, there was a disposable balance of £22,023. Out
of this, £8750 has been distributed as dividend, being at the
rate of fid. (12c.) per share. The dividend for the first half
of the year was double this, and the total dividend for 1913
was 71i9t, as compared with 25';'r in 1912. During the half-
year development at depth has been generally unsatisfactory.
The drift on the Entral lode at the 1260-ft. level has not come
up to expectations so far, but of course only a small part of
the length of the lode has been explored. Results to be ob-
tained at the intersection of the lode at the 1140 and 1380-ft.
levels are anxiously awaited.
The doings of the Exploration company are always followed
closely in America, for it has interests in Colorado, at El Oro.
Mexico, and in the Natomas Consolidated company, besides
having investments in Cananea and at Chuquicamata. It
was formed in 1886 by two celebrated American mining en-
gineers, Hamilton Smith and E. (1. de Crano, with the finan-
cial backing of the Rothschilds, Barings, and other bankers
and brokers In London. After the death of the original pro-
moters, a period of misrule supervened, but shortly after-
ward R. T. Bayliss was appointed to the management and he
restored its credit and some of its prestige. The Company
has been hard hit by the disorders in Mexico, and by the de-
pression in financial circles and on the Stock Exchange, so
that the directors are not in a position to declare a dividend
for 1913. Owing to the suspension of dividends by many of
the companies in which shares are held, the gross income for
the year was only £30,393, as compared with £80,644 the year
before. After deducting administration expenses, a net profit
of £10,058 was left. Owing to the fall in the market quota-
tions of the shares held, the 'sundry investments' item in the
balance-sheet has shrunk by £64,487: and now stands at £579,-
806. Owing to the serious position in Mexico, the subsidiary,
the Exploration Company of England and Mexico, formed to
conduct search and development work in Mexico, was forced
to suspend operations in January 1913, as the conditions in
the country made it quite useless to spend any more money
there. The El Oro company has fortunately so far been able
to continue operations, and the physical condition of the
mine shows improvement, but the directors have considered
it best to suspend the payment of dividends. The Buena
Tierra mine, in Chihuahua, has been in the centre of the con-
flict in the northern states, and though it was not itself in a
vulnerable position, operations have only been intermittent,
and the smelter to which the ore is shipped has not been
running regularly. The latest advice is to the effect that the
smelter resumed operations on February 1. The Santa Rosa
mine in Zacatecas is in a more serious plight, for the destruc-
tion of the railway made it necessary to stop construction work
in April of last year, and all development ceased in December.
The property is now in the hands of watchmen, and so far is
uninjured. It is particularly unfortunate that this cessation
has been necessary, for the metallurgical difficulty that ;it
first threatened has been overcome, and the mine is develop-
ing beyond all expectations.
The copper interests of the Exploration company have been
increased by £87.000 by the purchase of convertible bonds in
the Chile Copper Co., which operates the Chuquicamata mine
in Chile. Chuquicamata is undoubtedly one of the world's
greatest deposits of copper, for it is estimated that upward of
200,000,000 tons of ore averaging over 2' ', copper has already
been proved. As readers of the journal are aware, the mine
is controlled by the Guggenheims, and Fred Hellmann is mana-
ger. The money necessary for the equipment of the property
with a plant of 10,000 tons daily capacity has recently been
provided by the issue of convertible bonds, and it is expected
that the plant will be in operation some time during 1915..
This plant should produce 120.000,00(1 lb. of electrolytic copper
per year, at a cost not exceeding 6c. per pound delivered at
European ports. With copper at 14c. per pound the yearly
profit would be £2.000,000. Mr. Bayliss has always had great
faith in copper investments, and as opportunity offers no
doubt the Exploration company will expand its investments
in this direction.
NEW YORK
Shannon Development and Prospects. — Braiien Finances. —
Homestake. — Yukon Gold. Toxopaii Extension, and Gold-
field Companies.
The Shannon Copper Co. has bud a fortunate windfall. The
Arizona Copper Co.. which has a side-line agreement with the
Shannon, was recently exploring in a part of its ground
which adjoins the Alaska claim of the Shannon and developed
a vein 30 ft. wide, averaging %</, copper, but in the Shannon
ground. As the Shannon holdings extend for a thousand feet
along the vein thus discovered, the find is likely to prove of a
good deal of importance, though it is about a mile from the
present main workings of the Shannon. The Company has
just changed its fiscal year so as to correspond with the calen-
dar year, and the report just given out therefore covers the
period from August 1912 to January 1, 1914. In that period
Shannon has produced 18,800,000 lb. copper at a net profit of
$480,000. The Company has $200,000 in cash assets and is
buying in the bonds of the Shannon-Arizona railroad, which
connects the mine with the mill and smelter. The Shannon
has passed through many difficulties, but has been excellently
managed and apparently has a brighter future.
New financing for the Braden is like the relief of Ladysmith
in the Boer war. On even dates it is affirmed and on the odd
denied. Now that the ore reserve has been so greatly in-
creased, the next thing will be to increase the capacity of the
mill and smelter. This requires money. Probably what will
466
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
be done will be to issue the $1,000,000 remaining of the second
mortgage convertible bonds which have been authorized, sell-
ing them to the Guggenheim Exploration Co., which already
has over $11,000,000 in cash and demand loans, and has re-
cently increased its dividend rate to H'/r per year. Pope
Yeatman is expected to reach New York next month and the
latest information regarding the position of the mine will then
be available.
The Homestake has just made its report for last year, which
makes possible some interesting comparisons with the pre-
ceding year. During 1913 the income of the Company showed
a decrease of about $500,000, but the dividends were increased
from $1,310,400 up to $2,146,225, thereby converting the sur-
plus of nearly a million dollars, which was on hand last year,
into a deficit of $27,710. The capital stock has been increased
nearly $4,000,000 during the year and it is reassuring there-
fore to find that T. J. Grier, the superintendent, reports the
property in fine physical condition, with over 2,000,000 tons
SOME OF THE HOMESTAKE MILLS.
of ore broken in the stopes, and the prospects for a long and
profitable life of the mine bright in the extreme.
Yukon Gold shares have been picking up, probably as a result
of the good showing made in the report for 1913. With a gross
output of $4.7.S9,402 it showed operating profits of $2,537,447.
The eight Dawson dredges made profits of $1,827,800, while the
hydraulic work at Dawson showed a loss, since most of the
season was spent on washing top gravel. The dredge working
in the Iditarod made a profit of $507,800 and should do better
next year. The two dredges in California brought in profits
of $72,000 but one of them has only been at work a short
while. Some comparisons of cost will be of interest. The
hydraulic work at Dawson cost 9.7c, dredging .at Dawson
29.53c. and at Iditarod 64.33c. per cu. yd. This high cost
is largely due to the collateral and overhead costs, thus at
Iditarod a series of dams had to be built before and behind the
dredge, large boulders gave trouble, as did heavy sand from
workings above, and a stratum of clay which was encountered.
The grade was steep, 6 to 10%, and the scarcity of water all
combined to make the necessary dredging cost nearly fifteen
tinier what it is in the more favorable California areas. It
is necessary lor the Company to write off large amounts as
depreciation each year and it still owes the Guggenheim Ex-
ploration Co. $2,100,000.
Tonopah Extension has proved a disappointment to those
who expected big tilings of it a year ago when it was making
a net operating profit of over $25,000 per month. The earn-
ings have shrunk until they are barely one-half of what, they
were and last December operations showed a loss of $S000 for
the month. Goldfield Consolidated, on the other hand, re-
fuses to die, and its recent declaration of a dividend of 30c.
per share, payable April 30. was more or less of a surprise to
everybody. The controversy between the West End and the
.Tim Butler is si ill a topic of interest, but nobody seems to
have any clear idea of what the outcome is likely to be.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
Another Old Producing Tract Is Drained. — Quapaw, Okla-
homa, District Resumes Productiveness. — Activities
Throughout the Missouri-Kansas-Oklahoma District.
The drainage of old tracts that once were well known pro-
ducers forms some of the more important mining develop-
ment throughout the district at the present time. In addi-
tion to the drainage of the Lone Elm region, as noted in this
journal on February 14. similar activities have been launched
on the Cox land in the Turkey Creek bottoms, in the ex-
treme northern part of the city of Jopllu. A tract of land,
once dotted with mills and smaller mining plants, later to
be abandoned for many years, has now been drained to a
depth of SO ft. by the Oak Orchard .Mining Co.. and work
is well under way on the construction of a new concentrating
plant of 150 tons daily capacity. It will be used as a cus-
tom mill, over which the heavy tonnage of ore from numer-
ous small prospects will be cleaned. Associated with this
Company are A. R. Snyder, county coroner; George Quinby,
former state mine inspector; Rev. W. M. Cleaveland, pastor
of the First Presbyterian church of Joplin; and A. J. John-
son, H. J. Vancil, Nathan Rosenberg, and E. W. Hoffman,
all business men of Joplin. At a depth of 70 ft., Miller &
Warren are working a 20-ft. face of zinc ore which is show-
ing a mill recovery of nearly 10%. Walker & Co. have a
27-ft. face of soft ore at the same depth: Lee & Wester-
man, also at 70 ft., have a 14-ft. face of 1594 ore; Scott & Co.
are operating at 50 ft. and have ore. Until the new custom
mill is completed, the operators will continue to haul their
ore to another custom plant, more than a mile distant.
An isolated mining camp, Quapaw, Oklahoma, of which
little has been heard during the past year, is again taking a
place in the list of producing camps of the district, two
mines, the Ethel Miller and the Newlands, being the only
productive properties just now. Operations at these, each of
which is equipped with a small concentrating plant, were
started recently. The output of this area will probably be
increased when work starts at the Mission mine, now under
the management of Wheeler & Hardy, who also have exten-
sive mining interests at Joplin. The Mission mill, remodeled
more than a year ago and then left idle, has a capacity of
400 tons per shift, and is the largest plant in the Quapaw
field. It was the first mine of importance in the northeastern
Oklahoma district, and has been operated by possibly a
dozen different companies. At this mine work is conducted
at a depth of 140 ft., the deepest at Quapaw. all other develop-
ment being above 100 ft. In drilling operations, little deep
work has ever been undertaken, but the plan of the company,
that now has the Mission, is to put down a number of holes
to a depth of over 300 feet.
Several new concentrating plants are under course of con-
struction at various points throughout the district, but the
greater part of mining activity consists of the removal of
old mills to new mines, where they are reconstructed and
remodeled. Considerable new equipment is necessarily re-
quired, and local machine firms report business to be some-
what better than for some time. In the West Joplin camp,
the Geronimo mill, formerly operated by J. M. Short, has
been purchased by the Underwriters Land Co.. one of the
large companies of the district, and work has been resumed
at the property. Another new mill in the West Joplin field
is that of the Otis .Alining Co., the capacity being 350 tons
per day. A new shaft is being driven, work being conducted
from above and below, the underground activities being car-
ried upward from an old drift of an adjoining mine, the
Hero, which had cut over on to the Otis lease in former
years. At Spring City, the Quaker Maid mill will soon be
ready for operation. On the St. Louis-.Toplin Lead & Zinc
Co.'s land at Chitwood. the Kentucky Lead & Zinc Co. is
March 14. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
467
constructing a new mill of 150-ton capacity. Ore has been
blocked out at a depth of 142 to 164 ft. Within a short
time a contract is to be let for the construction of a new
plant on the ABC Mining Co.'s lease of the St. Louis-Joplin
land, where, about a year ago. the former mill of the ABC
company was destroyed by fire. This mine was one of the
most prolific producers of high-grade zinc ore in the district
at that time.
S. A. Nichols and associates, of Joplin, have leased the
Everett Zinc & Lead Co. s properly at St. Joe. Arkansas, from
the Graves Mining Co. of Doe Run. Missouri, and they plan
to construct a 100-ton concentrating plant. The Arkansas
property is situated in Searcy county, from which some zinc
and lead ore shipments have been reported.
DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA
The Homestake Company's Veterans' Association and Rec-
reation Hail. — New Mogul Mill. — Work at the Dakota
Continental. — Oil Well at Abdmore. — -The Bear Lodge
District.
Now that there is so much discussion about 'subsidiaries,'
"interlocking directorates,' combinations.' etc., it might be in-
teresting to note that the Homestake Mining Co. might some
day be assailed for fathering subsidiaries. But so long as
these are not combinations in restraint of trade.' they will
continue to operate. One of the subsidiaries of this Com-
pany is known as the Homestake Veterans' Association, and
to prove that it is a doubtful concern, it would be well to
glance at the list of officers. They are all interlockers' of
the best variety, and include the superintendent and assist-
ant superintendent as well as several beads of departments,
lint the association need have no fear of the Interstate Com-
merce Commission. Congress, the Bureau of Corporations, or
other governmental authority, for its mission is to promote
loyalty, good will, and a closer fellowship among the em-
ployees. To be eligible to membership, a man must have
been in the employ of the Company for -I years. The roll
of the association shows that there are now 120 members
in uood standing, and the waiting list includes about 2000
mote, who are anxious to join, but are barred by short
lengths of service. That the association is popular is testi-
fied by the rapid growth in membership. Men join the mo-
ment they are eligible. The officers are: president, Richard
Blackstone. assistant superintendent; vice-president, W. .1.
McMackin; secretary, Robert Fraser; treasurer, John A.
Spargo; trustees. T. J. Grier. superintendent, and William
Ryan. Some idea of the immense amount of labor that has
been expended on Recreation hall, the clubhouse the Home-
stake Mining Co. is erecting for its employees, is noticeable
to the visitor to the building, now that what may properly
be termed the finishing touches are being added. Interior
plaster and calclmining is white, and is practically completed
throughout. Now that a large part of the rafters and sup-
ports in the theatre have been removed, the theatre Is
assuming a finished appearance. The balcony of the theatre
will be one of the features, for each and every scat will be
as L'ood if not better than most of the main floor seats.
The ceilings are high and permit of good and airy spaces
above the balcony, and the acoustics promise to be of the
best. In the basement all the plastering has been finished,
and in the bathing room the cement floors have till been
laid and the enamel rim of the pool is completed. The
pool is 75 ft. long. 25 ft. wide, and has a maximum depth
of 10 ft. and a minimum of 4 ft. Shower baths will be in
the corners of the swimming room, and dressing rooms and
lockers in adjoining rooms.
The new mill of the Mogul Mining Co., at Terry, was
started at part capacity on February 1, and since has been
given a thorough test in all departments. It is encourag-
ing to note that the De la Vergne oil-engine, the first to
be installed at any Black Hills mine, is working well, and.
it is claimed, with great economy as well. E. R. Graham
is superintendent, L. D. Dougan in charge of the mill.
Charles A. Chase general manager, and .1. V. X. Dorr con-
sulting engineer.
Sinking has been resumed by the Dakota Continental Cop-
per Co. at Hill City, after considerable difficulty and expense
in removing water. The shaft was S23 ft. deep and was un-
watered to the 700-ft. station with one 4 and one 6-in. air-
lift. At this station a Rumsey triplex, electrically driven,
400 gal. per minute pump was installed, and with its aid the
shaft drained. It is proposed to sink the shaft to the 1000-ft.
level, cut a station and sump, remove the pump to this sta-
tion, and start prospecting. From diamond-drilling pre-
viously done, it is figured that 300 ft. of lateral work will
cut a body of 're-deposited' copper ore. Ingei soil-Rand jack-
hamer drills are being used in the shaft. W. J. Booth,
of Hill City, is in charge of operations.
A trial shipment of 20 tons of $10 gold ore from the Hei-
delberg property has been sent to the Golden Reward mill
at Deadwood. This is the property which was selected for
development by a committee appointed by the Deadwood
Business Club after a number of promising prospects
were examined, and the results so far would indicate that
a wise selection had been made. Citizens of Deadwood are
making regular monthly subscriptions to the development
fund, and work is being pushed with a small crew. In addi-
tion to the shipping grade ore, a large quantity is being
piled on the dump that would pay well to mill in a plant
on the property, and just as soon as development warrants
such a step, it is probable that the property will be offered
for sale, and the profits used to develop other properties.
The well of the Ardmore Oil Co., at Ardmore, has recently
been cased with 10-in. casing to the 1200-ft. point, and now
that the size of the hole has been reduced, better progress
is anticipated. It is expected that the Dakota sandstone,
the oil-beating rock of the district, will lie reached at about
1000 ft. The well is a little over 1300 It. deep.
A. K. Hall, superintendent of the Anaconda Gold Mining
Co.. is authority for the statement that important work
will be started on this property. Funds tire now being raised
for development, and it is planned to do some extensive
work on the north end of the mine, where some excellent sur-
face showings have been discovered. It is probable that a
new shaft will be sunk there. Otherwise lateral work from
the old shaft will be attempted. The property is one of the
best in the Roubaix district, and has been partly developed,
but never equipped with a mill.
The Warren Peak Mines Co. has just received patent to
its property in the Bear Lodge district. This is the first
property in this district to be deeded by the Government.
The tract includes 392 acres. The most important ore so
far discovered in shallow workings is a streak an inch or
so wide, carrying sylvanite, and often yielding assays up to
hundreds of dollars per ton. It has been stated in the past
that the Company hesitated to prosecute extensive develop-
ment until patent was scented. Considerable activity is appar-
ent in the Bear Lodge district, nearly a dozen properties
now undergoing active development, and the next few mouths
promise to witness important exploitations. It is a little
early to prophesy, but from surface indications it seems
that this should develop into a good mining camp.
The annual report of (be Wasp No. 2 Mining Co., operating
at Flatiron, shows that 127, 6S0 tons of ore was treated, yield-
ing $219,335. Operating costs were $Hi7.:;:i2. and net profit
$24.54::. Dividends amounted to $55,000 equal to IT, on the
capital. Operating time was S.3 months. Detailed costs will
be given in another issue of this journal.
468
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
Another Strike, Its Causes and Results. — Value of Ore at
Depth and Wages. — Cinderella Consolidated Shut Down.
— Air-Blasts and Causes. — -Gold Production.
Another strike broke out in the Transvaal at wie beginning
of the year, and threatened to have more disastrous results
in the mining industry than the previous strike in July, when
all the miners came out on strike for several days. The
railway men of the state went out on strike against the dis-
missal of several employees, and paralyzed the railway serv-
ice in the Transvaal and part of Natal and the Orange
River State. In Cape Colony, the railways continued to
work as usual. Unless the strike was settled within a week
the whole of the gold mines would probably have been shut
down for want of coal. About six of the strike leaders were
arrested, and along the 'reef'-, from Randfontein to Springs,
a distance of about 50 miles, the mines and railway were
guarded by over 10,000 troops. The Transvaal government
did not, as was unfortunately the case in the last strike,
attempt to interfere with the men holding public meetings.
The strike leaders still out of prison threatened to declare
a general strike unless the imprisoned leaders were liberated.
At the last mass-meeting held, it was decided to submit the
question of a general strike to a ballot of the men. but so
long as the railways were paralyzed by the strike, a gen-
eral strike would not add much to the inconvenience, as
before the result of the ballot could be acted upon many of
the gold mines would be crippled for want of coal. As
mentioned before, the outlook for the gold mines was bad,
and should work from any cause have been suspended it
would have had a disastrous effect upon the native labor
supply, which since the last strike has been in a precarious
condition. There has been considerable discontent among
the skilled men employed in the railway workshops for
some time, which made to some extent an uneasy feeling
in other branches of the railway service. It was, however,
in the workshops that most dissatisfaction prevailed, and
sooner or later it was evident that a strike must follow.
The railway men depended on the gold miners for support
in their dispute, but the latter only gave a half-hearted
support. Some mines were thrown idle, but the miners'
organization was so defective, and a general strike unpop-
ular, that they continued to work. In South Africa the con-
ditions are such that a general strike is extremely difficult
to bring about. Most of the work is done by unskilled and
uncivilized natives, who have no idea of combining to pro-
mote their own interests, and with a few Europeans to act
as supervisors work can proceed almost the same as usual
on the mines. The natives are not allowed to form societies,
if they could, to protect their common interests, and all
they desire is to earn sufficient money to enable them, in
comparative plenty, to return to their kraals. At the pres-
ent time, January 22, the strikers are asking to be allowed
to return to their duties unconditionally, and to all outside
appearances the strike is virtually over. It remains, how-
ever, to be seen whether force employed to the extent it
has been used on the Rand against the workers will com-
pletely crush out the strike movement. Among those arrested
during the week for attempting to persuade railway work-
ers not to return to work, was F. Cresswell, member of the
legislature, and nearly every union leader of note has been
placed under lock and key. Outwardly the strike appears
to be over, but while a lesson, and that a severe one, has
been taught to the men, there are not wanting those who
consider that, owing to the overwhelming force displayed
to end the strike, it is not improbable that the workmen
will reorganize and watch their opportunity to again cause
trouble.
[The arrest, deportation from South Africa, and the recent
arrival in England of the strike leaders, with the public
opinion on this action, has been published in the daily papers
from time to time. — Editor.]
The abortive attempts at a general strike, and the deter-
mined manner in which they were met by the Government,
have caused the question to be raised as to whether the min-
ers will be able to maintain the present high rate of wages
for long. The fact that the 'reef on the Rand, in the ma-
jority of instances, has become poorer at increased depth
cannot lie denied, and there are several instances where the
value of the yield and the cost of working are too close to
yield any dividends for shareholders. The indications for
the future point in the direction of these mines increasing
in number as greater depths are attained, as no matter what
may be said to the contrary, working costs are bound to
increase with depth, and if such increased costs are accom-
panied by a lower yield, the tendency for profits to attenuate
is materially hastened. The need, therefore, for lower work-
ing costs must increase as time goes on, and as a last re-
source wages will have to come down in the inevitable pend-
ing struggle to work the deeper mines at a lower cost. The
cost of living on the Rand has been materially reduced of
late, far more than wages; but while the phthisis scourge
may always tend to keep up wages, as mining becomes less
profitable with depth it is evident that costs must come
down and that wages will have to some extent contribute
toward the relief.
The circumstances surrounding the closing down of the
Jupiter mine, the deepest gold mine on the Rand, referred
to in this journal of December 6, 1913, have not been amelior-
ated by a similar step being adopted at the Cinderella Con-
solidated mine, near Boksburg, on the East Rand. Like the
Jupiter, the Cinderella Consolidated was working at a depth
of from 4000 to 5000 ft., but unfortunately it was a single-
shaft property, for although an outlet was obtained with the
East Rand Proprietary mines, it did not in any way better
the underground conditions, although it removed the re-
strictions imposed by the mining regulations on mines work-
ing with a single shaft in the Transvaal. The Cinderella
Consolidated has had a somewhat checkered career, as while
the ore sent to the mill was well up to the average of that
milled on the Rand, the working costs were so high that
for some time past milling operations resulted in a loss.
Change of managers did not improve matters. The monthly
losses continued, so it was decided to close down the mill
and not waste the ore reserves of the mine by attempting
to run the mine before the second shaft, in course of sink-
ing, had been completed, and connected with the underground
workings. After ceasing milling operations it was found
that it was impossible to obtain the additional working cap-
ital necessary to place the mine in good condition, includ-
ing the completion of the necessary underground connection,
and it was reluctantly decided, as in the case of the Jupiter,
to close down the Cinderella Consolidated entirely and await
the arrival of better times. Underground difficulties have
always been a prominent feature of this mine, apart from
that of procuring ample ventilation, through the mine hav-
ing for a long time only a single shaft. In the shallower
part of the mine, about 4500 ft. from the surface, air-blasts
frequently made their presence felt, good stopes being fre-
quently lost for some time owing to this cause, and the
working costs and difficulties considerably increased. These
air-blasts appear to have had their origin principally through
dikes and broken ground preventing underground subsid-
ence taking place in a uniform manner. The leaving of pil-
lars to steady the subsidence only added materially to the
difficulty, and so strong were the air-blasts that several lives
were lost through their occurrence. Probably had the whole
of the 'reef been extracted, and systematic sand filling been
resorted to, these difficulties would have been reduced to a
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
469
minimum. It requires a bold mining policy to handle Rand
mining properties at a depth of 4000 ft. from the surface,
and in no instance has sufficient pluck been yet displayed
to adopt such a wholesale mining policy as is fast becom-
ing necessary on the deep mines of the Rand. So far, clos-
ing down the mine has been considered preferable.
The Transvaal Chamber of Mines has declared the Decem-
ber output of gold for the whole of the Transvaal as 672,815
fine ounces, valued at £2,857,938, being a decrease of 671 oz.
compared with the preceding and shorter month of Novem-
ber. This declaration was disappointing, because it was at
least expected to reach in value £3,000,000 and restore the
gold output of the Transvaal to something approaching its
normal condition. This unsatisfactory output for December
shows how chronic and disastrous the scarcity of native labor
has become and how difficult it will be in the present epi-
demic of strikes to maintain the progressive nature of the
Transvaal gold output, one of its chief characteristics for
the last 27 years. The total gold output for 1913 was 8,794,-
824 oz., valued at £37,358,040, being a decline for the year
of 329,475 oz., valued at £1,399,520, when compared with the
output for 1912.
Prospects for the current year are even worse. There is
also the fact to be considered that the Jupiter, Cinderella
Consolidated, and Treasury mines have been closed down dur-
ing the year, and there does not seem any prospect of new
producers taking their places. It must not be forgotten that
every year sees one or more of the richer gold mines on the
outcrop of the Central Rand exhausted and merged into its
less profitable deeper neighbor, so that the conclusion is that
the gold output of the Rand will soon reach, if it has not
already reached, its maximum proportions.
DULUTH, MINNESOTA
Weather Conditions. — Increasing the Grade ok Ores. — Ex-
periment Station of the School of Mines. — Pickands-
Matheb Operations.
The present cold weather has been continuous, and with
the aid of a good fall of snow has made it possible for the
logging contractors to get their usual quota of mining timber
to the railroads, and shipments to the mines promise to be
made on schedule time in spite of the late start. The cold
spell has caused a great many stripping operations to cease,
and the men are now employed In making repairs to the
rolling stock and shovel equipment.
The subject of ore beneficiation is receiving constantly in-
creased attention just now, and many companies are conduct-
ing experiments to determine the possibility of making a
shipping grade out of their low-grade ores. These ores are
a source of trouble to many mines now operating, as they
are se situated as to handicap operations seriously. In the
steam-shovel mines, in many cases, It is necessary to load
large tonnages and haul them to lean ore dumps to get at
the shipping ore, and the underground mines have to make
lean ore dumps necessitating a classification of the ores
sometimes into three or more products. This complicates
the stockpile arrangements during the stocking season, and
during the shipping season necessitates the operation of the
haulage system on the stockpile in addition to loading directly
from the shaft pocket into the ore cars. So, any process
which can be devised to make a shipping grade of these ores
will be a great benefit to mining operations, although it
might not be expedient to treat the ores alone. Several mines
have been obliged to suspend operations because the propor-
tion of lean is too great to permit of profitable working. In
some cases the leases are so loosely worded that there is dis-
pute between the fee owners and operators as to the mini-
mum grade to be handled, so the operators have closed down
untH an understanding can be reached and in several in-
stances the leases have been thrown up. The question of con-
centration involves many factors, and each case must be
treated by individual investigation. The character of the
ore, the percentage and locality of the phosphorus, silica, and
other contents of the ore are matters which will determine
the advisability of treatment, as well as the proportion of
lean ore to shipping ore. Some ores will be made into high-
grade bessemer ore by concentration, others will be made
into high-grade non-bessemer from an apparently bessemer
lean ore, while still others are not affected in grade to any
appreciable extent by any process yet tried.
In this connection the Experiment Station of the Minnesota
School of Mines is doing a valuable work for the state, and
has just issued a bulletin, 'Preliminary Concentration Tests
on Mesabi Ores,' by William R. Appleby and Edmund New-
ton. The bulletin describes the apparatus used in making
the tests, gives working drawings, and gives the results in
tabular and graphical form of a number of tests recently
made for various companies and individuals. Some formulae
are also given showing the relation of various results. The
purpose of the station is outlined in the bulletin. It was
established in the fall of 1911. Its purpose is to promote the
development of the mining and mineral resources of the
state to assay specimens of ores, clays, and minerals; to
make such assays free of charge for private parties, subject
to such regulations as the board of regents might deem neces-
sary to make mining and metallurgical experiments in the
treatment of such substances and in the utilization of min-
ing and metallurgical by-products; to investigate the methods
of mining and the use of explosives; to undertake such
other mining and metallurgical problems as might seem
desirable; to make all ore estimates for the tax commission
and do such other work along the lines above mentioned
as might be requested by other state departments. This is
the second bulletin issued by the station, the first written
by C. E. van Barneveld on 'Mining Methods of the Minnesota
Iron Ranges' was issued last year.
The marketing of Mesabi ores involves complex calcula-
tions, and nearly all operators maintain a grading depart-
ment working in conjunction with the laboratory. By
combining ores of different grade from the same and differ-
ent mines it is possible to ship much of the low-grade ore,
and realize the higher price on it, or make a sale on ore that
would otherwise be unsalable.
The Pickands-Mather company is carrying on an interesting
piece of work at the Bangor mine, near Biwabik. It had a
set of five boilers, of which it was necessary to keep four
in constant operation to handle the water flow of 4000 gal.
per minute. The boilers are being re-bricked and Toledo
Model stokers installed. An extra boiler was put in at the
end, making a battery of six. as it was necessary to have
two boilers cold while the work of bricking-in was going on.
This work has been carried on successfully without any
hindrance to operations. When the brick work has been
finished, and the stokers are placed, an economizer will also
be installed. The stokers use slack coal, a much cheaper
fuel, and it is said that the rate of steaming has also been
increased by their use. This is the first installation of
mechanical stokers on the range and it is likely that others
will follow.
. The Pickands-Mather Co. has given up its lease on the
Virginia mine between Eveleth and Virginia, and has moved
its shovel equipment to headquarters at the Elba mine, near
Gilbert. The royalty paid on the ore was the highest ever
paid on the Mesabi range, $1.35 per ton. The reason as-
sumed for giving up the lease is the large percentage of low-
grade material necessary to be handled in removing the ore,
and differenaes with the fee owners in Interpreting the lease.
The Company has stripped the property, and already removed
over 300.0(10 tons of unsalable low-grade ore in the course
of operations.
470
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14, 1914
ALASKA
Chisana
A well illustrated description of the Chisana goldfield
has recently been published in Bulletin 24 of the Canadian
Mining Institute, Montreal, by D. D. Cairnes, of the Geolog-
ical Survey of Canada. He made a trip to the new district
in August of last year. The article covers the location, routes
in detail, traveling expenses, previous investigations of the
district, the proper name as above, topography, general geol-
ogy, discovery, gold recovered, the gravels and their extent,
value of the gold ($16.10 per ounce), and the future.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
The Shattuck-Arizona Copper Co. operates in the Warren
district, and the report covers the period from August 1,
1912, to December 31, 1913. During this term the revenue
from copper, gold, silver, and lead ores, etc., was $2,562,668.
Development, mining, marketing, and smelting of ores, etc.,
cost $1,411,788. The net profit was $1,150,879, out of which
dividends were paid amounting to $525,000. The net surplus
at the end of 1913 was $59S,150. During the past calendar
year results were as follows:
Copper ore shipped, dry tons 89,317
Copper recovered, pounds 13.219,756
Lead ore shipped, dry tons 4,874
Lead recovered, pounds 1 ,483,956
The ores are delivered to the Calumet & Arizona smelter, and
the metals produced, are sold by Adolph Lewisohn & Sons of
New York.
The general manager, Mr. Shattuck, reported that ore pro-
duction has been regulated by the ability of the Calumet &
Arizona new smelter to handle the Company's ores. New
orebodies are being opened in the mine, which is looking
excellent. Prospecting around the Shattuck fault has given
Gila County
During January, the Iron Cap mine, at Copper Hill, near
Globe, produced 705 tons of ore yielding 117,309 lb. of copper,
with a profit of $7951.
Pin.u, County
There is considerable activity in the new goldfield at Gold
Creek, near Ray, and prospecting covers a length of 2\j miles.
Claims are being sold, there are arguments about overlapping
claims, surveyors are marking correct lines, and blasting is
heard on all sides. The country is diorite and schist. It is
said that the Ray Consolidated may take an interest in the
district.
CALIFORNIA
During February the San Francisco mint received 157. 890
fine ounces of gold and 24,105 oz. of silver, worth $3,277,382.69,
for coinage, from all parts of California and other states.
The domestic coinage was $153,000 and 1*134,000 for the
Philippine Islands. The coin and bullion on hand at the end
of the month was worth $236,010,362.22, and 1*136,926.50.
Amador County
The flow of water in the Kennedy mine is about 16,000 gal.
per day on the No. 36 level, this being the first water of any
consequence below the 1800-ft. level. James F. Parks, super-
intendent of the Plymouth mine, has filed with the county
recorder 14 blue-prints of the new mill, which is to be finished
in 120 days from February 15, at a cost of $27,568.
Butte County
The Hunter dredge, operated at Oroville by the Oro Water,
Light & Power Co., is digging out a channel and making a
levee or retaining wall to protect the Oroville-Marysvilie road,
about five miles below the former town. The wall is 30 ft.
high in places. This work has been under way for three weeks
and will be finished in a week or so. C. G. Leeson is dredge
manager for the corporation.
Eldorado County
A 5-stamp mill has been erected by Philip Ganielo at his
mine at Nashville. A large tonnage of low-grade oiv has
been developed at the Shaw mine, owned by San Francisco
IIYDRAULICKING AT THE (III) El 110 .MINK. MURPHYS, CALIFORNIA.
promising results. Two small shoots of good ore were opened
on the 200-ft. level. A variety of ore, including $30 gold ore,
silver-lead ore, and copper-lead ore, has been opened on the
300-ft. level. The copper-lead ore requires careful sorting.
Extensive shoots of copper ore have been opened at 400 ft."
The new orebody at 500 ft. is mostly an iron ore containing
6% copper. No. 6 level produced about 50% of the ore
shipped from the mine, and reserves have been maintained.
A large shoot of lead carbonate ore was opened on this level.
and it should yield 100,000 tons assaying $2 gold, 2 oz. silver,
and 18% lead. No. 7 level is promising, as also are No. 8
and 9 levels. Arthur Houle is superintendent of the mine.
Unless arrangements are made to treat the rich lead ores
produced, a lead smelter may be erected at the property.
people, headed by H. DeC Richards. Three 10-ft. Lane mills
will be installed to crush 150 tons per day.
Nevada County
It had been reported that hydraulic mining at You Bet
was being carried on in violation of the debris law, lint Mr.
Cheney, in charge of these matters in California, states that
this is not so. It was also said that restraining dams built
under government supervision on the Jerry Goodwin claims
had been washed out. and the debris carried into the Bear
river, and hydraulic-king continued just the same.
Placer County
A representative of the Guggenheim mining interests has
made an application to the supervisors of this county for a
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
471
permit to construct a narrow-gage railroad from the Dairy
Farm copper mine to Lincoln. This mine was developed at
the time the San Bruno smelter was planned, and after lying
idle for some years was reopened last year under lease to
Newman and Beals.
Plumas County
Rich ore is said to have been cut in the San Jose mine, a
mile below Seneca. This mine is owned by Hugh Kelly.
Good ore has been opened in the claims owned by Wilson and
Benner on Winters creek. It is opened by an adit 150 ft. long.
Shasta County
The new 10-stamp Straube mill at the West End mine, at
Whiskeytowu, is working. Previous to this all ore went to
the Gambrinus mill.
Siskiyou County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Alt. Vernon mine has been
taken under lease for three years by I,. C. Dobbins and asso-
ciates of Montana. The mine has been worked extensively
in past years and is well equipped. Sinking is progressing
at the Osgood mine, owned by P. H. Osgood of Seattle. The'
vein is widening and ore from $2" to $30 is being mined. A
5-stanip mill was recently placed in commission. W. Beall
is superintendent. The mill at the Mono mine, near Humbug,
will be started early in March. J. .loley and O. H. Poor have
taken out about 100 tons of good ore. Considerable work is
under way at the Big Cliff, under the management of H. B.
Wintering. It is reported that a small mill will be erected
during the coming summer. Work was recently resumed at
the King Solomon, which is controlled by Eastern people.
W. H. Young is superintendent. The Klamath River Mining
Co. is operating its placer holdings above Weitchpec with 10
men. C. H. Barton is superintendent. Another attempt is
being made to recover gold and platinum from the debris
carried into the Klamath river by the hydraulic and placet-
mines. A company of Idaho people has erected a small plant
near Martin's ferry, consisting of a pump, screens, canvas con-
centrator, and a secret contrivance.
Yreka, February 28.
Trinity County
i Special Correspondence, i — At the Golden Chest mine, in
the East Fork district. 11 ft. of formation has been opened
in the lower cross-cut. about 40 in. of which looks well. A
drift will now be driven north on the vein to cut the main
ore-shoot below the upper workings. This property has been
practically closed down for several years, but has a good
milling record. The further development of the orebodies
should place it on the list of producers. The ore contains
free gold, accompanied at times with high-grade galena which,
with various tellurides. is characteristic of the district. T. J.
Rochford. one of the owners, is in charge. Mr. Stofer, of
Dedrick. has recently taken a lease on the property with the
privilege of purchasim;. He will begin active development
on April 1.
Helena. February 2.V
COLORADO
Ci.kak Ckkkk County
(Special Correspondence.) — A streak of very rich sylvanite
4 in. wide has been cut on No. 12 level of the (lent mine,
situated on Seaton mountain. The shoot is showing in a
raise for 35 feet. K. Mosher is operating under lease. Coe &
Co., operating on No. 12 level east, have opened a shoot of
smelting ore 5 ft. wide, and shipments made return $30 per
ton. A carload of bornite ore sent out last week from the
Sun and Moon mine brought a settlement of $5000. This prop-
erty is being operated by .1. P. Olsen, and a force of 20 men is
at present being employed. Work will be resinned in a few
days at the French Flag mine in Gilson gulch. Operations had
to be suspended following the storm of last December, it being
impossible to take in fuel. Chas. H. Ripley will return from
Boston in a few days to take charge of development.
Idaho Springs, February IS.
Ouray County
Shipments of ore and concentrate from Ouray in February
totaled 1040 tons from seven properties. The Wanakah Min-
ing Co. has secured a lease of the Brown Mountain smelter.
According to the Company's manager, John T. Roberts. Jr..
there is CO days' ore on hand; but silicious ores will be ac-
cepted up to a certain tonnage. During the last quarter of
1913, the Camp Bird company had the following results:
Development, feet 1,205
Stoping, cubic feet 77. \2"
Broken ore in stopes, tons 14,663
Ore treated, tons i,SS3
Bullion receipts $1 1 1.917
Concentrate receipts 82,001
Expenditure 104,4.",:;
Net profit 89,465
Development on No. 6 and 7 levels proved little of special
mention.
San Miguel County
During January the Tomboy mine produced $33,000 in bul-
lion, $44,000 from 1000 tons of concentrate from 11,000 tons
of ore, and a profit of $3300 from the tramway. The profit
was $30,000. Owing to snowslides, described in this journal
of February 7, power and tramway operations were inter-
rupted for two days.
Teller County (Cripple Cheek)
Details of the estimated output for February are as follows:
Plant. Tons. Av. value. Gross val.
Colorado Springs:
Golden Cycle 25,300 $20.00 $506,000
Portland 9.500 1S.0O 171.000
Denver and Pueblo smelters 3.920 55.00 215. 60"
Cripple Creek:
Portland 14.000 2.80 39,200
Stratton's 10.923 2.63 28,727
Colburn Ajax 4.000 5.00 20,000
Wild Horse 1,000 3.00 3,000
Kavanaugh-.lo Dandy 1.700 1.40 2.38"
Isabella 650 3.00 1,950
Rex 300 2.40 72"
Total 71,293 $988,577
Owing to the short month and bad roads the output was
lower than usual. The KM Paso mine produced 255" tons.
lessees contributing 55" ions. At 175" ft. in the No. 2 shaft
of the Portland, water lias caused a temporary stoppage of
sinking operations. A station is to be cut at this depth.
The United Cold Mines Co. controls several subsidiary min-
ing companies, and leases its mines at Cripple Creek. The
report covers the year ended December 31, 1913. No ore was
produced on company account, and the output by lessees.
amounting to 20,259 tons worth $11. 30 per ton. was made up
as follows:
Mines and locality. Tonnage. Av. value.
\V. P. H.. Ironclad hill . . 5,022 $24.(7
Damon. Ironclad hill 314 10.02
Montrose company, Ironclad hill 329 12.:>o
May B.. Squaw mountain 214 18.38
Deadwood, Hull hill 1,007 9.14
Wild Horse, Hull hill 1,509 24.03
Requa company, Pull lull ::."," 6.4"
B. H. & S. M. Co.. Bull hill 7 5.35
The Wild Horse mill was operated under lease and treatad
11,593 tons, yielding $29,206. Charges on the ore mined were
$85,052 and $111,111 was paid to lessees, and the royalties
were $33, 539. Net profit for the Company was $14,823.
472
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
IDAHO
Lemhi County
On March 2 the second carload of ore from the Allie mine,
at Gilmore, arrived at the United States Smelting company's
plant at Salt Lake City. Assays indicate that the 50 tons may
be worth $17,500. E. C. Ross, president of the Allie Mining
Co., figures on a carload each month, and an exceptionally rich
shipment is being prepared. The vein is 4',L> ft. wide, with
high gold content, while 18 in. of it is worth $1375 per ton.
On April 1, the Gilmore Mining Co., adjoining the Allie, will
sink its shaft a further 200 ft., making 700 ft. on the vein.
The Gilmore produced about 1000 tons of $18 ore in February.
Shoshonk County
Ore and concentrate shipped from 14 properties in the Coeur
d'Alene in February totaled 36,714 tons. Moving pictures are
to be taken of complete mining operations in the Bunker Hill
& Sullivan mine. Nash Wayland, one of the electricians of the
Company, is in charge of the lighting for this purpose, having
installed an 8000-cp. lamp to light the stopes and other work-
ings. The Stewart Mining Co.'s gross earnings in February
were $157,000 and net profit $112,000, as compared with $64,600
and $25,300 a year ago.
The Snowstorm Mining Co. has bought a controlling inter-
est in the Missoula Copper Co. at a cost of about $300,000.
The two mines are 1% miles distant from one another.
Charles E. Mallette. of Spokane, and Leo Greenough of the
Snowstorm put the deal through.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
Considerable interest is being taken in the future treatment
of 11.000.000 tons of tailing of the Tamarack company. This
is said to average about 12V.. lb. of copper per ton, and by
grinding, about 9 lb. will be recovered. The mine is still shut
down. From the Quincy rock' shipments are nearly 3500 tons
per day. The Company will install the 'Baby Leyner' 90-lb.
one-man drill in place of the old machines. There are 60 at
work now and 40 more will arrive soon. The Hancock is
producing 150 tons of rock, Superior GOO tons, and the Copper
Range three mines from 3800 to 4000 tons per day.
MISSOURI
Jasper County
Production of zinc and lead ores from the district during
the first nine weeks of 1914 was as follows:
Ores Tons. Av. per ton.
Blende 44,082 $39.15
Calamine 2,754 20.9S
Lead 7,62S 49.57
MONTANA
Maihsox County
(Special Correspondence.) — In connection with the news in
this journal of February 7, of the option being taken on 20,000
acres of land near Twin Bridges, this option is to the El Oro
Dredging Co. of Oroville, California. The area is about 3 by
12 miles. Land worth under $25 for agricultural purposes is
under option for $100 per acre. Hence much joy among fann-
ers of the district.
Twin Bridges, March 1.
Silvebbow County
The overhead tramway from the Belmont shaft to the new
steel ore-bins is ready for operation.
(.Special Correspondence.) — The Anaconda Copper Mining
Co. is more actively prospecting new ground now than at any
time in its history. In the old silver district, west of Butte,
it is unwatering the Nettie shaft, and preparing to sink
deeper. East of Butte it has been sinking the Tropic shaft
and is to sink the Ella shaft on the recently acquired prop-
erty of the Reins Copper Co. It is satisfying from an economic
standpoint to reflect that money which formerly had to be
spent in expensive wasteful mine litigation can now be put
into new development. The new slime concentrating plant and
the proposed leaching plant for the Anaconda smelter will
mean increased population for Anaconda in the near future.
Everything points to a gradual concentration of the Company's
metallurgical activities at this place. The tonnage to go to
Anaconda is to be materially increased, and the additional
railway equipment to handle the increased tonnage on the
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific railway has been ordered.
W. H. Weed's report on the Butte-Duluth, acquired by the
American Metal Co., shows that 5,000,000 tons of ore has
been proved by drill holes. He estimates the cost of mining
and leaching 1000 tons per day at $2 per ton.
Butte, March 1.
NEVADA
Humboldt County
The first annual report of the Rochester Mines Co. shows
that 14,726 tons of ore was shipped, worth $368,770. Costs
totaled $25.04, of which lessees got $9.79 per ton. The net
profit was $19,192. Development covered the following:
trenches and open-cuts, 8160: cross-cuts, 1792; drifts, 2441;
shafts, 634; raises, 730; and winzes, 165 ft. The .president,
J. F. Nenzel, urges the amalgamation with adjoining proper-
ties and the erection of a mill. There seems to be consider-
able local dissatisfaction with the control of this property.
The Seven Troughs Coalition Mining Co.'s mill is treating
high-grade ore from the new shoot below No. 10 level. A
canvas table has been installed to save the fine mineral which
escapes from the concentrators. At 140 ft. in No. 4 winze
there is 18 in. of $594 ore. From 40 to 50 men will be em-
ployed by the end of this month.
Lyon County
The Mason Valley smelter received 3556 tons of ore during
the week ended March 4. Three cars of blister copper were
shipped.
Nye County
The new gold and silver camp in the southeastern part of
the county, discovered by Pat McAuliffe, has been named
Blackthorn. It is 25 miles east of Goldfield and 3 miles
west of Antelope, where is the nearest water. Prospectors are
meeting with encouraging results.
The mines at Tonopah produced 10,162 tons of ore worth
$251,135 (luring the week ended March 7.
White Pine County
An old stack, formerly used for the roasting furnaces at the
Ale-Gill smelter, got into bad order until it was only 191 ft.
high. It weighed about 9000 tons. On March 1, 14 holes were
drilled into the base of the stack and 500 lb. of 40% dynamite
exploded by electric current, and the structure demolished
in good style. .1. D. Watson and C. Anderson were in charge
of the job. Two more McDougall roasting furnaces have been
built, each of SO-ton capacity per day of concentrate. This
department can treat 1440 tons per day. The last pay for
1500 men at McGlll, 550 at Copper Flat, and 250 at the
Veteran amounted to $150,000, $60,000, and $30,000 respectively.
NEW MEXICO
Socobbo County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Oaks Co.'s adit A' has
entered milling ore. Other parts of the property are giving
good results. At 900 ft. in the Socorro, 7 ft. of ore is being
mined, and 180 tons milled daily. This shoot has been per-
sistent for 1400 ft. below the apex of the vein on the incline.
The Maud's shaft is 708 ft. deep. No. 3 level in the Deadwood
lias cut the south orebody. The mill is working full time.
Tlte Pacific shaft is 70 ft. below No. 3 level, where the vein
March 14, 1!)14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
473
is 7 ft. wide assaying $14 per ton. Some rich ore is being
mined from a 10-ft. stope below the 250-ft. level. About
35 tons is shipped per day to the custom mill.
Mogollon, February 23.
OREGON
Baker County
A suit was recently brought by a number of farmers on
Rock creek, who alleged that 'refuse and chemicals' discharged
into the stream from the Highland mine made the water unfit
for drinking purposes; also when the water was used for irri-
gation purposes a cement-like coating was left on the sides
and bottoms of ditches, which eventually killed all vegetation.
A temporary restraining order was granted several weeks ago,
and the farmers are now trying to have the order made per-
manent. The Baker Commercial Club had almost arbitrated
satisfactorily, when a difference arose, and the case went to
the circuit court, Judge Anderson presiding. He has now
made a permanent restraining order against the Highland
company, which will not be allowed to pollute Rock and
Maxwell creeks. This can be done without much inconven-
ience, according to the court.
TEXAS
Brazoria County
(Special Correspondence. )— A new electric power-plant is
to be erected at the Freeport Sulphur Co.'s mines at Bryan
Heights, and will also supply the town of Freepott. A new-
superheated water plant is also to be installed at the mines.
The electric plant will consist of a 200-kw. Westinghouse
steam turbine direct connected to a generator. Power will
be used for pumping water from the canal, fuel oil from
storage tanks on the ship canal to the mines, the machine
shop, and all purposes in Freepott. The station will be in-
stalled by the Westinghouse. Church Kerr & Co. of New York,
in connection with the other new $125,000 equipment now
being put in at the mines by the sulphur company. The new
sulphur conveyor and loading devices installed by the Com-
pany at the Seaboard & Gulf Steamship pier on the Free-
port ship channel, which has a capacity of 3600 tons per day
for loading vessels with sulphur, is now completed, and
ready for operation. It is expected that the first shipload of
sulphur to be loaded and shipped from this port, will leave
here on one of the Seaboard & Gulf Steamship Co.'s boats
within a few weeks. A new loading equipment for hand-
ling this product at the mines has also recently been installed
and is now in operation. It consists of a Brown hoist, with
a loading capacity of 30 carloads of sulphur per day. Willi
a railroad at the mines, and loading equipment at both the
mines and at tidewater now built and in operation, the
shipment of considerable tonnage of sulphur from Texas' only
sulphur mines is expected for 1914. The present daily output
is 200 tons of sulphur.
Freeport, February 21.
UTAH
J TAB COI'NTY
The Kagle & Blue Bell company will pay 5c. per share on
April 1. amounting to $44,057. Since the beginning of 1913,
the total dividends are $223,2*0.
Si M MIT Col MY
The state of Utah is building a new capitol at Salt Lake
City, and for a colonnade then' will be 52 monoliths 31ti.
ft. high, 47 in. diameter, weighing 30 tons each. It was de-
cided to use 1'tah granite, and a contract was let to the Con-
solidated Stone Co. for 105.000 cu. ft., costing $010,000. This
Company has a quarry at Wasatch in the Little Cottonwood
canon. The monoliths were to be 11 pieces each, but this
quarry can supply them in single pieces. A recent blast
brought down 300, u ft. of granite, more than twice the
amount required for the capitol's outside walls and monoliths.
One piece was 40 by •"! by 9S ft. in dimension. A spur line is
being laid to the quarry, also a 50-ton crane and planing
machine are to be installed. It is estimated that a finished
monolith can be produced each week.
The annual report of the Silver King Consolidated Mining
Co. shows that dividends in 1913 totaled $308,791. Cash as-
sets stand at $384,859. Practically all litigation is ended.
In sinking the shaft 500 ft. to the 1800-ft. level, the cost was
$46,700. Development during the 3»4 months ended February
25, 1914, covered 2280 feet. From 1537 ft. of work near the
shaft 1326 tons of $41.34 ore was mined, also 2100 tons of 10 oz.
silver, 5% lead, and some gold and copper ore.
As mentioned in this journal of last week, the Grasselli
zinc plant near Park City has changed ownership, and under
the management of George H. Scibird, the mill will be over-
hauled to receive custom ores from the district. Local capital
is to finance the concern.
The Snake Creek tunnel was driven 275 ft. in February,
and is now in 7000 feet. The flow of water is about 5500
gal. per minute. At present, with two shifts, 12 to 14 ft. per
day is the advance, the face being fairly dry and requiring
no timbering.
Utah County
Assays of ore from the Sautaquin King recently gave from
4.7 to 20.6 oz. silver and 40.5 to 70.9'/c lead. A block of ore
containing 8000 tons of $30 to $35 ore is being prepared for
mining.
WASHINGTON
Mining companies operating in the Coeur d'Alene of
Idaho, and in British Columbia, and contiguous to Spokane,
will pay the following dividends in March: Granny, $225,000;
Federal, $180,000: Stewart, $154,795; Hercules, $100,000; Con-
solidated, $116,088; Bunker Hill, $81,750; Standard, $50,000;
International Coke. $30,000; and Hecla, $20,000; a total of
$957,638.
Kittitas Colxty
(Special Correspondence.) — Ore has been opened in the
old Bigney placer claim, at Liberty, which was recently ac-
quired by William Johnson, it was supposed to have been
worked out, but during the past two weeks three men have
averaged about $50 per day. The gold is mostly coarse, one
nugget ueing worth $43. The Bigney claim was famous as
a producer about 12 years ago. when it produced over $200,000.
The recent discovery was made on the south channel, and
will mean a general revival of work along Williams creek,
where there are some good claims. Martin Meagher, owner
of the Fraction claim adjoining the Bigney, has arrived here.
He has some men prospecting the ground south of the old
workings, .lack Stuart is sinking an incline in bis claim,
but bedrock has not been reached yet. He reports fair pros-
pects in the blue gravel. There is considerable good placer
ground here which has been scarcely worked at all, on account
of lack of drainage. The Williams Creek claim-owners have
been successful because they cut a drain through seven
claims. These produced about $600,000. Claim-owners on
Lyons creek, which empties into Williams creek, are figur-
ing on joining the Williams drain about half way. and so
drain their properties, which, if done, will likely open some
valuable ground. Prospecting on Lyons creek has been en-
couraging, and nuggets worth $30 have been found. In pros-
pecting the Beckntan placer, owned by Mrs. A. Robinson, a
good deal of fine and some coarse gold has been found. E.
M. Wells has installed a gas-engine, pump, and hoist on
his placer claim. Mr. McCatiley. of Ellensburg, has bought
a half interest in the Taft quartz claim from Amos Jordan.
Liberty, February 15.
Placer mining near Liberty is at times yielding nuggets
worth from $32 to $62. Livingston Bros.. M. Fnecks. Nelson
and Stevens, and Powers and Sugars are all busy at their
claims. The latter are now sluicing. Johnson recovered $126
from 7 yd. of pay.
474
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
P. R. Bradley will leave for Juneau tills week.
Edmund Juessen was ai Coulterville last week.
Howard D. Smith was at Santa Barbara Monday.
Sumner S. Smith has left Juneau for Chisana and Fair-
banks.
C. T. Hutchinson lias been visiting the oilfields of Cali-
fornia.
D. M. Field is with the Rio Arribo Co., at Tusas, New-
Mexico.
H. W. Reed has returned to Salt Lake City from Long
Beach, California.
Guy A. R. Lewington has gone into the oil business, and
will not return to Dawson.
Arthur L. "Walker has returned to New York from the
South, having recovered his health.
James Irving has just returned to Los Angeles from a week's
trip through Mohave county, Arizona.
L. F. S. Holland is examining mines in Arizona and expects
to return to Los Angeles about March 21.
F. H. Hatch is in the Kirkland Lake district, Ontario,
where he is inspecting the Tough-Oakes mine.
A. W. Sttckney. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has gone to
Kyshtimsky Zavod, Perm Government, Russia.
H. L. Huston has removed his office from the Mills to the
Alaska Commercial building in San Francisco.
R. B. Lamb sailed on the Lusitania on March 11, for London,
England, where he will remain for two months.
L. N. Parks has been transferred from Jenny Lind to Yreka,
where he is superintending the work of the Butte Dredging
Company.
E. C. Morse has resigned from the San Poil Consolidated
Co., at Republic, Washington, and is at his home at Port-
land, Oregon.
J. S. Ickis, field geologist for S. Pearson's Sons, Ltd., of
London, is making a trip of observation through the Midway
oilfields of California.
T. Skewes Saunders, superintendent of the Teziutlan Cop-
per Co., Puebla, Mexico, has gone to England, as the property
is shut down until the revolution ends.
A. W. Gates has retired as general manager for the Utah
Ore Sampling Co., and intends to go into business at Salt Lake
City; he is succeeded by F. M. Mansen, of Goldfield, Nevada,
formerly associated with the Western Ore Purchasing Com-
pany.
Obituary
James B. Cooper, superintendent of the smelting department
of the Calumet & Hecla, died at Hubbell, Michigan, February
6. He had been in the service of the Company for many years
and had been an important factor in building up the reputa-
tion of Lake copper for purity and uniformity of grade. Born
within the limits of what is now Detroit, in 1859, he obtained
his education in the public schools and the University of
Rochester. His professional career included service in the
old smelter at Hancock. Michigan, the Parrott plant at Bridge-
port, Connecticut, and the Calumet & Hecla plants at Hubbell
and Buffalo. His father. James R. Cooper, was a smelter be-
fore him and he grew up with a fondness for the art which
led him to throw his whole energy into its development, and
with notable success.
MARCH
Name. Date.
Canadian Mining Institute Montreal.... 4-U
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 13
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. .. .London. .. . 19
Old Freibergers Hofbrau, New York. . . . 2~>
APRIL
American Chemical Society s-ll
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 10
American Electro-Chemical Society 16-1S
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London.... 1G
MAY
Mining and Metallurgical Society .. .San Francisco... 4
National Fire Protection Association 5-7
American Iron and Steel Institute 22
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London.... 21
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 2'{
American Society for Testing Materials 2:i-27
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July 2
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of June
Franklin Institute Philadelphia. . . end of June
AUGUST
American Institute of Mining Engineers
.Salt Lake City. .
10-14
SEPTEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixed
American Chemical Society 9-12
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 9
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-24
NOVEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
l:
DECEMBER
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-S
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 10
Society of Naval Architects 11-12
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 11
American Museum of Safety 11-20
Geological Society of America 30-31
The Massachusetts Institute op Technology reports that
Henry Tschetschott, professor at the St. Petersburg Mining
Institute, is registered at the 'Tech' for special work. The
Russian government requires teachers with a broad view for
its schools, and is sending students to foreign colleges, in
case of mining.
The Colorado School of Mines, at Golden, will open a
course on coal mining, for the benefit of coal mine employees,
on April 1, ending on May 27. It will cover mathematics,
mechanics and drawing, chemistry, geology, and mining.
There will be no fees for instruction, only text books and
material consumed will be charged, the total expense being
about $5. Wm. G. Haldane is acting president.
March 14. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
475
I. OCA I. METAL PRICKS
San Francisco, March 12.
Antimony 9 — 9^c
Electrolytic copper 15i£ — 15?ic
Pig lead 4.25— 5.20c
Quicksilver (tiask) $38.50
Tin 42%— « e
Spelter 6%— 6%c
Zinc dust. 190 kg. zinc-lined cases. T'i to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK. March 12. — The metal market is dull. Copper
is still dropping and is weak at 14 cents. Greene Cananea
February yield was 2.282,000 pounds. The British Columbia
Copper Co. shows a deficit of $442,600 for 1913. after paying
dividends. Lead shows practically no change for five weeks
and is quiet; so is spelter, which is a trifle lower than last
week. Prices at St. Louis are 3.90 and 5.15c, respectively. Lon-
don prices are copper, £63 15s. to £64 5s.; lead. £20; spelter, £21
10s.; and tin. £173 10s. to £175 7s. fid. Tin in New Y/ork is 37.85
to 38.62 V4c. Bar silver In London and New York is 26%d. and
r.v'.e. respectively. Gold in London was up to 77s.9%d. per
ounce standard last week, the highest for 3>2 years.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Date.
Men. 5
8 Sunday
:< ->8.12
10 58.12
11 58.12
Average week ending.
Jan. 2N 57.60
Feb. 4 57.46
■• 11 57.54
'• 18 57.37
57.53
Men.
I .
1 1 .
.Ian.
Feb.
Men.
Apr.
Ma
1913.
63.01
61.25
57.87
59.26
.60.21
Monthly averages.
1914
57.58
57.53
June 59.03
1913.
July 58.70
Aug »9.32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov. 58.76
Dec 57.73
.57.72
.58.23
1914.
Lead
pounds.
Pate.
Mch. 5
is quoted In cents per pound or dollars per hundred
New York delivery.
4.00
4.00
4.1")
8 Sunday
10.
11.
Jan.
Feb.
Average week ending
M.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
A pr.
May
June
1913.
. 1.28
. 1.33
. 4.32
4 36
. 4.34
. 4~33
, . . . 1.00
... 4.00
4.00
Monthly averages
1914
4.1 1
1.02
Julv
Aim'.
Sept.
I let.
Nov.
1913.
. 4.35
. 4.60
. 4.70
4.37
. 4.16
. 4.02
4.10
. 4.15
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
1914.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Pries are In cents per pound.
Date.
Mch. 5 1 l.io
6 11.1"
7 1 1.05
S Sundnv
9 14.00
•• 10 14.00
" 11 1 1.0"
Average week ending
■ Ian. 28 14.35
Feb. I 14.59
11 14.61
" 18 14.55
25 14.34
Mch. 4 14.22
" 11 14.04
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1 9 1 .".
.16.54
. I 1.93
.14.72
.15.22
. 1 5. I
Monthly averages.
101 I .
14.21
1 1.16
July
Aug.
Sept
I let.
Nov.
I lee
1913.
.1 1.21
. 15.42
.16.23
.16.31
. 15. OS
. 1 1.25
1914.
June 14.71
Buying in the New Y-irk market was light last week and
the metal .sagged nearly half a cent per pound. Exports dur-
ing the last two days of February were unusually large and
will bring the total for the month to over 77,000,000 lb. The
visible copper supply in England, France, and afloat there to
March 1 was IS, 559 tons, an increase of 1329 tons in the past
fortnight; visible supplies at Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremen
on March 1 were S423 tons, a decrease of 198 tons since February
16; supplies at Rotterdam decreased 100 tons, at Hamburg de-
creased 91 tons, at Bremen 7 tons. Consumers here evidently
expect prices to go lower, while the agencies are still hopeful
of a better market soon.
UlICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly In this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by tr.e carload car
usually obtain a slight; reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Feb.
19.
Week ending
.39.00
.39.00
Feb.
Mch.
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
Monthly averages.
1914
39.:
39.00
1913.
July 11.00
Aus 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Pec lo.OO
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands. St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Mch. 5 .
6.
S Sunday
9
10
11
5.13
5.13
5.13
Average week ending
Jan. 2S
Feb.
Mch.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
6.VV
6. l ::
5.94
5.52
5.23
5.00
... 5.13
... 5.13
5.13
Monthly averages
1914.
5.14
5.22
July
Avtg.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
pee.
1913.
. 5.11
5.51
5.07
TIN
New York prices control In the American market for tin. si
the metal is almost entirely Imported. San Francisco quotati
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given aver;
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
nee
ons
age
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 45.10
1913.
..50.45
. .49.07
. .46.95
. .49.00
.49.10
1914.
37.85
39.76
1913.
Julv 4 0.70
Autr 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Pec :;7.57
191 4
COPPER PRODI (KI1S- ASSOCIATION REPORT
The Copper Producers' Association statement. March 9, shows
a decrease in production and stocks en hand. The details are
as follows:
Pounds.
Stocks of marketable copper of all kinds on hand .n
all points in the I'nited States. February 1". 1914. 87.296.6s5
Production of marketable copper in the I'nited States
from all domestic and foreign sources during
February 1 22.561.00n
Deliveries for consumption, February 47.586.657
Deliveries for export. February 83,899,18::
Stock of marketable copper 'if all kinds on hand and
at all points in the L", S. March 2 78,371.85:
Recent changes in surplus have been as follows, in pounds:
Increase.
February 1913
March
April
May
June
July 690. 33"
August
September
October 2,773,28.8
Xo yen i her 1 5,363,0 17
December 13,509,138
January 1914
February
Decrease
896,131
1 8,032. 92S
28,720,162
S.07I.SS::
1 1, 569. 611'
! ". . li S 1 1 . 1 1 ( . -^
8,531.043
4,142,182
8,921,833
476
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
The Stock Markets
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
BONDS
March 11.
Listed.
Associated Oil 5s
Unlisted .
Ass. Oil 6s
General Petroleum (is.
Bid
5 97}
Bid
Ask
93
83}
Bid
Unlisted.
Natomas Consol. 6s —
Pac. Port. Cement 6s 100
Santa Cruz Cement 8s... 80
•Union Oil —
Listed.
Amalgamated Oil —
Associated OH 41J
E. I. du Pont pfd —
Giant 83
Pac. Cst Borax, pfd 70
Pacific Crude OH —
Sterling O. & D 1$
STOCKS
Ask ! Unlisted. Bid
86} General Petroleum 4}
413 Noble Electric Steel 5
90 Natomas Consol 50c
86 Pac. Port. Cement —
— '• Riverside Cement 60
30c | Santa Cruz Cement 00
— I Stand. Port. Cement 20
Ask
■m
90
88
Ask
60
53
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
March 12.
Atlanta I .23
Belcher .60
Belmont 7.75
Con. Virginia -22
Florence .86
Goldfleld Con 1.77
Goldfield Oro .18
Halifax 80
Jim Butler 1.07
Jumbo Extension 29
MacNamara 09
Mexican 1.10
Midway 37
Mizpah Extension .47
Montana-Tonopah I
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophlr
Pittsburg Silver Peak
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension 1
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada 7
Union
Victor
West End
Yellow Jacket...
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask.
Argonaut
Brunswick Con.
Bunker Hill
$1.05
1.90
Bid.
Ask.
Centra
Eureka
.JO.6.1
10.67
South
Eureka. . .
2.00
COPPER
(By courtesy of J
Bid
Allouez « 40}
Ariz. Commercial 5}
Butte & Superior 34}
Calumet * Arizona 661
Calumet* Hecla 420
Copper Range 38
Daly West 2}
East Butte US
Franklin 6}
Granby 84}
Greene Cananea 35
l4le-Royale 20}
Mass Copper 2J
SHARES — BOSTON
C. Wilson. Mills Building
)
March 12.
Ask
bid
Ask
41
8 41
161
27
49.1
. 78
46
6|
15|
34J
North Butte
27 j
66]
50
422
Osceola
80
383
(Juincy
. 62
63}
28
Shannon
. 6}
63
12
Superior & Boston
2}
2 j
68
Tamarack
393
40
84J
U. S. Smelting, com
. 40
41) j
36
10J
4j
11
20}
Winona
4)
2}
Hi
48
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E.
Bid.
Braden Copper. . . S
Braden 6s 160
B. C. Copper 1 %
Con. Cop. Mines
Davis-Daly . . .
Ely Con 4
First National .. . -:'i
Giraux 1
Hollinger 16
Iron Blossom.... l$s
Kerr Lake 4%
La Rose 1%
165
- 4
l?i
F. Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
Marcli 11.
Ask.
Mason Valley
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am.
Nipissing
Ohio Copper
San Toy
Stand. Oil of
Tri Bullion
Tuolumne
United Cop. com
Yukon Gold ....
8%
65
1%
2%
1V4
17
4%
1%
Bid.
lVs
2 1-
6%
hi
15c.
.313
Vs
Mi
IK
6%
u,
25c.
US
M
1
%
3*
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
March 12.
Bid Ask
Amalgamated 8 73j
Anaconda 35}
A. S. <& R„ com 67
Calif. Pet., com 26}
Chlno 40g
Guggenheim Ex 54j
Inspiration 17
Mexican Pet., com 67}
78}
67}
27}
40|
55}
17}
68}
Bid Ask
Miami f 22J 23
Nevada Con 16 16}
Quicksilver, com 1} 2}
Ray Con 20j 20}
Tenn. Copper 34} 343
U.S. Steel, pfd 109J 110
U. 8. Steel, com 63j 63}
Utah Copper 53g 54
LONDON QUOTATIONS
(By cable, through the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co.,
New York.)
March 12.
Alaska Mexican 1
Alaska Treadwell 8
Alaska United 3
Arizona 2
California Oilfields 8
Camp Bird 0
Cobalt Townslte 2
El Oro 0
Esperanza 0
Granville 0
s. d.
7 6
5 0
2 a
0 0
£ «. d.
12
6
10
0
15
0
18
»
10
0
Kern River Oilfields 0
Mexico Mines 5
Messina 1
Oroville 0
Pacific Oilfields 0
RIoTinto 69
Santa Gertrudis 0
Tanganyika 2
Tomboy 1
7
6
5
0
11
1',
12
6
2
6
15
0
16
»
1
3
3
9
AUSTRALASIAN
March 12.
£ s. d.
British Broken Hill 2 2 6
Broken Hill Prop 2 0 0
Golden Horse-Shoe 2 12 6
Great Boulder Prop 0 10 0
Ivanhoe 2 13 9
Kalgurll 1 17 «
Mount Boppy 0 12 li
Mount Elliott 3
Mount Lyell 1
Mount Morgan 3
Walhi 2
Walhl Grand June 1
Zinc Corporation, ord 1
Production of Spelter in the United States
The final figures of the United States Geological Survey
for the year 1913, collected by C. E. Siebenthal, are as below,
all quantities being stated in tons of 2600 lb.
Production of Pbimaby Spelter1 is the United States,
apportioned according to source of ore
United States: 1912. 1913.
Arizona 4,092 3,152
Arkansas 604 478
California 1,672 2,535
Colorado 60,841 58,113
Idaho 6,800 10,190
Illinois 3,952 1.345
Kansas 5,668 9,956
Kentucky 394 172
Missouri 149,557 129,018
Montana 14,196 35,756
Nevada 6,132 5,828
New Jersey .....' 16,941 24,247
New Mexico 6.8K2 3,765
Oklahoma 2,041 6.397
Tennessee 1.935 2.635
Texas 245 303
Utah 7,756 9.503
Virginia 62 116
Wisconsin 34,137 33,743
Tetal domestic 323,907 337.252
Foreign:
Canada 4.199 1.424
Mexico 10,700 6,205
Europe 1,175
Siberia 620
Total foreign 14.S99 9,424
Grand total 338.806 346.676
March 14, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
[
477
APPORTIONED ACCORDING TO LOCALITY IN WHICH SMELTED
Illinois 88,397 106,654
Kamsas 101,104 74,106
Oklahoma 76,925 83,214
Other states 72,380 S2.702
Total • 338,806 346,676
'Primary spelter is made directly from ore, but secondary
spelter is recovered from such sources as drosses, skimmings,
and old metals.
The statistics, representing final figures, show pro-
duction of primary spelter in the United States amounting
to 346,676 tons, an increase of 7870 tons, or 2.3%, over the
corresponding figures for 1912. At the same time the Amer-
ican consumption increased 13.2%, while the world's produc-
tion only grew 3.1%. The preliminary estimates furnished
by the Survey and printed in the Mining and Scientific Press
for January 3, were within one-third of one per cent of
these final figures.
Production of Secondary Zinc in the United States
1912. 1913.
Secondary spelter, redistilled 26,064 J26,491
Secondary spelter, remelted 26.187 '23,000
Recovered zinc in alloys, excluding old
brass remelted 3,912 -3,600
=Subject to final revision.
World's Prodi ction of Spelter
Locality in which smelted: 1912. T913.
Australia 2,531 4,105
Austria and Italy 21,609 23,856
Belgium 220,678 21 7,941
France and Spain 79,543 78,293
Germany 298,794 311,914
Great Britain 63.0S6 65,201
Holland 26,380 26,813
Norway S.959 19,040
Poland 9,659 9,520
United States 338,806 346,676
Total 1,070.04.", 1,103,359
United States' percentage of world's
production 31.7 31.4
"Subject to final revision.
Consumption of Primary Spelter in the United States
Supply:
Stock, Jan. 1— 1912. 1913.
In bonded warehouses 32 48
At smelters 9,049 4,474
Production —
From domestic ore 323,907 337,252
From foreign ore 14,899 9,424
Imports 11,115 6,100
Total available 359,002 357,298
Withdrawn:
Exports, foreign, from warehouse... 6,286 6,027
Exports, foreign, under drawback... 1,188 7,459
Exports, domestic 6,634 7,783
Stock, Dec. 31—
In bonded warehouses 48
At smelters 4.474 40,659
Total withdrawn 18,383 61,928
Apparent consumption 340,372 295,370
Imports and exports of spelter are given under the heading
'Consumption.' The imports of spelter in 1909-1913 are as
given in the December Summary of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce except that for 1909-1912 inclusive
Zinc
Ore.
content.
1904 ...
1905
. . . 4,063
1906 . . .
... 423
1907 ...
. .. 1,112
190S ...
. . . 7,406
1909 . ..
. . .10,024
1910 ...
. . . 4.749
1,922
1911 ...
... 2,359
947
1912 . ..
. . . S.015
3,661
1913 . ..
... 8,357
3,280
X1CO ,
, Total' ,
Zinc
Zinc
content.
Ore.
2,264
22,137
55.414
103,117
53,757
114,850
content.
23,517
72,626
25.439
14,986
39,116
15,933
14,206
43,940
17,567
6,377
31,416
13.497
the quantities given therein have been diminished by the
quantity of zinc dust imported since August 6, 1909, for the
reason that the imports of spelter and zinc dust were not
separated in the Summary. The imports of spelter are also
exclusive of sheet zinc. The stock in bonded warehouses does
not include zinc ore in bond or the spelter made therefrom,
such spelter being included in stock at smelters.
Imports of Zinc Ore, 1904-1913
, Canada , , M<
c
Ore.
2,264
18,074
59,991
102,005
46,351
104,826
67,818
36,847
35.925
18,018
'Includes also 3232 tons of ore from Europe, containing 2440
tons of zinc, and 1792 tons from Siberia, containing 1397 tons
of zinc.
Exports of domestic zinc ore in 1912 amounted to 23.349
tons and to 17.713 in 1913. Imports for the two years were
as follows: 1912 — Canada, ore 8015. zinc content 3661; Mex-
ico, ore 35,925, zinc content 14,206; total, 43,940 tons ore, 17,567
tons zinc content. 1913 — Canada, 8357 ore, 32S0 zinc content:
Mexico, 18,018 ore. 6377 zinc content; totals, 31,416 and 13.497.
Metal Output of the Daly-Judge Mine
This property is at Park City, Utah, and in 1913. 4954 tons
of ore was sold, and 4S.943 tons concentrated, with the fol-
lowing results:
Crude ore. Concentrate. Zinc middling.
Tonnage of products. . . 4954 11.909 3719
Silver per ton, ounces. . 38.29 29.10 20.04
Gold per ton. ounces... 0.036 0.032 0.017
Lead, per cent 21.72 27.85 4.61
Copper, per cent 1.86 1.0S ....
Zinc, per cent 14.28 13.85 38.22
Iron, per cent S.12 18.48 7.92
Revenue, per ton $32.ns $29.91 $19.57
Output. 1913. To date.
Silver, ounces 611. 37S 4.457,506
Gold, ounces 619 10,434
Lead, pounds 9,128,078 95,971,8S8
Zinc, pounds 7,678,589 69,323,069
Copper, pounds 407,242 2,127.652
Revenue $58S.940 $4,932,618
Dividends paid by the 'porphyry' copper mines to date are
as follows:
Chino $ 2.564.UII0
Miami 2.97!t.!»!i!i
Nevada Consolidated 15.477.000
Ray 2.175.000
Utah Copper 22.21 7.000
Seven dredges are attacking the Cucaracha slide in the
Culebra cut, Panama. The slide appears to be in slight mo-
tion right across to its farthest break, 1832 ft. from the canal
centre line. About 1,500,000 cu. yd. or more will have to
be removed before the slide ceases to menace the channel.
The pig iron production of Belgium in 1913 amouuted to
2.466,70(1 metric tons, as compared with 2.298,010 metric tons
in 1912.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 14. 1914
1.1174.234. — Alloy of Zinc. Thomas Abraham Bayliss, War-
wick, England, assignor of one-half to Byron George Clark,
London. England.
A malleable alloy composed of zinc, aluminum, and lead, in
proportions between the limits of zinc 99.1%-99.99/c ; aluminum
n.OOl'v-0.9'.; : and lead 0.0194-0.9%.
1.074,282. — Apparatus for the Treatment of Ores. George
Mitchell. Los Angeles, Cal.
In a combined smelting and converting furnace, the combi-
nation of an elongated furnace chamber having a smelting
hearth therein and an opening in its bottom adjacent the
hearth, a removable converter section and means carried by
the truck for lifting and lowering and tilting said converter
section.
1,074,410. — Amalgamator. Lloyd Oscar Crocker, Beatrice,
Neb.
An amalgamator comprising a rim provided with an annular
compartment having a cross section bounded by an involute
curve, a revoluble table carrying said rim and extending into
said compartment, said revoluble table being in the form of a
plane substantially tangential to a portion of greatest curva-
ture of said wall, means for turning said rim and said table,
and mechanism for discharging ore and water upon said table.
1,074,274. — Apparatus for Extracting Metals From Ores.
Henry S. MacKay, Riverside, Cal., assignor to MacKay Copper
Process Co., Riverside, Cal., a corporation of Arizona.
In an apparatus for the extraction of metal from ore the
combination of two eleetrolyzing vats having anode and
cathode. compartments for containing the electrodes and fluids,
the anode and cathode compartments of one vat being con-
nected with the same compartments of the other vat, means
for mixing the fluids produced in the anode compartments of
the said vats, a leaching means to bring the ore and the said
mixed fluids into contact, a third precipitating vat adapted to
receive the solution from the said leaching means.
1.074,400. — Process for Treating Peat. Slime, and Like
Substances. Gustav Wolters, Weltmar, near Bochum, Ger-
many.
A process of treating peat, slime, and like vegetable sub-
stances of a high degree of humidity, consisting in forcing the
substance into a chamber, comprising a plurality of communi-
cating compartments, passing the substances successively from
one compartment to another through said chamber, supplying
heat to the off-take end of said chamber, and causing the
vapors generated in the chamber from the substance to pass
successively from one compartment to the other through the
substance toward the intake end of the chamber, the pressure
and temperature in the successive compartments increasing
toward the off-take end of the chamber.
1 ."74.21 s. — Fisk Device. Albert E. Simmons, Sacramento,
Cal.
A fuse device of the character described, comprising a sub-
stantially vertically arranged outer casing, formed of insulat-
inu material, metallic conductor elements connected with the
upper and lower ends of the outer casing, a fuse wire dis-
posed within the outer easing, means electrically connecting
the fuse wire with the upper metallic conductor element, a
gravity operated rod connected with the lower end of the fuse
wire, means electrically connecting the gravity operated rod
witli the lower metallic conductor element, and a cap disposed
exteriorly of and adjacent the lower end of the outer casing
and detachable connected with the gravity operated rod to
drop with the same when it is released.
The National Ti tie Co. is now ready to distribute the
booklet on N. T. C. Regrindirtg Valves' announced some
months since.
The A. S. Cameron Steam Pump Works announces the
opening of a branch office and warehouse in the city of Phila-
delphia, Commercial Trust Building, under the management
of Phil Weiss.
The Electric Weighing Co. has issued a brief description
of the special applications of electric conveyor scales
(Messiter patents) to automatic tonnage control and auto-
matic mixing.
The Haruinge Conical Mill Co. announces that its Lon-
don office, which has now been opened just one year, received
in its twelfth month orders for nine 'Hardinge Conical
Mills.' for shipment into Russia alone.
The Western Electric Co. reports sales for 1913 amount-
ing to $78,000,000, equivalent to an increase of %,'', over the
business in 1912. As telephones and telephone supplies go to
all classes of people this is a good index to the general
business of the country.
HiAi.ns Engineering School has added to its working
equipment a complete working model for fine grinding and
cyanidation of gold and silver ores. Among other apparatus
included may be mentioned a Butters filter, Pachuca agita-
tors, and vacuum and pressure pumps as needed.
George A. Gallinger. of Pittsburgh, has been placed in
charge of the Pneumatic Tool Department of the Ingersoll-
Rand Co. with the title of Manager of Pneumatic Tool Sales.
His headquarters will be at 11 Broadway, New York City.
After an experience of 12 years in developing a general line
of pneumatic tools the Ingersoll-Rand Co. felt warranted in
establishing this special department. Mr. Gallinger's time
and service are at the disposal of those contemplating the use
of pneumatic tools.
Harkon. Rickard & McCone announce that at the meeting
of the stockholders held February 8, the following officers
of the corporation were elected: H. L. Terwilliger. president:
H. G. Mitchell, first vice president: George O. Orr. secretary;
E. H. Law, assistant secretary. The new president Mr.
Terwilliger has been a member of the firm for several years
and is advanced from the position of first vice president to
that left vacant by the death of Mr. Harron. The business
will be conducted along the same lines as before.
A NON-SKIMMING CRUCIBLE
.^dl^Man^. The illustration herewith will
show a new crucible which has
been evolved by Henry Weis-
brodt, an employee of the Joseph
t| Dixon Crucible Co.. to be used
by melters of precious metals.
It has been designed to do away
with skimming, and also the pos-
sible chance of charcoal or
molten fluxes getting into the
ingot or casting. This crucible
has a bridge at the top. which,
on pouring the metal, holds back
the charcoal and foreign matter.
and so delivers clean metal. This new design does not in
any way reduce the holding capacity of the crucible, and the
metal can be stirred satisfactorily as in a regular crucible.
jtND Scientific
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.'
Whole No. 2800 SK£3
San Francisco, March 21, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
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SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I in I U Page.
Notes *79
Zinc Ore in tin- Electric Furnace 480
Mining Law Revision 481
Presentation of the -Mining and Metallurgical Medal... 481
ARTICLES!
Mining in Peru in 1913 Lester W. Strauss 482
The Globe Mining District, Arizona. .William L. Tovote 48 1
Fluorite in Smelting Herbert Lang 492
The Buck Zinc Prospect. New Boracho, Texas
J. A. Udden 493
Rock Drilling In Lake Superior linn Mines..... ..
P. B. McDonald 491
Meeting of the Canadian Mining Institute 495
Studies of Smelter Fumes ami Cases 496
Application of the Magnetometrlc survey to the Sud-
bury Nickel Deposits Kirby Thomas 49 .
Accident Prevention In Mining Edward Ryan 49*
Zinc Smelting Capacity of the United States 499
DISCUSSION!
Progress In Gold and Silver ore Treatment in 1913..
E. A. Julian 500
Solution Control in Cyanidatlon J. E. Clennell 500
Vocational Training and Miners G. McM. Ross 500
Mine Administration and Mine Mosses .........
A Perplexed Superintendent 501
Milling Operations at the Eldorado
Rhodesia
CONCENTRATES
SPECIAL OOHBESPOXDENCE
GENERAL MINING NEWS
DEPARTMENTS:
Personal
Obituary
A. W. Allen 501
, .. 502
... 503
... 507
511
511
512
The Metal Markets jj1-
The Stock Markets »JJ
The Stock Ma
Company Reports
Monthly Copper Production 51
Book Reviews
Recent Publications
513
514
516
EDITORIAL
T"' ROUBLE is brewing for the smeltermen in Utah
■*■ since the radical element has captured the Farm-
ers' Association, and filing of additional damage suits
is threatened.
A NEW argument advanced by an enthusiastic land
■** boomer is that fruit-growers in a certain area are
absolutely protected from scale by the fumes from a
neighboring smelter. This illustrates the importance
of the point of view.
'TUIE Colorado Supreme Court has handed down a
■*• decision to the effect that assessors in determining
the gross output of a mine shall deduct transporta-
tion and treatment charges. In Colorado, for purposes
of taxation, mines are valued at 50 per cent of the
<rross output, plus all the net. In addition the value
of site aud equipment are taken into account.
"CUUURES collected by the Customs Service show
-*■ that in 1913 more people came out of Alaska
than went into the territory, the departures being
25,798 and the arrivals 24,672. This is likely to be
the last year that the current runs outward, since the
building of the railroads, already authorized by Con-
gress, and the opening of the reserved lands seems
certain to lead to rapid and substantial development.
A CORRECTION' is called for in regard to the de-
•**■ scription of the battery frame adopted at the
Tightner mine and described in our columns March 7.
This was inadvertently stated to be made of cast steel
in place of cast iron. The latter material was pur-
posely chosen, since weight ami stiffness were desired
rather than strength. There are no great strains on
the posts, though vibration is naturally important.
Weight and rigidity are therefore more important than
toughness.
IN accordance with our plan of publishing reviews
of the year's work in various countries at the time;
that reliable data are available, we print this week a
summary of mining in Peru in 1913, written by Mr.
Lester W. Strauss, a practising engineer living at
Lima and thoroughly acquainted with the matters of
which he writes, by first-hand information. Mr. Strauss
is just now visiting various mining districts in Chile,
and we shall present later notes and comments upon
mining in that country as seen by him.
480
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
OETTLEMENT out of court lias been effected in
^ the suit of the Merrill Metallurgical Company
against the Ajax Mining Company for infringement
of patent rights in connection with the use of zinc
dust for precipitation. Mr. E. A. Colburn has pub-
lished a letter stating that, having examined the pat-
ents involved, he is now satisfied as to the infringe-
ment and has therefore made settlement. The mill
will operate hereafter under license from the Merrill
company and will adopt some slight chanties advised
by the latter.
citizens-to-be of the state, and that the best service
of science and technology should be always available
to the state government.
/"CALIFORNIA mine operators, manufacturers, trans-
^-' portation men. and employers of labor in many
branches of trade, as well as representatives of labor-
ing men. met the Industrial Accident Commission in
a 'Safety First' conference at the Palace hotel on
March 13. It was brought out that there were 823
deaths and 36,462 industrial accidents in the state
in 1913, and that a considerable portion were prevent-
able. The safety department now being organized by
the Commission is charged with the duty of pointing
out ways to decrease the number of accidents, and
it was evident from the serious tone of those present
at the conference that it will meet with wide and
ready cooperation.
DECISION has been rendered in the United States
Court of Appeals for the Third District, in the
case of Tonopah Mining Company vermin Joseph A.
Vincent on appeal, involving the question of infringe-
ment of the Brown patents by the Tonopah company.
The court held that, without passing upon the val-
idity of the patent, it was sufficient to hold that the
defendants do not infringe. The case was accordingly
reversed and remanded to the lower court with in-
structions to dismiss the bill for non-infringement.
Lack of space prevents printing the full text of the
decision at this time, bill in general it was held that
use of concentrating as an intermediate process was
in any event not an infringement of patents covering
cyanidation followed by concentration.
WISCONSIN, which has led in so many political
and educational reforms, is not unwilling to fol-
low where the example is good. Some years ago the
University of Illinois, impressed with the excellent
results of the Agricultural Experiment Stations, organ-
ized an Engineering Experiment Station, which has
been a large factor in the subsequent improvement
in mining and manufacturing processes, and the gen-
eral engineering work in that state. Similar stations
have since been established elsewhere, and now the
University of Wisconsin announces that all the work
of testing and research along engineering lines eon-
ducted at the University will be consolidated under
an Engineering Experiment Station staff. We are
glad to see this emphasis placed on such work, as
we believe thoroughly that it is as much the function
of the University to teach the state as to teach the
OENTKNCES of six years in the federal penitentiary
**■* at Atlanta, Georgia, have been announced against
Messrs. A. L. Wisner and John J. Meyers, found guilty
of using the mails to defraud in connection with the
sale of worthless mining and oil company stocks. It
is an anomaly that in this country punishment is
less commonly for fraud than for some such inci-
dental matter as using the mails for fraudulent
schemes. Welcome as the results are. it is a serious
question whether the law does not become a joke
when it is necessary to send dynamiters to prison
for having conspired to transport dynamite on an
interstate passenger train, because it is impossible to
jail them for blowing up buildings and killing or at-
tempting to kill men and women. To a layman it
would look as if the prevalent custom of leaving law-
making mainly to young lawyers who go to the legis-
lature as a polite and ethical form of advertising, has
its drawbacks.
Zinc Ore in the Electric Furnace
This is a subject on which there has been much ex-
perimental work and even more discussion, and it is
but fair to say that the attitude of mind of most of
the metallurgical fraternity is distinctly skeptical of
immediate or even remote success. Recently Mr. W.
McA. Johnson has claimed to have succeeded in putting
zinc smelting in the electric furnace upon a practicable
basis, and as a consequence keen interest has been taken
in the results being secured in his experimental plant at
Hartford. Connecticut. In January about 17 tons of
zinc ore from Colorado was there smelted and the
records have been given wide publicity. They- are in-
teresting enough to justify closer analysis, however,
since they arc by far the most significant data on elec-
tric zinc smelting which have yet been made public.
The best results, covering a jx'riod of seven days, cor-
respond to a recovery of 88.4 per cent of the zinc pres-
ent, with a power consumption of approximately 2.7
kilowatt-hours per pound of spelter produced. The
power consumption, however, should be credited with
the base bullion and the copper in the matte produced,
and on this basis the power consumption was about
2.2 kilowatt-hours per pound of metal. It should be
noted in this connection that the blue powder and
skimmings produced are charged back into the same
furnace without any record of their weight affecting
the data, so that the figures for power consumption
are actual, not fictitious figures which take no account
of the re-treatment of by-products. The amount of
cold seconds thus rehandled is about 20 per cent of the
spelter produced. Electrode consumption is given as
two to three pounds per ton of ore smelted.
The greatest care is required in the preparatory pre-
heating in which the necessary reduction is effected
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
481
preceding the simple fusion in the electric furnace.
This does not involve any novelties of practice, how-
ever, and should not cost over $2 or $3 per ton in com-
mercial work. On the basis of cost, therefore, smelting
in this way seems entirely practicable. Innumerable
difficulties cannot possibly be foreseen until trial is
made under actual working conditions, and it is there-
fore possible that this new method will not prove as
successful as its advocates think, but the results so far
attained are highly encouraging and of great interest.
Mining Engineers. The needful step now is the con-
stitution of a suitable code commission to hold hear-
ings and report to Congress next year. This commis-
sion should include mining men as well as lawyers,
and we urge those interested to impress this fact on
their representatives at Washington.
Mining Law Revision
Hills have been introduced in both the Senate and
the House at Washington providing for opening to
entry the withdrawn lands supposed to contain coal,
petroleum, potash, and phosphate. The area affected
amounts to 323.000.000 acres in addition to lands in
the National Forests and Alaska. A special act cover-
ing the Alaska coal lands is already under considera-
tion. The bills introduced are considered to l>e Admin-
istration measures, and follow the lines proposed by
Mr. Franklin K. Lane in his annual report, which we
have already discussed. In general they provide for
a leasing system, the ground to be allotted in blocks
materially larger than under the old fee basis, and in
the case of oil with exclusive prospecting permits and
other advantages to those who undertake development
of new territory. We are glad to see some definite
steps taken toward opening the reserved lands, and
the general lines of the policy proposed have our hearty
approval. The new law will not apply to mineral lands
in general, and it will still be necessary to get a gen-
eral revision of the mining law. Clearly , lands which
show such evidence of the presence of coal. oil. pot-
ash, phosphate, or other minerals as to warrant their
withdrawal, stand in a different category from the
public domain in general and in which the presence
or absence of mineral cannot be positively known in
advance of prospecting.
There is perhaps reason for framing a separate law
to govern such lands, but the more important matter
is the general revision of the mining law proposed in
Senate bill 4373. Piecemeal revision has led to most
of the difficulties of the past, as when the placer law
was extended to cover oil lands regardless of the dif-
ference in the character of the deposits. A thorough
and systematic revision of the mining law is needed,
and, as we have pointed out, the new code should be
prepared by men familiar both with the existing law
and present practice in the field. It is. we think, en-
tirely feasible to establish a leasing system such as
outlined, and to apply it to withdrawn lands and non-
metallic minerals, and still leave the old law largely
intact, to cover the public domain in general. The
old law, however, needs change in many important
particulars, as has been pointed out by committees
from the American Mining Congress, the Mining and
Metallurgical Society, and the American Institute of
Presentation of the M. and M. Medal
The presentation of the gold medal of the Mining
and Metallurgical Society of America to Mr. and Mrs.
H. C. Hoover was made at a dinner, March 9, at the
Biltmore hotel, New York. Nearly one hundred mem-
bers of the Society and Institute were present. Mr.
J. P. Kemp, the president of the Society, was the
toastmaster. Following the dinner. Mr. Kemp, in one
of his characteristic happy speeches, emphasized that
the presentation of the medal was to -Mrs. Hoover as
much as to Mr. Hoover, and that therefore the toast
to the ladies should, for that evening, take precedence
of all others. Mr. Sidney J. Jennings, responding to
the toast, carried along the same vein of thought in
a very graceful speech. Mr. T. B. Steams was then
called on and in an interesting talk emphasized the link-
ing of the West and the East, in which Mr. and Mrs.
Hoover are typical of the cosmopolitanism of the min-
ing profession. Mr. Kemp then presented the medal,
congratulating the Society, as well as the recipients,
on the fact that the first medal of the Society was
given for work of the highest scholarship, coming from
a profession that is too much regarded as one of the
most materialistic. Mr. Hoover, in responding, car-
ried on the same line of thought, pointing out that
miners have played a larger part in the development
of civilization than is commonly awarded them, the
mines of Greece having been largely responsible for
the flowering of Creek civilization, and the self-gov-
erning mining communities of central Europe, Corn-
wall, and Derbyshire having been powerful influences
in the development of representative government.
After the dinner an opportunity was afforded to those
present to see the medal, which has on its obverse
a woman's figure, lighted by a miner's candlestick,
engaged in breaking down a wall of rock which typi-
fies ignorance and superstition. A most attractive
feature of the dinner was the souvenir program, made
up of illustrations so selected from 'De Ke Metallica'
as to illustrate the labors of Mr. and Mrs. Hoover in
translating the book. Prom the first, marked 'Ye
Hooveres junippe ye antiguas of ye anciente manne
Agricola.' to the last where 'Ye Hooveres menne refine
ye golde jmk! ye silver, ye Hoovere, himself, weigh-
eth ye bullion, ye Hoovere will later putte ye bullion
in ye bank for ye othere Hoovere to spende.' the selec-
tion was most happy. The program was compiled by
Mr. E. (i. Spilsbury. chairman of the dinner commit-
tee, to whom, with his assistants. Messrs. L. I). Huntoon
ami I). M. Riordan. a large share of the credit for a
most successful and enjoyable evening are due.
482
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
Mining in Peru in 1913
By Lester W. Strauss
The most important features in the mineral industry
in Peru last year were the increase in oil production,
and, to a lesser degree, of gold from the vein mines.
No new business of magnitude was taken up, although
increasing interest was displayed in the mineral possi-
bilities, particularly as regards gold.
Copper Mines and Smelters
According to the statistics of Aron Hirsch & Sohn,
the production was 27,500 tons (metric), as compared
with 27,400 tons in 1912. (In 1903, 9500 tons was pro-
duced.) The year 1914 will mark the beginning of in-
GOYLLARISOUISGA
KILOMETRES
Of PASCO
TRAILS
PAILROAOS
TlTW
Un<**r Construfiol
Surveyed
MAP OF CENTRAL PEBU.
creased copper production, the result of the improve-
ments in smelting capacity made by the Cerro de Pasco
Mining Co. and the Backus & Johnston Co., which
concerns are responsible for 44,830,107 lb. and 10,-
341,120 lb. of copper, respectively, produced in 1913.
The latter company shipped 8,071,000 lb. matte and
2,270,120 lb. ore. Several small smelting plants and
mines contributed the remaining 5.428.793 pounds.
The Cerro de Pasco Mining Co. did not operate under
full capacity, only three of the four blast-furnaces
(which are now between 70 and 80 in. wide at the
tuyeres) and three of the five reverberatories being
in commission. Two Smith-Pierce basic lined con-
verters are now in service ; a third is to be installed
soon. One of the reverberatory furnaces has been
fitted with three Stirling boilers to utilize the waste
gases ; the economy effected has shown a credit of
about £1000 per month. The three Dwight-Lloyd
sinterers have given splendid results and four addi-
tional machines will be put into commission ; the aver-
age individual capacity on ores containing 22% sulphur
is 80 tons per 24 hr., while with ores containing 40%
sulphur the capacity decreases to 45 tons. The omis-
sion of lime in the ore fed, has tended toward slightly
lower operating costs. The shortage of locally made
coke decreased the smelting capacity, although in one
month 35,000 tons of ore was treated. With the in-
creased output from the Quishuarcancha coal mine, now
averaging 250 tons per day since the railroad branch
has been opened for traffic, the utilization of the
waste gases from the reverberatories, and the intro-
duction of electric power transmitted from the recently
completed 12,000 hp. hydro-electric plant at Oroya
(119 kilometres to the south), there will probably be
no coal famine for the washing and coking plant at
the smelter.
New Power Plant
The electric plant is said to have cost over $1,000,000
erected. It is expected to reduce power costs, not only
at the smelter and mines, but also for the Morococha
Mining Co. (a subsidiary company of the Cerro de
Pasco Mining Co.) at Morococha (25 kilometres west-
ward from Oroya). The latter company contributed
over 6000 tons monthly to the smelter, although the
mines controlled are only at the developing stage at
present. Surveys were made for a railroad line that
CERRO DE PASCO SMELTER AT LA FUNDICION.
would tap the Cerro de Pasco railroad and avoid the
present circuitous haul over the Central Railroad of
Peru to Oroya, but no further steps were taken; it
appears that the riding grade was not favorable for
the economies that were anticipated.
In addition to the Morococha tonnage, and that pro-
duced by its own mines, the Cerro de Pasco Mining
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
483
AREQUIPA, CHIEF CITY OF SOUTHERN PERU.
Co. purchased considerable custom ore ; the Docena
mine in Cerro de Pasco contributed about 200 tons
per day; other outside properties did not ship as
heavily.
After spending four years in reorganization and
reconstruction, involving marked steps in the improve-
ment of its treatment plant as well as mining opera-
tions, the Backus & Johnston Co. is meeting with
profitable results. The foresight, energy, and ability
of the late J. Howard Johnston (who was the presi-
dent and largest shareholder of the Company at the
time of his sudden death in May) are directly respon-
sible for the rescue of the business from apparent
bankruptcy. The £100,000 loan made early in the
year, to cancel the obligation of a large creditor, is
now being retired, the first £2000 bonds recalled hav-
ing been paid on December 31. The smelter is essen-
tially a silver-copper plant and produced 1,950,000 oz.
of silver in 1913. The silver ores from the Casapalca
mines, as well as the custom ores obtained in the
region, are dependent in a measure upon the Morococha
mines which supply the necessary iron, as well as
copper and silver.
The new hydro-electric plant of 2000 hp. effective
(6 kilometres below Casapalca. at Bellavista) has been
in service since November. In consequence the con-
verting plant, consisting of two stands of 96 by 150-in.
barrel converters (capacity 30 tons of copper per 24
hours each) and Nordberg blowing engine, has been
tried out with satisfactory results. The year 1914
will mark the production of blister copper ; a shipment
from the trial run has been exported. The new 160
by 52-in. blast-furnace was also blown in ; the old one,
after four years of hard service, having been put out
of commission for necessary repairs and changes, will
be blown in soon. The monthly smelting capacity will
probably be about 12.000 tons of raw and sintered
products. The sintering plant now consists of 29 pots
and the success of these has made the smelting difficul-
ties decidedly less worrisome. The concentrating mill
will be enlarged to handle 250 tons per day. The en-
tire electric plant is not yet in use, but meanwhile all
arrangements are being made to extend the line to the
Company's Morococha properties and to replace the
more expensive steam-power plants. Oil has been re-
placing coal as the fuel during the transition stage.
The Compania Minera del Carmen and Compania
Minera de Huarochiri, operating in the Casapalca dis-
trict, ship considerable argentiferous ores to the Backus
& Johnston smelter. The former company is driv-
ing a long cross-cut. using electric drills, that is ex-
pected to cut the Carmen vein within 2200 metres. This
will serve to explore the veins of the district at the
lowest level attempted as yet. The latter company
ships its high-grade ruby-silver ores to Europe, the
lower grade being sent to the Casapalca smelter.
Morococha Mines
The Morococha district is attaining considerable
importance as a producer, and will be a large factor
in contributing to the copper, and to a lesser degree.
to the silver production of Peru. The vigorous cam-
paign of development planned by the two principal
producers, the Backus & Johnston Co. and the Moro-
cocha Mining Co., has barely begun, yet the combined
monthly output of the two companies under present
conditions is over 12.000 tons, including the ore from
SMELTER AT CASAPAAC.V.
484
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
CALLAO HABBOB, POBT OF ENTRY FOB LIMA.
the numerous properties leased by the former com-
pany. Most of the custom ore shipped is sent to
Casapalca. A small, privately controlled furnace is
operating in the district, having sintering pots as an
important feature, and ships about 50 to 60 tons of
copper matte monthly to the Cerro de Pasco smelter:
the source of ore is from small producers. The plant
is undoubtedly the highest operating smelter in the
world, being 15.000 ft. above sea-level.
E. E. Fernandini's smelter at Huaracaca, near the
Uerro de Pasco plant, treats about 3000 tons of argenti-
ferous ores with a low copper content (less than 2%),
sufficient however to make matte that assays 1300 o/..
silver and 50% copper. The silver ores come from the
< -olquijirea mine (close to the Cerro de Pasco smelter),
which has been recently equipped with electric haul-
age and a 20-drill air-compressor. The copper ore is
from the Cerro de Pasco mines of E. E. Fernandini.
The production for the year was over 1.700.000 oz. sil-
ver and 1,100.000 lb. copper as matte.
Of the smaller producing copper mines the
Sociedad Minera Quiruvilca, Ltd., in the Department
of Libertad, is the most important shipper, averaging
about 100 to 150 tons of 35% copper ore (with slight
gold and silver content) per month, which goes to the
United States. In the Department of Cajamarca. the
Compaiiia Minera Sayapullo, Ltd., which is negotiating
for the sale of its properties, has been smelting spas-
modically in its 30-ton water-jacket furnace at the
rate of ten tons of ore per day (anthracite coal is the
fuel). The resulting matte (averaging 36$ copper.
170 oz. silver, and 2 oz. gold) is shipped to Europe. The
Company has thus been enabled to pay some old debts
as well as the interest on its bonds.
Southward, in the Department of Aneashs. the
Kmpresa Minera San Juan, Ltd., of Tarica, is obtain-
ing better results with its 15-ton smelter ; the matte ex-
ported averages about 35% copper and 300 oz. silver,
with a little gold. Anthracite coal is employed in
smelting. In the same department, the Magistral prop-
erties, belonging to Garaborri y Compaiiia, have been
optioned to local people who intend to develop the
property. Anthracite coal has been used in past opera-
tions in the 30-ton brick furnace; the matte production
has been small. At Vinchos, near Cerro de Pasco, the
Yanamina Mining Co. has recently blown in a 30-ton
furnace which will smelt copper and silver-lead ores ;
tlie matte will be shipped to Cerro de Pasco.
Of the properties that have been developed, the
Ferrobamba mines were inactive the past year; the
region was recently reported on by a commission from
the Cuerpo de Ingenieros, which states that the aver-
age grade of mineral is under 4% copper. The French
syndicate that purchased the properties, now known
as the Sociedad Cuivre de Huaron, near Huaillay (35
miles from Cerro de Pasco), has met with favorable
results in development : over 100.000 tons of ore, said
to average 12% copper, is in sight, but no shipments
of ore are to be made as the erection of a smelting
plant is under consideration. Coking coal is obtaina-
ble close by. Considerable exploration was done on
the Cobriza copper claims, in the Province of Tayacaja,
but no work has been carried on since May. The
Empresa Minera de Huallanca. controlling silver-cop-
per mines at Huallanca (125 miles northwest of Cerro
de Pasco), has been optioned to a French syndicate.
Lack of adequate transport, and its high cost, handi-
caps the development of the copper possibilities of
Pern. Under certain conditions local smelting could
be made a profitable business.
Gold Ores and Mines
Much outside interest has been taken in the develop-
ment of the gold industry, although this continues to
be unimportant if no regard is taken of the gold de-
rived from copper and, to a less degree, from lead
ores. Activities in vein mining are increasing, although
no large properties are in operation, while the placers
are, as yet, smaller producers.
The largest producing property is that of the New
Chuquitambo Gold Mines, Ltd., six miles below Cerro
de Pasco. The production for the year ending Novem-
ber 1913. was 114.34 kg. (nearly 3700 oz.) of bullion
(over 900 fine), which represents a recovery of 65%
to 70% effected by amalgamation from the treatment
of 80 to 100 tons of ore per day in the 40-stamp mill ;
140 men are employed in the mine and mill. The
cyanide plant, erected to treat the tailing that is being
stacked up after leaving the amalgamation plates,
no concentration being attempted, has been abandoned
due to the small amount of copper present.
The Cotabambas Auraria, at Cochasayhuas, in the
Department of Apurimac, has increased its production
since the cyanide plant for coarse sand has been in
operation. The December output was expected to be
about £3000 of bullion. The present 10-stamp mill.
March 21. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
485
ATK'O. PROPOSED HARBOR FOR THE FERROBAMBO MINE.
one Huntington mill, and two Ferrarris tables, treating
16 tons of sorted ore per day. is to be increased with
40 additional stamps and a cyanide plant of adequate
capacity, so that 100 tons can be milled per 24 hours.
An aerial tramway will probably be erected, and a
vigorous development campaign cm the veins will lie
commenced.
Another probable increasing producer is the Socie-
dad Aurifera Andaray Posco, in the Department of
Arequipa. The present plant consists of two Lane
mills. Only one is in operation and is said to handle
20 tons per day. the recovery by amalgamation (stated
to be 50%) varying from £500 to £800 per month.
The new cyanide plant, ordered as the result of tests
which showed a 90^ extraction, is expected to arrive
in January and will treat from 40 to 60 tons per day.
In the Department of Puno. the Santo Domingo mine,
of the Inca Mining Co.. with a past record of £700,00(1
production, has been optioned to an Argentine syndi-
cate for £120.000. Some development work is being
carried on and the tailing dump of previous opera-
tions, said to contain over 50.000 tons, is being treated
on a small scale. The Montebello property, distant
six miles, has been optioned by the same people. Both
properties may form the basis for the notation of a
new company. The Benditani property, adjoining the
Santo Domingo mine, will be developed by the Sociedad
Minera Benditani, Ltd.
Near Nazca, in the Department of lea. a one-foot
vein, averaging over 7 oz. gold ami bc/t copper, when
sorted, is being developed: the property lacks water
for milling. In the Potaz district. Department of
Ancashs. the Potaz-Parcoy Syndicate. Ltd. (now
known as the Peruvian Consolidated Gold Trust. Ltd.).
has been developing the several veins controlled; 100
men have been at work". In the Buldibuyo district, 15
miles away, some development is being carried on; a
3.5 ft. Hardinge ball mill has been erected to treat the
oxide ores.
The production from the alluvial deposits is still
small, disregarding that resulting from the native
washings. The only company that has operated con-
tinuously and profitably is the Compania Aurifera
Argentina-Pernana. at Viscachani, Department of
Puno. In the same province, the Aporoma Goldfields,
Ltd., has not been as successful as was anticipated.
On account of the lack of water, operations were very
limited. About £25.000 is needed for an additional
ditch line, according to the Company's statements, that
would permit bringing in sufficient water "to wash at
least 10,000 cu. yd. per day." The 42.500 cu. yd.
washed, during the initial working, showed a recovery
of 7.3d. per cubic yard.
In the same vicinity a California syndicate lias been
investigating an extensive territory, upon which dredg-
ing operations are likely to be adopted if the prelimi-
nary work continues to In1 satisfactory : 30 tons of drill-
ing machinery was taken to the field. The transport of
dredge machinery will involve the building of a rail-
road. 'Pot hole' washing was attempted on a tributary
of the Inambari river, with some success. A French
syndicate is saiil to have taken an option on dredging
ground in the Poto district. The Ambo Hold .Mines
Co., which was formed to exploit extensive alluvial
ground on the Iluallaga river, two days horseback ride
from Cerro de Pasco, has been inactive since May as
the result of an examination which indicated the value
of the gravel to be $0.45 per cu. yd., as compared with
$6 per cu. yd. in the earlier samplings. It is believed
that gold chloride and shavings played an important
role in the latter returns, having been presumably in-
troduced when the samples were in transit from the
property to the assayers. Recently a New 'York syndi-
cate has formed the. Peruvian Exploration Co., to ex-
ploit 1117 acres on the Maranon river (four days horse-
back ride from Cerro de Pasco') : $300,000 has been
raised and it is expected that operations will com-
mence by .March 1915, using giants capable of handling
25.000 cu. yd. per day. The river will be diverted, in
sections, to permit washing. There is stated to be 131.-
150,840 cu. yd. available, averaging $0.80!) per cu. yd.
Near the Ecuador border investigations have been
made for a London syndicate: this ground is said to
be suitable for dredging. Native washings have been
carried on for years in the region.
Silver Mining and Milling
The usual percentage of the silver exported is 'tied
up' in blister copper, matte, and ores, also in lead bars.
ores, and slags, and a small amount of silver ores of ex-
ceptional high content. The production of silver bul-
lion from pan amalgamation and sulphides from lixivia-
tion form a small percentage of the silver output.
Cyaniding is not being done at any property, but the
process will soon be adopted at Caylloma. Peru ranks
sixth among the silver producing countries.
486
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21. 1914
The most important silver property, other than those
which ship argentiferous copper or lead products or
ores, is the Sociedad Explotadora de Caylloma, in the
Department of Arequipa. The work for the year was
restricted to the development of the San Cristobal vein
and the driving of a drainage adit for the mine, which
will be nearly two kilometres in length ; this is expected
to be finished in March and make available considera-
ble ore. In anticipation of this result a concentrating
and cyaniding mill, of 100 tons capacity per day, will
be erected and ready for operation early in 1915. The
San Cristobal vein, which is the largest in the property,
has been opened up for 300 metres, vertical depth, and
averages 10 metres in width. The existing narrow gage
railway between the mines and the mill, 12 kilometres
long, will serve for the transport of the ore. During
the year only the sorted ore from the development and
preparatory work in the San Cristobal mine was ex-
ported, amounting to 250 tons containing 60,000 oz. of
tine silver. No ore was milled, as the old concentrat-
ing mill was closed down. The Santa Ines mines, in
the Department of Huancavelica, continued to produce
silver bullion at the rate of 150.000 oz. per annum. The
pan-amalgamation plant treats 20 tons of run-of-mine
ore per day, the tailing being now stacked for future
treatment. There are numerous lixiviating plants scat-
tered over the country, but principally in the Depart-
ments of Junin and Ancashs. which contribute 10% of
the total silver produced. Near Cerro de Pasco the
patio process is still in vogue for the oxidized silver
ores that are being extracted by the natives from the
old Spanish open-cuts. The Anglo French Ticapampra
Silver Mining Co. in the district of Recuay, Depart-
ment of Ancashs produces the largest amount of silver
sulphides in Peru. This is treated by lixiviation. High-
irrade silver-copper ore is also shipped abroad.
Lead and Minor Metals
The lead industry continues unimportant as regards
production, although the year will probably show the
largest output, in view of the high price of the metal.
The Yauli district, in the Department of Junin, is still
the heaviest argentiferous lead ore exporter. There are
two small lead furnaces, which ship lead bars contain-
ing much silver (over 1000 oz. per ton), in the Depart-
ment of Ancashs — otherwise no lead smelting is car-
ried on in Peru. Only one lead concentrating plant
exists; this is on the Central Railroad of Peru close to
the town of Yauli. Considerable lead slag, the remains
of the early Spanish silver smelters, was exported.
The province of Pallasca, in the Department of
Ancashs, is the only producing source of tungsten.
Three companies are active, but two have not yet
reached their anticipated production, because the mill-
ing plants are still uncompleted. The total monthly
shipments are said to be 30 tons of concentrate averag-
ing 607c- The San Gregorio property of E. E. Fernan-
dini, near his smelter, is the only producer of bismuth.
Shipments amounting to 200 tons of concentrate, aver-
aging 20% bismuth, were made. The output is limited
by the trust. The exportations from the Minasragra
deposits, of the American Vanadium Co. (30 miles from
Cerro de Pasco), have been limited, because of the re-
striction of output. The interest displayed in coal con-
taining vanadium has fallen off in view of the low
prices quoted for the vanadiferous ash. The Santa
Barbara mercury deposits, in the Department of
Huancavelica, continue to be worked in a small way,
the output being consumed at the Santa Ines plant and
in the patio process near Cerro de Pasco. Deposits of
tin of importance were reported to exist in the Depart-
ments of Lima and Libertad, but official or reliable con-
firmation is lacking.
Non-Metallic Minerals
Of the non-metallic products, petroleum occupies the
first position. Coal production, as yet, is chiefly that
from the Cerro de Pasco Co. 's mines, and is increasing.
Borax will become an important product, according to
the plans of the Borax Consolidated, Ltd. The explora-
tion work of possible nitrate ground has not resulted
in discovery of deposits likely to produce largely.
The oil industry, confined to northern Peru, continues
to increase in production as well as importance ; the
output for 1913 will be over 2,000,000 bbl. Prices have
been higher in view of the increasing appreciation of
the high-grade benzine petroleum that is produced. The
entry of the Standard Oil Co., as the controlling factor
in the various companies, has brought the fields into
more prominence. Drilling the deep sands, the wells
being over 3000 ft. deep, has given profitable results
in most cases. The Government continues to withhold
oil lands from denouncement.
The coal industry is practically confined to the out-
put of the Cerro de Pasco mines (for coke and power
purposes), as lack of transport facilities prohibits ship-
ments to the coast. Considerable coal and coke (about
100.000 tons) is imported annually. The Government
has withdrawn several regions from denouncement,
with the intention to interest foreign capital in the re-
spective coals and thereby create a stimulus for build-
ing railroads.
The deposits of borax near Arequipa (in the depart-
ment of that name), which are onwed by the Borax
Consolidated, Ltd.. will be actively exploited in view
of the concession granted by the Government, that
exempts the product from any duty for 18 years, com-
mencing from the date the Company begins to export
at the rate of 20,000 metric tons of calcined borax. The
export tax contemplated by the Chilean government
on the calcined borax, may cause a decline of the opera-
tions of the Borax Consolidated, Ltd. in that country.
Chile contributes 75% of the world's production. In-
vestigations of supposed nitrate fields commenced in
1912, in the Department of Arequipa, were abandoned
early in 1913. as the region examined did not cover
nitrate of economic value. Mention has recently been
made of a discovery of 500 acres of 9% nitrate ground
in the Department of Libertad, but no data as to the
tonnage are obtainable.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
487
The Globe Mining District, Arizona
By "William L. Tavote
Disseminated Sulphide Impregnations in Fracture
Zones
The main representative of this type is the Miami-
Inspiration deposit. It constituted apparently a single
and continuous 6rebody at one time, later disrupted
by faults. It consists of disseminated iron-copper sul-
phides in a brecciated zone of Pinal schist with in-
truded tongues of granite-porphyry (Schultze granite).
Its economic importance is at present limited to the
horizon of secondary sulphide enrichment (chalcocite
zone). The Miami Copper Co. holds the richest and
thickest part of the orebody, but is exceeded in ton-
nage by the lower grade ore of the Inspiration com-
pany.
The Keystone has a smaller faulted part of the ore-
body between the Live Oak and Inspiration parts of
the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. 's ground, and
the Southwestern Miami is drilling on the western
fringe and has reported chalcocite ore from several
holes. Exact information is not given out, but it seems
that the ore is capped by about 1000 ft. of overburden,
and is rather low in grade. The total tonnage de-
veloped thus far is about 20.000.000 tons of 2VZ% ore
for the Miami. 45.000.000 tons of 2% ore for the In-
spiration, 2.500.000 tons of 2%% ore for the Keystone,
and perhaps 70.000.000 tons altogether. Still farther
west the South Live Oak has reported ore in two
holes out of a total of eight drilled, but it is not im-
possible that the ore reported occurred along steep and
narrow veins rather than in a body similar to the
Miami-Inspiration.
Claims to possibility for ore are put forward by the
owners of the Barney. Needles, and Inspiration Exten-
sion groups, and hundreds of claims in the vicinity are
held for good luck. It is rather difficult to delimit the
possibilities from surface indications, as strong over-
thrust faults and recent covering by dacite and Gila
conglomerate obliterate the original structure. Three
holes were drilled on the Barney group while an option
was held by the Miami people. The result was negative
as far as can be learned and the option allowed to lapse.
In this connection it is interesting to note how tremen-
dously a piece of mountain side with no mineral what-
ever ia sight increases in value simply by posting of
location notices and making a few shallow cuts in Gila
conglomerate or similarly promising formations, for the
prices asked by the owners range from $100,000 up to
nearly $1,000,000 for anything in what they consider
to be in the 'schist -belt.'
A wonderful outcrop several miles farther west on
Pinto creek inspired exploration work by the Cactus
company. Some ore. at one time reported 2.500.000
•Continued from Mininri and Scientific Press, p. 449.
tons, was found, but the Company collapsed and it is
almost impossible to decide whether the failure was
due to the physical condition of the property or to
other reasons.
While prospecting has been carried on almost ex-
clusively to the west of the Miami mine, the chances
for an extension of the orebody to the southeast seem
fair in my opinion, because the ore does not terminate
by a gradual playing out. but is broken off by a fault
close to its strongest development. The covering of
Gila conglomerate on the downthrown side might pos-
sibly amount to several thousand feet, and as it
stretches unbroken from here to Globe and the Finals
it is hardly attractive for exploration work aside from
other factors that militate against it, such as water
problems.
The Miami part of the district has been described
several times, and rather exhaustively. Therefore I
shall touch on it but briefly. The ore occurs as nn-
pregnations or in small interlinked veinlets in a zone
of brecciated schist and porphyry. It is pyrite partly
replaced by chalcocite. Sericite is a nearly constant
accessory mineral. Kaolinization and sometimes chlor-
itization has locally gone far. As sills of Schultze
granite participate in the mineralization, it must be
later or contemporaneous with that eruption. The sur-
face indications are an intense reddish stain of iron
oxide and sometimes a vivid green coloring by chryso-
colla, but the local experience seems to be that the
iron, rather than the copper stain marks the presence
of ore.
Irregular Metasomatic Bodies of Secondary Ore
The Black-Warrior and Geneva mines work on ore-
bodies that have been formed by a gradual penetration
and replacement by chrysoeolla of dacite. resting on an
irregular erosion surface of Pinal schist. As mentioned
before, the ore is wholly secondary and probably de-
rived from the erosion of parts of the Inspiration ore-
body. Outside of chrysoeolla. manganese oxide is
prominent in these replacement zones. The minerals
are sometimes found in kernels of concentric layers,
but usually show no well defined structure. The
dacite begins to show coloring at the ends of these
orebodies and gradually changes to a soft crumbling
material, very hygroscopic and stained black or green-
ish brown. The outlines of the original constituents
are preserved, but the quartz generally has disap-
peared.
The orebodies are very irregular in outline and
usually much bigger in horizontal than vertical ex-
tent. Similar in derivation are the 'copper conglom-
erates' of Cold gulch, where recent creek gravels ce-
mented by limonite. chrysoeolla, and copper pitch have
488
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
furnished commercial ore, though as yet only on a
small scale.
Lastly, but not related to this type, I might mention
two contact deposits near the Continental mine where
Schultze granite approaches Devonian limestone.
Strong magnetite and grossularite outcrops contain
some very good copper ore (chalcocite, malachite,
azurite. and ehrysocolla). but the development work
done thus far has not disclosed encouraging indica-
tions below. A "white magnetic iron,' probably pyrrho-
tite, was reported to occur here in depth but this could
not be verified.
Mineralogy of the Ore
The deposits of the district are remarkably poor in
gangue minerals. Of course vein quartz occurs but
only seldom in quantity or good crystals. Calcite is
next in frequency, while dolomite and siderite are rare.
and rhodocrosite was observed at the Cole & Goodwin
mine only. Hematite, especially the micaceous variety,
is frequent and in consequence also limonite. Ilmenite
crystals of macroscopic size were seen in one locality.
The ore minerals proper are: pyrite. chalcopyrite.
bornite, enargite. chalcocite. cuprite, native copper.
azurite. malachite, ehrysocolla. brochantite, chalcan-
thite, melanochaleite. copper pitch, sphalerite, goslar-
ite. galena, cerussite, wulfenite, vanadinite, cupro-
descloizite, argentite, cerargvrite. silver bromide, na-
tive silver, hiibnerite. and native gold.
In the district at large are found well developed
crystals of orthoelase (Carlsbad twinning), muscovite,
and tourmalin, the last only in very small individuals.
Magnetite and garnet (grossularite) occur in contact
zones near the Continental mine. Asbestos (probably
fibrous serpentine) in small quantities is found as an
alteration in limestone in the Old Dominion mine, also
in good fibres up to two inches in length in the Apaehe
mountains.
Genesis of the Ores
Since granite-porphyry sills participate in the pri-
mary mineralization at Miami and copper veins occur
through the granite-porphyry (Schultze granite) area,
there can be no doubt but that the mineralization here
occurred later than, and most likely in consequence
of, this eruption. The not very clear relation in this
district seems to establish the Schultze granite as later
than the diabase, therefore the Miami-Inspiration ore-
body and the veins in Schultze granite must be con-
siderably later than the diabase intrusion.
In 1902 when P. L. Ransome wrote his admirable re-
port on this district, the Miami orebody had not been
discovered and Mr. Ransome considered the Schultze
granite as part of the pre-Cambrian granitic eruption.
In explaining the genesis of the ores, he naturally con-
sidered the diabase as the cause of the ore deposition,
being the only Mesozoic eruptive of importance, ac-
cording to his then theory. Since then the age of the
Schultze granite has been established beyond a doubt
at Ray, as I am informed, and in this district porphyry
dikes cutting the diabase have also been connected
with great semblance of probability with the later
Schultze granite eruption.
In broadening the relations established at Miami
many geologists have been inclined to attribute all the
deposits of the district to this granite-porphyry erup-
tion in spite of Mr. Rausome's rather weighty argu-
ments in favor of the diabase, the most important of
which is probably the fact that even perfectly fresh
diabase away from any fissure or vein contains traces
of copper. My opinion is that the diabase is the source
of the Old Dominion and related vein deposits, and
that ore deposition continued through, or was revived
by, the granite-porphyry eruption. That ore deposition
had come to a standstill and oxidation was in full
swing at the time of the Tertiary dacite extrusion is
proved by the fact that round water-worn pieces of
oxidized ore are included in the lowest dacite-tuff beds
with pieces of limestone, quartzite, and diabase.
In fact, that acid porphyrites are the sources of
most copper deposits recently discovered has tended to
create a little prejudice in favor of these acid rocks
and has veiled somewhat the fact that copper deposits
connected with basic rocks were the main copper pro-
ducers until Butte gained supremacy. The vein de-
posits of the Old Dominion type follow, as I explained
before, intrusive dikes of diabase that cut as well
through sediments as diabase sills, and represent there-
fore probably the last exertion of the volcanic cata-
clysm that sent up these startling masses of basic lavas.
The furnace had been stirring for a long time, had
skimmed off the slag and collected heavy metals in the
centre of disturbance. A renewed outbreak of volean-
ism carried them upward. Of course these diabase
dikes might have been only the passive channels for
later mineraazers, as for instance the Schultze granite,
and vapors and solutions derived from this source
might have followed only the mechanical lanes opened
by these diabase dikes, but I personally think not.
My main reason for considering the diabase the
active mineralizer is the micaceous hematite, so sur-
prisingly plentiful in the Globe district. Naturally the
diabase is a magma rich in iron, and Mr. Ransome gives
for normal diabase from Globe 8.50% FeO and 2.09%
Ve203, but locally, and especially in the vicinity of the
vein zones, diabase will occur where the percentage of
iron must be considerably higher, as hematite replaces
the normal biotite. and perhaps also magnetite replaces
part of the augite. Veinlets of solid micaceous hema-
tite cut through the solid diabase away from the promi-
nent veins, and where dikes or sills of diabase have
penetrated the limestone huge masses of hematite,
mostly in the micaceous form, make their appearance.
Some of the altered vein dikes, especially where dia-
base is the country rock, are now practically only
white kaolinized material with stringers and individ-
uals of micaceous hematite. The hematite is appar-
ently a primary mineral and not a product of oxida-
tion; and since it occurs as well in the diabase at large
as in the veins, a close relation between this eruptive
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
489
and the ore deposition is established. Many authori-
ties, especially in Europe, consider hematite rather
typical for ore deposits connected with basic eruptives,
and even if this should not be accepted universally, the
Old Dominion seems to offer a good example for this
theory. The lack of this mineral in the undoubtedly
acid porphyry deposits of Miami and vicinity, and its
prominence in the diabase veins affords a good cri-
terion in adjudging the mineralization of veins in this
district to either one period or the other. The veins of
the Pinal schist area, for instance, would go with the
diabase veins on account of their hematite gangue ; a
probability still more pronounced from their similarity
in strike and dip with some of the undoubted diabase
veins. More doubtful is the ease of the zinc and lead
veins, but still I consider them rather with the basic
than the acidic group, because in the first place most
of them have the same northeast-southwest strike as
the Old Dominion, and some, especially those with
chalcopyrite in addition to sphalerite and galena, have
shown hematite occasionally, even if this mineral usu-
ally is lacking where lead or zinc gains the ascendency.
But perhaps some of the veins, especially the extremely
rich ones of the Old Dominion, have benefited by both
periods of ore deposition even if this should never lie
supported by undeniable evidence.
Order of Deposition
The hematite was apparently the first metallic min-
eral to be deposited. After that followed the sul-
phides. The deposition of hematite started apparently
as a magmatic segregation, but continued into aqueous
or pneumatolytic deposition. Sometimes sulphides will
prevail almost to the exclusion of hematite, but the
latter gains prominence again, either horizontally or
vertically, in the same vein and usually even in the
same ore-shoot.
The sulphide orebodies have two distinct bases:
pyrite on one extreme: and a combination of primary
bornite-chalcopyrite-pyrite. with perhaps even primary
chalcocite, on the other. Roth types blend, occasion-
ally, but are developed in their extremes without
transition even in one single vein (the Old Dominion)
in different ore-shoots. Prominent ehalcocitization is
characteristic for the ores of pyritic base, while it
appears somewhat lacking in the rich sulphides. Why
this should be the case is hard to explain, since the
theory that chalcopyrite misrht break up into chalcocite
and pyrite has been discouraged time and again in
spite of the surprising reversability of sequence in
formation of copper minerals that gain in scope as
their interdependence is investigated more thoroughly.
In this connection I might mention the fact that
kernels of chalcopyrite were found in entirely oxidized
ore along the Carrie vein less than 50 ft. from the sur-
face: and even the lowest depth attained on this vein,
about 800 ft. below, has failed to disclose any sul-
phides. In fact. 1 do not remember ever having seen
any pyrite. chalcopyrite, or bornite whatever from the
Carrie-Buckeye mine, except in this one locality.
Another peculiar occurrence is that of the west ore-
body on the 13th level of the Old Dominion. Here is a
thoroughly oxidized orebody not far from the old sur-
face, but now buried under perhaps 800 ft. of later and
overthrust rock (conglomerates, daeite, and Madera
diorite). The same orebody has been opened on the
16th level. 300 ft. vertically below, and about 500 ft.
on the dip. On the 16th level the ore is fully oxidized,
but on the 13th chalcocite occurs in the same hand
specimens with chrysoeolla. malachite, melanoehalcite.
and cuprite, and sometimes also limonite. Fig. 9 illus-
trates the occurrence.
Fig. 9. hand specimen from thirteenth level west, old
dominion mink. lime shale stainkh by ( hrysoc oi.i.a,
containing arf.as ok impure chalcocite with stringers
of hard chrysocolla containing malachite ami ylli.s of
tlL'ARTZ OB CALCITE.
While this looks at a first glance like a re-develop-
ment of chalcocite from oxidized ores, the fact prob-
ably is that chalcocite is the oldest of the minerals rep-
resented here and changes along fissures often con-
cealed to melanoehalcite and cuprite. The cuprite in
turn is converted to malachite from the centre out-
ward, while the surrounding chrysoeolla is a later im-
migration and not a change in situ, this latter infiltra-
tion sometimes depositing malachite which also sur-
rounds small vu^'s of quartz, or more rarely calcite
crystals.
Another rather rare occurrence is that of Hakes of
native silver on chalcocite. as seen in the east orebody
on the 9th level of the Old Dominion. Sometimes small
sheets of native copper accompany the silver.
Zinc has been found only in one single place in the
Old Dominion mine, that is, in the central orebody on
the 14th level. It is found in a zone of intimate inter-
action of diabase with Cambrian limestone alone; the
vein. The sphalerite here is of a light yellowish green
color and traversed by veinlets of pyrite. therefore ap-
parently the older sulphide, but the occurrence is so
isolated that it hardly justifies general conclusions as
to the sequence of metals.
Ore-Shoots
There is no law governing the occurrence of ore-
shoots that I have been able to establish. One fact
490
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21. 1914
stand* out clearly, though, that when Carboniferous or
Devonian limestone forms the hanging wall, the in-
trusive vein-dikes are liable to branch off the main
fissure and pervade these limestones as dikes and
sills, causing locally great and rich accumulations of
ore. While we have had these orebodies only in the
oxidized zone, the similarity of Bisbee shows that
nothing prevents their recurrence in the sulphide hori-
zon, provided we shall ever find limestone below the
reach of oxidation.
The quartzites and the Cambrian limestone are less
productive of ore outside of the veins proper, or at
least only for a short distance, where they have been
intensely fractured by the fault movements, but where
they occur as detached blocks in the faults proper, or
included between very closely spaced parallel faults,
they contain some of the very choicest ore. In the
upper limestones it is therefore more the deflecting of
intrusive dikes and chemical exchange that produces
bonanzas, while in the other rocks the bonanzas are
caused by a mechanical shattering. But both occur-
rences are localized, and why they should have hap-
pened in one part of the vein, and fail in another other-
wise apparently similar one, has defied my observation.
The joining of veins sometimes explains the occur-
rence of ore-shoots, as for instance the central ore-
body of the Old Dominion, where a vein which is prob-
ably the combination of the Buffalo and the No. 3 veins,
joins the Old Dominon from the foot-wall, but in other
cases such junctures have proved very discouraging.
Generally it seems as if the combination of a fiat vein
with a steep one is more productive than the joining
of the two steep veins. But there is one feature that
might ultimately prove of great importance for the
district. As Ransome mentioned already, the whole
district is dissected by normal faults of different dip,
tending to drop down triangular blocks between con-
verging faults.
Fin. 10.
Such a system of faulting must necessarily produce
strong lateral pressure. Therefore these faults will
close again soon, except where resistent blocks of
ground prevent this. closing. The same is the case with
the fiat dipping veins, so numerous in the district, only
that the closing pressure here acts vertically rather
than horizontally.
Wherever masses of sediments have been included in
the single veins or between the converging veins they
have kept open channels for mineralization: and being
fissured if large, or crushed by pressure where small.
they have provided conditions for bonanza ore. Where
two veins belonging to the same fault-block join, the
ore is as a rule disappointing. This occurrs frequently
enough to suggest rhat it will prove a rule ultimately
Of this there is a good example at the Buffalo mine.
As can !>■* seen by comparing Fig. 11 and 12, the Buf-
falo is only a repetition of the same conditions that
prevail at the Old Dominion vein, though on a much
smaller scale. The plasticity of the diabase allowed
the closing even of such a gash-vein as the Buffalo,
where diabase forms both walls.
While many observations indicate that ore deposi-
tion must have been rather rapid in diabase-sediment
contact zones, and far advanced before lateral pressure
closed the feeding channels, there is surprisingly little
L/ne of_ e$
Jff c f-ion ip*
/
4$
Am
Fig. 11.
Svffo/o ye/;
Fin. VI.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
191
contact metamorphism, and the only true contact de-
posits that I have seen in the district point to the
Shultze granite as their origin. These are the garnet-
epidote-magnetite zones, with copper ore, near the
Continental mine.
Contact Phenomena
In approaching diahase dikes a recrystallization of
limestone fan sometimes be noticed, and in one place
on the 16th level west of the Old Dominion I have
found limestone that appears to be impregnated with
heavy silicates, but so small that only microscopical
work could prove the occurrence. But there are fre-
quently contact phenomena connected with the diabase
intrusions that suggest an action akin to fusion, for
instance, at the contact of diabase with Cambrian lime-
stone where the limestone has changed to a transparent
chert with turbid green to black inclusions and grades
into aphanitic diabase of smooth surface, greasy to the
touch. Layers of iron oxide have been formed rarely
in the limestone also, which while non-magnetic now,
probably were magnetic originally. These layers of
iron alternate with others of quartz and cherty lime-
stone.
At diabase-quartzite. and especially diabase-con-
glomerate or coarse sandstone contacts, round quartz
grains or pebbles will be found imbedded in a diabase
matrix: and this will grade into normal conglomerate
with diabase magma in the interstices, or quartzite
with nests of greenish minerals, perhaps chlorite. At
a diabase-Ruin granite contact in the Continental mine,
the large orthoclase crystals of the granite were found
surrounded by diabase magma. All these occurrences
are so closely intergrown that hand specimens will
show both rocks in one piece.
In concluding this chapter I might point out how
closely ore deposition in the limestone areas parallels
the genesis of the Bisbee ores, as sketched by myself*
in so far as not the solubility of certain limestone t>eds.
but the intrusive dikes and sills gave an impetus to
ore deposition which ultimately spread to the lime-
stone also, especially where this has been pervaded by
iron minerals, in this ease micaceous hematite, or more
rarely magnetite, pseudomorphs after which are found
occasionally. These iron oxides I consider exudations
of the intrusive magma.
While the Miami-Inspiration type of ore deposit has
its proved tonnage, that is steadily but not largely
increased by operations, it is not possible to compute
the tonnage of the vein deposits in advance. The Old
Dominion, though, has ore reserves that will last for
several years, and in its cast orebody it has a deposit
that, with chalcopyrite-bornite and perhaps chalcocite
as primary ores on the present deepest level, promises
to continue to considerably greater depth. The west
orebody is still in oxidized ore. and, while vicissitudes
are bound to occur in orebodies of that type, a par-
allel to the very similar central orebody promises large
* Mining and Scientific Prett, February 4, 1911. p. 20;!.
and rich sulphide masses for the contemplated deep-
ening of the mine. The central orebody is in lean
pyrite on the 16th level as mentioned before, after
having been the only support and later on the main-
stay of the mine for years, and furnishing wonderful
chalcocite ore both as to quantity and quality until
considerably below the 14th level.
That this pyrite horizon is the last of the orebody,
I do not believe. In the first place, the bornite-chal-
copyrite ore of the east orebody proves the existence
of high-grade primary sulphides along the vein, and
even if the rich limestone orebodies of the central and
west orebody should have drained the lower parts of
the vein of a part of their copper contents, a recur-
rence of high-grade sulphides in depth should remain
a possibility, especially as a flat north-dipping vein
should join the main Old Dominion vein a few hun-
dred feet below the 16th level in these parts from
the hanging wall. Besides this, all the observations
confirming the primary nature of pyrite in veins
cannot shake the fact that pyrite is secondary also,
as shown by the sequence of (1) limonite in peat.
(2) marcasite in lignite, (3) pyrite in coal. What
reducing agents have accomplished in one place they
also can do in others. I suspect, therefore, that the
Old Dominion might help to eliminate the present be-
lief that lean pyrite constitutes the absolute lowest
limit of workable copper deposits, beyond which no
recovery of copper is possible.
Outside of their main vein the Old Dominion has
many other veins in its large territory, but partly or
not prospected at all outside of their rich surface ore-
bodies, and others that are being prospected in depth
right now. Some of the more recent work indicates
great possibilities for the very great number of veins
in the district generally, that are lying idle at pres-
ent. While there may not be a second Old Dominion
awaiting enterprise and capital, the district is bound
to flourish for a long time to come and see many a
new mine rise to success.
In the course of this paper I have referred fre-
quently to F. L. Ransome's report on the Globe dis-
trict.0 This has been written more than ten years ago.
and while recent development has forced me to dis-
agree with it in several minor instances. I cannot but
admire how painstakingly and thoroughly Mr. Ran-
some worked out. in the short time allotted, a district
as complicated as this one. and provided a basis for
future research.
Mining Methods
Outside of the 'raise and sub-level' method of stop-
ing developed at the .Miami mine, which is a matter
of record in recent magazine literature, there is very
little extraordinary in the way of mining in this dis-
trict. I might mention the adaptation of an inclined
'cut-and-fill' method for rather wide stupes in the Old
Dominion mine, where the roof is good and the grade
of ore uniform enough to eliminate hand sorting. The
*U. S. Geol. Surv.. Prof. Paper 12.
492
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21. 1914
method is used both with open and square-set stopes.
In the former I have seen stopes up to 40 ft. wide
worked that way, while with the latter a width of six
sets (30 ft.) was a maximum.
The stopes are worked with rising inclined face, and
the ore slides automatically in the chutes over a floor
of planks on top of the fill. (See Fig. 13.) The chute-
^e/
iei'e/
Fig. 13. square-set stope and cut and fill stope.
raises are cribbed, and a few rounds of cribbing are
placed above the plank floor to allow some of the ore
to accumulate on this inclined floor, partly to protect
the planks from wear and partly to give the men a
better footing. After finishing a cut, these rounds of
cribbing are removed, the ore run down the chutes,
the raises cribbed up, the planks removed, and filling
run in.
Fluorite in Smelting
By Herbert Lang
Fluorite, a comparatively rare veinstuff in the mines
of America, although abundant in those of some parts
of Europe, possesses considerable interest in its
metallurgical aspects, from the peculiarities of its
action in smelting. It is unique in that, while a
saturated substance in itself, it yet assists other and
comparatively infusible matters to liquefy at a heat
far below their melting points alone. In particular
the native sulphates, such as those of lime and baryta
(gypsum and barite or heavy spar) are enabled to melt
by an addition of a comparatively small amount of
fluorspar, forming a homogeneous slag having a
rather low fusing point. Hence its application in some
forms of lead smelting in reverberatories. It has been
claimed by some, but mainly on hypothetical grounds,
that the well known decomposition of fluorite by silica
in the y)resence of steam takes place in the blast-fur-
nace. In this case the fluoride of silicon should be
evolved, while the silicate of lime would remain in the
slag. From this point of view fluorspar would consti-
tute an ideal flux for silicious ores in lead and copper
smelting. There is no doubt as to its effective decom-
position by silica under any circumstances in the blast-
furnace, but it would appear not to behave quite so
favorably in ordinary practice, inasmuch as the silicon
compound has probably not been detected in the gases.
Furthermore, as the decomposition of the gaseous
fluoride takes place in the presence of steam, which is
an invariable concomitant of furnace educts. the prob-
ability seems to be that while that substance would
most likely be formed, it would speedily be broken up,
even before issuing from the furnace, leaving a residue
of silica, which would descend again to the zone of
activity below, there to become combined with the
bases. The value, then, of the fluorite would depend
wholly upon its calcium constituent and not. as sev-
eral metallurgists have taught, in part upon the fluor-
ine. The matter, however, is obscure; and the atten-
tion of experimenters might profitably be directed to
an inquiry as to the precise part played by the volatile
constituent.
As a fluxing agent fluorite is most closely comparable
with limestone (calcite). The pure mineral contains
51.3% calcium, corresponding to 71.8% lime, while
calcite of an equally pure quality has 56% lime. The
difference, therefore, is material in this respect. In
reverberatory smelting, where the action of the fluorine
in determining the volatilization of silica would prob-
ably not be masked by the interference of the vapor of
water, fluorite would doubtless be preferred as a flux,
since one part of it should by theory saturate or expel
a much larger proportion of silica than calcite could.
The equivalent amount satisfied by one part of fluorite
is 0.726 parts of silica, while one part of calcite satis-
fied 0.60 silica, assuming, which is practically always
the case, that the bisilicate of lime, CaSiO.. is formed.
Fluorite is employed in various minor arts, espec-
ially in the preparation of castings, where it is held
to be of special value as provocative of ready fusion,
and as tending to purify in a certain measure the iron.
It is likewise used in the manufacture of cements, in
glass and enamels, in electrolytic lead and antimony re-
fining, in the production of aluminum and in the manu-
facture of hydrofluoric acid, a substance of increasing
use in the arts. No important deposits of fluorite have
as yet been discovered in California, or at least none
of sufficient purity to found an industry upon, but a
more strict inquiry may reveal such. The principal
localities thus far reported in this state are in Inyo
county, where several slightly prospected locations are
found. To the south in Arizona is the somewhat noted
Castle Dome deposit, where the fluorite was found in
connection with lead ores of exceptional purity, work-
ed some years ago, and chiefly smelted at Melrose in
Alameda county, in this state.
The market for fluorite is but small. Messrs. Leven-
saler & Spier, mineral brokers of San Francisco, re-
port that the requirements would be met by two or
three carloads per month, which may be 500 or 600
tuns per year. This is supplied from the east.
March 21. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
493
The Buck Zinc Prospect Near
Boracho, Texas
By J. A. Udden
•In the hills about 12 miles north of Boraeho. in
Culberson county, there is a zinc prospect known as
the Buck mine. It is in a deep arroyo draining into a
tributary of Coyote creek. The country, rock consists
of limestone of the Delaware .Mountain formation.
Work on the prospect has been desultory, by different
people, and at different times. Ore was once packed
out on burros, and shipped to Kansas City. A half
carload of this ore was left near the Boracho station.
A grab sample of this ore yielded 34% zinc. This ore
came from two open cuts, sunk at the point where the
first discovery was made on the east side of the a novo.
THE BI'C'K CREEK ZINC PROSPECT. 1, OPEN CUT; 2, OPEN CUT;
u, stope; 4, tunnel.
The largest of these cuts, 1 in the figure, is some 20 by
15 by 10 ft. in size, and is about 25 ft. above the lied of
the arroyo. The other cut. 2. is about 20 yards to the
northeast, and lower down. The country rock is a
coarse-grained limestone, showing altered and min-
eralized streaks and cavities and a few small irregular
veins, an inch or two in thickness, extending in differ-
ent directions. Some of the veins are filled with calcite,
some with smithsonite of tine and compact texture, and
some with ferruginous material. Sphalerite of dark
brown color was noted in some of the embodies of
irregular form, and greenish yellow sphalerite appears
in streaky impregnations in the limestone. The whole
has the appearance of a part of a cavernous system in
a limestone partly filled by mineralizing solutions, this
tilling having later in part been dissolved away and to
some extent oxidized by the leaching and weathering
•Published by permission of Win. B. Phillips, director of the
Bureau of Economic Geology and Technology, University of
Texas. Austin.
effects of groundwater. A half dozen picked samples
of the size of walnuts, from the walls of each of these
two open cuts, give the following averages of zinc:
Zinc. Silver,
percent, percent.
°Pen cut 1 26.0 None
°Pen cut 2 26.5 None
A piece of the limestone forming the country rock,
taken a few feet from open cut No. 2. gave 2% of zinc!
-V hundred yards to the northeast from these cuts, a
slope. 3, about 40 ft. deep has been sunk on a vertical
vein and about 15 ft. above this a short tunnel. 4, has
been driven on the same vein. This vein is from iy2
to 3 ft. wide, bears about north 20° west, is filled with
stalaetitie calcite. laminated vertically, showing charac-
teristic rippled surfaces of drip-stone and. in places,
a transverse fibrous structure. In some places the
filling is incomplete, leaving thin, open vertical fissures.
The walls of the vein are straight, showing hardly any
erosion or etching. The vein extends some distance
above the tunnel. Samples taken across the vein in
these workings gave the following assays:
Zinc. Silver.
per cent, per cent.
S|°I>*' 3 0.5 None
Tunnel 4 i.o None
A half mile southeast from these workings, two
shafts have been sunk, about 80 yards apart. One of
these is some 40 ft. deep, the other (to the northeast)
25 ft. These expose, in part, some limestone, some
talus-like debris, containing weathered blocks and
smaller fragments of limestone, and some sandstone
and indurated white and purple clay and silt of
Cretaceous age. An elongated patch of brown sand-
stone of Cretaceous age runs northwest immediately
to the west of these shafts, and two other small
elongated remnants of the basal sands of the Cretace-
ous are to be seen in a straight line between this patch
and the two open cuts first described. Picked samples
from the dumps of the two shafts contained no zinc.
Evidently the Delaware limestone has been traversed
by an irregular series of cavernous openings, having a
trend approximately parallel to that of the calcite vein.
Owing to these openings. Cretaceous deposits found
lodgment in some channels having the same trend, laid
bare on the shore of the Cretaceous sea in the lime-
stone. Present erosion has cut below the general level
of the Cretaceous base, leaving only a few remnants
lodged in the deepest depressions of the older rock.
-Mineralization of the -round must have taken place
before the removal of the upper formation.
Evidently a successful exploration of this prospect
will require much underground work to locate ore-
bodies in old scams, joints, porous layers, and cavern-
ous openings, tilled by the agency of the mineralizing
solutions. The pockets already found may be merely
some small off-shoots from a much greater system of
ore beds in filled caverns, or they may have been tin;
494
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21. 1914
main deposit. The size of the stalagmite vein and the
depressions in the lower formation containing
Cretaceous sandstone, suggest the existence of an ex-
tensive system of old cavernous openings. The condi-
tions are kin to those existing in the Shafter silver
mine, though much less appears on the surface of a
cavern system, than was the case at Shafter.
This prospect is on a range of hills separated from
the Delaware range proper by a valley draining to the
east into Coyote creek. Between this valley and the
Texas & Pacific railroad, which roughly parallels the
valley at a distance to the south of from eight to
fourteen miles, is an anticline whose axis trends a
little north of west and south of east. This anticline
forms the range of hills mentioned. The prospect is
north of the axis of the anticline, and on its west end.
which has a higher elevation than the east end. Dee])
ascending mineralizing currents would naturally col-
lect near the highest point of such a structure, and
this is another reason for considering further prospect-
ing here warranted by the natural conditions.
Rock Drilling in Lake Superior Iron Mines
By P. B. McDonald
The general standard of rock drilling practice in the
iron mines of Michigan and Minnesota is noticeably
higher than five years ago. The conditions which have
brought this about have been principally the lowered
prices for iron ores and the cooperation of mine super-
. intendents with representatives of rock drill manu-
facturers for the purpose of improving the mechanism
of the drills. Efforts have also been made to improve
the personal efficiency of the miners under the gen-
eral principles of scientific management, but these at-
tempts have not accomplished much ; the older Cornish
miners do not take readily to such innovations as
standardizing plans for placing holes, record keeping,
etc., and the more ignorant immigrant labor refuses
to xinderstand these processes. Incidentally it is likely
that some of the smoldering resentment so apparent
in the copper country strike has been due to the
antagonism of old style miners to the too officious ad-
vances of scientific management under the cover of
paternalism; the mine managers point out that no
strike occurred in the copper country for fifty years,
but the fact is overlooked that during most of that
time immigrant labor, such as Finns. Poles, and
Anstrians, was very much in the minority and the
Cornish-American miner was dominant under condi-
tions suitable to his own ideas of mining and living.
The present status of the rock drill in the Lake
Superior iron mines is much different from a few years
ago when nearly all drilling was by the two-man.
mounted, reciprocating machine. The stope drill is
now used for practically all the raise work requiring
a power drill. The cost of raising has been generally
reduced to less than half the former cost. It is proba-
ble that the stope drill has worked greater economies
than any other type. On account of the mass-like
shape of the large iron ore deposits, raising is an im-
portant part of many of the mining methods in vogue.
The one-man. mounted, reciprocating drill for driv-
ing and stoping (over which there was so much con-
troversy in the copper country) has had a number of
sales in the iron region, and was an efficient drill for
the 'medium soft' grades of ore. It was repeatedly
demonstrated that one man could accomplish the same
(or greater) drilling results with this drill as previous-
ly had required two men with the old type, heavy drill.
However, a new development has taken place in this
line in the iron region. Unlike the tough copper
country rock, the majority of the iron ore is medium
soft or soft, some of the latter varieties on the. Mesabi
range having been drilled with hand augers for years.
It has been found that a small, automatically rotated.
'plug' drill, changed so as also to be used as a power
anger, is possible ; that is, such a machine will work
as an auger in soft ground but when a hard seam is
struck it changes to a hammer drill. This new style of
drill promises to be a decided success, and is expected
ultimately almost to replace the one-man piston drill
in the iron mines.
The general use of smaller and lighter drills in driv-
ing and sinking is resulting in a trend to the European
practice of shorter holes, better placed, and a shorter
cut ; it is found that with cuts of 4 or .") ft. progress
can be made faster than was formerly possible with
6-ft. cuts : the light drills permit greater flexibility in
pointing the holes, and can be quickly moved back
out of the way for blasting, thus encouraging more
frequent blasting.
For drilling the unusually hard ores and for the hard
rock sometimes accompanying the iron ores, such as
jaspilite and quart/.ite, the two-man. reciprocating drill
will be retained. Another type of drill which has
been successful in the hard rock (more especially true
in the copper country) is the Leyner drill. This can
perhaps be called a hybrid type because it is a hammer
drill and at the same time is mounted on bar or tripod :
the water principle of washing out rock chippings is.
of course, an important feature.
In sinking, a radical change has come about. In
place of the two-man, piston drill on tripod or bar.
little 'plug' drills are now used. Three-quarters of
the shaft sinking in the iron region is now done by
automatically rotated plug drills or 'hand sinkers,' and
records are being made in speed of sinking.
On the Gogebic range, the Newport Mining Co. re-
cently sunk an 11 by 18 shaft in quartzite 33 ft. in one
week, with Jaekhamers and the concrete lining was
put in at equal speed. Contrary to first expectations
these little hand sinkers can put down deep holes when
necessary. Their principal advantages lie in their one-
man principle, enabling twice the number of drills to
be used in a shaft, and in the ease with which they
can be removed for blasting.
Depth of water in the Suez Canal is now 33 feet.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
495
Meeting of the Canadian Mining Institute
The sixteenth annual convention of the Canadian
Mining Institute was held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel,
Montreal, March 4, 5, and 6. with a large attendance
of members. A. E. Barlow of Montreal, the president,
in his opening address referred to the steady growth
and progress of the Institute, which had attained a
membership of 1029, of whom 113 had been added dur-
ing the year. There were now eight branches, includ-
ing the Rocky Mountain and Ottawa branches recently
organized. He dealt at some length with the ques-
tion of the development of Canada's iron resources,
urging the exploration of the Archean rocks of the
hinterland, which gave promise of holding large iron
deposits, and advocated the granting of a bounty on
iron ore.
Mineral Production for 1913
The preliminary report on the mineral production
of Canada during 1913. by John McLeish, chief of the
division of mineral resources and statistics of the
Department of Mines, was presented. The total value
of the output was $144,031,047. as compared with
$135,048,296 in 1912. an increase of 6.65%. The metal-
lic production was valued at $66,127,821, and the non-
metallic at $77,903,226. The leading items in the me-
tallic list were as follows: copper, 76.975,832 lb., value
$11,753,440: gold. 784.525 oz., $16,216,131; pig iron.
1,128,967 tons. $16,540,012: lead. 37.662.703 lb., $1,754.-
705; nickel. 49.676.772 11... $14,903,032 : silver. 31,750.618
oz., $18,984,012. There was an increased production
of all the metals except copper and silver, which
showed slight decreases, tin- most important increase
being in gold with 28'/< . Among non-metallic products
increases are shown in ;ill th<' important items ex-
cept clays and lime, the largest being in natural gas
with 41% in value. The cement output showed an in-
crease of 21% in quantity. Coal was produced to the
amount of 15.115.089 tons, of the value of $36,250,311.
as compared with 14.512.829 tons, valued at $36,019,-
044, in 1912. The record of production by provinces
showed that Ontario stood at the head of the list with
a value of $58,697,602. or 40.75'/ of the total; British
Columbia came second with a value of $28,529,081,
or 19.81%; then followed Nova Scotia with $19,305,-
545, or 13.4% : Alberta with $13,844,622, or 9.6%, and
Quebec with $13. 303.649. or 9.24%. In the above com-
parisons, no account is taken of the large iron smelt-
ing and steel making industries of Nova Scotia, as the
pig iron used there is entirely from imported ore.
Reports were also presented by Theodore C. Denis,
superintendent of mines for Quebec, and from Thomas
W. Gibson, deputy minister of Ontario, showing the
mineral production of those provinces for 1913. The
Ontario report placed the value of the mineral pro-
duction at $52,999,957. of which $37,508,955 was me-
tallic and $15,491,002 non-metallic, the total exceed-
ing the previous year's production by 9.6%. The pro-
duction of gold was 220.837 oz., of which more than
94% came from the Porcupine mines. The output of
silver was 29.681.975 oz.. showing a slight decrease.
The report points out that the high water mark in
silver production was apparently reached in 1911,
when the yield was 31.507.791 oz. The output of nickel
had increased in value nearly 11%. and copper 16%.
The production of pig iron was 648.899 tons, worth
$8,719,892. an increase of 10% in quantity. The con-
clusion is drawn that the producing capacity of the
iron mines of the province has not kept pace with the
expansion of the blast-furnace industry, as of the 1,228.-
269 tons of ore smelted in Ontario, only 132,708 tons
was of domestic origin, the remainder being imported
from the United States.
The list of nominations for officers was presented
and George G. S. Lindsey, of Toronto, declared elected
president by acclamation. Mr. Lindsey was for some
years president and general manager of the Crow's
Xest Pass Coal Co. and is now president of the North
Alberta Coal Company.
Papers were read at the afternoon sitting on min-
ing and milling at Cobalt, by St. George Campbell
and Eraser D. Reid. both of Cobalt, and by George
A. Guess, of Toronto, on pyritic smelting. E. D. Peters,
of Dorchester. Massachusetts, gave an address on the
production of heat in metallurgical furnaces, dealing-
principally with the reverberatory type and detailing
the experiments which had resulted in the production
of the present furnaces. 112 ft. in length, in which
the ore was melted almost immediately after it had
been thrown into the furnace and the slag drawn off
without much loss of heat. The furnace was charged
with 15 tons of quartz once in 45 minutes, and the
heat of the furnace at the fire bridge was 1500° Centi-
grade.
Evening Lectures
In the evening there were two lectures illustrated
with moving pictures. Austin King, chief inspector
of mines for the Prick Coal & Coke Co., dealt with
'Safety ;il Coal Mines.' and II. W. DuBois, of Phila-
del| bin, treated of 'Hydraulic Mining.'
On the morning of .March 5 the members paid a
visit to the tunnel which is being constructed by the
Canadian Northern railway underneath Mount Royal.
They were conducted by S. P. Brown, chief engineer
of the work, and J. Austen Bancroft of McGill Uni-
versity. At the afternoon sitting Mr. Brown read a
paper on ".Methods of Excavation in the Mount Royal
Tunnel.'
On March ti a number of papers were presented and
addresses delivered. II. M. Payne, of New York, spoke
on 'Efficiency Engineering Applied to Mining. Quarries,
and Industrial Plants.' W. McAlpine Johnson, of
496
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21. 1914
Hartford, Connecticut, described an electric furnace
which he had produced for the treatment of complex
zinc ores on a commercial basis. This furnace is
claimed to produce more spelter or zinc by the use of
less power than has hitherto been found necessary
abroad, despite the fact that the Canadian ores are
not of as high grade as those of Norway and Sweden.
W. R. lngalls. who lias been experimenting for the
Canadian Department of Mines with the view of mak-
ing zinc smelting a profitable undertaking, congratu-
lated Mr. Johnson on the success of his experiments.
A. Stansfield, of Montreal, gave a resume of recent
metallurgical experiments covering the most impor-
tant advances in practice during the last 14 years.
Howard W. DuBois, of Philadelphia, gave a history
of the use of high carbon steel plates for sluice-way
linings in hydraulic mining, which had overcome the
expense of heavy wear and increased the output by
25%. A discussion took place on the present status
of the Canadian iron industry, and a resolution was
moved by Eugene Coste, and seconded by George G.
S. Lindsey, directing the attention of the Government
to the fact that the iron industry was greatly handi-
capped because extensive deposits of high-grade
ore. such as were found in the United States. New-
foundland, and Cuba, had not been discovered in ( 'an-
ada. though it was believed that they existed. The
Government was therefore urged to take such means
through the proper channels, either by a geological
survey or a special committee of experts, as would
determine the extent and value of Canada's iron re-
sources. The resolution was adopted.
Studies ofJSmelter Fumes and Gases
*As during the previous year, the investigations con-
ducted at the San Francisco experiment station and
the field work controlled from there have centred
around the problems of copper and lead smelting, with
especial reference to the reduction of the deleterious
gases and fumes emitted by smelting furnaces, and the
recovery of the valuable constituents, now wasted, of
these fumes. Considerable time has been spent in at-
tempts to find new uses and to encourage the extension
of present uses of sulphur, arsenic, bismuth, selenium,
and tellurium, which are found in such amounts in
these wastes that if any large proportion of the whole
were collected in commercial form the supply would
exceed the present demand. During the year the
laboratory work has been largely devoted to the quan-
titative study of the fundamental chemical reactions
taking place in roasting and blast-furnaces, in the
converter, and in other standard smelting equipment.
A large part of current operating practice is based
on empirical generalizations that have gradually been
developed in the art itself. Although practice must,
of course, always be the court of final resort as re-
*From the third annual report of the National Bureau of
Mines. Joseph A. Holmes, director.
gards the merits of a given procedure, still there are
many fundamental chemical problems on which more
definite and accurate quantitative data are badly
needed, and which can not be advantageously studied
in industrial furnaces. These are receiving especial
attention in the laboratory. At the same time the at-
tempt is being made to render the field investigations
and the work in co-operation with industrial plants
throughout the country serve as a medium for carrying
the theoretical conclusions and suggestions from the
laboratory to a point where they may be readily inter-
preted into practical improvements and method of
closer control by those in charge of smelters. A signi-
ficant and encouraging fact is the cordial cooperation
in this work which has been extended from the indus-
tries concerned, even in those eases where the work in
question dealt with bettering the condition of the work-
man or of the surrounding community without imme-
diate prospect of commercial advantage to the operat-
ing company.
This cooperation has in many instances been wholly
informal, consisting merely of the exchange of sugges-
tions or of especial facilities for making certain tests.
In other instances it has taken a more definite form,
as in connection with the Anaconda and the Selby
smelter commissions. Both the Anaconda plant in
.Montana and the Selby plant in California have been
in litigation either with farmers' associations of the
local or the federal government over alleged fume
damage for many years, and much time and money
bad been expended in court proceedings by both sides
without apparently reaching any permanent settle-
ment of the general questions at issue. The court pro-
ceedings in both these cases have within the last two
years been suspended, and by agreement the questions
of fact have been referred to commissions of disinter-
ested experts for investigation and report as to what
improvements are possible a?id practicable and what
relief may be reasonably expected. While those com-
missions are entirely independent of the Bureau of
Mines as an organization, the director of the Bureau
was asked to serve on each of them as an individual,
and, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior,
is so doing. Each of these commissions has its own
staff of scientific and technical investigators, but the
Bureau is assisting the broader aspects of their investi-
gations, in the attempt to make such of the results as
do not involve confidential data available for the broad
general study of these problems.
The work of the San Francisco station has been
under the general direction of F. G. Cottrell. chief
physical chemist, with a staff consisting of L. H.
Duschak. chemical engineer (from Jan. 9. 19131 : Y. H.
Welch, assistant physical chemist (furloughed Jan. 16,
1913. and since then in the employ of the Anaconda
commission) : W. Eaton, assistant physical chemist
(resigned Sept. 6. 1912) : D. R. Kellogg, assistant phy-
sical chemist (from Jan. 2. 1913) ; and E. II. Zeitfuchs.
mechanician and laboratory assistant.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
4!)7
Application of the Magnetometric Survey to the Sudbury
Nickel Deposits
By Kirby Thomas
The nickel minerals in the Sudbury. Ontario, dis-
trict are almost invariably intimately associated with
pyrrhotite, the magnetic iron sulphide, and likewise
the pyrrhotite masses found in the nickel area, always
contain more or less nickel and are generally commer-
cially valuable as nickel ore. These nickeliferous
pyrrhotite orebodies are found along the contact of the
norite, an eruptive rock allied to the gabbro type, and
a foot-wall of greenstone or granite, or as shoots or
'chimneys' accompanying the dike like 'offsets' from
this contact. These contact orebodies are of a thick-
ness up to 400 ft. and they often have a large areal ex-
tent and usually follow the contact on its dip presum-
ably to great depths.
Measuring Magnetic Intensities
These pyrrhotite ore masses are distinctly magnetic
though the attraction is not nearly as strong as in the
case of magnetite orebodies of like magnitude. Owing
to the fact that the Sudbury orebodies generally out-
crop at the contact and extend downward and laterally
along a sloping contact, about 30 to 45°. it is possible
to measure the varying magnetic intensities, taking in
to account the variations in distance from the needle
witli the increasing depth of the orebody and to note
the 'curves' of the readings on either side of the actual
contact.
The earlier operations in the district were confined
to the prominent gossan outcrops, locally called
'burns.' but later it was found advisable to explore
by diamond-drills, a method which has been very ex-
tensively and successfully applied in the district. How-
ever, the magnetic property of the ore was early recog-
nized, and as long as ten years ago attempts were made
to find the orebodies by using the dip needle, particu-
larly in localities where the contact was covered by
glacial drift or 'muskeg' (swamp). Owing to the fact
that the gabbro dikes and masses often found in the
foot-wall and other rocks associated with the ore were
markedly magnetic also, and to the accidental but fre-
quent presence of masses of magnetic iron ore in the
drift overburden, these earlier attempts at exploration
with the dip needle were generally unsatisfactory and
often very misleading. In one instance a shaft was
sunk on a 'magnetic centre' to the end of disclosing at
about -V) ft. in the gravel » large boulder of magnetite.
A little later. Thomas A. Edison became interested in-
cidentally in a supply of nickel for his purposes and
he undertook to show the Sudbury operators how to
find the ore. A large staff of healthy college boys was
sent afield to apply the great inventors' own particu-
lar ideas. Exhaustive magnetic readings were made
of selected areas on the nickel ranges. On the interpre-
tation, or rather misinterpretation of these data some
explorations by drilling were made, in one case to a
depth of 1200 ft. but without any successful results.
The fact seems to be in evidence that Mr. Edison's ex-
perts ignored the, even then, fairly well understood
geologic features of the nickel-bearing formations and
depended on the magnetic readings solely. The Edison
incident further dampened the interest in magnetic
explorations in the district. However, soon after this,
the London directors of the Mond Nickel Co., interested
by the development and success of the new science of
magnetometric surveying as practised in Sweden, sent a
Swedish expert with his new and precise instruments
into the district and had extensive detailed surveys of
the nickel areas made. It is said that on the records of
these surveys, largely, if not solely, these London
directors subsequently directed a campaign of drill-
ing, sending their orders to the men in the field by
cable each day. He this as it may, the fact is that the
drilling explorations of the .Mond company for several
years after this survey was made \\i>vo admittedly dis-
appointing and the succession of unsuccessful drilling
explorations by this Company were attributed by the
local wise men to the unreliability of the magnetic sur-
vey, corroborating a local judgment on the matter al-
ready founded on some experiences as noted.
The Canadian Copper Co.. the other large Sudbury
operating company, frankly avowed its disbelief in the
efficiency of magnetic surveys in the district and the
local property holders came to entirely disregard this
possible aid in their limited attempts at exploration.
Comparison of Results
Two years ago. a new company making sonic ex-
plorations by drilling in Levack township on the North
range had a magnetometric survey made, but the con-
temperaneous explorations were not carried to a point.
to test the usefulness of these surveys. A year later,
however, more complete drilling demonstrated it and re-
vealed the possibilities of the magnetic survey, for the
ore was found in tin' locality indicated by the survey
and the meaning of the magnetic manifestations, before
not well understood, was made clearer. Recently the
Geological Survey of Canada took cognizance of the
matter and a staff of the experts which had been en-
gaged in making magnetic surveys of the Canadian iron
deposits was sent to survey the area which included the
No. 3 mine of the Canadian Copper Co. The survey
was made by men who had no knowledge of the facts
which had been actually demonstrated by drilling and
later their deductions were compared with the known
498
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
conditions. The comparison was quite satisfactory and
a discussion of this test and copies of the maps were
published in a report of the Ontario Bureau of Mines.
Eugene Haanel, director of the Mines Branch of the
Department of Mines at Ottawa, continued the study
of the question and as a result he has recommended to
those inquiring that magnetometric work be done in the
Sudbury district preliminary to and as an aid to test-
ing by drilling. It is likely that henceforth there will
be more attention paid to the possibilities of magnetic
surveys in the district. The opportunity for its appli-
cation is very great as the total contact outcrop is more
than 125 miles and not half of it has been explored at
all and much of the remainder is at best only partly
tested.
There is yet to be worked out the principles of inter-
pretation of the magnetic data and the correlation of
this with the geologic facts and relations. The surveys
should be made under the direction of a geologist who
is familiar with the district and who has the experience
to enable him to competently interpret and apply all
the available facts.
Accident Prevention in Mining
By Edward Ryan
^Accident prevention is a theme upon which one
might dwell at great length, were he to endeavor to
cover every industry, but as my work has to do with
mines ami mining, it is my purpose to speak to you for
a few minutes on that branch of the work, with the
hope that I may be able to leave with you some thought
that will aid in this great movement, and possibly will
strengthen the bond between employer and employee.
It is commonly supposed that by passing safety acts
and having inspectors who visit the different mines
every few months, all has been done that can be done
for accident prevention. This is not so. Laws are
merely educational means, and the penalties provided
in the act are merely punishments for those who fail
to learn their lesson. It is generally known that Neva-
da leads in laws looking to the prevention of accidents,
and the protection of those who toil underground. We
have taken 31 of the most important points of the law.
the violation of which causes most of the accidents,
and. under the heading 'Don't.' have pointed out to
the employer and employee the frequent daily crises
that must be provided for. These have been printed
on cloth, and are furnished all operating mines, a copy
being posted at the collar of each shaft and on each
working level. This keeps constantly before the miner
many things that must be avoided if accidents are to
be lessened.
With these signs constantly before them, why do we
have as many accidents as we do? There can be but
one answer. The men are either incompetent, they wil-
fully violate the provisions looking to their safety, or
they are compelled to forego the exercise of the caution
pointed out by the signs, by reason of the requirements
of those in authority. We all know that men con-
stantly working in an atmosphere of danger become
careless of their surroundings. They do many thinjrs
they ought not to do. and daily violate state laws and
company rules. The operators are often to blame for
the hap-hazard and careless manner in which men do
*From an address by the State Mine Inspector, delivered
at the 'Safety First' conference, Reno, Nevada, January 27.
1914.
their work, by reason of lack of discipline. Some mine
foremen — the yreat majority — are competent in all
other lines of their work, but sadly deficient in disci-
pline. At times they are carrying out the wishes of
those higher in authority, but as a general rule I be-
lieve that the attitude of the management as regards
carelessness is reflected by the men. If the superin-
tendent is careless and indifferent, the men in turn
will treat rules and regulations lightly. If, however.
the superintendent shows an earnest desire to have all
rules closely observed, if he makes accident prevention
one of the leading features in his department, his fore-
men will usually reflect that attitude, and in turn will
compel the men to adhere closely to all rules and regu-
lations looking to their safety.
Operators, if they wish to surround themselves with
home loving law abiding honest citizens, cannot afford
to neglect discipline. Slipshod methods beget careless-
ness and indifference, surely resulting in disagreeable
conditions. Lack of proper discipline results in the
gradual elimination of the better men. with its result-
ing increase of inefficiency, and accidents. Lack of
discipline is entirely too prevalent in some of the mines
of our state, and the cause 'Disobedience of orders'
would not be so frequently written in accident reports,
were more attention paid to discipline. Let the em-
ployee know that all rules and regulations looking to
his safety are to be obeyed, and if he shows a disposi-
tion not to obey, for his own sake get rid of him. Thus
you will protect him from himself, and the careful em-
ployee from his careless fellow worker.
Centralize responsibility as much as possible. What
is everybody's business, is nobody's business. The Ne-
vada Consolidated Copper Co. has recently inaugurat-
ed a system which I believe will go a long way toward
securing the cooperation of employees in the matter of
accident prevention. A monthly bulletin is issued
showing the number of accidents in all departments of
the work. The name of the man in direct charge is
given, and the accidents on the different shifts and in
each department are written directly under that of the
one in direct charge. All accident reports are care-
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
499
fully scanned by the management and comment is
made in favor of those who show a clean record as far
as accident prevention goes. Not long ago I was' in
one of the pits when an accident happened to a man
on one of the steam-shovels. It was an unavoidable
accident, and the accident itself revealed and outlined
the method of prevention. The master mechanic was
one of the first on the ground, and immediately took
steps to prevent a like occurrence. Before night every
shovel in the pit was equipped with the means to pre-
vent a similar accident. It was the first that had hap-
pened in this man's department, and it had been his
constant aim to furnish the men with all possible pro-
tection. Compare, if you please, the earnestness with
which this man did his work, with that of a foreman
who outlined all the points of his method of doing a
certain kind of work and showed that it was perfectly
safe. A short time thereafter an accident happened in
this very branch of the work. and. upon investigation.
I found that the method as outlined was not in effect.
and that he had deliberately deceived his superior.
In going through one of the mines I came upon a
miner who had drilled a number of holes in close proxi-
mity to a number of missed ones. This was against the
rule of this Commission, but the shiftboss in permitting
it reflected the wishes of the foreman.
Far better would it have been for one of our large
mining companies had they followed closely the law
relative to the use of gates on cages and not permitted
them to be discarded by one who doubtless thought
them a useless feature, and thus involved the Company
in a damage suit, and perhaps criminal prosecution by
reason of a man having fallen from a cage to his death.
I want to ask you mine managers this question: Do
you believe that you are doing your full duty by simply
passing laws, and rules, and regulations? Some two
years ago, in an address before the Engineers' Club of
this University, on the subject of accident prevention,
I pointed out that the common mandates of humanity
should cause us all to get together on this important
subject. Already, in this state, since the passage of
the Employers' Liability Law, some of the mine mana-
gers have met and discussed accident prevention. Such
meetings arc bound to bring good results. One be-
comes the teacher of the others, and. as a result, all
have a better understanding of the needs of the indus-
try. Why not go further in these meetings, and take
the miners in? Let them know they have a duty to
perform in this humane work. Almost daily we see
men exposing not only their own lives, but those of
others. Many do not see, < to know that what they ar<-
asked to do or not to do is not in compliance with the
law. Shiftbosscs cannot constantly watch over them,
therefore, they must share responsibility in carrying
out the law. I believe that a better understanding and
spirit of cooperation that will go right down to the
bottom of the staff and grip the very heart of the
miner, can be had by placing the matter right square
up to him.
Zinc Smelting Capacity of the United States1
Operating company and location. Retorts at
Illinois: close of 1913.
American Zinc Co. of Illinois, Hillsboro 3,200
Collinsville Zinc Smelting Co., Collinsville 1,536
Granby Mining & Smelting Co., East St. Louis
Hegeler Bros., Danville 1,800
Illinois Zinc Co., Peru 4,640
Matthiesson & Hegeler Zinc Co., La Salle 5,256
Mineral Point Zinc Co., Depue 6,80n
National Zinc Co.. Springfield 3,200
Robert Lanyon Zinc & Acid Co., Hillsboro 1,840
Sandoval Zinc Co., Sandoval 991;
Total 29,268
Kansas:
Altoona Zinc Smelting Co., Altoona 3,960
American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co., Caney 3,648
American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co., Dealing... 3,840
Chanute Zinc Co.. Chanute . . . . ; 1,280
Edgar Zinc Co., Cherryvale 4,800
Granby Mining & Smelting Co., Neodesha 3,760
Kansas Zinc Co., Gas 2.520
La Harpe Spelter Co.. La Harpe 1,856
Pittsburg Zinc Co., Pittsburg 910
Prime Western Spelter Co., Gas 4,768
Total 31,342
Oklahoma:
Bartlesville Zinc Co., Bartlesville 5,184
Bartlesville Zinc Co., Collinsville 8,064
Lanyon-Starr Smelting Co., Bartlesville 3,456
National Zinc Co., Bartlesville 4,480
Tulsa Fuel & Manufacturing Co., Collinsville... 6,232
Total 27,41 6
Pennsylvania:
American Zinc & Acid Co., Burgettstown
New Jersey Zinc Co. (of Pennsylvania). Palmer-
ton 5t760
Total 5,760
West Virginia:
Clarksburg Zinc Co.. Clarksburg 2,736
Grasselli Chemical Co.. Clarksburg 5,760
Grasselli Chemical Co., Meadowbrook 6,912
Total 1 5,40s
Missouri:
Edgar Zinc Co.. St. Louis 2,000
Nevada Zinc Co.. Nevada 672
Total 2,672
Colorado:
United States Zinc Co.. Pueblo 1,920
Total for a]] states 113,786
Additional Rktorts Bi ilium, in 1914
American Zinc Co. of Illinois ^00
Granby M. &. S. Co 3,240
Hegeler Bros 1,800
Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co 912
Mineral Point Zinc Co 2,2so
American Zinc & Acid Co 3,456
Total 12,488
•From the report upon spelter production in 1913 by C. E.
Siebenthal of the !'. S. Geological Survey.
500
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mixing and Scientific Press are invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
and other matters pertaining to mining and metallurgy.
The Editor welcomes the expression of views contrary
to his own, believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to the readers
of this journal.
Progress in Gold and Silver Ore Treatment in 1913
The Editor:
Sir — I read Mr. James' article in the Mininy and
Scientific Press and was surprised to note that he made
an attempt to compare the relative efficiency of differ-
ent agitating and filtering equipment, drawing his
logical conclusion from a major and minor premise,
when both were composed of the one datum — "cost per
ton"; apparently not considering relatively the ton-
nage treated, location of plants, or character of ores
as having any bearing upon the subject at hand. I
feel sure that provided he had compared Nevada Hills
agitating, diluting, and filtering costs with those of
some plant operating at a distance of 45 miles from a
branch line of a railroad, and treating 140 tons per
day. the ore being of such a character that it required
very strong solutions of lime and cyanide, his conclu-
sions would have been more favorable to the type of
equipment in use here.
K. A. Julian.
Fairview, Nevada, February 9.
Solution Control in Cyanidation
The Editor :
Sir — I should like to add a word or two. if I
may, in connection with the correspondence which
has been going on in your columns between A.
W. Allen and James S. Colbath. The question of the
determination of free cyanide has always been a
puzzling one, and as my book on the 'Chemistry of
Cyanide Solutions' has been referred to by the writers,
it may be as well to state that the method given on
page 25 (2nd edition) of that book gives results ap-
proximating to the true 'free cyanide' only when the
solution contains but little other impurity except zinc.
At one time I made a good many investigations on this
subject, but as a matter of fact I find that practically
every operator works out his own method of testing,
and eventually discovers an end-point which he can
recognize and reproduce within reasonable limits in
making his daily tests. Whether this point really cor-
responds with 'free cyanide' as defined is a matter of
no practical consequence; what it indicates is a condi-
tion of the solution which has been found empirically
to be suitable for performing the work required of it.
In testing a solution with silver nitrate, using every
precaution as to filtering, and working with perfectly
clean vessels, a faint turbidity generally appears almost
from the first, and becomes more and more marked.
The operator stops when this turbidity becomes clearly
noticeable to him, the point depending on individual
eye-sight, and individual opinion as to what constitutes
a sufficient degree of cloudiness for a finishing point.
It is possible that both .Mr. Allen and Mr. Colbath
may be right. A system of testing which answers satis-
factorily with solutions from one ore might fail com-
pletely in other cases. At the Sauta Certrudis mill at
Pachuca it was found quite impossible to determine
free cyanide, and the attempt was given up; the solu-
tions were always tested with K I indicator and AgNO,
run in until a distinct yellow turbidity remained per-
manent, the figure obtained corresponding to something
less than the total cyanide. This condition was easily
observed and solutions adjusted to correspond with a
given strength as indicated by this test. No incon-
venience whatever resulted from the failure to deter-
mine the actual free cyauide.
J. E. Clennei.l.
Oakland. California, March 9.
Vocational Training and Miners
The Editor :
Sir — Your editorial of March 7, on 'Vocational Train-
ing and .Miners,' will, I fear, raise a hope that is not
yet warranted. You say that the University of Cin-
cinnati has arranged with owners of large plants for a
cooperative course, one set of pupils working in the
shops in the morning and in the school in the afternoon,
and exchanging places with another set at midday. In
this way. there is no interruption of routine, and yet
school and work are taught at the same time. I fear
that this news is too good to be true. It is the plan
that 1 have been trying for years to have adopted.
When such work has been done the students have been
taken from school to the shops for periods of not less
than two weeks, thus most effectually breaking up the
necessary routine work of the school and of the shop.
When the children are allowed to give half of their
daily time to shop work, and the other half to school
work, we will have fairly started on a sane educational
system. Your statement that ''it is the absence of
vocational training that endangers the present free rise
of a working man from the ranks to leadership." is
absolutely true. Members of the Virginia City School
of .Mines organized among themselves a prospecting and
development company, secured ground, and developed
a profitable mine — even in the supposed dead and sadly
abused mining district of Virginia City, where it now
seems that a round of holes cannot be blasted in a
streak of ore except by order of anxious stock brokers
who are also the directors.
You furnish abundant proof of how a man is made
'class conscious' in the disagreeable sense in the articles
contributed in answer to your question, 'What is the
matter with prospecting.' and 'A Rejoinder.' but the
question has not been answered, except by the work of
prospecting and development that has been accom-
March 21, 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 50i
plished by the members of the Virginia City School of of competent underground bosses, and putting each
Mines. man in charge of a block of ground not too large for
Frederick Burk, of the San Francisco Normal School, him to handle it closely in all ways.
may not be able to tell you what is the matter with 'A Miner' also tells of the gales of profanity di-
prospecting, but I am quite sure that he can tell you rected at the men. I never saw that. It is not need-
what is the matter with our educational system; and if ful. I know a gold mine that lifted 90,000 tons last
his advice is followed, the mineral industry of our year from a single-compartment shaft without that.
country will be greatly benefited, and in short order it But the most interesting statement of 'A Miner' he
will be possible to truthfully say that there is nothing makes again and again, namely, that there are mine
the matter with prospecting. bosses that make a man do "two days work." Those
G. McM. Boss. mines I do not know. I want to know them. I
Stockton, California. March '.). want to see one of them, and I want to make a low
[We can assure our correspondent that the plan bow to the superintendent and his foreman. What
advocated was actually put in operation at the Uni- l have seen at ever.v mine is a new man land on
versity of Cincinnati some years ago and was found the Nation, turn to the old hand and say. -'What's
to work well. If it has been abandoned we have not a da-v's work on this mine?" Or translated it meana.
learned that fact, but write subject to correction.— "what is the smallest amount of work that I can do
Editor 1 ant* stu^ no'd my job?"
A Perplexed Superintendent.
Mine Administration and Mine Bosses (.rippl(. (.n,(,k Colorado February lfJ
The Editor:
Sir— Some time ago in your columns ran several Milling Operations at the Eldorado Banket Mine,
articles by an old miner.* who had gone from 'Dan Rhodesia
to Beersheba.' and at the end of his gypsy tour had The Ktl'tor:
only blame for the companies and unstinted praise for Sir — The statement of milling operations at the
the miner. One other type only praises the miner so. Rhodesian Eldorado Banket mine, which appeared in
That is the tenderfoot superintendent, the workings your November 1 issue, is of interest, but would prob-
of whose mine consist of a shaft and one or two drifts. ably have demanded more attention if the combined
He will tell you how faithfully they work and how recovery by amalgamation and cyanidation had not
they never 'soldier.' Certainly they work, for hi- is been shown to amount to something over 110%. This
on top of them all the time. Give him 10 levels and was evidently due to a printer's error. The metal-
250 men. and let him remain away from them, and lurgical staff and the scheme of treatment should both
see what they do. he credited with the satisfactory results of the year's
As a matter of fact, much ore and efficiency is lost work, and I have therefore ventured on a corrected
in all metal mines because the companies are niggardly summary.
in the number of shift bosses allowed. Take a shift Tonnage treated S3. 209
boss who watches several levels, with the machine run- Value of gold
ners. trammers, shovelers. and timbermen. and follow content. Percent.
,. ,. , • ,, ... • TT „ Original ore $12.93
him on his trip through the mine. He must see these _
1 . Recovered by amalgamation 9.36 72.52
men. but there is a likely streak going into the wall Mm tailing 3 57
and it ought to be sampled: the men in the stope are Recovered by cyanidation 2.76 21.24
breaking the ore too wide: the assays show that the Residue 0.81
ore in another stope has left the foot and is running
in the hanging: or a rich streak has come into the Total recoverv 93-76
drift and maybe it ought to be stripped. Meantime The8e figures are compiled from extracts from the
he must make his round and the ore must come up. annual report appearing in the same statement. It is
and he cannot give his close attention to these impor- also interesting to note that the actual recovery is
tant but smaller details. Eventually the mine goes "'thin om> per cent of the theoretical extraction: and
on a leasing system. The ore is blocked. The lessees that the total cost for cyauiding is 60e. per ton.
go on the blocks and give almost microscopic atten- A. W. Alt.en".
tion to its streaks, the courses of the ore. the tim- Lonely .Mine. Rhodesia, December 11. 1913.
bering — to all the things that make money. A good —
shift boss can do the same, and extra shift bosses Nitrate production in Chile during the first 10
would be paid for easily out of the ore they would months of 1913 was 2.551,744 short tons. The price in
find. The closer to a leasing method a mine runs Xovember was $1.85 per 100 pounds. The Chilean gov-
when on company account, the better it is run. and eminent is alive to the fact that in the majority of
that ideal is approached by using a greater number nitrate works methods are out of date, therefore it is
•'Mine Administration and Mine Bosses,' Mining and Scien- investigating tin' situation with a view to improving
lifir Prex*. March 1. 1913. Hi,, mining and production of tile mineral.
502
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with the practice of mining, milling,
and smeltng.
A correspondent wishes to know if any reader of this
journal has details of a Chilean (Bryan) mill being
worked as an arrastre.
Oil production of the Balakhany-Sabunchy-Ramany,
and Bibi-Eibat (Baku region) districts, of 2498 acres
in Russia, since 1870, total 1,382,200,000 barrels.
Potash salts exported from Germany in' 1913 totaled
1,829,617 metric tons. The agreed deliveries of the
potash syndicate for foreign and domestic consumption
in 1914 is to be 1,166,600 tons.
For ordinary steel shafting carrying pulleys, the
horse-power transmissible per 100 revolutions may be
found from the following formula : 2 X Sx, where S
equals the diameter of the shaft in inches.
The circular shaft at the Champion Reef mine, India,
has heen bricked to a vertical depth of 3861 ft. It
is now being fitted with steel girder dividers and
92-lb. steel rails as guides. This material weighs 700
tons and cost $52,800. Two engines have been erected
for hoisting.
Trolley wires have been dispensed with in the Bun-
ker Hill & Sullivan mine, Idaho, and Mt. Morgan.
Queensland. In place of these, electric storage loco-
motives are to be used in the former, and horse trac-
tion in the latter. The danger of overhead wires to
employees has brought about these changes.
The ore deposits of Charters Towers. Queensland,
occur as shoots in numerous distinct lodes of the or-
dinary fissure type, a prominent feature being the ten-
dency of the lodes to split into branches which usually
unite again; but which may become several hundred
feet apart before doing so. The main workings of the
mini's are within an area of 4000 ft. square, and are
down to a vertical depth of over 2600 feet.
Blasting rock is frequently done in large quantities.
At the Kelly Butte quarry, Multnomah county, Wash-
ington, the face was 80 ft. high. Holes were bored
and charged with 1250 lb. of 40% Du Pont 'straight'
dynamite, and 560 kegs of Du Pont 'B' blasting pow-
der. The work was well done, and no noise was
made save that of the rolling rocks grinding against
one another. The rock dislodged amounted to 21,373
cubic yards.
A simple though unusual arrangement was adopted at
the mill of the Silverton Mines Ltd., Silverton, B. C,
for driving the two. 8 ft. by 30 in. Hardin ge mills there
in use. Water under pressure being available, two small
Pelton wheels were used, one for each mill. The wheel
was in each case mounted on a shaft set parallel with
the axis of the mill and geared direct to the latter.
Regulation of the water supply permits easy and simple
control of the mill.
Turbo air-compressors are being used in America
for air at all pressures up to 100 lb. Large installa-
tions have recently been erected for blast-furnace work,
both the steam and air ends being turbines. The
Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. has recently in-
stalled a machine of this class which is giving a volume
of 55.000 cu. ft. per minute at from 18 to 22 lb. pres-
sure. This machine may be run either through ex-
haust or live steam, a regulator being supplied by
which it is shifted from one to the other as the exigen-
cies of the case demand, according to W. L. Saunders,
in the Compressed Air Magazine. The largest air-com-
pressing plant in the world is now in service on the
Rand, and the fact that this plant is being enlarged
from time to time is an evidence of the success of the
turbo svstem.
Uranium minerals have been considerably discussed
by the mining world of late, on account of the radium
that they contain. According to Frank L. Hess, of the
U. S. Geological Survey, Colorado and Utah supplied
the only ores in this country in 1913. The output was
2140 tons of dry ore, containing an equivalent of 38
tons of uranium oxide. According to the Bureau of
Mines estimates, the metallic radium content of the
ores was 8.79 gm., or 16.40 gm. of radium bromide,
worth about $1,055,000. The total value of the car-
notite ores sold was about $142,000, representing the
uranium value only, as little was paid for the vana-
dium content. The increased output in 1913 was
about 50% over that of the previous year. Of the out-
put. 19.25 tons of uranium oxide, containing the
equivalent of 8.3 gm. of radium bromide, was exported
to Europe. The Survey has been investigating the
deposits in these two states.
The efficiency of native labor is often compared
with that of white labor about mines. During Sep-
tember of the past fiscal year, the Champion Reef
mine, India, employed a total of 6716 men. of whom
only 143 were Europeans, mainly overseers. During
the year, 277,336 tons of 'rock' was extracted from
the mine, and if there were 3686 natives underground,
as given in the report for September, the output per
man was 75 tons per year ; and figuring on the above
and below surface employees. 6716 in all. the output
was 41 tons per man. In Western Australia, in 1912.
the ore mined was 2.688.868 tons, and the work done
was 365 tons per year per man underground, and 204
tons per man of the total employed at mines. It
would seem, therefore, that the relative efficiencies
were about as five to one. At the Mt. Morgan mine.
Queensland, ore produced per underground employee
is 1.32 tons per 8-hour shift.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
503
MANILA. PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Gold Output iv 1610. — Syndicate, Keystone, and Colorado
Mines. — Dredging Fields. — Cansuran Hydraulic Plant. —
Agusan Basin. — New Plant fob the Benguet Consoli-
dated.— Mining Exhibit. — Proposed Stock Exchange.
The past year shows a considerable increase in the gold
production over 1912. The estimated figures for the past year
are over 1*1,500,000, and the output for 1914 promises to be
over 1*2,000,000.
The Syndicate mine, in Masbate, has just started opera-
tions, the mill having been completed in record time for this
R.R c<xnp/er~j ft/? isxjer consfrucrion or jrytcfecf
THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES.
country, about eight mouths. This is an all-sliming decanta-
tion plant. Hardinge ball and pebble mills being used instead
of stamps and tube-mills. The Keystone company, operating
two I^ane mills, has sent two shipments of precipitate to
Manila: but so far it has not been learned what the recovery
of bullion was. although it is said to be satisfactory. The
Colorado mine continues its steady progress.
In the dredging fields, the new boat on the fmiral river
is about to begin operations, and from the Malaguit encourag-
ing reports have been received. The sixth dredge in the
Paracale district is about to be constructed, and the output
in 1914 from this district is estimated to exceed PI, 000,000.
In the Cansuran district of Mindanao, hydraulic machinery
for the Cansuran company is already being installed. Some
difficulty has been experienced due to transportation troubles,
but this will soon be overcome. D. M. Carman has just re-
turned from that country. Iniiisiag hack a small bottle con-
taining t*:;5 worth of coarse sold which was taken from a hole
dug for water less than a cubic metre in size. The Company
is employing about ISO men. By May 1, it is hoped the first
clean-up will be made. The following equipment will be in
operation: About l'/j miles of hydraulic .steel piping, rang-
ing from 11 to 24 in. diameter; l1- miles of flume and ditch;
4 miles of tramway; a 200-hp. Pclton water-wheel; a 150-kw.
electric generator; an electric lighting plant: an air-compres-
sor and drill; and a logging engine.
Considerable prospecting has been carried on in the Agusan
river basin, and recently a prospector brought in some pyrite
pebbles which gave fairly rich assays. It will be recalled that
similar pyrite pebbles have been found in the banket of the
Rand. A prospector who has just returned from Antique
province, Panay, has brought in some good specimens of cop-
per ore, containing metallic copper, cuprite, malachite, and
some chalcopyrite. The deposits lie within 14 minutes' walk
of the beach, and are said to be extensive.
R. Y. Hanlon, well known in the Philippines as a competent
mining engineer, has gone to the United States to purchase
machinery for the rehabilitation of the Benguet Consoli-
dated property in Benguet. It is planned to install an up-to-
date plant capable of handling SO tons of ore per day. It is
hoped that the plant will be in operation before January 1,
1916. The former mill on this property was washed away in
the typhoon of October 1909.
Much of the machinery for the Rizal Cement Co. is now on
the ground at Matiquio, Jala Jala peninsula, Laguna de Bay.
This concern is capitalized at 1*1,000,000.
The Division of Mines of the Bureau of Science is prepar-
ing a comprehensive exhibit for the second Philippine ex-
position. The exhibit will contain many new minerals (not
new to science), maps, pictures, and a large assortment of
working models. It was expected that the provincial ex-
hibits would be found to contain many valuable mineral speci-
mens. Unfortunately, just a week before the opening of the
exposition, the entire provincial exhibit was burned out and
many samples from the provinces were destroyed or misplaced
during the resulting confusion.
There is a movement on foot among the more conservative
Manila business men to establish a stock exchange. This, if
properly controlled, can do much to help the legitimate min-
iug companies and also to protect the public from overen-
thusiastic promoters. The Division of Mines of the Bureau
of Science is well aware of the evils existing and the harm
done to the country, but has no authority to act in an ad-
ministrative capacity. The mining industry is menaced by
two evils which must be remedied namely: florid prospectuses
and subsidiary companies.
The political situation lias improved somewhat, and it is
hoped that, when the 'independence bogey has been put to
sleep," capital will again be forthcoming to grease the machin-
ery of business which of late has become somewhat clogged.
PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN
Bad Weather Interferes With Work. — Metal Pricks During
Feiiruary. — Ore Production iiy Districts. — Prospecting.
February was this year still further kept from making a
good showing in the production of ores on account of severe
winter weather, heavy snowfalls, and at times exceedingly bad
roads, affording neither wagoning nor sledding for the out-
lying producers. The metal markets advanced at the begin-
ning of the month, spelter being quoted on the St. Louis ex-
change at $5.40. hut the little gains made were not long up-
held, and the close of the month saw metal back on a basis
of $5.20 per 100 pounds. Large consumers were indifferent
to the requirements of their trade it seems, during the month,
and speller producers were operating on about two-thirds
504
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
capacity purposely trying to maintain prices. This course
on the part of spelter manufacturers undoubtedly served to
hold the price where it remained. Zinc ore was especially
in good demand, the finished ore ruling steady for the month
at an average of $14 per ton for 60% grades. A top price
was reached for premium grade out of the Linden district of
$43. The lower grades were not in such good demand, and
The Mineral Point Zinc Co., which usually sets the pace in
bidding had little competition in the field from local buyers
lor outside smelters. Conservatively estimated there was held
in bins at the close of February 4500 tons of reserve zinc ore
concentrate which will act against higher prices until this
surplus is eliminated. Carbonate zinc ore producers in the
northern districts could not get to track with their output at
all, and as fast as roads improve pile their product alongside
of track where it will be available as soon as a demand sets
in, and most likely the spring break up will prevent carting
for several weeks. Lead was in poor demand and shipments
were exceptionally light.
Deliveries by districts for the month of February from
mines to separating plants in the field, and thence to smelter
were reported as follows:
Zinc, Lead, Sulphur,
Camps. pounds. pounds, pounds.
Benton 4,684,000 83,500 2,337,300
Livingston 2,620,000
Galena 2,366,000
Hazel Green 2,340,000
Cuba 2,104,000 ] ,407,600
Linden 1,852,000 164,920 315,900
Platteville 1,790,000
Shullsburg 1,610,000 75,000
Harker 892,000
Highland 448,000 61,300
Montfort 138,000
Mineral Point Locals 34,000
Mineral Point Zinc Co 2,300,640
Total 23,178,640 384,720 4,060,800
Regardless of weather conditions prospecting with drilling
machines was prosecuted vigorously, especially in the south-
ern districts of the field, and invariably with excellent results.
One strike occurred in the Mifflin district, but the men only
remained out a few days, returning on promise that better
wages would be paid at the first opportunity following im-
provement in ore prices.
SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA
Metal Mining Prospects. — Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co.'s
Operations. — Coai, Mixing and the Acadia Com. Com-
pany.
Metal mining in the province has been practically at a
standstill. In Guysborough county it is stated that a good
body of manganese ore has been discovered. It will be in-
teresting to see whether any valuable development will be
made or only a poor prospect, such as has frequently been
offered from this county in the past. At Ingonish. in Vic-
toria county, a small gold mine is being steadily opened to
a productive stage. No plant has as yet been ordered, but
the complete laboratory equipment keeps the concern abreast
of development. This is the only gold mine operating in
the island of Cape Breton.
The Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Co. has just completed the
most profitable and promising year of its existence. The
facts given in the annual report show that the earnings
amounted to $1,225,953, an increase of 25% over 1912. The
sum of $527,886 is carried over to credit of profit and loss
account, after providing for depreciation, sinking fund, in-
terest, and dividends. Considerable improvements have been
made in the mining plant and in the steel works. In the
latter department, a new open-hearth steel furnace has been
started successfully. The iron ore mines of this Company,
on Bell island, Newfoundland, are extensive, and now reach
the large total of 91 square miles, held under title from the
crown. Some of the undersea workings are as far as three
miles from the shore, and at that distance the ore is 25 ft.
thick. This gives an idea of the extensive reserve of ore
that this corporation holds.
Coal mining in the province appears to be falling into
bad repute. Following the trouble with the finances of the
Drummond mine, belonging to the Intercolonial Coal Co., the
Acadia Coal Co.'s mine has ceased operations. The reason
assigned is that there is no profit, at present prices and
costs, in operating the mine. This statement has evoked
considerable feeling in the district, and there is a disposi-
tion on the. part of the workers to force the provincial gov-
ernment to challenge the Company's statement and take a
hand in the dispute. Some time ago there was a proposal
mooted, that the government should acquire some mines of
its own, and if this idea was seriously given, now is the
chance to carry it out. During the latter part, of February
there have been a number of meetings at Halifax between
Mr. Evans, the general manager of the Acadia Coal Co.,
Charles Fergie of the adjoining Drummond mine, and C. .1.
Coll, a former manager of the Acadia, and it seems likely
that some deal will be consummated whereby the Acadia
mine will probably be operated by the Intercolonial Coal
Company.
KALGOORLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wages at Norseman and Meekatharra. — The Lancekield to
Start Again. — Victorious Mine. — Oroya Links in 1913. —
Bullfinch Reserves. — New Plant for Chaffers. — Fingall
and Associated Options.
The Norseman wages agreement having expired, a fresh
agreement, to remain in force until December 10, 1916, has
been duly entered into and signed. The basis of pay is 8
cents per shift higher than the Kalgoorlie schedule, and
this was accepted by the Chamber of Mines. The Mararoa
is the only mine at Norseman on the dividend list, and as
the bottom of the mine is unprofitable, it will soon cease
to be on this list. The Meekatharra miners' union recently
submitted a new schedule to the Chamber of Mines, but as
it contained advances from 18c. to $1.08 per shift, it was
returned as frivolous, and the men are still working under
the old schedule which is 20c. per shift above Kalgoorlie
rates. Only three mines are paying dividends at Meekatharra
and they are all owned and worked by working miners.
There are three capitalized companies at work, but none of
these has so far returned anything to shareholders.
The Kalgoorlie & Boulder Firewood Co., one of the prin-
cipal creditors, has bought the Lancefield mine for $27,800,
this being the only tender submitted for the property. This
mine has produced $4,140,000 from 540,000 tons, or $7.66 per
ton, but has never paid its way, and when it closed down the
company was $200,000 in debt. The ore reserves in the mine
were estimated by Bewick, Moreing & Co. at 250,000 tons
assaying $8 per ton; but this grade was not considered profit-
able. There is a 40-stamp mill, and a sulphide plant consist-
ing of 8 Krupp ball-mills, 6 Edwards furnaces, filter-presses,
etc., on the mine, and all are included in the sale. The
mine is now in charge of J. Dunstan, at one time metallur-
gist at the Associated, and subsequently inspector of state
batteries. Mr. Dunstan expects to make a profit of selecting
the ore, and so raising the grade slightly above the general
average of the mine.
The Associated Northern company's Victorious mine at Ora
Banda is proving disappointing on No. 6 level. The first ore-
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
505
shoot met with is only 40 ft. long and assays $14.75 per ton.
A blank of 77 ft. intervenes, and then a second shoot 30 ft.
long assaying $19.20 was opened. The drift has been con-
tinued another 36 ft. in barren country. Owing to the creep
in the upper levels, little ff any oxidized ore is available,
and there is talk of stopping the treatment plant. It is not
quite decided if developments in the sulphide zone warrant
the installation of a sulphide plant. The Company's old Iron
Duke lease at Kalgoorlie is also nearly worked out.
During 1913 the Oroya Links company treated 139,130 tons,
yielding $748,700 and a profit of $130,600, besides placing
$6000 to bullion reserve and equipping and overhauling the
Croesus shaft at a cost of $21,800. The directors have just
declared a dividend of 5%, amounting to $71,800. As expend-
iture on capital account is now complete, a minimum profit
of $15,000 monthly is anticipated in the future. The Croesus
shaft is down 939 ft., and cut the lode at a depth of 932 ft.,
and followed it in the shaft for 7 ft. The' first 3 ft. assayed
$6.50 and the last 4 ft. $4.80 per ton.
On December 31, 1912, the ore reserves of the Bullfinch
Proprietary mine were estimated at 177,300 short tons, of
a recoverable value of $10.36 per ton. Since then 52,677
tons has been treated, returning $690,100, equivalent to $13.10
or $2.74 per ton over the general average of the mine's re-
serves. The extremely rich ore on which the mine was sold
has been drawn on to some extent, and as it cuts out a little
below 100 ft., it cannot last much longer. To give some idea
of how rich this ore may be judged from the fact that 1776
tons treated returned $430,000. It will be interesting to
know what new estimates A. Hay, the present manager of
the mine, will give. The north and south series of lodes
have been opened during the year, but are not up to the
average estimated a year ago.
The directors of Chaffers have decided to install a new
sulphide plant with a capacity of 7000 tons per month, and
the management is already busy dismantling the old plant.
The development done since John Morgan's report, dated
May 1912, has opened no reserves except the ore broken in
opening the lodes. Most of the work since done has merely
shown that the west branch of the No. 3 lode carries assay
values of $26 per ton for a length of ISO ft., and that No. 4
lode assays $8 per ton over 326 ft. for the full width of the
drift. The west branch of No. 3 lode is 427 ft. from the
shaft, and No. 4 lode 529 ft. west, and as this drift is quite
isolated, the ventilation is bad, and there is no level above
or below to connect with. Mr. Morgan estimated the ore
reserves as 75,000 tons returning $6.60 per ton, but that quan-
tity will soon be eaten up by a plant treating 7000 tons per
month.
The Great Fingall company has acquired a six months
working option on the Big Bell mine, 18 miles west of Cue.
Two big lodes, one quartz and the other schist, the latter
60 ft. wide, run through this property, and, according to
careful sampling, average $6 per ton. Prior to Hope Nicol-
son, the manager, securing the option, the mine had been
thoroughly sampled by the Great Boulder Proprietary people,
but was turned down by Richard Hamilton as unsuitable.
The directors of the Associated appear so convinced that
the calc-schist intrusion has knocked the bottom' out of
the mine that they have acquired an option on the North
Thompson mine at Porcupine, Canada, in addition to the
interest in the Keeley mine at Cobalt. During last year
the whole attention of the management of the Associated
has been concentrated on the upper levels of the mine above
the calc-schist, but nothing striking has been discovered, so
the company is emigrating. Up to date, quite a lot of
money earned by mining companies in Australia has been
lost by their emigrating to other parts of the world, but the
Associated may be luckier than the Great Fingall. Boulder
Perseverance, Lake View Consols, and many others, who all
had disastrous experiences.
The Ivanhoe mine produced gold worth $158,000 from the
treatment of 20,240 tons of ore in January. This was divided
into 9170 tons of sand, 9020 tons of slime, and 2050 tons of
concentrate. The 100-stamp mill worked 29.25 days. The
profit was $48,500. The main shaft is down 2953 ft. in coun-
try, assaying traces. The rock-crusher station has been
burned, and the mine will be shut down for three weeks.
At the Associated, a turbo-generator set has been working
for about four years. Connection has recently been made
with the power lines of the Kalgoorlie Power & Lighting
Corporation, and the forty odd motors in the plant are being
driven from this source. If satisfactory, the turbo will prob-
ably be stopped. A creep in the Bullfinch has. affected the
mine from the surface to the 210-ft. level.
The gold output of the state in December was valued at
$2,260,000, and a total of $26,784,000 for 1913. against $2ti,20S,-
000 in 1912. Since 1SS6 the gold output is valued at $547,-
500,000. Principal yields in December were as follows, all
being low on account of the Christmas and New Year holi-
days:
Mine. Tons. Value. Profit. Dividend.
Associated 8,343 $ 4S.000 $ 370
Associated Northern:
Iron Duke *735 14.000 3,800
Victorious 6.515 31.200 100
Bullfinch 6.330 67,200 40,300
Golden Horse-Shoe 19.749 97.000 t33,500
Gt. Boulder Proprietary .*15,194 230.000 128,000 328,100
Gt. Boulder Perseverance 14.088 77,000 2,400
Great Fingall 4,379 49.000 f9,500
Ivanhoe 19.3S0 172,800 62,400
Kalgurli 9,720 97,000 43,200
Lake View & Star 16,022 87.000 16,800 60,000
Mountain Queen *4.000 1S.700 4,800
Queen of the Hills 3.656 2S.S00 5,70n
Sons of Gwalia 13.950 101.000 19.300 81,250
South Kalgurli 9.529 43.000 3,800
Yuanmi 9.890 85,300 65,700 S7.500
♦Including tailing re-treatment. -rLoss.
NEW YORK
British Columbia Copper Co.'s Affairs. — Cobalt News. —
Bbaden Output. — Mass Consolidated, St. Mary's Min-
eral Land, and Osceola Consolidated Reports. — Geolog-
ical Work in China, and Finances.
As mentioned in previous letters, the British Columbia
Copper Co. is being reorganized. On March 17 the Company
announced that 315,101 shares of the stock had been depos-
ited out of a total outstanding of 591,709. Also a good deal
was deposited with the trust company. As a result of these
deposits, the plan for the organization of a new concern, to
be known as the Canadian Copper Co., Ltd., is declared
operative. During the year ended December 31, 1913, the
Company's revenue was $1,904,693, against $2,491,288 in 1912.
The profit was $111,856, but in writing off $465,736, and pay-
ing dividends of $S8,756, there was a deficit of $442,596. The
present surplus is $523,140. F. R. Weeks, in charge of de-
velopment at the Gardner and Vancouver properties at Cop-
per Mountain, states that reserves are about 1,000,000 tons
of average grade ore. The Hedley Gold Mining Co., also
operating in British Columbia, has declared a dividend of
30c. per share. In 1913 net profits were $405,254, and divid-
ends $360,000. The present surplus is $272,095. For the
three months ended January 21, 1914, the Granby Consol-
idated made a profit of $107,861.
In a winze below the 225-ft. level of the Cobalt Lake mine,
the '2B' vein is 2'j to '■'• in. wide, containing 5000 oz. per
ton and s;ood milling ore on either side for several feet.
The mill may be increased to 175 tons per day capacity. Ex-
506
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21. 191-1
traction in 1913 was 81.3%. Preliminary work for the drain-
ing of the lake is in progress. It is probable that the Van
Cutsera interests in the Cobalt Townsite, Cobalt Lake, City
of Cobalt, Townsite Extension, and Cobalt Reduction com-
panies will be consolidated with a capital of $7,500,000. The
Nipissing main shaft is 900 ft. deep, the lowest point in the
district. Silver shipped in February was 697,506 oz. The
Company has declared quarterly dividends of 5% each. La
Rose has also paid a 2%% distribution. The last annual
report of the Casey Cobalt Mining Co. shows that reserves
of silver blocked out in the mine, in stopes and on dumps,
are 1,438,500 oz. Ore treated was 7444 tons, yielding 256,697
oz.. with 84.1% recovery. The tailing assayed 6.5 oz. per
ton. The total expenditure was $150,862, equal to 22.7c. per
ounce. A dividend of 24c. per share was paid. During the
11 months ended September 30, 1913, the Cobalt Townsite
Silver Mining Co. of Canada, Ltd., treated 34,125 tons of
ore averaging 21.12 oz. silver per ton. Shipments of con-
centrate, slime, ore. and bullion amounted to 1,987,922 oz.,
worth $1,206,594. The cost was 23.44c. per ounce. Net
earnings were $629,623, as against $512,082 in 1912. Divid-
ends of $1.44 per share were paid. Ore reserves contain
2,140.560 oz. silver. The lower-grade ore is of greater extent
than was expected, and a half interest in the Northern Cus-
toms mill was purchased.
During February the Braden mills treated 79,296 tons, aver-
aging 2.08% copper. The recovery was 68.63%. This figure
is somewhat lower than in January, when an extraction of
72.70% was made on ore averaging 2.15%. The copper pro-
duction was 2,362,000 lb. The production would have been
greater had it not been for a shut-down in the power-plant
which delayed operation several days. This was due to one
of the electric generators being out of commission.
Like all other copper mines in Michigan, the Mass Con-
solidated Mining Co. suffered through the miners' strike in
1913. At present, conditions are approaching normal, and
the Mass mine is being restarted. Development has been
done at several levels at 'B' and 'C shafts. A considerable
tonnage is developed on the Evergreen and Ogima lodes,
according to the superintendent, E. W. Walker. Results
were as follows:
'Rock' stamped, tons 78,250
Refined copper output, pounds 1,213.545
Average price received, cents per pound 15.6
Total revenue $189,557
Mine and milling expenses" 157.591
Total expenses 217,564
Deficit 28,006
Strike expenses 40,274
The St. Mary's Mineral Land Co. owns over 107,146 acres
of land in the copper districts of Michigan, and holds shares
in a number of mining companies, the Champion being the
most important. The lands held are not sold outright, but
the Company helps in the formation of new companies and
in development of properties. The income during 1913 was
$846,739, including cash on hand from 1912, $150,370: divid-
ends from the Champion, $450,000; notes collected, $215,000:
interest, $10,170; and wood and timber, $14,661. Expenses
were $621,835, including dividends of $480,000; Winona as-
sessment, $56,77S; Houghton assessment, $37,222; taxes,
$25,255; and salaries, $14,275. Cash on hand at the end of
1913 was $224,903. The assets consist of 93,033 acres of
unsold land, 14,113 acres of mineral rights, 269,016 shares
in IS mines, $34,276 notes receivable, and $224,903 cash.
There are no liabilities.
The Osceola Consolidated Mining Co. is one of the more
important copper mines in Michigan, and the report for 191:1
shows the following:
'Rock' stamped, tons 735.044
Copper production, pounds 11.325,010
Copper sold, pounds 10,958.926
Revenue from copper $1,753,626
Total revenue 1,774,810
Net profits 381,967
Dividends, deficiency taken from surplus 721,125
Surplus 1,549,300
Cost per pound of copper, cents 12.30
Operations were hampered by snowstorms, scarcity of tram-
mers, and the strike. Only one-man machines are now used
in the mines. The new electric pumps, costing $33,541, are
saving $500 per month. No. 5 stamp has been remodeled.
It has just been made public that M. L. Fuller and F. G.
Clapp are making the geological surveys in China upon
which the Standard Oil Co. is to undertake development
under terms of the agreement noted in the editorial col-
umns last week and in the news columns earlier. Messrs.
Fuller and Clapp are graduates of the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology who, after some years on the United States
Geological Survey, resigned to go into general consulting
work. With offices in Boston and Pittsburgh, they have been
brought into intimate contact with the oil industry, and
their employment indicates the care with which the Standard
is going into its new venture.
In its issue of February 7, the North China Herald states
that China has better security to show now than last year,
or even during the past 10 years. There is also the added
security of the salt revenue, and remote provinces have
promptly sent in their collections to the foreign banks, even
when the central government had little control over them.
These collections are increasing. The most noteworthy
change in the monetary position is that the Chinese have
brought out their money and are using it for business. While
the total stock of silver is being reduced day after day, the
total with the foreeign banks following the same course, the
stock with the native banks has been rapidly increasing.
Not for years have the native banks had so much sycee in
their control as at present, in spite of the fact that credit
has been rapidly expanding during this period. The hold-
ings in Shanghai by banks and others consist of £5.350,000
in sycee or currency, and £170,000 in bars, an increase of
£67,000.
TORONTO, CANADA
Bouxty ox Ibox Ores Ubged.
The Ontario Associated Boards of Trade, together with
other interests closeiy identified with mining in northern
Ontario, have adopted a resolution for presentation to the
Dominion Government asking that a bounty be placed on
all iron mined and shipped from mines in Canada. They
also ask that a commission be appointed by the Canadian
Government for investigating conditions and report to the
Government on the same. Notwithstanding the immense re-
sources of iron ore in Canada, and particularly in northern
Ontario, the production of iron ore for 1913 was valued at
only $424,072. This is largely due to the fact that only a
very small percentage of Canadian ores are available for
blast-furnaces until they have been concentrated or bene-
ficiated in some manner. The cost of this beneficiation and
the heavy expenditures necessary for plant and equipment
in opening up iron mines of this character, has placed them
at a disadvantage in competition with American ores, and
it is believed that if a bounty sufficient to offset this differ-
ence were to be paid by the government, that it would greatly
stimulate iron mining throughout Canada, and particularly
in Ontario, and that the local ores could supply the greater
part of the requirements of Canadian furnaces. In 1913.
while iron ore to the value of only $424,072 was mined, the
value of the pig iron produced from Ontario furnaces was
$8,719,892.
March 21. 1911
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
507
ALASKA
Knik
(Special Correspondence.) — Doheny and Thompson, the new
owners of the Gold Bullion mine, are freighting in 100 tons
of mining equipment, including a cyanide plant. The Alaska
Gold Quartz Mining Co. is driving an adit during the winter.
All prospectors coming in from the Matanuska-Nelchina placer
camp speak well of the new district, and they have taken
in 100 tons of supplies from Knik, the nearest outfitting
KNIK. ALASKA.
point, for summer use. Several thawing plants are on the
ground. The Burke party has a hole clown 55 ft. in muck
on Crooked Creek bench. The last 5 ft. panned black sand
and broken quartz.
Knik, February 9.
ARIZONA
The itinerary for the U. S. Bureau of Mines rescue car
No. 3 in this state is as follows, during March and April:
March 7 to 12, Clarkdale; 13 to 18, Wickenburg; 19 to 24,
Ray; 25 to 31, Tucson; April 1 to 6, Bisbee; 7 to 12, Clif-
ton; 13 to 18, Morenci; 19 to 24, Globe; and 24 to 30, Miami.
Cochise County
Following up its 'Safety First' work, the Copper Queen
company requires every man starting work on its property
to have a physical examination and prove his fitness for the
■class of labor at which he will be employed.
Gila County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Miami mine produced
102,416 tons of ore in February. The mill is treating 3500
tons per day at present. Development covered 2610 ft. A
Socorro fan will be installed underground. Of the seven
main structures for the Inspiration company's plant, the
American Bridge Co. will finish the shop and warehouse
first. Steel work for the crushing plant and storage-bin is
nearly complete, and the main shafts' head-frames are well
under way. One hundred cars of steel for the concentrat-
ing plant are expected to arrive soon. A trestle, to span
Geneva gulch and enter the mill above the ore-bins, will be
1800 ft. long and 120 ft. above (he foundations at the highest
point. McArthur Bros, have finished steam-shovel work at
the site of the 5,000,000-gal. reservoir. Work at the smelter
Is progressing rapidly.
Miami, March 14.
Mohave County
(Special Correspondence.) — A week's trip through this
county by a Los Angeles mining man has shown him that
there is more activity on many properties than lor several
months past. The Arizona Venture Corporation is installing
a gasoline hoist and machine-drills at its mine 60 miles south-
east of Kingman.
Los Angeb-s. California. March 9.
CALIFORNIA
Amador County
According to C. H. Dunton, collector of minerals for the
exposition to be held at San Francisco in 1915, this county
will be well represented. He visited every Mother Lode mine
from Plymouth to the Zeila at Jackson, and promises of help
were made.
Eldorado County
There is said to be a good deal of activity in the Union
mining district, three miles north of Eldorado. The Wood-
land Mining Co., working the Oram mine, has recently been
incorporated with a capital of $250,000. The hoist is being
overhauled and a 10-stamp mill is being built. They will be
driven by 40 and 20-hp. gasoline engines, respectively.
Inyo County
No. 1 well, drilled in Death valley for the Pacific Coast
Borax Co. by D. H. Wallace, is down 1000 ft. This was done
in 17 days. The entire well shows a series of hard salt
strata, each from 1 to 20 ft. thick, alternating with similar
strata of clay more or less saline. To 250 ft. the salt is
sodium chloride, but from this point to the bottom, princi-
pally sodium sulphate. No significant potash results are re-
ported. No. 2 well is being drilled about six miles north
of No. 1.
The Standard Consolidated Mining Co. operates a gold
mine at Bodie, and its report covers the year ended February
23, 1914. The superintendent, C. E. Grunsky, Jr., gives the
following information: Work was mainly devoted to treat-
ing the balance of the tailing in the ponds, prospecting in
the mine, and economizing generally. The tailing held out
to September 1913, and 10,151 tons was treated, worth $5.43
per ton. Five lessees worked at the beginning of the year;
but save one, they ceased mining before their terms were
up. The last lease was taken over by the Company and was
the only one which produced good ore to the Company's
advantage. The mine produced 6342 tons of ore to Septem-
ber, averaging $13.08 per ton. Stoping was done on 15 dif-
ferent veins at a cost of $10.50 per ton. The total bullion
from all sources was $132,944, with 96.3% recovery. Costs
per ton of mine ore were $16.97, and per ton of pond tailing
$2.79, totaling $135,595. Milling operations were stopped, but
exploration for ore is being continued. A dividend amount-
ing to $44,598 was paid, making $5,274,40S to date. The
total output to date is $16,457,839. Cash on hand is $20,448,
and bonds $25,284. Excess of assets over liabilities is $79,715.
The present condition of the Company's property is not en-
couraging.
Mariposa County
( Special Correspondence.) — D. E. Upton is in Mariposa on
his way to Mt. Pinocke, on the south fork of Merced river,
a few miles southeast of the Hite Cove mine. He will exam-
ine the Little Wonder property of 14 quartz claims owned by
H. Kiburg and F. 11. Catheywood. The mine is said to be
opening well. E. P. Kellogg and W. H. Reed, of Tonopah.
Nevada, have gone to the old Dingley mine, while G. L. Ken-
nedy, formerly of Tonopah, and William Melburne, have been
making an examination for some time. David F. Degan, of
Kansas City, Missouri, and George Meesey, of Los Angeles.
passed through Mariposa on the way to Jerseydale to examine
the Comet mine. Mr. Degan is one of the owners of this
property. It is equipped with a modern 10-stamp mill, con-
centrators, and assay office. It is expected extensive develop-
ment work will be done in the near future. Chas. A. Schlage-
tee, landlord of the Mariposa hotel, visited his mine, the Gold-
en Gate, in company with an engineer who took a number
of samples. These showed high gold content, probably assay-
ing over $30 per ton. A deal is said to lie pending. L.
C. Worthington and Thomas Smith have been examining the
508
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
old Barley Field mine, owned by Sam Landren. Mr. Worthing-
ton states that he has decided to install a small stamp-mill
on this property and test it thoroughly. John Smithers and
Bill Keener came in from the new discovery on the south
fork of the Merced river, bringing in some rich quartz speci-
mens. They report traveling over 10 ft. of snow, and will re-
turn as soon as the weather settles. James Westfall, who is
a third owner in this find, has been expecting them in for the
past 10 days, and his partners tell him it was so good they
stayed the limit, 'on grub.' The old country road south of
town has been changed recently, and the 'boys' have been
having a great time with the rockers and pans, some of them
cleaning up $10 to $12 per day. This calls to mind the early
MARIPOSA AND TUOLUMNE COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA.
days of '49 when placer mining was a paying business in
Mariposa creek. The claims were only 12 ft. long from rim
to rim, and assayed over $1500 to the claim. A distance of
some 6000 ft. below Mariposa was barren of gold, and un-
doubtedly a slide covered up the original gravel, which will
some day be opened. The Mariposa mill is now crushing 180
tons of gold-bearing ore for Paine and Turner from the lease
on the Giant, a half-mile southeast of Mariposa.
There has been a number of men working on the copper
properties about 2% miles southeast of Mariposa. There are
about 25 claims located on this belt, which has been bonded
by David Ross and associates, and the owners are open-cut-
ting Gossan in many places. The iron capping pans some
fine gold. The country rock to the southeast is granite, and
northwest is schist with a diorite wall. Several stringers
of high-grade kaolin are being opened. There has been a
big slide at the Mt. Buckingham mine, covering 150 tons of
$20 ore, and sliding down a big oak tree which is now
in the mouth of the adit standing up as perfectly straight as
if it had originally grown there. This is hard luck, as the
owners expected to mill this ore at the Sweetwater 10-stamp
mill as soon as the roads improved.
Mariposa, February 23.
Nevada County
Good-grade quartz has been opened in the Rose Hill at
Grass Valley. At McGee ranch, adjoining the old Idaho-Mary-
land mine, S. Watson and Wasley Bros, are extracting fine
specimens. The Brunswick company will pay a dividend of. 6c.
per share on April 15. This is the second for the current
year. C. H. Mallen is manager.
Placer County
The EI Dorado & Placer Gold Mining & Power Co. is
working satisfactorily its new dredge at Poverty bar in the
middle fork of the American river. The site is near the
Butcher ranch. The boat has 79 buckets of 3%-cu. ft. capac-
ity each, and can dig to a depth of 35 ft. The machinery
is operated by five electric motors of a combined capacity
of 220 hp. The hull is 45 by 85 ft. Twelve men are em-
ployed. The Company has invested $125,000, and it has ground
that yields over 50c. per cubic yard in gold. N. J. Martin
is superintendent.
Shasta County
. Several copper-gold-zinc-silver claims in the Heroult dis-
trict are attracting attention. High-grade ore is being opened
in a vein 2 to 4 ft. wide in the Shasta-Belmont. Ore is
to be sent to the Mammoth smelter in May. Good ore has
been opened in the Arps, adjoining the Bully Hill. Work is
to be resumed at the Minnie Healy, Missing Link, Endless
Chain, and others. Results of experiments at the Noble Elec-
tric Steel plant, by R. C Palmer and C. S. Smith of the For-
est Service, in the manufacture of charcoal and other prod-
ucts from wood, are said to have been highly satisfactory.
The Balaklala Copper Co., whose option on the Hall fume
process expires on March 28, has extended it for another six
months.
Tuolumne County
(Special Correspondence.) — W. D. Murray, a prospector, re-
ports having uncovered a rich vein 6 in. wide on government
land adjoining the old Excelsior mine, near Confidence, and
substantiates his story by exhibiting pieces of quartz liberally
speckled with gold. The Tuolumne Deep Channel Mining Co.
proposes to soon begin prospecting on the property of W. N.
Sledge, near Confidence, which it recently has taken under
bond. The property, which is traversed by an ancient river
channel hidden beneath a lava covering, consists of 130 acres.
The depth to bedrock will be ascertained by borings and an
adit will then be driven to open the gravel. Los Angeles
people have taken a bond on the O. K. group of three patented
claims, adjoining the Tarantula mine on the north and op-
erations have begun with a few men. The finding of a body
of good ore on the first level of the Columbus mine last week,
on the opposite side of the vein heretofore followed, has greatly
encouraged the management of the property. The ore shows
free gold and also contains a large percentage of sulphide.
Sonora, February 28.
In the matter of Matthew Harter v. C. W. Ayres, in which
the formed sued the latter for $25,000 and other monies ob-
tained through a deal in 1911 for the Omega quartz mine and
gravel channel at Jamestown, the court ordered an inter-
locutory judgment that, within 60 days Ayres pay to Harter
$12,750, or one-half the purchase price of the Omega mine,
together with interest from date of the purchase at 7% from
December 15, 1911, and that Ayres pay to Harter one-half of
the sum Harter expended in working the mine, with interest
thereon at 1% from the date of the recision of the contract.
The court also directed that Harter make Ayres a deed to
one-half of the Joe Hooker mine. Should Ayres fail to make
the payments within 60 days from the notice of the judgment,
then Harter becomes the sole owner of the Omega mine.
Should Ayres make the payments to Harter, aggregating about
$15,000, then Harter will own one-half of both the Omega and
Hooker properties and Ayres will own the other half.
The McAlpine mine and contiguous properties consist of
about 80 acres on the Mother Lode, 17 miles by road from
Chinese. McAlpine hill is 2200 ft. above sea-level. In the
early days, gold worth $750,000 was recovered in a primitive
mill, from 150 ft. below the outcrop of the vein. After being
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
509
shut down for many years, a vertical shaft was sunk 455 ft.
and cross-cutting done at 200 and 375 ft. A further 200 ft.
of driving will be necessary at 375 ft. to cut the rich shoot
above. Several buildings are on the property, and water and
electric power is obtainable nearby. In a few months the
mine should be able to supply 75 tons of ore per day.
COLORADO
Clear Creek County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Idaho Springs district pro-
duced 118 cars of ore in February, against 102 cars in that
month of last year. The increase in metal value was $10,000.
Shipments from the Donaldson mine average 50 tons of $70
gold-silver smelting ore per week. The vein was cut 1900 ft.
in the Rockford adit. J. F. Wernecke of the Empire Zinc Co.
of Denver is making ready to construct an electrolytic smelter
in this city, which will be placed in the vicinity of the New-
house tunnel. Electric machinery, costing $5000, has been
started at the War Dance mine, operated by the Rockford
M. L. company.
Idaho Springs, March 3.
Eagle County
It is just over a year since the rush to the Eagle district
took place. Since May 1913 the Lady Belle has been ship-
ping ore regularly. The North Dakota has sent out some ore,
and the Best Chance has its bins full. The Lady Belle No. 4
and Grand View have cut ore. Besides the mines just men-
tioned, there are the South Dakota, Eagle King group, Selmas,
Little Mary, Little Mary No. 1, Chester group, Rainbow, Con-
tact, Kingston, Clinton's, Montana, Irma, and Inez, all being
prospected.
The Iron Mask mill, near Red Cliff, has been working con-
tinuously for five years, treating the zinc-lead-gold-silver ore
from the Iron Mask mine. The tonnage has varied from 80
to 120 per day.
Fremont County
Miners in the Oak Creek canon, near Canon City, claim to
have opened a rich vein 1000 ft. long and from 2 to 8 ft.
wide, containing gold, silver, lead, tungsten, uranium, and
vanadium. For three miles around, the country has been
staked. Snow is interfering with prospecting just now.
Gilpin County
The property of the Buckley Mining Co., next to the Gun-
nell mine at Central City, has been taken over by a number
of prominent Salt Lake and Utah men and the Company
reorganized. R. P. Morris is president. The mine has al-
ready produced $200,000. The main shaft is down 630 ft.
and is well equipped. The mine is drained by the Newhouse
tunnel. Ore reserves are about 200,000 tons, worth $14.05 per
ton, mostly gold.
Lake County (Leadville)
Work at the Yak tunnel will result in changing the direc-
tion of the main bore from its present course. The Moyer
drainage lateral is being altered for the main track to go
through it, and so avoid the heavy ground just above the cut-
off to the Cord winze. This winze is producing a large ton-
nage of sulphide ores, and the stopes are of great size. The
Walker adit, in South Evans gulch, is in about 225 ft. in
hard rock. The Consolidated Virginius Mining Co. is work-
ing the Virginius through the old Puzzler adit. W. E. Bow-
den and S. J. Sullivan are owners of the property. Develop-
ment includes the opening of a body of ore abandoned by
the old owners. Lessees at the Star of the West have opened
a small vein assaying up to 2000 oz. silver and 40% lead.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
There are 20 lessees at the Golden Cycle mine extracting
profitable ore.
During January, Stratton's Independence produced 5G83
tons of ore averaging $5.68 per ton. Low-grade mine and
dump ore treated, 10,900 tons, with a mill profit of $5500,
a mine loss of $3000. Development has been stopped to re-
duce expenses. Philip H. Argall, general manager, expects to
open a good shoot of ore at 400 ft. shortly.
IDAHO
Custer County
(Special Correspondence.) — Two new discoveries have been
made this winter on the upper middle fork of the Salmon
river. A shipment of one ton of ore to the smelter returned
$83. A six-ton mill-run is being made on another which
assays about $100 in gold per ton.
Stanley, February 25.
MISSOURI
Missouri has only two smelters at prisent which are han-
dling zinc concentrate, one in St. Louis, St. Louis county, and
the other at Nevada, Vernon county, their retorts in 1913
totaling 2672.
Jasper County
Miners' phthisis is apparently prevalent in the district
mines, and work is being done by the Jasper County Anti-
Tuberculosis Society to help minimize the complaint.
MONTANA
Silvebbow County
The Butte & Superior flotation plant treated 30,900 tons
of ore in February, yielding 10,422,047 lb. of zinc from con-
centrate averaging 51.75% zinc, with 89.81% recovery. Rich
ore is being mined on the 900-ft. level. The Butte-Duluth
leaching plant treated 3200 tons with S9% extraction. The
copper output was 65,000 lb. of electrolytic and 40,000 lb.
of precipitate. Machinery for the new 1000-ton capacity in
8 hours crushing plant is on the property. The purchase of
the mine by the American Metal Co. has fallen through,
according to the president of the Butte-Duluth, A. B. Wolvin.
At 1500 ft. in the East Butte there is 4 to 5 ft. of 5 to 6%
copper ore and 10 oz. silver per ton. In February the Butte-
Ballaklava shipped about 2400 tons of ore. Seventy feet of
fair ore is being mined at 1200 ft. There is 30 in. of 20%
copper and 25 oz. silver ore at 2400 ft. in the Tuolumne
mine. February earnings were $6500.
NEVADA
Esmeralda County
(Special Correspondence.) — The directors of the Diamond-
field Black Butte Reorganized Mining Co. will probably erect
a mill in the near future. The Butte-Goldfield company will
also install mining machinery within the next month oT two.
Goldfield, March 15.
Nye County
It is announced that the Morning Glory claim, application
for patent to which was adversed on report of a Forest
Ranger, has been clear listed for patent, the objections hav-
ing been withdrawn. The case attracted some attention and
was discussed in the Mining and Scientific Press, June 28
and August 2, 1913.
Storey County
The Mexican Gold & Silver Mining Co. is being sued by
A. F. Coffin, of San Francisco, for $75,000 for alleged libel.
Similar suits have been filed by several other share brokers
of that city.
White Pine County
During February there were only 18 disabling accidents
at the mines and works controlled by the Nevada Consolidated
Co., according to Safety First, its monthly bulletin. This is
a reduction of 15 from preceding months.
510
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
NEW MEXICO
Grant County
United States Bureau of Mines rescue car No. 3 will be
at the Chino copper mine at Santa Rita from May 1 to 5.
UTAH
Beaver County
A cyanide plant of 15-ton daily capacity is being operated
by A. B. Blainey and others, lessees at the Sheep Rock mine.
It is probable that a Kelly filter-press will be installed.
Juab County
In unprospected ground of the Eagle & Blue Bell, at Eu-
reka, a drift on the 1550-ft. level has cut 24 in. of silver-
lead-gold ore worth about $20 per ton. The mine is produc-
ing 100 tons of ore per day.
Salt Lake County
After trying a number of fume-control devices, the Amer-
ican Smelting & Refining Co.'s Murray plant is now working
full blast with no smoke issuing from its smelter stack.
WASHINGTON
Ferry County
(Special Correspondence.) — The following ore shipments
were made from Republic mines to smelters in January: Re-
public Mines Corporation, 8077; Ben Hur Leasing Co., 5177;
Quilp, 401; Knob Hill, 2906; Rathfon Reduction Works, 44;
and Black Tail, 185 tons. The San Poil mill treated about
3000 tons, of which 594 tons, included in the above, came from
the Knob Hill mine. A meeting of the creditors of the Re-
public Mines Corporation was held at Spokane on March 7.
There are several liens on the claims and taxes to be paid.
On the 200-ft. level, the Ben Hur Leasing Co. is developing
the vein north and south of the shaft. At the south, $17
gold has been opened. On the 300-ft. level, the north drift
is being extended beyond where the vein has produced over
100 tons of ore per day for the past six months. A stope is
being raised to 200 ft., and contains 2000 tons of $13 ore. The
400-ft. level north drift has been driven 350 ft. on the vein,
and good shipping ore has recently been opened. At GOO ft.,
the south drift is in $1 to $9.20 ore. The Company employs
55 men, has good machinery, is in good financial condition,
and has a lease until October 12, 1915. Five feet of ore worth
$31 per ton has been cut 150 ft. below the lower adit level
of the Knob Hill.
Republic, February 27.
WYOMING
Crook County
There has been a rush to the new gold district near Eothen,
in this county, 23 miles west of Belle Fourche. in South
Dakota, near the boundary of the two states. Sixty claims
have been staked. In a shaft sunk by BrownfieUl, Atwood,
and Pearson, rich ore has been opened. There are good roads
from Belle Fourche to the district.
Natrona County
The Standard Oil Co. has started refining oil at its large
plant at Casper. The oil supply comes from the Midwest's
pipe-line to the Salt Creek field.
CANADA
British Columbia
A carload of molybdenite ore has been shipped from a
mine at Sheep Creek, near Nelson, owned by Ross and Bennett.
This is about the first of such ore sent from the province.
Good progress is being made with the Hedley Gold Mining
Co.'s power dam on the Similkameen river. Forty men are
employed. Receipts from the Trail smelter from 1407 tons
of ore and 100 tons of concentrate, from the Le Roi No. 2 mine
were $28,606 in January. The profit was $8260. From 2241
tons of ore the Van Roi produced 210 tons of zinc concentrate
worth $18,329.
Ontario
The Wettlaufer Mines Co. has suspended work on the
South Lorrain property. The last ore shipment was 14 tons
of 204 oz., and 79 tons of about 1200 oz. silver ore. The an-
nual report of the Cobalt Lake Mining Co. shows that the
reserves contain 4,796,940 oz. of silver, an increase of 2,661,-
900 oz. over 1912 on account of draining Cobalt lake. The
1913 output was 973,676 oz. Dividends were $315,000.
On April 1 the Porcupine Crown company will pay its first
dividend, amounting to $60,000. Two shifts are sinking the
main shaft of the Dome mine from 425 to 575 ft. Cold
weather has delayed erection of new machinery at the mill.
The Dome Lake shaft is down 275 ft. During January the
Hollinger mill treated 12,813 tons of ore worth $13.57 per ton,
with 96.33% extraction. Costs were $5,012 per ton, and the
profit $101,663. Diamond-drilling covered over 1000 ft. with
good results.
On the 75-ft. level of the Teck-Hughes, at Swastika, four
inches of rich gold-bearing ore is being driven on. The Mcln-
tyre mine is to be connected and worked at 600 ft. by a cross-
cut from the Pearl Lake mine. Ore worth $8 has recently
been opened.
KOREA
The Seoul Mining Co., operating the Suan concession, in
Whang Hai province, reports the following results for Febru-
ary:
Stamps working 40
Time, days 26%
Ore crushed, tons 5453
Total recovery $42,027
Operating expenses 21,500
Net earnings 20,527
The Oriental Consolidated Mining Co. produced bullion
worth $141,225 from 24,705 tons in January. There was a
shortage of water at Tabowie and Kuk San Dong. The
Taracol tube-mill plant was stopped permanently on January
14, as it was not economical and was a technical failure. The
leaching method is again being used, and results are satis-
factory. The net saving, compared with regrinding and agi-
tation, should be considerable. The February clean-up was
worth $149,000.
MEXICO
Mexico
The El Oro mill treated 22,420 tons of ore and 15,680 tons
of tailing in January, yielding $258,860. Including $5300 profit
from the railway, the net return was $126,090. The rate of
exchange on which these figures were calculated is ?2.70
Mexican for $1 United States currency.
The Esperanza Mining Co.'s profit for the last quarter in
1913 was $216,000. Additions to the mill are practically com-
plete, and in December 26,720 tons of ore and tailing was
treated. The San Carlos vein is narrower and broken above
No. 9 level. No. 12 and 13 levels are lower grade than No. 10
and 11 levels. On No. 13 the ore is 5 ft. wide. Reserves, esti-
mated by the consulting engineers, amount to 114,000 metric
tons of dry ore with a profit of $420,000, and a profit of $240,000
in old tailing.
Puebla
(Special Correspondence.) — Owing to the continued activity
of the 'constitutionalists' in the Aire Libre district, the
Teziutlan Copper Co. has shut down its mine and smelter. T.
Skewes Saunders, the superintendent, has gone to England.
The rebels have been robbing mails, blowing up bridges, hold-
ing up trains and robbing passengers, dynamiting freight
trains, looting towns, mines, ranches, etc.. and demanding
large sums of money from mines and other industries.
Aire Libre, February 9.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
511
H. C. Carb is on his way to Brazil.
Bulkley Wells is in San Francisco.
Charles Butters left for London last Wednesday.
Frederick Bradshaw was in San Francisco this week.
E. H. Leslie and Thomas T. Read were in Pittsburgh last
week.
D. C. Jackling and Seeley W. Mudd have been to the new
gold rush near Ray, Arizona.
Kirby Thomas has removed his office from 42 Broadway to
43 Exchange place, New York City.
Milton C. Dunham has returned to West Bridgewater,
Massachusetts, from Abangarez, Costa Rica.
A. E. Drucker has opened offices at 62 London Wall, Lon-
don, where he will engage in consulting work.
Henry Krumb has returned to Salt Lake City from the East,
where he has been on business for several months.
W. R. Calvert, of Utah, is in Wyoming looking over the oil-
fields in the interests of the U. S. Bureau of Mines.
J. P. Iddings will lecture at Yale I'niversity March 23 to
April 3, inclusive, on 'The Problem of Volcanism.'
A. R. Gordon, general manager for the New York & Honduras
Rosario Mining Co. at San Juancito, Honduras, is in New York.
Pope Yeatman sailed from the Braden mine, Chile, on
February 5, and is expected to arrive in New York about
April 1.
W. F. White, president of the Aguacate mines, sailed from
New York on February 28 for Costa Rica; he expects to re-
main about a month.
M. E. Lombardi, in charge of the field operations for the
Kern Trading & Oil Co., of San Francisco, has returned from
a trip through the Westside fields.
C. J. London, of Philadelphia, will be in Colombia for the
next four or five months; while there his address will be,
care of Empressa Hanseatica, Barranquilla.
Guests present at the presentation dinner of the Mining and
Metallurgical Society of America, in honor of Mr. and Mrs.
H. C. Hooves, were as follows;
Alexander, Miss Kemp. Mr. and Mrs. Jas. F.
Barbour, Mr. and Mrs. Percy
Ball, Mr. and Mrs. S. II.
Bates, L. W.
Bates. L. W., Jr.
Best, W. N.
Beck, E.
Campbell, Prof. Wm.
Kunz. Geo.
Kirehhoff. Mrs. Chas.
Linton, Robert
I. ill. II. Mr. and Mrs.
I.indegren, Mr. and Mrs. W.
l.aun. W. F.
McKelvie, Mr.
Cogswell.' Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Mauser, S. T.
Cunt/. W C Mein, Mr. and Mrs. W. W.
Church. John Mercer, J W.
Dana R Morse, Mr. and Mrs. W. S.
Dunham,' W. P. Mum...-. Mrs. H. S.
Dudefret. Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy. Mr. and Mrs. W. A.
Devereux. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, F. E.
Dwight, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Prosser, Mr. and Mrs. H. A.
Dorr. J. V. X. Reno. J. W.
Eilers. Mr. and Mrs. Karl Riordan, D. M.
Eldred. Mr. and Mrs. Byron Rand, (')ias. F.
Eveland, A. J. Rand, Miss
Flnlay. Mr. and Mrs. .T. R. Read, Mr. and Mrs. T. T.
Grothe, Dr. Spilsbury, E. Gybbon
Carrey, Geo. H. Spilsbury, Miss Beulah
Gruve'r', J R. Stone, Geo. C.
Hoover, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Stone. Miss
Hewes. Mr. Stoughton, Mr. and Mrs. B.
Hastings, J. G. Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. W. G.
Hawkins, J. D. Stearns. Mr. and Mrs. Thos. B.
Huntoon, l! D. Sussman, Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Holmes. J. A. Struthers, Jos.
Ingalls. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Traylor, S. W.
Jennings. Mr. and Mis. Hennen Tillson. Mr. and Mrs. D. F.
Jennings. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Wilkens. II. A. .1.
Johnson, W. McA. Westervelt, W. Y.
Walker, Arthur.
The U. S. Civil Service Commission announces an open
competitive examination for assistant explosives engineer, on
April 8, 1914, at places throughout the country, and infor-
mation will be given by writing to Washington, D. C. The
subjects are physics, general chemistry, mining engineering,
and education and experience. The salary ranges from $1620
to $2100 per year.
MARCH
Name. Date,
Old Freibergers Hofbrau, New York 2".
APRIL
American Chemical Society s-11
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 10
American Electro-Chemical Society 16-18
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 16
MAY
Mining and Metallurgical Society. . .San Francisco 4
National Fire Protection Association 5-7
American Iron and Steel Institute 22
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 21
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 26
American Society for Testing Materials 23-27
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July 2
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of June
Franklin Institute Philadelphia. .. .end of June
AUGUST
American lust. Mining Engineers. .Salt Lake City.... 10-14
SEPTEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixed
American Chemical Society 9-12
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 9
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-24
NOVEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 13
DECEMBER
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-S
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 10
Society of Naval Architects 11-12
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 11
American Museum of Safety 11-20
Geological Society of America 30-31
Obituary
George Westinghouse, who died of heart disease at his
New York home March 12, was one of the men we like to
think of as typically American. Of German-Dutch descent,
his ancestors had been in this country since before the Revo-
lution. Educated in the public schools and Union College,
then but a small institution, serving while still a boy as a
volunteer in the Civil War, he early turned his attention to
invention, in that following in the footsteps of his father.
He was born at Central Bridge, New York, in 1S46, and before
he was fifteen had invented a rotary engine. His first great
invention, the air brake, was made in 1869, and for the
next ten years he was mainly concerned in its introduction
and improvement. This led naturally in 1880 to studies and
inventions in connection with automatic signaling, and that
to lights, and so in 1SS6 into electrical work. Here his great
achievement was the setting of the alternating current to
work, and power generation just as naturally made him a
pioneer in the steam-turbine field. He became a great manu-
facturer as well as inventor, and a public citizen of the sort
that is a national institution. It is pleasant to record that
his success was widely recognized during his lifetime, and
it is to be noted that he was successful because of natural
ability, unfailing industry, and because his work was useful.
It was directed to increasing safety and decreasing waste,
and it answered to the world's needs.
512
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
The Metal Markets
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco, March 19.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15% — 15?4c
Pig lead 4.25 — 5.20c
Quicksilver (flask) $39.50
Tin 42% — 44 c
Spelter 6% — 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases, 7 % to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
New York, March 19. — Although copper has been down to
13.95c. per lb., it is on the upward turn, demand being strong
and more business doing. There was an increase in domestic
enquiry and prices went above 14 cents. Copper mining
stocks are a trifle higher. Lake copper is 15c. Rio Tinto is
paying a dividend of S8.40 per share. Lead and spelter are
quiet with practically no change. Tin is Arm at 38.25c. In
London, copper is £64 8s. 9d. to £64 18s. 9d.; lead, £19 17s. 6d.;
spelter, £21 10s., and tin, £174 7s. 6d. Aluminum in February
varied from 18.50 to 19 cents.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Average week ending.
Feb. 4 57.46
" 11 57.54
" 18 57.37
" 25 57.53
Mch. 4 57.72
" 11 58.23
" 18 58.04
1913.
July 58.70
Aug 59.32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov 58.76
Dec 57.73
Date.
Mch. 12 57.87
" 13 58.00
" 14 58.12
" 15 Sunday
" 16 .58.12
" 17 58.12
" 18 58.00
Monthly averages.
1913. 1914.
Jan 63.01 57.58
Feb 61.25 57.53
Mch 57.87
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
Writing on February 26, Samuel Montagu & Co. say as fol-
lows: The undertone continues good, and prices have been
well maintained. Business during the week has been unusu-
ally active, and the shipment to Bombay will be considerable.
Great stringency for delivery exists in that city, and a pre-
mium of over 2%% is quoted for spot silver. The stock in
Bombay has risen from £50,000 to £80,000, and the offtake from
110 to 120 bars per day. An Indian currency return shows a
decrease in the note issue of 20 lacs, in the holding under the
denomination of silver rupees of 5 lacs, and under that of
gold of 10 lacs. It is reported that a famine is beginning to
be felt in the United Provinces of India, owing to a shortage
of rain. The trouble, it is feared, may assume serious pro-
portions before the monsoon breaks in June. Sir James Mes-
ton, the lieutenant governor, who has opened a relief fund,
stated that the deficiency of the rainfall is greater than that
of 1907. Fortunately, the succession of so many years favor-
able to agriculture has given the populace ability to resist a
certain amount of adverse circumstance. In China, trade and
the government's position is bright. Holdings of silver In
Shanghai total £5,520,000. A shipment of £35,000 was made
from San Francisco to Hongkong.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published In this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Mch. 12 14.00
» 13 14.00
" 14 13.95
" 15 Sunday
" 16 13.95
" 17 14.00
" IS 14.13
Monthly averages
Average week ending
Feb. 4 14.59
" 11 14.64
" 18 14.55
" 25. , 14.34
Mch. 4 14.22
" 11 14.04
" 18 14.01
1913.
Jan 16.54
Feb 14.93
Mch 14.72
Apr 15.22
May 15.42
June 14.71
1914.
14.21
14.46
1913.
July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct. 16.31
Nov 15.08
Dec 14.25
1914
Copper amounting to 30,000.000 lb. was booked for export at
14%c. per pound on March 16. The American Smelting & Re-
fining Co. supplied about 8,000.000 pounds. Exports to March 12
were 19,330 tons. The Sulitjelma company, operating an Elmore
flotation plant in Norway, produced 1070 tons of copper con-
centrate in February. The German consumption of the red
metal in January was 14,101 tons, against 14,968 tons in the
same month of 1913. Of the 1914 imports, 12,323 tons was from
the United States.
LEAD
Lead is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
... 4.00
Average
Feb. 4 . . .
week end
ing
. . . 4.00
" 11..
4 00
,,
14
15 Sunday
16
17
18
1913.
4.28
4.33
4.32
4.36
. 4.34
. ¥.33
. . 4.00
. . . 4.00
. . . 4.00
. . . 4.00
Monthly
1914.
4.11
4.02
" 18
•' 25
. 4 00
«
Mch. 4
. 4 00
.<
" 11
•«
" 18
averages.
July
1913.
.... 4 35
1914.
Feb
.... 4 60
Mch
Oct
4 37
Apr.
4 16
June
4.02
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column. Is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 rb.,
are given below:
Week ending
Feb. 19 39.00
" 26 39.00
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
Monthly averages.
1914
Mch. 5 39.00
12 38.50
19 39.50
39.25
39.00
1913.
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Dec 40.00
1914.
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Mch. 12
5.10
Average
Feb. 4
week end!
ng
" 11
" 14
1913.
6.88
6.13
5.94
5.52
. 5.23
5.00
, , 5.10
3.10
, . . 5.10
5.10
Monthly
1914.
5.14
5.22
" 18
" 16
Mch. 4
" 17
" 11
" 18
" IS
averages.
July
1913.
. . . . 5 11
1914.
Feb
Mch
Sept
Oct
....
. . . 5 09
....
Dec
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin. since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 50.45
Feb. 49.07
Mch 46.95
Apr 49.00
May 49.10
June 45.10
1914.
37.85
39.76
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
1914
The following tin statistics for February are from L. Vogel-
stein & Co.'s monthly report: Shipments from Straits to Lon-
don, America, and Europe, 6544; from Australia, 201; Billiton
sale, 185; imports of Chinese tin into England and America,
510; imports of Bolivian tin to England, Germany, and France,
1346; total supplies of 8766 tons, against 7263 tons in February
1913. Monthly deliveries of standard tin in England were 1610;
Holland, 1232; America, including Pacific, 3420; Europe, 575; and
Bolivian-Chinese, 656; a total of 7493 tons. Visible supplies are
as follows: in England, 4366; landing and in transit, 975; afloat
from Straits, 4003; and Australia, 301; Banca spot in Holland,
1155; Billiton spot and afloat, 356; Continent spot and afloat,
112S; U. S. stocks and landing, 1554; and afloat to U. S.. 4605;
total visible supplies of 18,443 tons, against 13,410 tons in Febru-
ary 1913, and 17,170 tons in January 1914. The average price
in New York was 39.885c. per pound, and in London from £173
5s. to £188 per ton.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
513
The Stock Markets
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
March 18.
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s $ 97
Unlisted .
Ass. Oil 5s —
General Petroleum 6s... 38)
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated Oil Kii
Associated Oil 42J
E. I. du Pont pfd. —
Giant —
Pac. Cst Borax, com —
Pacific Crude Oil —
Bterllng O. A D_ 1}
BONDS
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
98
. —
26
Pac. Port. Cement 6s....
100
—
81
Santa Cruz Cement 6s..
83
—
40)
Union Oil
. —
88
STO
CKS
Ask
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
84)
General Petroleum
—
*i
42*
Noble Electric Steel
5
—
90
Natomas Consol
. 50c
—
87
Pac. Port. Cement
—
62)
57)
Riverside Cement
—
63
30c
Santa Cruz Cement
45
48)
11
Stand. Port. Cement
201
—
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
March 19.
Atlanta I .40
Belcher 59
Belmont. 7.80
Con. Virginia 18
Florence. .70
Goldfleld Con 1.82
Goldfleld Oro .17
98
1.07
31
09
1.10
36
Mlzpah Extension .46
Halifax
Jim Butler
Jumbo Extension.
MacNamara
Mexican
Midway
Montana-Tonopah $1.00
Nevada Hills 35
North Star 39
Ophlr 52
Pittsburg Silver Peak 34
Round Mountain 35
Sierra Nevada 15
Tonopah Extension 1.70
Tonopah Merger .55
Tonopah of Nevada 7.12
Union 13
Victor 27
West End 86
Yellow Jacket... 42
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask.
Argonaut $2.75 .... Central Eureka
Brunswick Con $1.05 Mountain King .
Bunker Hill 1.90 .... South Eureka...
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
Bid. Ask.
.$0.68 $0.69
. 0.54 0.76
. ... 2.00
(By courtesy of
Bid
J. C. Wilson,
March 19.
Ask
Mills Building.)
Bid
Allouez S 40
Ariz. Commercial 5)
Butte A Superior 36)
Calumet & Arizona 68
Calumet & Hecla 415
Copper Range 38
Daly West 2)
East Butte ill
Franklin 6)
Granby 89
Greene Cananea 37)
Isle-Royale 20)
Mass Copper 2)
41
5!
36)
68|
420
38)
3
37)
21)
2}
Mohawk $ 44)
Nevada Con 16|
North Butte 28)
Old Dominion 49
Osceola 78
Qulncy 62
Shannon 6)
Superior & Boston 2)
Tamarack 39)
U. S. Smelting, com 41
Utah Con 10)
Winona 4
Wolverine 47
Ask
46
161
28)
49)
80
63
6)
2)
40
41)
11
4)
47)
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. F. Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.)
March 18.
Bid.
Braden Copper... 8
Braden 6s 160
B. C. Copper 1%
Con. Cop. Mines. . 1%
Davis-Daly 1%
Ely Con 4
First National ... 2%
Glroux 1
Holllnger 16
Iron Blossom.... 1 V4
Kerr Lake 4%
La Rose 1%
Ask.
Bid.
Ask.
8%
Mason Valley...
■ 2%
3%
165
McKinley-Dar. .
. 85c.
90c.
1%
Mines Co. Am. . .
214
2%
1%
6 %
«%
1%
Vl
H
6
Phelps-Dodge . .
15
26
3
Stand. Oil of Cal
348
350
1%
Trl Bullion
Vk
%
17
%
1
iy*
United Cop. com
y»
%
4yt
Yukon Gold
2%
3
i%
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
March 19.
Bid
Amalgamated 8 75)
Anaconda 35)
A. S. & R., com 69j
Calif. Pet., com 28)
Chlno 41)
Guggenheim Ex 54)
Inspiration 17)
Mexican Pet., com 69
Ask Bid
75) Miami $ 24)
36) Nevada Con I5f
69) j Quicksilver, com 1}
28} I Ray Con 21)
42 Tenn. Copper 35
55) I U. S. Steel, pfd 109)
17) U. S. Steel, com 64)
69| Utah Copper 54)
Ask
24)
16}
2
21*
35)
110)
64)
56
LONDON QUOTATIONS
(By cable, through the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co.,
New York.)
March 19.
Alaska Mexican 17 6
Alaska Treadwell 8 5 0
Alaska United 3 2 6
Arizona 2 0 0
Camp Bird 0 12 is
Cobalt Townslte 2 10 0
El Oro 0 15 0
Esperanza 0 17 6
Granville 0 10 0
Kern River Oilfields 0 8 9
Mexican Kagle. com 2
Mexico Mines 5
Messina 1
Orovllle 0
Pacific Oilfields 0
RioTInto 70
Santa Gertrudis 0
Tanganyika 2
Tomboy 1
7
8
11
3
13
9
2
6
0
0
13
9
5
0
2
6
AUSTRALASIAN
March 19.
£ s. d.
British Broken Hill 2
Broken Hill Prop. 2
Golden Horse-Shoe 2
Great Boulder Prop 0
Ivanhoe 2
Kalgurll 1
Mount Boppy 0 12 6
3 Mount Elliott 4
0 Mount Lyell 1
6 Mount Morgan 3
0 ' Waihl 2
9 I Waihl Grand June 1
6 Zinc Corporation, Ord 1
d.
0
0
9
9
0
6
Zinc Production and Prices in 1913
JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUiwt JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC
•*=a«"~ail"*aa«,*sg»-ss»ir-3a«"!ig|i»»gag-sat:-=s«— saa-sas;-
* According to the United States Geological Survey.
Coal output of Ohio in 1913 was 34,500,000 long tons.
514
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 19U
Monthly Copper Production
AIIMEEK COPPER MIXING CO., Kearsarge, Michigan. $1,-
250,000 in $25 shares; 24,796 shares owned by Calumet & Heela;
1800-ton mill at Hubbell; concentrate smelted by Calumet &
Hecla smelter. Total in 1913, 9,100,000 pounds.
M.l.oi I-:/. MINING CO., Allouez, Michigan. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; controlled by the Calumet & Hecla, which owns 43,000
shares and $250,000 in notes of the Company; ore is milled by
the Lake Milling, Smelting & Refining Co., in which the Allouez
owns halt. Total In 1913, 4,200,000 pounds.
ASACOXDA COPPER MIXING CO., Butte, Montana. $108,312,-
500 in $25 shares; controlled through Amalgamated Copper Co.
by Thos. F. Cole, J. D. Ryan, and Standard Oil interests; 10,000-
ton concentrator and smelter at Anaconda; 5000-ton concentra-
tor and smelter at Great Falls, Mont.; also 70-ton electrolytic
refining plant at Great Falls. Production figures include cop-
per from all companies which ship custom ore to Anaconda
smelters.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 21,181,000 November 25,250,000
August 22,500,000 December 25,100,000
September 22,600,000 January 1914 24,400,000
October 18,400,000 February 21,300,000
ARIZONA COPPER CO., LTD., Morenci, Arizona. £379.974 in
5s. shares; controlled by Edinburgh investors; mill at Morenci
is being enlarged to 3000-ton capacity and a new 1200-ton
smelter near Clifton has just been started.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 2,600,000 November 2,800,000
August 1,800,000 December 2,920,000
September 1,800,000 January 1914 3.474,000
October 3,550,000 February 3,063,000
BRADEN COPPER CO., La Junta, Chile. $2,332,030 in $10
shares and $4,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; entire stock held
by Braden Copper Mines Co.; $12,000,000 in $5 shares; $5,000,000
in convertible bonds; controlled by Guggenheim interests; two
mills at La Junta; 3000-ton capacity smelter at Racagua.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 1,046,000 November 1,592,000
August 1,572,000 December 2,122,000
September 1,322,000 January 1914 2,426,000
October 2,600,000 February 2,362,000
BRITISH COLUMBIA COPPER CO., LTD.. Greenwood, B. C.
$2,958,545 in $5 shares; controlled by Newman Brb; 600-ton
sampling plant and 2500-ton smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 618,379 October 688,000
August 700,000 November 682.383
September 626,761 December (est.) 800,000
CALUMET & ARIZONA MINING CO., Warren Arizona.
$6,285,710 in $10 shares; has absorbed the Superior & Pittsburg
Copper Co. by stock exchange; controlled by Hoatson and other
Lake Superior interests; 3000-ton smelter at Douglas. Total
in 1913, 51,710,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 3,000,000 November 4,600,000
July 3,800,000 December 5,230,000
August 4,500,000 January 1914 5,798,464
October 4,500,000 February 5,94S,900
CALUMET & HECLA MINING CO., Calumet, Michigan.
$2,500,000 in $25 shares; controls the Ahmeek, Allouez, Centen-
nial, Isle Royale, La Salle, Osceola, Tamarack, and Superior
copper mining companies, as well as a number that are non-
productive; controlled by Agassiz and Shaw interests; 2 mills on
Lake Linden, capacity 15,000 tons: smelter Hubbell, Mich.; elec-
trolytic refinery and smelter at Buffalo, N. T.; figures include
output of subsidiaries. Total in 1913, 53,420,000 pounds.
CAXAXEA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO. S. A., Cananea,
Sonora, Mexico. Capital 1*20,000 in shares of P100; entire stock
owned by Greene Consolidated Copper Co.; $10,000,000 in $10
shares; 945,320 shares are held by Greene Cananea Copper Co.;
$50,000,000 in $100 shares, which is controlled by Thos. F. Cole
and J. D. Ryan; 2 mills and smelter at Cananea, 3000-ton ca-
pacity. Total in 1913, 37,050,574 pounds. Output does not in-
clude copper from custom ores, which amounts to about 600,000
lb. per month, exclusive of Miami.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 2.908,000 October 3,160,000
July 3.328,000 November 3,150,000
August 3,186,000 December 2,976,000
September ' 3,148,000 February 2,2S2,000
CENTENNIAL COPPER MIXING CO., Calumet, Michigan.
$2,250,000 in $25 shares; 44,350 shares are held by Calumet &
Output of Lake Superior mines estimated.
Hecla Mining Co.; ore milled by Lake Milling, Smelting &
Refining Co. Total in 1913, 1,400,000 pounds.
CERRO de PASCO MINING CO., Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
$10,000,000; entire stock held by Cerro de Pasco Copper Co.;
$60,000,000 in $1 shares which is owned by Cerro de Pasco In-
vestment Co., which Is controlled by J. B. Haggin, and Morgan
estate; 3000-ton smelter at La Fundicion; monthly production
figures not given out; output in 1912 was 45,000,000 lb. copper.
CHIXO COPPER CO., Santa Rita, New Mexico. $3,500,000 in
$5 shares; 121,200 shares are held by Guggenheim Exploration
Co.; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M. MacNeill; 5000-
ton mill at Hurley, N. M.; concentrate smelted at El Paso.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
•July 4,831,200 November 4,402,90*
August 6,050,867 December 4,525,792
September 4,435,873 January 1914 6,138,140
October 4,914,944 February 5,769,94*
CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES CO., Ely, Nev. $8,000-
000 in $5 shares; $3,000,000 in convertible bonds; is a recent
merger of the Giroux, Butte & Ely, Chainman, and Copper-
mines companies, controlled by Thos. F. Cole, Wm. B. Thomp-
son, Charles F. Rand, and Jas. Phillips, Jr.; reduction plant
not yet built; production so far derived solely from Giroux;
ore treated at Nevada Con. smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
August 541,189 November 136,539
September 204,307 December 197,649'
October 160,911 January 1914 148,411
COPPER QUEEN CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Bisbee.
Arizona. $2,000,000 in $10 shares; owns 100,000 shares of
Greene Cananea; almost all its stock is held by Phelps, Dodge
& Co., Inc.: $44,995,000 in $100 shares; 4000-ton smelting plant
at Douglas, Ariz. Total in 1913, 85,389,630 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 7,439,864 November 6,473,79?
August 7,590,994 December 8,182,452
September 7,775,560 January 1914 8,099,847
October 7,653,153 February 6,448,770-
COPPER RANGE CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Painedale.
Michigan, $-39,369,200, in $100 shares; owns 99,659 shares of
Baltic M. Co., 99,699 shares Copper Range M. Co., 99,345 shares
of Tri-mountain M. Co., half interest in Champion Copper Co.,
16.392 shares of Copper Range R. R. Co., and $870,000 in Copper
Range R. R. bonds; controlled by Wm. A. Paine; production
is derived from the Baltic, Champion, and Tri-mountain com-
panies, each of which mills its ore; concentrate is smelted by
Michigan Smelting Co., Houghton, which is owned by mining
companies. Total in 1913, 24,996,000 pounds.
Pounds.
January 1914 3,276,000
DETROIT COPPER MINING CO., Morenci, Ariz. $1,000,000 in
$25 shares', owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.: 1300-ton mill and
350-ton smelter. Total in 1913, 22,352,299 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 1,549,224 November 1,922,352
August 2,187,223 December 2,021,034
September 2,102,818 January 1914 1,590,681
October 1,861,178 February 1,814,214
EAST BUTTE COPPER MINING CO., Butte Mont. $3,000,000
in $10 shares; owns 83% of the stock and all bonds of the
Pittsmont Copper Co., which holds 90% of the stock and all
bonds of Pittsburgh & Montana Copper Co.; controlled by Wm.
A. Paine; 350-ton mill and 1000-ton custom smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 1,060,257 November 1,002,190
August 1,162,006 December 1.324,560
September 1,233,018 Janary 1914 1,099,860
October 1,040,977 February 1.193,960
FRANKLIN MINING CO., Demmon, Mich. $4,166,650 in $25
shares; controlled by R. M. Edwards and the U. S. S. R. & M. Co.;
1000-ton mill. Total in 1913, 1,040, 000 pounds.
GRANBY CONSOLIDATED MINING, SMELTING A POWER
CO., LTD., Phoenix and Hidden Creek, British Columbia. $14,-
S49.565 in $100 shares; controlled by General Chemical Co. in-
terests; 4400-ton smelter at Grand Forks and 2000-ton smelter
at Anyox. Total in 1913, 21,511,747 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 1,789,000 October 1,779,55?
July 1,654,000 November 1,888,767
August 1.S27.300 December 1,605,381
•September 1,824,560 January 1914 1,793,840-
MASON yALLEY MINES CO., Yerington, Nev. $770,000 in $5
shares; $1,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled by W. B.
Thompson; 1000-ton smelter at Thompson, Nev.. also smelts ore
of Nevada-Douglas Copper Co. and custom ore; smelter pro-
duction. Total in 1913, 14,694,000 pounds.
March 21, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
515
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 990,000 November 1,174,000
August 966.000 December 1,372,000
September 918,000 January 1914 944,000
October 1,052,000 February 1,254,000
MIAMI COPPER CO., Miami, Ariz. 746,935 $5 shares issued;
$22,000 in 6</c bonds convertible at $17 outstanding; controlled
by General Development Co. (Lewisohn interests), 3000-ton mill
at Miami; concentrate smelted at Cananea. Total in 1913,
33,944,795 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 2,890.000 November 3,517,800
August 3,097,500 December 3,301,316
September 2,688,600 January 1914. 3,258,950
October 2,862,050 February 3,193,300
MOCTEZUMA COPPER CO., Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. $2,000,-
000; entire stock owned by Phelps. Dodge & Co.; 2000-ton
mill; concentrate smelted by Copper Queen. Total in 1913,
36.694,013 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 2,693,006 November 3,517,800
August 3,542,047 December 3,139,613
September 3,024,121 January 1914 3.024.556
October 3,178,136 February 2,642,543
MOHAWK MINING CO., Mohawk. Mich. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; controlled by Stanton interests; 3000-ton mill, Traverse
bay; concentrate smelted by Michigan Smelting Co. Total in
1913, 5,369,000 pounds.
MOUNT LYEI.L MIXING A RAILWAY CO.. LTD., Queenstown.
Tasmania. 1,300,000 shares of £1 each. Operates an extensive
copper property, two railways, blast -furnaces, converters, and
three superphosphate works In Australia. During past fiscal
half-year treated 142.615 tons for 5.470.OS0 ]b. copper, 187,097
oz. silver, and 4050 oz. gold.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
Dec. 25 to Jan. 21 911,680 Jan. 22 to Feb. 18 ... .1,189,440
NEVADA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ely, Nevada. $10,-
000,000 In $5 shares; has absorbed the Cumberland-Ely Copper
Co.; controlled by American Smelters Securities Co. through the
Utah Copper Co., which owns half of the Nevada Con. stock;
the Nevada company owns the Steptoe Valley Mining & Smelt-
ing Co., $10,000,000; 16,000-ton mill and 1500-ton smelter at
McGlll. Nevada. Total in 1913, 64,972,829 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 6,344,863 October 5,898,330
July 5,403,919 November 5,443,047
August 5,989,973 December 5,500,000
September 4,441,671 January 1914 5,791,122
NEVADA DOUGLAS COPPER CO., Mason, Nev. $4,054,800 In
$5 shares, $276,900 in 6'r convertible bonds; also $158,200 6%
refunding bonds; controlled by A. J. Orem; ore smelted at Mason
Valley smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 392.288 October 583,330
July 399,451 November 678,120
August 354,760 December 581,447
September 426,070 January 1914 409,202
OHIO COPPER CO.. Bingham, Utah. $12,292,700 in $10 shares,
$1,326,000 In 6% convertible bonds; 3500-ton mill at Lark, Utah;
concentrate smelted at Garfield.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 601,700 October 720,000
August 689,400 November 796,000
September 685,900 January 1911 722,400
OLD DOMINION COPPER MINING * SMELTING CO., Globe,
Ariz. $4,050,000 In $25 shares; 155,245 shares are owned by the
Old Dominion Co., which is owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 300-
ton mill, 2400-ton smelter. Production figures include custom
ore smelted. Total In 1913. 30,810,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 2,526.000 November 2,150,000
August 2,524,000 December 2,613,000
September 2,679,000 January 1914 2,797,000
October 2,037,000 February 3,066,000
OSCEOLA CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Osceola, Mich.
$2,403,750 In $25 shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills,
4000-ton capacity, at Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 11,325,010
pounds.
PHELPS. DODGE & CO., Inc. $44,995,000 in $100 shares; con-
trolled by C. H. Dodge, James Douglas, and others; owns the
Copper Queen, Moctezuma. Detroit, and Burro Mountain copper
companies, Stag Canon Fuel Co.; indirectly controls Old Do-
minion, United Globe, and Commercial Copper Mining Co.; mem-
bers of the firm control the El Paso & Southwestern railway,
and have large Interests In the Rock Island and Great Northern
Output of Lake Superior mines estimated.
railways. Production figures include all properties under its
control and copper derived from custom ore. the latter ranging
from 750,000 to 1,000,000 lb. per month. Total in 191:5, 154.454.114
pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 13,411,595 February 11,444,123
QUINCY MINING CO., Hancock, Mich. $2,750,000 in $25 shares;
controlled by W. R. Todd; 4500-ton mill at Mason; 340-ton
smelter at Ripley.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1,484,000 February 1,632,000
RAY CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ray. Ariz. $11,975,740 in
$10 shares; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M. MacNeill;
SOOO-ton mill at Hayden, Ariz.; concentrate smelted in A. S. &
R. smelter adjoining. Total in 1913, 53,745,934 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 4,097,177 November 4,753.000
August 4,401,000 December 5.232.167
September 4,470,551 January 1914 5.705,000
October 4,871,516 February 5,600,000
SHANNON COPPER CO., Metcalf, Ariz. $3,000,000 in $10
shares; controlled by N. L. Amster; 500-ton mill and 1000-ton
smelter at Clifton. Total in 1913, 13,640,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 880,000 November 1,110.000
August 1,248,000 December 1,07S,000
September 1,232,000 January 1914 938,000
October 1,216,000 February 904,000
SHATTUCK ARIZONA COPPER CO., Bisbee, Ariz. $3,500,000
in $10 shares; controlled by Duluth investors, ore smelted at
Calumet & Arizona smelter. Total in 1913, 13,219,756 pounds
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
August 1,001,624 November 995,429
September 1,163,237 December 1,050,7S1
October 993,224 January 1914 L276.636
SOUTH UTAH MINES * SMELTERS, Newhouse, Utah.
$4,300,000 In $5 shares, $1,300,000 in 6% convertible bonds; con-
trolled by Samuel Newhouse; 1000-ton mill; concentrate smelted
at Tooele, Utah. Total in 191.'!, 1,883,129 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
June 142,817 October 239,453
July 195,254 November 232,033
August 230,410 December 260,167
September 249.323 January 1914 284,092
TAMARACK MINING CO.. Calumet, Mich. $1,500,000 in $25
shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills, 3500-ton capacity.
at Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 4,142,000 pounds.
TENNESSEE COPPER CO., Copperhill, Tenn. $5,000,000 in $25
shares; $1,500,000 in 6r/r convertible bonds; controlled by Jas.
Phillips, Jr., and Lewisohn Interests.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
Ju"« 1.379.220 October 1,392.162
July 1,295,801 Nevember 1,688,000
Ausust 1,143,019 December 1,700,000
September 1.309. 985 January 1914 1,474 890
UNITED STATES SMELTING. REFINING * MINING CO.
$44,871,150 in $50 shares; copper production chiefly derived from
its subsidiary, the Mammoth Copper Mining Co., Kennett, Cali-
fornia.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
September 1,750,000 December 1,440,682
October 1,658,436 January 1911 L572,'si7
November 1,700,000 February 1,629,902
UNITED VERDE COPPER CO.. Jerome, Ariz. $3,000,000 in
$10 shares; owned by W. A. Clark; 1000 to 1200-ton smelter at
Clarkdale; monthly figures not given out, estimated at about
3,000,000 lb. Total in 1913, 37,750,000 pounds.
UTAH CONSOLIDATED MINES CO., Bingham, Utah. $1,500.-
000 in $5 shares; owns the Highland Boy Gold Mining Co. and
5000 shares of International Smelting & Refining Co. stock;
ore smelted at Tooele.
UTAH COPPER CO., Bingham, Utah. $15,625,990 in $10
shares; owns half of Nevada Consolidated; controlled by A. S.
& R. Co., Sherwood Aldrich, C. M. MacNeill, and W. B. Thomp-
son; 2 mills, 20,000-ton capacity, at Garfield; concentrate
smelted at Gartield plant of A. S. & R. Co. Total in 1913.
119,939.809 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 9.SI9.043 November 10,787,426
August 10,900,000 December 10,624,790
September 11,992,780 January 191 t 10,649,000
October 10,236.575' February 9, 492, SOS
WOLVERINE COPPER MINING CO., Kearsarge, Mich.
$1,500,000 in $25 shares: owns $80,900 interest in Michigan
Smelting Co.; controlled by J. R. Stanton; mill on Traverse
bay treated 388.500 tons during last fiscal year. Total in 1913,
4.488,000 pounds.
516
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 21, 1914
Book Reviews
Recent Publications
Mine Sampling and Valuing. By C. S. Herzig. With a
chapter on 'Sampling Placer Deposits,' by Chester Wells
Purington. P. 163. 111., index. Published and for sale by
the Mining and Scientific Press. Price $2.
In writing a full and comprehensive book on this subject
Mr. Herzig has made a welcome and valuable contribution to
the literature of mining. The sampling and valuing of min-
ing properties is a subject that is almost ignored by most
writers, except for an occasional article upon some particular
phase of the subject. Since T. A. Rickard published 'The
Sampling and Estimation of Ore in a Mine,' no book ade-
quately covering this subject has appeared, so this present
volume supplies a long felt want in an important field. Mr.
Rickard's book was compiled from a series of different arti-
cles and letters written by himself and other engineers, and
was therefore not a systematic and complete text-book. Such
a work Mr. Herzig now supplies. It is written by a practi-
cal engineer for the benefit of mining students and young
engineers who are striving to gain practical experience. Most
of our schools of mines give the students so little informa-
tion and training in this important branch of mining that
Mr. Herzig's book should appeal both to students and teach-
ers. The experienced engineer will not fail to find many
points of interest or value, for every man has certain meth-
ods of his own which are often useful to others, and Mr.
Herzig's book is based largely upon his personal experience
and practice. The author is a graduate of the Columbia
School of Mines, and has had a vast amount of experience
in many parts of the world, including the Rand, Australia,
the United States, Mexico, Central America, and Siberia.
He is exceptionally well qualified by training and experience
to write upon the subject of mine sampling. The chapter on
'The Sampling of Placer Deposits' contains an excellent
description of the most approved modern methods and prac-
tice for the valuation of alluvial deposits, written by Mr.
Purington. The subject is treated in the clear and authori-
tative manner that is indicative of the wide experience and
thorough knowledge of the writer. The chapter not only
contains a fund of valuable information, but is also written
in a delightfully lucid, readable style.
Manual of Hydraulic Mining. By T. F. Van Wagenen.
P. 123. Index. D. Van Nostrand Co., New York, 1913. For
sale by the Mining and Scientific Press. Price $1.
The fourth edition of this popular little book. The work
has been revised and brought up to date by the addition of
considerable new matter. Being intended for the use and
guidance of the practical miner, the hook is very elementary
and simple. There are lessons in arithmetic and problems
in elementary hydraulics which may be of assistance to
those who lack a common school education. The tables and
formulae are useful, but the miner must make his calcula-
tions by 'rule of thumb' methods, as there are no adequate
explanations of the formulae given.
Hydraulic Data. Compiled by H. D. Coale. P. 90. 111.,
index. Published by the Pacific Tank & Pipe Co., Los Ange-
les, California, 1913.
Nearly all of the most useful tables and formulae for hy-
draulic work are found in this convenient little volume. Al-
though this book is largely an advertisement of the products
of the company, yet it will be of great value to all those
engaged in hydraulic work of any kind. The tables for
the flow of water through wood pipe, for the contents of
round tanks, and for water pressures are especially com-
plete. The book is distributed gratis to hydraulic engineers,
superintendents of water works, and others.
The Oil Fields of Crawford and Lawrence Counties. By
R. S. Blatchley. State Geological Survey. (Illinois), Bull.
22, p. 422, Atlas, Urbana, 1913.
This long expected report covers the two leading counties of
the Illinois oilfields and includes detailed structural maps
as well as sections, drill records, and all needful data.
The Illinois oilfield, while it seems now to have passed its
prime, had produced to the end of 1913, 208,112,868 bbl. of
oil worth approximately $153,000,000. Situated in an open
prairie country of few rock exposures, the finding of the field
came as a great surpise in 1905. The maximum production,
33,143,262 bbl., was attained in 1910, but while the output has
since declined, this has been more than offset by the in-
crease in the selling price of the oil.
The State Geological Survey began work in the fields
within a few months of the first discovery and has published
various brief reports upon it. Mr. Blatchley's bulletin is,
however, the first comprehensive study based upon close de-
tailed work. It is welcome as affording an excellent guide
for the close drilling that must be done to insure the max-
imum of production from the territory. It is to be regretted
that the report has been so long delayed, but it is to be re-
membered that other and shorter bulletins were issued in
ample time to aid in the actual exploration of the territory.
Whether, along the deeply buried overlapping edge the Mis-
sissippian and lower Pennsylvanian formations, there are
other oilfields still to be found cannot be answered with cer-
tainty though it would seem to be entirely probable. If
there are any such fields Mr. Blatchley's report will be of
the greatest assistance when they are found as well as in
further work in southeastern Illinois.
University of California publications, Berkeley, 1913:
The Petrographic Designation of Alluvial Fan Forma-
tions. By Andrew C. Lawson. Vol. 7, No. 15. P. 10.
Preliminary Report on the Horses of Rancho La Brea.
By John C. Merriam. Vol. 7, No. 21. P. 22. 111.
New Anchiteriine Horses from the Tertiary of the Great
Basin Area. By John C. Merriam. Vol. 7, No. 22. P. 16. 111.
New Protohippine Horses from Tertiary Beds on the
Western Border of the Mohave Desert. By John C. Merriam.
Vol. 7, No. 23. P. 7. 111.
Is the Boulder 'Batholith' a Laccolith? A problem in
ore genesis. By Andrew C. Lawson. Vol. 8, No. 1. P. 16.
•
New Zealand Geological Survey publications, Wellington,
1913:
List of the Minerals of New Zealand. By P. G. Morgan
and J. A. Bartrum. P. 32. This country contains a large
number of minerals, but so far many of them have not been
found in commercial quantities.
Seventh Annual Report of the Geological Survey. P. 23.
Maps. This work included field work in the Buller-Mokihinui
subdivision, the coal possibilities of the Westport flats, cement
materials near Cape Foulwind, Poerua gold mine, boring for
coal near Nelson, building material near Nelson, geology of
the Te Puke district, and other investigations.
Mineral Production of British Columbia, 1913. Prelimi-
nary review and estimate by Wm. Fleet Robertson. Bulletin
No. 1, 1914. P. 35. Victoria, B. C, 1914. This publication
was reviewed in this journal January 24, 1914.
Mine operators and others who wish a copy of the California
law covering workingmen's compensation can obtain it upon
request addressed to the Industrial Accident Commission, 525
Market street, San Franc:sco.
'Science has no enemy save the ignorant.'
Whole No. 2801 ZXriI
San Francisco, March 28, 1914
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SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL! Page.
Notes 517
United States Steel Corporation Report and Finances.. 51S
Sodium and Potassium Cyanides 519
AHTULESs
Relative Efficiency of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide.
Charles Butters 520
Functions of a Mint 521
Ore Treatmenl at the Prestea Block. .Hugh F Marriott 52:'
Hydraulkklng on the Klamath River J. H. Theller 523
Costs at Ui.- Simmer \- .lark .Mini- 526
The Brown Patents I lecislon 527
Treatment of Tailing at Butte Reduction Works
Bancroft Gore 529
A Screw Classifier and Kine Ore feeder. .S. A. Worcester 530
Smelting of Ores and Metals 532
Suggested Method of Standard Screen Tests
Lloyd Robey 533
Geological Sketch of the Property of the Hayden Gold
Mines, Ltd W. S. Dobbs 534
Gold Recovery from Mint Residue Harold French 535
Whistle Signals 536
The Mt. Morgan ' irebody 536
Gold Output of Bendigo in 1913 537
' Iperatlng Tine in the Klondike 537
DISCISSION:
The Rand Banket ......... David Draper 538
How close Can i'ou Estimate Heights.' V \\ . Geiger 539
CONCENTRATES 5 to
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 5 11
GENERAL MININC NEWS 545
DEPARTMKVl'S:
Personal %*$
The Metal Markets 550
The Stock Markets 551
Company Rep., its *>*-
Book Reviews • • ■ ■. 5o4
Decisions Relating to Mining 555
Recent Publications
Recent Patents
Industrial Progress
655
556
556
EDITORIAL
"IV^IXK OWNERS operating in .Mexico have been
■"•*■ unable in certain places to pay the customary
taxes because of the disturbed conditions of the coun-
try and the closing of the tax offices. In all such
cases, it has been ordered that titles be not forfeited
until a sufficient time after the reopening of such
offices to determine whether or not the operator wishes
to continue his ownership.
rplTLES to mining claims in Western Australia are
■*■ granted on certain terms for a period of twenty-
one years, renewable for a like term at the pleasure
of the state government. In 1893 the Great Boulder
Perseverance property of 24 acres, at Kalgoorlie, was
located, and recently a renewal of the lease was al-
lowed. Since the start of operations the mine has
produced approximately 2.470.000 tons of ore, yield-
ing gold worth $26,100,000, of which $7,000,000 has
been paid in dividends.
T^STl .MATES id' the on' reserve at the A.jo property
-LJ of the Calumet & Arizona Copper Company, an-
nounced in the annual report made public this week,
total 40,258.000 tons with an average copper content of
1.51 per cent. Of this 28,303,600 is sulphide ore contain-
ing 1.50 per cent copper and 32,481,200 tons is available
by steam-shovel mining. Experiments are being made
upon leaching the carbonate ore by a new process with
every prospect of success, and flotation has been found
to give an excellent recovery of the sulphides. A new
'porphyry' is evidently about to he brought into pro-
duction.
A N aspirin <; author is said to have been advised by
■**■ a veteran compiler of comic operas that the
essential requirement was to have a large chorus, to
keep it well down in front, and to have it sing all
the time: the words were unimportant. This advice
seems to have been taken to heart by one of our suc-
cessful firms of brokers, as it makes liberal use of
special despatches from the Alaskan manager in the
New York office on every occasion. One recently pub-
lished announced that the workings were now in a
•"very fine quality of Gabbro quart/ and Galena free
gold." Evidently the words do not matter if such
rubbish sells shares. The manager in this case is a
technical man who knows better ami should write his
cables with more care.
518
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
QUEER ways to raise capital are continually com-
ing to light. The Wall Street Journal recently
printed an advertisement from a confiding Argentinian
who wished capital for exploration and development
of a gold mine in his country on the basis of retaining
a 30 per cent royalty. The only evidence submitted
that the mine was valuable, was the statement that
chemists of the Argentinian mint had analyzed the ore
and found it to contain 87% grains, 8 grams per 1000
kilograms, roughly $9 per ton. It is a long venture
to make on one assay.
STANDARDIZATION is the order of the day, and
*-* engineers will read with interest the suggestion
of Mr. Lloyd Robey with regard to the need of stand-
ardizing screen tests and a method of accomplishing
uniform results. Mr. Robey 's discussion of the sub-
ject is based upon work done while superintendent
of the mill and cyanide plant of the New York &
Honduras Rosario Mining Company, and this, with
the significant results of Mr. E. M. Hamilton's studies
of cyanide at the Butters Divisadero which we also
print, draws attention to the fact that Central America
is more than a land of perennial revolutions ; it is
a region in which technological studies of moment are
being conducted and mining is done by most modern
methods.
Tyi"EDICAL examination of men applying for work
■"•*■ will be required at the Copper Queen mines here-
after. This is the natural and inevitable result of the
newer laws regarding compensation for accidents. If
the companies must assume the direct burden of ex-
pense in all industrial accidents, they must necessarily
refuse to employ men who are not physically able for
the work to be performed. The reasons are as sound
as those that forbid a railroad employing a man who
is color-blind as switchman or locomotive engineer.
It is probable that in time a certificate of physical
soundness will be required at all the larger mines.
About two years ago this requirement was made at
a number of New Zealand mines, and, while there were
minor strikes as a result, the system was adopted and
is now in force. A defective has no place in a mine.
United States Steel Corporation Report and
Finances
Publication of the report of the United States Steel
Corporation for 1913 brings out, as usual, most inter-
esting figures. The Corporation is our largest indus-
trial concern, and its business is eagerly watched as
an index of prosperity, just as its methods are widely
copied as reflecting the best development of corpora-
tion management. In general, public opinion is not
unfriendly to the Steel Corporation. It is recognized
that, passing the initial injection of water into the
capital, the company has been ably and conservatively
managed. While manufacturing costs have increased
rather than the reverse, and hence fail somewhat to
confirm the enthusiastic claims for efficiency of large
units that were especially current at the time the Cor-
poration was formed, methods of production have been
improved, quality has been maintained, working con-
ditions, while still leaving much to be desired, are dis-
tinctly better and are steadily improving, foreign trade
has been greatly stimulated, and the competition of
the so-called 'trust' has been fair and even generous.
If prices have been maintained at an artificial level,
as permitted by our tariff laws, they, at least, have
not been pushed to the limit during periods of unusual
demand. On the whole, we believe that the general
public looks upon the United States Steel Corporation
as a successful venture into big business, and wishes
it well rather than the reverse.
In 1913 business opened well and heavy orders were
carried over. As a result, the output of plates and
finished products equaled 88 per cent of the total
annual capacity of the mills. The cement production
amounted to 93 per cent of capacity. Taking into
account the amount of plant that must always be
down for one reason or another, this is an excellent
showing, only dimmed by the heavy curtailment of
the last quarter of the year. The size of the business
conducted is well known and need not be restated. It
is sufficient to say that 28.837,451 tons of iron ore
was mined, that the blast-furnace production amounted
to 14,080,730 tons, and that a total of 12,374,838 tons
of iron and steel products were sold. The figures are
large, but not strikingly different from those for
1912, nor, presumably, from those that will be an-
nounced for 1914 and immediately succeeding years.
There is another phase of the annual report that de-
serves more attention.
When the Corporation was organized, preferred and
common stock was issued. Shortly thereafter, part
of the preferred stock, drawing 7 per cent dividends,
was exchanged for bonds paying 5 per cent. At pres-
ent the Corporation has outstanding bonds and de-
bentures amounting to $627,097,376: preferred stock.
$360,281.100 : and common stock, $508,302,500. In ad-
dition there is $589,542 outstanding in the stock of
subsidiary companies not held by the Corporation and
$9,865,809 of purchase money certificates and similar
obligations. In a broad way, all the common stock
represented water when the Corporation was formed,
and much of the preferred stock had represented
water when the constituent companies had been organ-
ized. Since the United States Steel Corporation began
operations, it has consistently put excess earnings back
into the business until much of the stock that origin-
ally stood for water now stands for property and
plant. In the judgment of some students there is
property to cover the whole of the securities. In the
meantime bonds have been maturing, and have been
retired, though it is to be noted that other bonds have
been issued. For example, from April 1 to December
1. bonds and mortgages aggregating $110,158,174 were
retired, but during the same period there was $106,-
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
519
757,480 of new bonds and mortgages issued, sold, or
assumed. There is now a total of $9,388,000 in bonds
subject to sale; practically the amount needed to re-
tire the certificates issued in the course of the year
in purchase for iron ore properties. Apparently the
Corporation makes little headway in the matter of
retiring its fixed obligations, and in that it but fol-
lows the usual custom of American corporations polit-
ical and private. It is being rapidly forgotten that
a bond is a note, secured usually by a mortgage. A
farmer expects to pay off the mortgage on his farm,
and we think him a poor financier if he does not do
so. But the managers of big business corporations
apparently have given up all hopes of 'paying the
mortgage/ All they expect to do is to issue new
bonds in place of old ones, and, if the market be not
propitious, they substitute short-time, high-rate notes
or certificates, in hopes that a better financial season
may follow.
This is even more true of municipal financing than
of corporation management, and as a result we are
levying a permanent tax on industry. Probably the
reason that manufacture of pig iron costs more per ton
now than formerly is the large interest charge; which
enters into all phases of manufacturing cost. It is
one of the elements in the much discussed increased
cost of living. Where will it end? It is said that
when Switzerland nationalized its railways, an actu-
ary was employed, a proper sinking fund established,
and in time the bonds which represented the first cost
were retired. The example seems worth while. Min-
ing companies must retire their debentures, since their
raw material eventually comes to an end. Why should
not manufacturing and transportation companies be
held to the same requirement? It is impossible to
assume 1hat future generations will meet the obliga-
tions if there be no real wiping out of indebtedness
as we go. There will inevitably be repudiation on a
large scale, just as has happened a number of times
in the past. In issuing refunding bonds, our finan-
ciers merely deceive themselves.
The importance of this in connection with the Steel
Corporation report lies in connection with the sug-
gestion there made that bonds may be issued to offset
the cost of the new steel plant at Duluth. If this is
to be generally done, we believe it will be bad policy
as well as bad business. The Corporation assumed a
heavy load of water when it began its career. The
public has been tolerant so long as profits were going
back into the business, but if new plant is to represent
new debt, with a corresponding higher interest charge
entering into manufacturing costs, the demand for a
return to old conditions and for absolute free trade
will undoubtedly receive strong stimulus. It will hit
the Corporation first and will hit it hard, because the
Corporation is large and conspicuous; not because it
necessarily deserves punishment more than others.
Probably its record, in fact, is clearer than those of
most of the big corporations, and certainly it is better
than those of most American cities. Such facts, how-
ever, rarely influence the course of political action
when a movement has gained headway. If the farmer
pays his mortgage, why not the financier?
Sodium and Potassium Cyanides
Cyanogen is the active element in solution of gold
and silver in the well known cyanide process. There
would seem to be no reason why the effectiveness of
the reagent chosen should not be measured by the
amount of cyanogen present, unless there are condi-
tions under which only part of it is made free to re-
combine. Acting on the assumption that it was all
available, the sodium cyanides, because of lower price,
have come into wide use with a curious nomenclature ;
'130 per cent' cyanide, meaning a compound having a
strength of 130 as compared with the 100 of potassium
cyanide. In this issue Mr. Charles Butters presents
figures carefully tabulated and showing that under
certain conditions, at least, the sodium cyanide fails to
give the results theoretically anticipated. The source
of the figures, and their completeness, set at rest any
question of their accuracy. They must be accepted at
their face value. The important questiou is whether
they point to an exception or a rule, and we hope other
metallurgists will follow Mr. Butters' example in send-
ing us results of tests that they have made. A hasty
inquiry develops the fact that at one large property a
careful series of tests showed that because of lower
extraction the sodium cyanide was not economical even
if furnished free. An equally careful test made by the
same metallurgist at another property showed that the
value of the salt was directly proportional to the
amount of cyanogen present. Evidently the character
of the ore is an important matter. Neither Mr. But-
ters, Mr. Hamilton, nor Mr. Clennell is prepared at
present to offer an explanation of why the reagents
do not accomplish the result that by all known laws
of chemistry should be brought about. There is a hint
that other elements in the salt may or may not enter
into the reaction in particular cases, but the whole
subject evidently needs renewed investigation. The
metallurgical world has evidently too soon settled
down to the comfortable feeling that the chemistry of
cyanidation was known and that mechanical improve-
ments only were to be expected. The manufacture of
the cyanides is a highly special industry calling for
much technical knowledge, and now that attention is
directed to the matter, important aid in solution of
the problem may be expected from the manufacturers.
It is their business to produce the salt that can be most
economically used in each situation ; a matter in which
they have shown much skill. The men in the field must
help by determining what the actual results of mill
work are under widely differing conditions. It is not a
case for jumping at conclusions, but for painstaking
study of records and the making of careful tests. Send
in your results as fast as they are obtained so that
each may benefit by 1he other's experience.
520
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Relative Efficiency of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide
By Charles Butters
On mv recent trip to my mines in Salvador, I had
our consulting engineer, E. M. Hamilton, get up for
me a table showing the residts obtained at Divisadero
upon the various kinds and strengths of cyanide that
we have been using for the last seven years. There
has been a continual discussion going on among our
staff as to which was the best kind and strength of
cyanide to use at our various mines. At our Minas
Prietas works in Mexico, M. F. Perry determined that
the ordinary cyanide of 99% strength was more eco-
nomical for us than the 130%. This was not deter-
mined on a small scale, but after many months' run
upon the same kind of ore until it was conclusively
settled that the so-called 130% cyanide was more ex-
pensive for us than the 99 per cent.
I asked Mr. Hamilton to write out for me a few
notes which are appended, together with the table
which he compiled for me, and comment by J. E. f'len-
nell. I am sure these figures will be of great interest
and I should be very much pleased if my brother met-
allurgists would go through their books and make up.
if possible, a similar set of figures.
It is by no means certain that the same results will
be obtained everywhere, and it may be that there is
something in this that every metallurgist should go
into carefully. Naturally. I am obliged to face these
figures for Divisadero and order 99% cyanide. 1 am
satisfied that this will not suit the cyanide manufac-
turers, but if the above facts are found to be true
in many places, the manufacturers of cyanide will have
to meet them.
The Detailed Figures
Mr. Hamilton's table of figures is gi\en opposite
and his comment follows :
From time to time in the technical press the question
of the respective merits of 'potassium cyanide 99%'
and 'sodium cyanide 130%' have been brought for-
ward. At the Butters Salvador mines and the Divisa-
dero mine of the Butters Divisadero Co. certain small
indications have lately led to a reopening of this ques-
tion as far as it concerns the above-named companies.
At the Divisadero mine a table was compiled from
the metallurgical sheets and store books covering the
whole period during which the mill has been runninsr.
from its start in 1906 down to December 1913. Dur-
ing this period there has been uniform metallurgical
treatment, and an apparent general uniformity in the
kind of ore sent to the mill ; in a word, there has been
no variation in conditions apparent during this time
which might reasonably account for any such differ-
ences as are shown in the table. The figures cover
long periods, and it is to be noticed that on the 997c
side the extractions show a large preponderance in
the nineties, whereas from the end of 1911, where the
change back to 130% occurs, up to the end of 1913,
the nineties are conspicuous by their absence.
In the cyanide columns there is debited against the
130% a loss of 30% plus V» lb. of 130% cyanide. Tak-
ing the price laid down at the mine as 17e. gold per
pound of 100%, or 22c. gold per pound of 130%. this
shows a loss of 30% at 17c. (or 5c.) plus :/2 lb. at 22c.
(or lie), giving a total of 16c. per ton of ore. Add
to this a loss of 3.4% on extraction, which on a head
assay-value of $6 per ton amounts to 20c, and there
is a combined loss of 36c. per ton of ore, or $3200 per
month on a basis of 9000 tons.
I offer no explanation of these figures because I
have none to offer, but in the light of them there is
no option but to order 99% cyanide for the future.
I hope that the various makers will take notice of
these figures and try to shed some light thereon for
the benefit of the mining industry. May I also be
permitted to express a hope that in the event of an
increased demand for the lower grade cyanide, they
will not seize the opportunity to dilute 130% sodium
cyanide down to 99% by the simple addition of sodium
chloride or carbonate, but will continue to furnish a
double salt containing a fair proportion of potassium
cyanide, on the lines of that which used to be sup-
plied eight or ten years ago?
What Is the Cause?
Upon this Mr. Clennell comments as follows:
In reference to the question of difference between
so-called '99% potassium cyanide' and '130% sodium
cyanide' I have never investigated this point on a
working scale, but have on several occasions made
small-scale experiments in which the invariable result
has been to show that solutions containing equal
amounts of cyanogen give identical results, whatever
the nature of the metal with which it is combined. It-
is quite possible that in a particular ore the presence
of sodium chloride or sodium carbonate may be bene-
ficial. Not knowing all the circumstances, it is im-
possible to say whether the difference shown in Mr.
Hamilton's figures is really due to the different brands
of cyanide or to some other cause.
Tungsten ores were produced during 1913 in six
of the western states. Colorado, California. Idaho.
Arizona, South Dakota, and Nevada, according to
Frank L. Hess, of the U. S. Geological Survey. The
output for 1913 was equivalent to 1525 tons of ore
carrying 60% of tungsten trioxide (WOs), and was
valued at about $640,500. The production in 1912
was 1330 tons, valued at $502,158. Boulder county,
Colorado, produced 953 tons of ferberite during 1913.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
521
CYANIDE CONSUMPTION AND COMBINED EXTRACTION, BUTTERS DIVISADERO COMPANY
Year.
1906
1907
1908
1912
1913
Sodium Cyanide, 130%
Lb. per ton
of ore.
5.3
Month.
May |
JuneJ
July 3.3
August 3.7
September 3.6
October 5.3
November 3.9
December 4.3
January 3.8
February 2.8
March 2.7
April 2.6
May 2.7
June 2.7
July 2.6
August 2.7
September 2.6
October 3.4
November 3.6
December 3.1
January 3.4
February 2.9
March
January
February
March 1.8
April 2.0
May 1.8
June 18
July 2.2
August 2.0
September 1.3
October 1.3
November
December
January 1.6
February 1-9
March 2.0
April 2.2
May 2.0
June 2.4
July 2.0
August !•'
September 2.1
October 1-"*
November
December I-4
Extraction,
per cent.
91.7
89.5
91.0
91.2
91.7
93.1
91.8
94.3
91.4
89.6
89.6
88.9
89.5
89.1
88.4
89.5
82.9
80.9
85.6
89.2
91.2
88.7
90.6
89.6
88.3
88.7
88.9
87.8
Average
2.64
89.6
87.9
85.3
86.9
87.4
82.5
85.8
85.8
81.1
90.0
92.8
88.6
Cyanide, 99%
Lb
Year.
1908
1909
1910
1911
Month.
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . .
November
December
January . .
February .
March ....
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . .
November
December .
January . .
February .
March ....
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . .
November
December
January . .
February .
March ....
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . . .
November
December .
per ton
of ore.
3.0
3.0
2.9
3.6
3.6
2.9
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.0
2.1
1.6
2.3
2.1
1.4
1.3
1.6
l.S
1.9
1.6
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.7
shut
2.4
2 2
2.0
2.1
2 3
1.8
2.1
1.9
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.1
2.1
'2.0
1.9
2.0
2.1
1.8
Average 2.17
Extraction,
per cent.
88.7
92.5
91.9
92.7
92.3
91.9
92.5
91.5
92.6
93.2
94.3
93.7
93.0
94.9
95.0
94.5
94. S
94.3
91.9
87.4
88.7
90.6
S8.1
88.8
down
92.0
92.9
92.5
92.3
S9.2
92.6
92.7
91.7
91.7
93.8
93.S
91.2
91.9
91.3
92.2
91.1
90.4
90.5
92.0
•Sodium cyanide 120%.
Note. The months left blank are those in which both kinds of cyanide were used in the plant.
Functions of a Mint
It is quite a fallacy to imagine that a mint can en-
sure the circulation of gold in a country. In many
a European country where a gold mint exists, gold
currency is conspicuous by its absence. The mint no
more performs the operation of supplying currency
than the atrophied eyes of fish in the Kentucky caves
perform the action of sight, according to Samuel
Montagu & Co. of London. The essential function of
a gold mint is to provide for the internal needs of the
country that sets it up. Unless that country possess
the power to put gold coin to common use, the only
circulation would he similar to that which ensued
when the daughters of Danaus, of ancient mythology,
were condemned to pour water into a cask with no
bottom, namely, a circulation not in. hut outside the
cask. If a country possess a balance of trade in its
favor, and be suited by custom and individual wealth
to handle gold coin, a gold mint becomes a useful
adjunct to its currency system.
522
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Ore Treatment at the Prestea Block
By Hugh F. Marriott
•This mine is situated in the Gold Coast Colony,
West Africa. It is provided with three shafts. The
main shaft is equipped with a steel head-frame con-
taining two jaw-crushers, and is served by a direct-
acting steam hoist. At the north shaft hoisting is done
by an electric main engine and an electric sinking and
main engine. An aerial ropeway conveys ore as broken
in the mine from shaft bins to crusher station.
The crusher station has a bin capacity of 470 tons
and is equipped with three electrically driven jaw-
crnshers, each capable of crushing 40 tons per hour.
Prom the foot of the crusher station the ore is again
elevated by an aerial ropeway to the level of the top
of the mill and is dumped into the mill bins. The mill
bin capacity is 1550 tons, thus making the total bin
capacity on the surface 2600 tons, or, at 25,000 tons
per month, three days' supply.
The mill consists of 110 stamps, and crushes an av-
erage of 8.6 tons per stamp per 24 hours through 10-
mesh screens. Grading tests have been made on ore
taken from the bins to ascertain the effect of the fine
material on the subsequent treatment processes. There
is not yet sufficient evidence that any variation of pro-
cedure at this stage will be of advantage. The pulp
from the mill is collected in a launder and conducted
to the Cobbe-Middleton pan house. Following on the
suggestion of W. K. Feldtmann in his recent report, a
set of spitzluten is being erected at this point to re-
lieve the pans of the material which does not require
finer grinding. This will now pass directly to the
amalgamating tables. The experimental tests indi-
cate that by this means the whole work of regrinding
can be accomplished by 70% of the pan equipment.
The surplus pans will thus constitute a useful standby.
An automatic sampler has also been introduced im-
mediately below the mill, and is designed to give an
accurate record of the total gold content of the ma-
terial passing from the mine into the reduction plant.
This will be further dealt with later on. The coarser
material from the mill is further crushed by the pans
to a plus and minus 60 product. The reground material
from the pan-house flows to the amalgamating tables,
the concentrate clean-up from each pan having been
first subjected to amalgamation in one locked pan,
which is specially used for this purpose. The remain-
ing coarse sand which passes the pans is separated in
spitzluten and sent to three Bigelow pans and thence
returned with the main product to the amalgamat-
ing tables. These are apportioned as required to the
coarser or finer products. They have hitherto been run
as shaking tables, but experiments are now being made
to see if they will not catch an equal amount of gold
as fixed tables and thus save much of the attention and
cost of upkeep. The preliminary experiments have
♦Abstract from a report made on the property In 1913.
been successful as far as the finer material is concerned,
but the tables containing the coarser material were
found to scour. This difficulty should disappear when
the hydraulic separation and secondary regrinding
equipments are installed and adjusted.
The gold caught by amalgamation constitutes 56.8%
of the total product. The pulp is again classified hy-
draulically, and then passed over Wilfley concentrating
tables. The concentrate goes to roasting furnaces and
the tailing to the cyanide vats. The tendency is to in-
crease the amount going to the roasters, as it is con-
sidered that a better extraction and greater profit are
obtained by this system. The roasted ore is fed into
Bigelow pans, where it is both amalgamated and
treated with cyanide at the same time, and, after being
subjected to further agitation and cyanide, is filter-
pressed and the solution passed through a zinc-box.
The concentrate going to the roasting department is
more than can be dealt with by one furnace, but when
the new one is installed the capacity of the plant should
be adequate. The gold recovered from the roasting de-
partment is 18% of the total product, and the extrac-
tion by this process is 95%. The tailing from the
Wilfley tables runs into collecting tanks and is then
transferred to leaching vats by belt-conveyors and sub-
jected to ordinary treatment. The gold recovered in
the cyanide plant is 6.2% of the total product, and the
extraction by this process is 34%. The sand residue
assays about $1.62 per ton. The tailing is removed by
cars running under the vats, and the quantity required
for refilling the stopes in the mine, about half the total
output, is drawn to the heads of the various filling
passes by locomotives, while the remainder is run out
to tailing dumps by hand labor. Owing to the in-
creasing distance of dumping points on level ground,
the disposal of tailing by the present method has be-
come inconvenient and expensive, and arrangements
are being made to elevate the cars on an incline plane
by mechanical haulage, thus bringing into use a large
area of dumping ground much nearer the cyanide
works. The slime, which is separated out above the
Wilfley tables, runs into the slime pond and remains
untreated. It is estimated to contain about $2.40 per
ton of dry slime. Various experiments have been made
from time to time on this product with a view to re-
covering a profit therefrom. The most recent have been
to pass the slime over a concentrating table and to
agitate the concentrated product with cyanide. Ex-
periments have also been made in agitating the whole
of the slime with cyanide without separating out the
concentrate. The increased extraction obtained by con-
centration does not justify the extra cost of installing
and running the necessary plant. It has therefore been
decided to proceed on the lines of dewatering the slime
as far as possible and to treat the whole of the de-
watered material with cyanide in agitating vats. The
experiments in this direction have resulted in a re-
covery of 96c. out of a total gold content of $2.40 per
ton of dry slime.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
523
Hydraulicking on the Klamath River
By J. H. Theller
The debris law does not affect Siskiyou county, as
the drainage is directly westward to the Pacific ocean,
hence hydraulic mining in this county is still carried on.
The River Bend mine is on the Klamath river, 25
miles west from Hornbrooke, 25 miles north from
Yreka, and 15 miles east from the junction of the
Klamath and Scott rivers. The prevailing rocks of the
country in that vicinity are granites and schists. It is
the former that largely contributes so many rich
pockets to the prospector. The deposit which is being
mined is an ancient channel of the Klamath river, run-
ning nearly parallel to its present course, but lower
than it. Prom the work already performed, the old
channel shows a width of 100 ft. from rim to rim,
although prospect drifts run at intervals of 600 ft.
ahead of the work failed to reach the inner rim.
The prospect work had to be discontinued owing to
bad air, hence no definite results were obtained, al-
though indications point to the widening of the
channel.
Character of Bedrock
The bedrock is a hard schist, very rough and water-
worn, with a general dip to the southeast. Soft streaks
of black shale are encountered at intervals. This shale
is highly tilted, forming an excellent stopping place
for the gold already caught. In cleaning this shale it
is found advisable not to strip it clean with the giant,
hut to have men pick it at right angles to the dip to a
depth of about two feet. If it be washed clean with
the giant or taken up parallel to the dip, the gold sinks
deeper and is lost. The hard bedrock is different; it
may be piped clean, the crevices only being cleaned
by hand. Where this soft bedrock occurs, large quan-
tities of gold are found. In the centre of the channel
the bedrock is high and very hard, falling off abruptly
on either side about six or eight feet, where it again
rises forming the rims. At the contact of the hard
schist and shale there is a blue clay separating the
two. This is termed 'sluice robber', as any gold con-
tained in or picked up by it will be carried through the
sluices. We have experienced no trouble in handling
it, since the clay is entirely broken up when hit by the
stream of the elevator, thus delivering any gold con-
tained therein to the riffles.
The bedrock is, on an average, at a depth of 30 ft.,
the best gravel occurring within 5 ft. of the bottom,
although the pay-streak has an average depth of 10 ft.
The gravel-gold is much lighter in weight than the
bedrock-gold, although the former has a greater fine-
ness than the latter. Resting on the pay-streak is a
gravel of finer texture, but of poorer grade. Topping
this is overburden. The entire mass constitutes a bank
about 30 ft. high.
The pay-gravel is dark blue in color, and consists of
heavy, well r oiinded
rocks, together with
much wash. It has a
shingled appearance
while in place, contains
medium sized boulders,
the largest of which
weigh from 500 to 1000
lb. 'Bulldozing' has been
found more economical
than moving them with
a derrick. All boulders larger than 10y2 in. diameter
must be broken, or thrown aside on a clean strip of bed-
rock, as the size of the elevator throat is 10y2 in. Black
sand forms but a small part of the gravel. Although
the degree of concentration is not definitely known it
will approximate one-quarter of a pound of black sand
per cubic yard of gravel. Assays of it show no plat-
inum, and it is valueless except for the free 'flour gold'
which it contains. Sulphide minerals, such as cubical
iron pyrite and arsenopyrite. which occur in the gravel
also mineralize the bedrock. They assay $18 per ton.
but no attempt is made to save them. It is chiefly due
to these sulphides that the pit-water, or water flowing
from cracks in bedrock, is heavily charged with arsenic.
This water attacks all parts of metal with which it
comes in contact, so that it is found necessary to paint
with asphaltum all pipe-lines, parts of the elevator, and
other pieces of metal which are in contact with the
pit-water.
Water Supply
The water supply is from two separate sources. The
system includes 11 miles of ditch and l1 [> miles of flume.
The ditch supplying the two giants and the 8-in. Evans
water-lift brings the water from Dogget creek, two
miles east of the mine, and delivers it to a penstock 115
ft. above the works. The ditch carries an average of
350 miners inches. The pipe-line at the intake is 22 in.
tapering to 13 in.; branches feeding the giants are 11
in.; the branch supplying the lift is 11 in. tapering to
9 in. The water-lift is used only in case of an
emergency, such as the choking of the elevator. The
elevator-water is brought from Buckhorn creek, ten
miles to the west. The main ditch is 4 ft. on the top,
2*/2 ft. deep, and 2 ft. wide on the bottom. The grade
is % inch in I6V2 ft. It will convey 700 miners inches
of water, but only carries 375 at the present time. The
water is delivered a distance of two miles to a point
2000 ft. above the property. From there it is conveyed
down the mountain through a flume for one mile, dis-
charging into a gulch which takes the water the re-
maining distance. It is caught by a dam 375 ft. above
the mine, from which it flows to a penstock, and thence
through a pipe-line to the elevator. The pipe at the
524
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
intake of the penstock is 24 in. diameter, tapering to
11 in. at the nozzle of the elevator. The length of the
pipe-line is 1040 ft. Slip-joint pipe is used until water-
level is reached, and flanged pipe from that point to
the elevator.
There are two giants (No. 2 Joshua Hendy) in
operation. They consume approximately 350 miners
inches of water, working at an effective head of 90
to 100 ft. Three and three and one-half-inch nozzles
are used. One of the giants is used to cave the gravel,
the other to drive it to the elevator. The elevator is
one of the Campbell type, having a 3Yi>-m. nozzle, a
10%-in. throat, and a 14-in. upcast pipe. It uses 375
in. of water under an effective head of 325 ft. It is
set ip a sump 10 ft. deep, in bedrock. The sump is six
feet square at the collar, tapering to four feet at the
bottom. The elevator is set at an inclination of 70°.
The height of elevation is 46 ft. vertically from the top
of the nozzle to the top of the blocks in the head-blocks,
insuring sufficient dump to the river. It may be stated
in passing that no trouble is experienced with the tail-
ing after the current of the river is reached.
The following table is made up from daily averages
throughout the season of six months during 1912-1913 :
Cubic yards of gravel washed per day 417.00
Miner's inches of water per day (24 hr.) 350.00
Cubic yards of gravel washed per miner's inch 1.19
Cubic feet of water per cubic foot of gravel washed. 67.00
Cubic feet of giant-water to be lifted per minute... 525.00
Cubic feet of seepage water to be lifted per minute. *45.00
Total flow in elevator upraise-pipe, cu. ft. per min.. tH32.00
Cubic feet of gravel to be lifted per minute 7.81
Height of banks, feet 30.00
Grade of sluices, inches 7 to 12
♦Estimated.
tElevator feed-water, 375 miner's inches.
The following table is the average working cost per
yard throughout the season, administration charges not
included :
Per day. Per cu. yd.
Foreman and common labor $17.50 $0,041
Freight, supplies, etc 1.00 0.002
Boarding-house 5.S5 0.014
Maintenance, including all dead work 3.22 0.00S
Depreciation of plant, ditch, riffles, giants,
etc 6.6(5 0.015
Total working cost $34.23 $0.0S0
In the above table- is shown the duty of the
miners inch of water per 24 hours in the carrying of
the gravel from the giants to the elevator only. I have
limited the discussion to this in the belief that it is
improper to charge the carrying capacity of the total
water used with that portion of the work of transporta-
tion performed in and beyond the elevator itself: first,
because the giant water has a 'carrying duty' only be-
tween the giant and the elevator. Thereafter it be-
comes 'freight' and has to be itself carried as dead
weight along with the gravel; second, at the elevator
additional 'freight' is presented in the shape of seepage
water that enters the cut in large quantities and has to
be carried away. These two bodies of water, giant and
seepage water, comprise the real load that consumes
the water for the elevator, and we seldom deliver
enough gravel at the elevator to reach the carrying
capacity of the elevator. Therefore, the duty of the
miners inches from the giant to the elevator is the
important consideration and if the elevator carries the
water from its giant it will handle any amount of
gravel the water contains whether it be large or small,
although an excess of sand will choke the elevator.
At the beginning, after setting the elevator, the
gravel bank being close, all gold is caught in the upper
sluices. As the work progresses and the gravel bank
becomes farther away a bedrock flume is necessary.
The first box is set so that its end is 3 in. above the
nozzle of the elevator. This sluice is 20 in. wide on the
bottom, 24 in. deep on the sides, and is set at a grade
of 7 inches in 12 ft. To overlap the joints of the bot-
tom boards of the sluice, false bottoms are put in.
Upon these rest the riffles, held down on the sides by
2 by 4-in. scantlings. The sluice-boxes are built in 12-
ft. lengths of 1^4-in. yellow pine boards. They are
riffled longitudinally and also laterally. The longi-
tudinal riffles are 20-lb. rails, flanged down, spaced with
slip-blocks, giving a 3a/2-in. riffle space on top. These
rails give an ideal surface over which boulders can
travel. The cross riffles are pine blocks 4 in. high,
spaced 2 in. apart. In the second box from the head,
Hungarian riffles are kept. They are taken up every
three days. It is easier and quicker to handle them
than the longitudinal or block riffles. Eighty per cent
of the gold recovered is caught in the bedrock sluice
and the elevator sump.
Ptmt<xk
FIG. 1. PLAN OF WORKINGS.
The elevator raises the gravel to the upper sluices
and through them it runs to the river. The head box
is 6 ft. high, 12 ft. long, tapering from 48 to 32 in.
The bottom boards are la/2-in. yellow pine covered with
l^-in. false bottoms of the same material. In addition,
back and top are made of l^-in. lumber, lined with
14-in. steel plates. It is yoked on the sides every three
feet with 4 by 4-in. timbers. A slightly curved hood of
cast iron, 4 ft. long, 30 in. wide, and 4 in. thick, is
bolted to the top of the box. This stops the upward
trend of the water and gravel, directing it down the
sluiceway.
The sluices are built in separate units. Each box is
12 ft. long, 32 in. wide, and 24 in. high. They are set
on a grade of 6 inches in 12 ft., and are built of iy2-in.
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
525
'>
GIANTS. SLUICES, AND BEDROCK AT KIVER HEM
526
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
yellow pine lumber, yoked every 4 ft. with 3 by 4-in. sixth boxes. From there on the quantity falls off
yokes. rapidly. Beyond the tenth box it is not economically
The bottom of each box is covered with a planed saved, hence attention and labor may well be directed
false bottom, down to and including the eighth box.
The false bottom for the other 12 boxes are of unplaned
lumber.
Owing to the wear of the constantly falling boulders
on the bottom of the head-box, blocks 12 by 12 by 12
in. were used. These were built close together with no
w— jA— ^
Fig. 2.
riffle space between the sets (Fig. 2), no attempt being
made to save gold in this box. From the head-box to
the first box in the sluice there is a drop of 3 in. The
blocks in this space, together with the succeeding four
boxes are 9 by 9 in. Experiments showed better re-
sults by spacing the blocks 1 in. apart in each set and
separating each set by 2 in. This gives a longitudinal
as well as a lateral riffle. The longitudinal space be-
tween the blocks is staggered. This is accomplished
by varying the widths of the first block in the set (Fig.
3). This style continues for the next three boxes.
Fig. 3.
There is a drop of 3 in. to the box containing the
Hungarian riffles. These are angle-iron sections run-
ning laterally across the sluice. They are bolted to
iron strips which tie a set of the bars together. Each
of these sets is 2 ft. long, and contain eight bars, thus
producing a riffle space of 3 in. (Fig. 4).
This type continues for two boxes where a drop of 2 in.
brings the material onto the longitudinal rails. These
are of the same kind already described in the ground-
sluice. The space at the top is 3^ in., nine rails to the
box (Fiji'. 5 and Fig. 6). These continue for two
boxes, where again one box of block riffles is placed.
This takes us to the tenth box. From here to the end,
gold becomes so scarce that it hardly pays to clean up.
From the tenth box to the twentieth and last, old rails,
scrap iron, and the like, and placed on the bottom of
the boxes to save wear. Quicksilver is used from the
fourth to the tenth box. It is an interesting fact to
note that in a set of boxes, 25% of the gold is caught
in the different sudden drops from one riffle to the next
lower one.
Most of the gold is caught in the fourth, fifth, and
Fig. 4. arrangement of biffles.
elsewhere. The reason more gold is not caught in
the first three boxes may be explained by the fact that
the gravel is given such momentum by the elevator
that two or three boxes are required for the separation
Fig. 5.
Tr-
ial
IT
b:
Fig. 6.
of the different particles according to their respective
specific gravities, and in order to allow the particles to
fall with the riffles.
Costs at the Simmer & Jack Mine
During the past fiscal year there was treated 912.200
tons of ore, yielding 230,644 oz. fine gold at the fol-
lowing cost:
Per ton.
Development $1.60
Mining 0.04
Ore transport, sorting,
crushing 0.08
Stamping 0.22
Tube-milling 0.12
Per ton.
Sand treatment $0.20
Slime treatment 0.13
General expenses ....:.. 0.23
Equipment 0.02
Total $2.64
Two blast-furnaces are working regularly at
Katanga. Tanganyika Concessions, Central Africa,
producing 1000 tons of copper per month. It has
been decided to erect four more furnaces.
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
W21
The Brown Patents Decision
The decision in the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals for the Third Circuit on appeal from the Dis-
trict Court of the United States for the District of
Delaware, of the case of Joseph A. Vincent, owner of
patent 781,711, granted to Alden II. Brown, February
7, 1905, for a process of treating precious metal bearing
ores, and charging the Tonopah Mining Co. and others
with infringing the two claims thereof, was handed
down last week. The judges were Messrs. Gray, Buf-
fington, and McPherson, the ones who decided the
Moore-Butters controversy, and the following opinion
was written by Mr. Justice Buffington.
Specifications of the Patent
Brown's patent, as recited in the specification, "re-
lates to a process for the treatment of precious metal
bearing ores, and embraces the treatment of the ore
by a solution of cyanide of potassium or of other
alkaline cyanide and the subsequent treatment of the
ore by concentration." The specification states that:
"It has been the practice for many years in plants
where the concentration and cyanide processes are
used in combination, to treat the ore. first, by concen-
tration, and. secondly, by cyanide. The process which
I have invented and which I now have in successful
operation is a reversal of this proceeding with the
addition of certain special features in connection
with the cyanide step."
The second or broad claim is for these two steps in
succession, to wit: "2. A process of treating sulphide
ore consisting first in subjecting the raw or unroasted
ore to the action of a cyanide solution whereby the finer
metallic values are dissolved, and second, subjecting
the ore or tailings to concentration whereby the coarser
values are recovered."
The first claim also includes the two foregoing steps.
but "certain special features in connection with the
cyanide steps." are detailed in the claim, which is:
"1. The herein described process for the treatment of
ore consisting in first pulverizing the ore in the pres-
ence of cyanide solution ; second, subjecting the ore to
hydraulic classification by the introduction of cyanide
solution at the bottom of an overflow tank to produce
an ascending current ; third, leaching the ore by the use
of cyanide solution whereby the finer values of the ore
are dissolved: fourth, removing the dissolved metallic
values from the ore in any suitable manner; and finally
subjecting the residue of ore to concentration."
The cyanide process, which process is described in
Moore p. Tonopah. iMH Fed. Hep. 532, a case in this
court, consists in subjecting metal-bearing ores to
cyanide of potassium dissolved in water. The result is
that the metal is disengaged or dissolved and is carried
in solution. Such solution is then removed from the
residue of the ore by percolation, filtering, or decan-
tation. and is ultimately subjected to electro-chemical
action whereby the precious metal is precipitated.
On the other hand, concentration is a mechanical
process of removal. It is usually done on concentration
tables. Such tables are slightly inclined ami have
grooves, across which the finely divided ore is slowly
carried by a shallow current of water, the table being
given a jerky reciprocating motion. The result is that
the heavy constituents work along and run over tin-
edge of the table at different places from the lighter
ones. It will thus be seen that, the two processes of
cyaniding and concentrating are distinct, well known,
and operative!}- different, one being chemical, the other
mechanical. As noted by the patentee, it was usual to
concentrate first and cyanide last, and the patentee
advised a reversal of this process. His object in so
doing, he states, was because where concentration was
used in advance of cyaniding there was a large loss in
values by reason of the fact that the necessary water
treatment in connection with the reduction of the ores
to a fine state of division resulted in a taking up by the
water of a large percentage of ore values. As a result
it was "difficult, if not impossible, to settle these values
for further treatment within the limits of a plant of
ordinary construction, for the reason that in the case
of many ores these slime values remain in suspension
for many hours. It will therefore be understood that
in the case of ores of this sort, if amalgamation,
concentration, or other process involving the use of
water for crushing or treatment is used preliminary to
the cyanide process, it will be necessary to have a very
extensive system of settling tanks in order to recover
these suspended values and hold them in the mill, so
that they may be subjected to further treatment. It is
a well known fact that the cyanide process recovers
only the fine values, and in the treatment that I have
devised these tine values are recovered by the cyanide
process in the beginning, leaving only the coarser values
which are readily recoverable by concentration, the
latter being specially adapted for saving this class of
values."
No New Principle
It will be noted that no new principle of operation,
either in cyaniding or concentrating themselves was
disclosed in this patent. It was at most simply a more
effective treatment and it will thus be seen that trans-
position of concentration from initial to final stage, and
of cyaniding from final to initial stage is the substan-
tial disclosure of this device. Assuming, for present pur-
poses, that this change was original with Brown, and
that, it involved invention it must be conceded the field
of invention was narrow, and Brown's claims should
not by construction be enlarged to include within in-
fringing fences pi esses which were not within the
528
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
field of his inventive disclosure. Now without 'entering
into details, it suffices to say that the second claim em-
bodies the two elements, of, first, cyaniding, viz., "sub-
jecting the raw or unroasted ore to the action of a cya-
nide solution whereby the. finer metallic values are dis-
solved''— and second, "concentration, whereby the
coarser values are recovered." This claim is perfectly
clear. A reading of the patent shows precisely what
the patentee disclosed, and the claim as precisely claims
that disclosure. There is no ambiguity in either dis-
closure or claim. They are self sufficient and self ex-
planatory. The first element is the use of the well
known cyaniding process as the initial and finished first
step of the process.
The First Step
The specification thus unmistakably refers to both
the initial use and also the completion of cyanid-
ing in this first stage of Brown's process. Thus. "My
invention relates to a process for the treatment * * *
by a solution of cyanide of potassium' • * * and the
subsequent treatment of the ore by concentration.
* * * It has been the practice * * * to treat the ore
first by concentration, and secondly, by cyanide. The
process which I have invented * * * is a reversal of
this proceeding. * * * If * * * concentration * * *
is used preliminary to the cyanide process, it will be
necessary to have a very extensive system of settling
tanks in order to recover these suspended values and
hold them in the mill, so that they may be subjected to
further treatment. * * * In the treatment that I have
devised these fine values are recovered by the cyanide
process in the beginning, leaving only the coarser
values, which are readily recoverable by concentra-
tion." The drawings illustrate a wet crushing plant.
"I will say, however, that so far as the broad idea of
employing the cyanide step previous to concentration is
concerned, the advantage in this respect would be equal-
ly great if dry crushing instead of wet crushing were
employed. * * * From the tanks J T the gold-bearing
solutions pass to the zinc boxes J, J, where the values
are precipitated. * * * After the cyanide treatment
has been completed, the sand tailings from the leaching
tank G are transferred * * * to the tailings bin P.
* * * The mixer K distributes the tailings to the con-
centrating table L." These extracts show that all steps
prior to the sand tailing reaching the concentrating
table, concerned cyaniding and cyaniding alone. In-
deed the cyaniding of Brown's process had. at this
stage, done all that cyaniding was intended to do. Tn
other words, it had resulted, as cyaniding ordinarily
did. in "The gold-bearing solutions pass(ing) to the
zinc boxes J J, where the values are precipitated."
The Second Step
Following this completed process of cyaniding came
the second step of the claim, namely, "subjecting ore
or tailings to concentration where the coarser values
are recovered." Concerning this step there is no
ambiguity. It simply takes the sand tailings, which the
finished cyanide process had left in the mixer K, and
concentrates them. Cyaniding has finished its assigned
work and recovered its share of the metal product.
The sand tailings were the by-product of cyaniding. It
was on this by-product that concentration took up its
part of the process. Concentration was so well under-
stood that the patent simply says:
"In regard to the matter of concentration, I will say
that any desired system may be used, either the stand-
ard practice * * * or any of the more recent oil-con-
centrating processes, in which the affinity of certain
oils for metallic sulphides or other valuable minerals is
made use of in order to effect the proper separation."
The first claim is based generally on these two ele-
ments, viz.. cyaniding and concentration, but embodies
in the cyaniding step those "special features in con-
nection with the cyanide step," which the patentee dis-
closed and thus claimed. As we read that claim the
first four elements, viz.. "pulverizing the ore in the
presence of the cyanide solution ; * * * subjecting the
ore to hydraulic classification by the introduction of
cyanide solution at the bottom of an overflow tank to
produce an ascending current: s * * leaching the ore
by use of cyanide solution whereby the finer values of
the ore are dissolved: * * * and removing the dis-
solved metallic values from the ore in any suitable
manner" — all these are specific sub-steps of cyaniding
— those "certain special features in connection with the
cyanide step," as the patentee aptly says. They cul-
minate and effect cyaniding. Unitedly they are the
same as the first and broader stated first element of
the second claim, viz.. "subjecting the raw or unroasted
ore to the action of the cyanide solution whereby the
finer metallic values are dissolved." It follows, there-
fore, that all the four first elements of the first claim
are to be treated as agencies culminating in cyaniding.
and so regarding them it follows that however much
some other process may utilize one-or more of these ele-
ments, if they are not made use of in a process that
culminates in and completes cyaniding as its first and
pre-concentrating step, such element or elements are
not employed to infringe the cyaniding initial step of
these two claims.
The Third Step
"We here note that the discussion of this case seemed
to centre on what was meant by the third step, "leach-
ing the ore by the use of cyanide solution whereby the
finer values of the ore are dissolved." and the fourth,
"removing the dissolved metallic values from the ore
in any suitable manner. " To us these are plain. Leach
is a word of recognized import, namely, to cause a
fluid to percolate through. Brown's leaching was by
the cyanide process, namely, "leaching the ore by the
use of cyanide solution." and the other words, "where-
by the finer values of the ore are dissolved." merely
state the result of such percolating or leaching. What
was meant by leaching was well understood in the art.
It was thus described in Moore r. Tonopah. supra,
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
529
"The cyanide ore process came into use about 1887 and
is the real foundation of the tremendous increase in
sold production in the last two decades. It is now
the prevalent method of treatment. In it the ore is
first crushed and then placed in tanks containing a
solution of cyanide of potassium. This solution per-
colates through the crushed pulverized mass, and, being
a solvent of gold, carries off such gold as is subjected
to its action. This is called "leaching" and any
crushed ore through which percolation took place was
termed "leachable. " As the term was thus well under-
stood in the art. we are justified in giving it that mean-
ing in this claim. So doing, it follows that the fourth
step, which "removes the dissolved metallic values from
the ores." merely removes the metallic values which
the leaching has dissolved.
No Infringement Shown
This two staged process — first cyaniding, next con-
centrating— being the only disclosure of Brown and the
claims embodying those two separate, individual, com-
pleted stages or steps, it follows that any process which
makes concentration an intermediate and completed
step, one that precedes final and effective cyaniding, is
a process different from the one Brown disclosed and
claimed. Measuring the defendant's process by these
standards, it follows that infringement is not shown.
for, without entering into a detailed description of its
plant, it suffices to say that a study of its workings has
brought us to this conclusion. The defendants, in
common with Brown, it may be conceded, are using the
cyanide solution in the earlier stage of their process,
and to that extent we may say initially utilize the gen-
eral chemical treatment incident to cyaniding, prepar-
atory to concentrating. But beyond this the resem-
blance ceases, for by defendant 's process concentration
— "effective, finished, and final" — is the initial and in-
termediate step in their process. At such intermediate
step the fruits of concentration are withdrawn from the
process, and this first completed step of the process, the
one "whereby the coarser values are removed," is, as
we have seen, the second step of Brown's process.
Differences in the Two Processes
After the defendant's concentration is finished, the
by-product goes forward to be subsequently treated by
a protracted process of cyaniding. This is at variance
with Brown's process in three respects, first, cyaniding
follows concentrating; second, it is a system condemned
by Brown and one he sought to avoid in that where
"concentration * * * is used preliminary to the cya-
nide process it will be necessary to have a very exten-
sive system of settling tanks in order to recover these
suspended values and hold them in the mill so that
they may be subjected to further treatment:" third,
the defendant's process which physically withdraws
from the operation of the process the products of con-
centration in advance of withdrawing those of cyanid-
ing, makes the process one avoided by Brown, viz.:
"It is a well known fact that the cyanide process re-
covers oniy the fine values, and in the treatment that I
have devised these fine values are recovered by the
cyanide process in the beginning, leaving only the
coarser values, which are readily recoverable by con-
centrating, the latter being specially adapted for saving
this class of values."
It is apparent, therefore, that the defendant's device,
which the proofs show has been of great practical
worth, owes its worth to the fact that it is built and
operated in express disregard to the instructions of
Brown's patent. Without passing on the question of
the validity of that patent, it suffices to hold defendants
do not infringe. The decree below is therefore re-
versed, and the ease remanded with instructions to dis-
miss the bill for non-infringement.
Treatment of Tailing at Butte Reduction
Works
By Bancroft Gore
Adjacent to the abandoned smelting works of the
Colusa-Parrot Mining & Smelting Co. at Butte, Mon-
tana, which was one of the W. A. Clark properties
purchased by the Anaconda company in 1910, is a
large accumulation, estimated at close to a million tons
of tailing from the concentrator, containing a gross
value in silver and copper of more than $3,000,000.
This valuable dump was retained by the Clark inter-
ests pending thorough investigation by a large staff of
testing engineers, making use on a large working scale
of the latest developments in hydro-metallurgy and ore
dressing. One section of the old concentrator not de-
stroyed by fire was remodeled and fitted with every
known device that might throw light upon the com-
mercial treatment of this tailing. Preference was
finally given to the oil flotation process rather than
roasting and leaching as at Anaconda with similar ma-
terial, and elaborate mill tests were made under super-
vision of the Minerals Separation American Syndicate
Ltd., using a 50-ton agitation unit where a high re-
covery of the sulphides was demonstrated. One factor
in favor of the process was the extreme simplicity of
the operations. The raw tailing was fed directly to
a Hardinge tube-mill and after crushing to pass 60-mesh
screen entered the flotation unit where a remarkably
clean high-grade product was removed, dried, sampled,
assayed, weighed, and shipped for treatment to the
Anaconda smelter. As the tailing has been exposed to
weathering, a part of the copper occurs as oxides, sul-
phates, and basic sulphates, which will be recovered
by a preliminary treatment with weak sulphuric acid
solutions. The tube-mills are to be lead-lined on this
account. A plant with initial daily capacity of 1000
tons has been designed and will be in operation before
1915.
Mining in Norway employed 6508 men and women
at 60 properties during 1911.
530
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
A Screw Classifier and Fine Ore Feeder
By S. A. Wohcester
A number of the classifiers here described are in use
in a mill of my recent design and construction, and
while they develop much larger capacity (about 100
tons each per day), than other machines, their initial
cost and space required per unit of capacity are also
much less. The screw has more than one-third of its
length completely submerged and this feature effects
movement of a large volume of pulp in proportion to
the diameter of the screw. The screw being in the form
of a ribbon, the finer material rises from the sand and
follows backward over both the outer and inner edges
of the ribbon, while the coarser material remaining
nearer the bottom is propelled onward to the discharge.
These classifiers operate in closed circuit with tube-
mills and the solution necessary for maintaining about
40% moisture in the mill feed is supplied in a number
of small streams along the upper end of the screw.
This accomplishes active sep-
aration of sand from slime
and aids rapid, classification.
The sand is spouted direct to
the spiral feed of the tube-
mill and the tube-mill dis-
charge is returned by an air-
lift to the classifier. The sub- ■
merged thrust bearing of the
classifieer screw has a small
flow of mill solution passing
through it, thus preventing
slime from entering and de-
stroying the bearing. The
board A, bolted to the front
of the cast iron discharge box,
determines the height of the
slime level in the classifier,
and to a large degree the fine-
ness of the slime discharged.
Chips floating in the space be-
tween the ore feed and the
slime discharge are arrested
by the screen B, and are
skimmed from the surface oc-
casionally with a wire-cloth
skimmer.
The feeder conveyor shown
delivers material 90% of
which will pass 10 mesh, from
200-ton bins to the classifiers,
and has proved exceptionally
reliable and satisfactory in
operation. Features of inter-
est include the combination of
the functions of feeder with
those of conveyor and ele-
vator, if this should be desired. It can be given
an upward inclination of probably 30° when run-
ning at very slow speed, thus gaining mill height,
whereas most feeders involve loss of mill height
and perform but one function. Simplicity and inex-
pensive construction characterize this feeder, and the
ease and accuracy of the screw gate adjustment are
important. I regard the constant stream of ore given
by this feeder as more desirable than the intermittent
feed given by any type of reciprocating or disk feeder,
and I believe the constant- stream tends to produce
more uniform and dependable action in the machines
which it feeds. In the arrangement of machines which
I show, and which has been very satisfactory, the classi-
fier is driven by a quarter-turn belt from the tube-mill
countershaft, and the feeder by a crossed belt from the
classifier countershaft.
CREW ie Olf.. x l"l- l_ONC
20C-TO-, SlNI
\ C*»T ton io»»t m.
PLAN AMI ELEVATION OF FEEDER, CI .ASSIKIEK. AND Tl'BK-MUr
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
531
C. I. HOPPEF!
CBOSS-SECTION AND PLAN
OF HOPPEB.
It is essential in the prevention
of mine fires that rubbish be not
allowed to accumulate in the vi-
cinity of buildings or timbering
and that the supply of haj be
properly protected from fire. Do
not construct wooden buildings
nearer than 200 ft. from the
mouth of the tunnel unless they
are absolutely necessary. In such
a case provide a separate exit
at least 200 ft. from the tunnel
and arrange a fire door so that
the regular exit may be closed
from a distance in order that
the men in the tunnel may not
be suffocated by smoke and gases
in case that the buildings take
lire. In either case, provide for
a water-supply adequate for fire
protect ion.
532
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Smelting of Ores and Metals
•With the view of developing more efficient meth-
ods in the smelting of ores, the bureau began at its
Pittsburgh experiment station a detailed investiga-
tion of the practicability of using the electric furnace
as a substitute for or adjunct of the blast-furnace, with
particular reference to the treatment of low-grade ores.
One problem studied is the possibility of using crude
oil as a reducing agent. The results of these experi-
ments, which were made by J. F. Cullen under the
direction of D. A. Lyon, were incorporated in a report
for publication. Another problem, still under investi-
gation, is the possibility of using the electric furnace
in the smelting of copper ores, especially sulphides.
The experiments incidental to this investigation in-
cluded work on :
1. The smelting of copper concentrates. Experi-
ments have been made to determine to what degree
loss of copper in the slag could be lessened by smelting
these concentrates in an electric furnace.
2. The use of the electric furnace in the smelting of
non-ferrous ores. The purpose of this investigation is
to determine the feasibility of using electricity as a
source of heat in smelting copper-iron sulphide ores,
lean zinc and lead ores, and in fact all low-grade ores
that are not amenable to treatment by wet methods,
and especially to ascertain whether the electric fur-
nace may be used profitably for treating ores from de-
posits that are so far from a smelter that transporta-
tion charges exceed the value of the metals in the ores.
In some cases it may be possible to use hydro-electric
power in an electric furnace, thus removing the neces-
sity of transporting worthless gangue, and enabling
the metals of the ores to be transported as matte or
crude metal, providing it was not feasible to refine the
metal at the smelting plant.
3. The use of the electric furnace as an aid to the
ordinary blast-furnace. In the study of this problem
the following points have been considered : (a) the
possibility of recovering the iron in the slag as metal-
lic iron — at present, as is well known, although the iron
content of a gold, silver, copper, or lead ore may be
large, it goes to the dump in the slag, either as iron
oxide or iron silicate; (b) the possibility of producing
ferro-silicon from the slags ordinarily obtained in
smelting non-ferrous ores; (c) the recovery of the sul-
phur as a by-product in the smelting of sulphide ores ;
(d) the discovery, if possible, of some suitable collector
or carrier other than copper and lead for the precious
metals in smelting practice.
The purpose of the work has not been to show that
the electric furnace should replace reverberatory or
the blast-furnaces, but that in some places it may be
substituted for them. So far only the possibility of
treating copper sulphide ores has been studied. The
results of the work will be published in a bulletin. The
electric furnace work for these investigations has been
done by R. M. Keeney, under the direction of D. A.
Lyon.
Xew investigations proposed for the coming year in-
clude: The electric smelting of zinc ores; the smelting
of titaniferous iron ores; the production of 'natural al-
loys'— that is, the production from complex ores of al-
loys containing different metals in such proportions as
to be of commercial use for structural materials, for
tool making, etc. ; the use of an electric process for re-
moving moisture from the blast supplied to blast-fur-
naces ; the removal of sulphur from producer gas for
metallurgical purposes.
The following reports have been or are being pre-
pared for publication: 'The Use of the Electric Fur-
nace in the Manufacture of Iron and Steel,' by D. A.
Lyon and R. M. Keeney; 'The Use of Crude Oil as a
Reducing Agent in the Reduction of Iron Ores,' by D.
A. Lyon and J. F. Cullen; 'Smelting of Fine Michigan
Copper Concentrates in the Electric Furnace,' by R. M.
Keeney; 'The Use of the Electric Furnace in Metallur-
gy. ' by D. A. Lyon. R. M. Keeney. and J. F. Cullen;
'The Possibility of Smelting Copper Ores in the
Electric Furnace. ' by D. A. Lyon and R. M. Keeney.
♦From the forthcoming; third annual report of the National
Bureau of Mines, Joseph A. Holmes, director.
OFFICE OF BUREAU OF MINES AT WASHINGTON.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
533
Suggested Method of Standard Screen Tests
By Lloyd Eobey
The metallurgist of today is turning his attention
more and more to the problem of treating low-grade
ores at a profit, and in localities where- this prob-
lem has been solved, to the unending one of gaining
the last possible penny of profit. In the effort to
solve these problems he demands of the laboratory, in
its tests and experiments, a close approximation to
actual field conditions, and a standardization of labora-
tory processes, so that he may have as fair a basis of
comparison as possible.
This demand for methods of laboratory investigation
which will give not only exact but comparable tests of
the work of different machines under the same condi-
tions, or of the same machine under varying conditions,
has not been entirely met as yet. In particular, the
general practice in making screen tests is far from uni-
form. Considering the various investigations in which
screen tests are indispensable, as, for example, in com-
paring the grinding capacities of machines, in con-
trolling concentrator feeds, or in investigating and
regulating the fineness of pulps in cyaniding and other
wet processes, it is certain that the standardization of
screen tests is a matter of some importance.
Method of Investigation
The investigation of screen tests naturally divides
itself into two parts: (1) a consideration of the size
of wire and aperture in the screen used ; (2) a study
of the actual method of making the tests after the
proper screens have been selected. The first branch
has received considerable attention of late, but the
second has not been discussed at any great length in
the technical press, and therefore it is hoped that the
following suggestions may be found to have some
slight value.
In the common method of making screen tests, the
manner of procedure is about as follows: the pulp is
dried and weighed; it is then passed through the
coarsest screen of the series, very little precaution being
taken against dusting, and the operation ceasing when
a casual glance seems to show that no more sand is
coming through ; the material remaining on the screen
is removed and weighed, and the material passing
through it put through the next finer screen, and so
on through the series, all the dust and finest ore being
carried through the entire process. Sometimes a
washer is placed in the screen to expedite matters.
When the screening is completed, the sum of the vari-
ous weights is cheeked against the original dry pulp
weight. In this process two factors are undetermined:
the loss by dusting of the different screens, and the
absorption of the moisture by the fine dust, which is
not lost. There is another and oftentimes more seri-
ous error in the operator's judgment of the time re-
quired to thoroughly screen the sand. The use of a
washer is, of course, inadmissible in any careful work.
Proposed Standard Method
The method proposed is as follows: Dry and weigh
the pulp, then immediately wet it again and pass it
through the finest screen of the series required. This
may be accomplished by allowing a small and slow
flowing stream of clear water from the tap to fall on
the scceen, while shaking the screen gently and feeding
the pulp slowly near the stream. On the first trial of
this method with a 200-mesh screen, the operator will
probably clog his screen, but with a little practice he
will learn to use the stream of water to keep the bottom
clear and will be able to pass fine pulp through a fine
screen without splashing or clogging. Now dry the
remaining sand and also the screen. Screen the dry
pulp again through the same screen, adopting a regu-
lar motion, and screening for a definite period of time.
This period of time may be ascertained by experiment,
screening until no particles of sand show on a piece of
white paper placed underneath the screen.
The time required on the finer screens when 500
grams of dry pulp is taken originally, is from 8 to 15
minutes for each screen. It is sometimes said that
there is a grinding action in the screen, and that there-
fore screening should not be too long continued. This
may be true for very soft ores, but with ordinary
silicious ores the error is negligible, it being impossible
after a certain period of time to get enough material
through in several minutes of continued screening to
make any impression on an analytical balance. In the
case of very soft ores the grinding action will be ap-
proximately the same with similar ore in the same
length of time, and therefore while there would be an
error in the absolute quantity passing the screen, the
value of the test for comparative purposes would be un-
impaired and greater than in the ordinary procedure,
where the time of screening and therefore of grindinir
action is indeterminate.
The pulp remaining on the screen is now weighed,
and the difference between this weight and that of the
original pulp gives the weight of material passing
through the finest screen, or — in milling parlance — the
slime. The dust has now been thoroughly eliminated
and credited in its proper place without loss, and the
remainder of the operation may be conducted dry.
going from the finer screens to the coarser or vice versa
at the operator's pleasure, but shaking each screen for
the definite ascertained time. If the bulk of the ma-
terial is very fine it is better to go from fine to coarse,
because the weight of material to be screened is more
rapidly reduced.
In cases where fine pulp is tested and great accuracy
■
534
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28. 1914
is not required, as in the daily control of tube-mills
and classifiers in the cyanide plant, the preliminary
drying is not necessary, the weight of the pulp being
ascertained by the specific gravity method. The fine
screen should not be used until worn out. but should
be discarded after about 100 determinations because
the repeated oxidations and scourings wear the wire
and enlarge the aperture.
The work of screening in this method is likely to
prove burdensome when many tests are to be made,
and it will be convenient to fit up a small shaking frame
in which the screens may be' set, connecting it with the
laboratory power-shaft. This also gives the advantage
of a steadier and more uniform shaking motion.
I have used and tested this method in mill control
work for three years and have found it to give much
closer checks than the ordinary method. It may be
added that no method of wet screening alone is
accurate, though such a method may undoubtedly
have its value in approximating mill conditions.
Geological Sketch of the Property of the Hayden Gold Mines, Ltd.
Bv W. S. Dobbs
The property owned by the Hayden Gold Mines Ltd.
consists of three claims partly in Deloro and partly in
Ogden townships, Porcupine mining division, Ontario,
Canada. These claims are about three and a half miles
south of Timmins, Ontario, and can be reached by
wagon road from that place. The three claims take in
almost all of a rocky ridge which here rises about a
hundred feet or so above the surrounding sand plain
and muskeg. As these claims have been burned over at
least twice, there is no green timber of any sort. In
fact, all of claim No. 939 and the greater part of No. 938
have been cleaned bare of all vegetation, thus affording
a splendid chance to study the various rocks on this
group. Claim 937, on the other hand, especially the
eastern portion, is covered by a burden of boulders and
drift, glacial and otherwise, to known depths of 10 to
15 ft. in places.
( c "^ S v \j
Y* v Jl \ltoqwli F»ily*/
E Jl \ .J§> KUXnnA ^\^
\ <i Haute I*kf$k£m s**m\ \
1 (^Sp&lJ \ i "^
s*
•thesoia^^L,
IklUokV
t ^ ;^rOTS (A )
THE POBCUPINK DISTRICT.
The oldest rock is an altered amygdaloidal basalt,
called for convenience 'greenstone,' a member of the
Keewatin igneous complex. The amygdules are filled
with calcite, dolomite, and certain ferromagnesian min-
erals which have been re-deposited in stringers and
veinlets where the shearing and metasomatic action
have been pronounced in the schist. This rock (green-
stone) along a certain well defined direction and over a
considerable area has beep subjected to considerable
stress and shearing, which has developed a series of
channels of passage for the solutions which have precip-
itated the minerals now found in the shear zone. At
least two intrusions have occurred in the greenstone.
and these have exerted tremendous influences on the
shear zone and the resulting mineralization and impreg-
nation thereof. The Keewatin greenstone has been in-
traded first by a granoporphyry, which is a quartz or a
feldspar porphyry, according to the order in which the
various silicates segregated and crystallized in the
molten magma. This magmatic intrusion has exerted
the most profound influence on the mineralized zone.
Secondly, the greenstone has been intruded by a basic
distinctly crystalline rock which has been classified by
the geologists of the Bureau of Mines as an olivine
diabase of post-Huronian origin. In form it is more
nearly the dike than the laccolith. This dike has meta-
morphosed the greenstone, though to a much lesser de-
gree than has the granite porphyry. It is chiefly in-
teresting here as affording an excellent example of the
way in which a molten magma erodes, corrodes, and
absorbs the adjacent rock in proportion to the distance
from the intrusion. Several small barite veins have
been found in the zone of metamorphism of the dia-
base intrusion and these contain from two to six ounces
of silver. The veins vary from 2 to 15 inches in width
and are about 400 or 500 ft. in length. This diabase
dike runs in a southeast by east direction. On claim
937 it cuts the shear zone of schist, which is one of the
salient points of evidence to show that the diabase is
younger than the porphyry. Nowhere in the vicinity
have I been able to find the porphyry and diabase
adjacent or in contact, though all known facts point
to the existence of such a contact near the southeast
corner of 937.
The granite-porphyry intrusion probably came from
the southwest, and it can be traced the entire length
of the three claims. The porphyry appears as an
island on the west claim wherever the contact is
visible. In various places near the contact is a
series of small quartz veins, from a few inches to
three or four feet in width, which are apparently the
result of the segregation in the molten magma referred
to above. The quartz veins along the contact are con-
nected with a series of lateral stringers in the por-
phyry, and the edtres of these veins gradually merge
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
535
into the porphyry itself. The zone of mineralization
lies roughly parallel to the porphyritic intrusion and
ranges in width from 100 ft. in the extreme east to
several hundred feet in the west. This possible ore-
body and mineral zone has been traced across this
entire group into the McDonald claim, southeast of
937. This zone consists of schist very much sheared
and partly impregnated with copper and iron pyrite,
with a little galena and blende, and is interspersed
with and cut by numerous quartz stringers and veins
ranging all the way from a fraction of an inch to the
big quartz vein lying near the south edge of the zone
of mineralization. I have noticed several veins in the
shear zone which were three feet and upward in width.
Parallel to the contact and within 50 ft. of it lies the
large quartz vein. 10 to 50 ft. in width, rising dome-
like in place and traced for over 2000 ft. The quartz
shows the result of shearing: and the fracture planes
are filled with tine black mineral, possibly tourmaline
or siderite.
The shear zone was formed as a result of the mag-
matic intrusion of the granoporphyry. The large
quartz veins and larger stringers were apparently
formed during the period of metasomatic action, as
we find copper and ore pyrite in well formed crystals
as a result of this intrusion. Thanks to the pros-
pectors' eager desire to stake and sample the porphy-
ries in this district, fairly accurate data with respect
to the precious metals contained in the porphyry are
available. The porphyry contains from 90c. to $3.40
per ton in gold. In my opinion it is the 'mother-rock'
of the gold. When the post-IIuronian diabase in-
trusion came, the shear zone and porphyry were sub-
jected to further shearing, fracturing, and metamor-
phism. As a result of this metamorphism gold has
migrated out of the porphyry into the fracture planes
in the shear zone, which provided a series of channels
for the mineral-bearing solutions. In support of this,
free gold almost always occurs in the secondary quartz,
although two or three instances have been known of
its occurrence in the schist out of contact with the
quarts.
The larger quartz veins show evidences of shear-
ing and fracture, and minerals have been deposited in
the fracture planes, notably siderite. tourmaline, and
possibly hornblende. Siderite has been found in the
barite veins and in the quartz stringers near the dia-
base. Galena in places, iron pyrite. and pyrrhotite in
a fine state of division have been deposited contem-
poraneously with the secondary quartz. Free gold
and good ore have been found along certain well de-
fined zones, but not in the large quartz veins. Judging
by the surface, this vein is very low grade, averaging
about $1 per ton.
The best and most uniform ore has been found where
the quartz and schist are very much intermingled, and
also where the sulphides are in a fine state of division.
My reasons for stating that the porphyry is the 'mother-
rock' of the gold are that the porphyrx generally
contains small amounts of gold and that the zones
of higher gold content are found in those parts of the
shear zone which are nearer to the porphyry than to
the diabase. The small amount of work done has
produced very interesting results and the develop-
ment work will, I am sure, produce results well worthy
of attention from a purely scientific point of view.
Gold Recovery From Mint Residue
By Harold French
During each year, the San Francisco Mint receives
up to 2.400.000 fine ounces of gold for refining and
minting. From these operations there is collected
thousands of worn-out crucibles and corroded furnace
IN THE TOP IM( Tl'KE IS SHOWN THK VARIETY OK MATERIAL COL-
LECTED; AM) IN THK LOWL'B ONE IS THE MILL. SLUICE-BOX,
* AND TAILING mill's.
bricks, a large quantity of slag, ash. and sweepings.
These products are taken to the treatment plant in the
basement of the building. Most of the sweepings are
panned first. Combustible materials are reduced by
burning ;is much as possible. Soot from the stacks is
rich in gold, and they are periodically cleaned.
For reducing the various materials to he treated.
bricks and crucibles are broken by hammers and then
536
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
fed into an Elspass mill. This consists of a horizontal
die pan seven feet diameter, on which rests four ver-
tical rolls four feet high, and weighing about 1600 lb.
These are adjusted by strong springs in accordance
with the material milled. A 20-hp. motor causes the
die pan to revolve, and the rolls start working at the
same time. Water is fed into the mill and stationary
steel plows in the middle feed the coarse material
under the rolls and divert the pulp against the 40-
mesh screens at the side of the mill. The fine material
flows into a Pierce amalgamator, then through a 12-ft.
sluice-box with burlap-lined riffles to a tailing sump.
"When the feed contains coarse metal, mercury is sel-
dom used in the mill, as the plows concentrate it near
the centre of the die pan. and from 80 to 85$ of the
gold is recovered in this way. When mercury is added,
an extraction of 90 to 95% is obtained in the mill and
amalgam traps. The tailing is dried by steam in a
pipe under the last settling pan, shoveled into sacks
containing 90 lb. net each, assayed, and sold to the
Selby Smelting & Lead Co. The tailing averages about
12%c. per pound. Together with the gold from 'rot-
ting iron,' the yearly output is worth from $100,000
to $125,000. from about 50 tons of mint by-products.
Whistle Signals"
1. Steam-shovel engineers must be conversant with
all warning signals, and it is made the responsibility
and duty of each engineer to give warning of all blast-
ing in the vicinity of his steam-shovel.
2. Sound of the whistle must be distinct, with in-
tensity and duration proportionate to the distance
signal is to be conveyed.
3. Each shovel must be equipped with a distinctive
toned steam whistle. All shovels are numbered plain-
ly, with a number in full view from all parts of the
workings. Employees must familiarize themselves
with the distinguishing sound of the different shovel
whistles in order that they may readily locate blast-
ing operations and be prepared to safeguard them-
selves from possible danger of flying rock and debris.
4. Powdermen and blasters must not 'spit' or light
a fuse or fire a charge until after the alarm and warn-
ing signal has been sounded by the shovel engineer.
5. Signal for blasting shall be a series or succession
of short, sharp, quick blasts of whistles, continued for
brief period, to be followed immediately by as many
Ion- sounds of whistle as there are shots to be fired.
To illustrate: if there are 10 shots to be fired, the
nearest shovel will sound the alarm series of short,
quick 'toots' of the whistle, followed after a brief in-
terval by 10 long sounds, indicating 10 rounds or
shots to be exploded.
6 The signals prescribed and herewith set out arc
illustrated bv the word 'short' for short sounds, and
the word 'long' for long sounds or blasts of the
whistle : ___
~ *From the book of 'Rules and Regulations' of the Nevada
Consolidated Copper Company.
SOUND. INDICATION OF WARNING.
1 long, 1 short Beginning and end of shift.
2 short Move up shovel.
3 short Calls waterman, pipemen, and
lighters.
4 short Calls powderman.
5 short Calls foreman.
Series short, quick Warning signal — blasting.
Followed by number of long Indicates number of shots to be
fired.
2 long Round or charge of blasting com-
pleted.
The signal for 'seam' shots, distinguished from bore-
hole shots, top blasting, or bull-dozing, will be the
regular alarm signal followed by whistle sound of
longer duration than the long signal indicating num-
ber of shots to be fired. While a seam shot may not
be more dangerous than other blasting, the shatter-
ing effect of such a shot may cause the throwing of
small pieces or particles of rock a greater distance
than a top blast would. Employees are, therefore,
urged to heed this signal and to seek shelter with all
possible dispatch.
The Mt. Morgan Orebody
The origin of this gold and copper producing deposit
has been frequently discussed. In the last half-yearly
report of the general manager, B. Magnus, are some
BSOfr Level
| Present working faces I \ Smelting Ore
I 1 Smelting Oregnd stvpedfor neatment\^_^ SiIkjous Ore
f~~] Concentrating Ore I -' ■' ■:' I Ore gxtens. beyona calculate* reserves
notes on its present condition. Ore reserves are as
follows :
High grade, tons 1,285,000
Medium grade, tons 1,960,000
Concentrating, tons 3,00<V000
The ore smelted from the mine during the period
was 123 247 tons averaging 3.125% copper and 8.516
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
537
oz. gold per ton. The Mt. Morgan orebody is one
which contains higher metal contents in the centre, sur-
rounding which is ore lower in metals but higher in
silica. This lower-grade ore is to be treated in the
concentrating mill now being erected. To prepare
these blocks of concentrating ore for mining, it is
necessary to drive drifts, cross-cuts, winzes, and open-'
ing out stope sets through them. Some of this ore is
first-class smelting ore. All the ore produced from
these workings, with the exception of that which goes
to the experimental concentrating plant, is at present
being smelted, as. to store it until the permanent con-
centrator is working, would oxidize it too much to
handle in the flotation plant. Further quantities of
concentrating ore were also mined in raising to reach
the copper ore ; this also had to be smelted. In addition
to this, a certain amount of ore. outside of the reserves.
had to be mined in the course of the usual work, and
also had to be smelted. The smelting of this low-grade
ore. high in silica, not alone materially increases the
cost due to the extra flux necessary, hut the low copper
content of this silicious ore materially reduces the cop-
per output.
The plan of the 750-ft. level, and a section through
one part of it, accompanying the report, shows why
the Company had to handle during the period both con-
centrating ore and silicious ore outside the reserves.
While the section herewith reproduced is of only one
part of the mine, it is fairly representative. It will be
noticed that immediately below the 650-ft. level there
is a large block of first-grade smelting ore. The most
economical method of mining this, and the one adopted,
is to sink the winze from the 650 to the 750-ft. level,
then stope up in the usual way. This, of course, as will
be seen on reference to the section, involves breaking
a considerable quantity of concentrating ore, also some
outside the reserves before the first-grade smelting ore
is reached. Consideration was given to starting work
at the bottom of the first-grade smelting ore. Due to
the attending disadvantages this course was not fol-
lowed, as it would have necessitated cutting double
sills, picking up double bottoms, handling some of the
ore twice in the top lift, and possibly twice filling in the
lower lift. On floor 14. above the 650-ft. level, it will
be noticed that stoping has got into the concentrating
ore. If this ore was left until the concentrator was
running, it would either be lost or could only be re-
gained at considerable cost. For similar reasons stop-
ing outside the first-grade smelting ore on the 650-ft.
level is being done.
Rutile production in 1913 amounted to 305 tons, con-
taining 94 to 96$ of titanium dioxide. This came from
the American Rutile Co.'s property in Nelson county,
Virginia. The plant consists of a 10-stamp mill, con-
centrators, and Wethcrell magnetic separator.
The American rotary drilling system for oil wells is
being introduced to the Caucasus fields. Russia.
Gold Output of Bendigo in 1913
This old mining district of Victoria, Australia, has
produced approximately 19,000.000 oz. gold since 1851.
During the past year the output from the dividend-
paying mines was 266,942 tons, yielding 104,445 oz.
gold and £136.081 in dividends. Assessments totaled
£100,152, leaving a net profit of £35.928. The output
of the whole district in 1913 was 168.172 oz. Details
of the producers are as follows, according to the
Australian Mining Standard:
Divi- Per.
Mines. Tons. Ounces. dends. share.
Central Red, White & Blue. 28,232 14,626 £38,400 $5.36
Golden Pyke 13,909 10.649 23,415 4.08
Carlisle 21,564 7,076 12,565 1.6S
Great Northern 9,830 4.989 9,750 1.56
South New Moon 18,631 5.869 9,600 1.44
Virginia 19,265 6.420 S.775 1.56
North Bendigo 9,813 3,969 7,200 1.44
Ironbark 14,715 6,355 4,959 0.96
New Chum Goldfields 11,535 3,704 4,000 0.6(1
Princess Dagmar 4.2S4 2,761 3,386 0.48
Windmill Hill 3,037 2,508 3,175 0.48
United Hustlers & Redan. . 6,871 3,448 2,156 0.24
Nell Gwynne 17,236 4,953 1,750 0.60
Williams" United 8,199 2,228 2,100 0.24
Johnson's Reef 19,456 6,691 1,450 0.24
New Golden Fleece 5,945 1,280 1,000 0.12
New Nil 5,880 1,249 1,000 0.12
South Prince of Wales 2,510 779 750 0.12
Totals 220,912 89,555 £136,081
The Lansell Proprietary Mines: Tons. Ounces.
Little No. 180 26,105 8,713
North Red, White & Blue 12,792 4,298
Comet 3,635 965
South Red, White & Blue 1,820 504
Sandhurst 1,678 408
Total 46,030 14,889
Mining was interfered with for several months by
a number of men striking, as they agreed not to work
with non-union men.
Operating Time in the Klondike
The Canadian Klondyke Mining Co.'s manager, J.
\V. Boyle, gives the following information regarding
the 1913 season :
Canadian No. 2 dredge started operations on March
30, has been digging 268 days, has operated over 92%
of the time, and has dredged over 2.400,000 cubic
yards. Canadian No. 3 started its first operations on
May 10. worked 210 days, closed down December 6.
operated 89$ of the time, and dredged over 1.850,000
cubic yards. Canadian No. 4 started its first opera-
tions on May 20. worked 234 days, closed down Decem-
ber 20, operated 88% of elapsed time, and dredged
1.900,000 cubic yards. This gives a total for the three
dredges of nearly 6.000,000 cubic yards.
Ore reserves in the Braden mine. Chile, are estimated
at 78.000.000 tons of copper ore.
538
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
and other matters pertaining to mining and metallurgy.
The Editor welcomes the expression of views contrary
to his own, believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to the readers
of this journal.
The Rand Banket
The Editor:
Sir — Students of the geology and mineralogy of
the Rand will no doubt have followed Mr. Horwood's
articles with great interest, and will agree with me
in according him great credit for his patient and
laborious investigations in a field that presents many
complicated and interesting problems, but it is doubt-
ful whether even the enormous amount of evidence
he has succeeded in marshaling will be sufficient to
convert those opposed to his theory regarding the
origin of the bold contents of the banket beds, when
they find that his geological deductions are by no
means in accordance with the evidence of the rocks
themselves.
Mr. Horwood's description of the causes that led
to the formation of the Witwatersrand syncline are
as follows1
''It is, however, significant that the southern and
western outcrops (of the syncline) are missing," and
""that the contours suggest that the so-called basin
really consists of an ancient synclinal valley, formed
by the Ventersdorp diabase having broken through,
poured over, and flooded the strata of the Witwaters-
rand beds, which, in consequence of the weight of
enormous superimposed masses of volcanic rock and
the removal of them from below, sank, dipping in-
ward toward the region whence the material had been
withdrawn."
With regard to the first portion of this extract. Mr.
Ilorwood appears completely to ignore the great out-
crop of Witwatersrand beds. Ventersdorp diabase, and
Pretoria beds that encircle the granite area on the
southern side of the Vaal river. These are generally
recognised by South African geologists as the opposite
outcrop of the Witwatersrand syncline.
The beds in the area are generally vertical and occa-
sionally over-tilted — then dipping toward the granite- -
and both the Ventersdorp diabase and the overlying
Black Reef series, dolomite, and Pretoria beds, encircle
the granite so regularly, both in strike and dip, that
there is no sign of the unconformity known to exist
in other parts of the country, between the Black Reef
series and the beds underlying it.
The evidence both on the Witwatersrand and in
the Vreedefort area points distinctly to great earth-
movements, resulting in the formation of a synclinal
t rough after the Ventersdorp diabases had solidified.
Consequently, the sinking of the strata, as suggested
'Mining and Scientific Press. October 11. 1913. p. 5<i7.
by Mr. Horwood, could not have been influenced by
the outpouring of volcanic matter, which was a rigid
mass when the sinking occurred. This point is fur-
ther strengthened by the well known fact that the
Witwatersrand beds flatten in dip toward the Ven-
tersdorp diabase beds, whereas the reverse would have
happened if the volcanic matter had been removed
from below them.
Nor will it be generally conceded that "this intense
volcanic activity could have also produced numerous
lateral fractures." No doubt there are evidences of
great fracturing in the Witwatersrand beds, and of
the intrusion of many igneous dikes, but they cannot
be connected in any way with the Ventersdorp dia-
base, which is remarkably free from veins or dikes.
That the Ventersdorp diabases represent lava flows,
which emanated from some source, probably many
miles distant from the Witwatersrand, can be assumed
from their amygdaloidal character, combined with the
vast area over which these flows are known to extend.
I have not come across a single instance of a dike
emanating from, or connected with, the Ventersdorp
diabase, although I have made many investigations at
the junction of the igneous and sedimentary beds for
the purpose of determining the relationship to each
other.
These investigations led me to the conclusion that
the lava flows, now forming the Ventersdorp diabases,
had passed over a comparatively undisturbed area of
sedimentary rocks, which presented no evidence of
serious disturbance at the time. This being the case,
Mr. Horwood's assumption that the longitudinal dikes
so frequently occurring in the Witwatersrand area
are connected with the Ventersdorp diabase2 cannot
be substantiated by any direct evidence of such re-
lationship. Surely there would have been numerous
dikes crossing the strike of the beds when such a
gigantic volcanic outburst, producing sheets of over
5000 ft. thickness, broke through the sedimentary beds.
Early investigators of the banket came to the con-
clusion that the beds were tilted into their present
position after their solidification. Strain phenomena
was such a marked feature in every microscopic slide
that they could not overlook it. Even the minutest
grain of quartzite had been influenced by movement.
They, therefore, assumed that the metalliferous con-
tents of the banket beds had been introduced previous
to their disturbance and solidification, or conversion
into quartzite. Mr. Ilorwood, on the other hand, as-
signs the cause principally to the intrusion of basic
igneous rocks in the form of dikes.
Fig. 4. on page 567. s is an illustration of a dike cross-
ing a gold-bearing conglomerate in the Nourse Deep
mines. Here it will be seen that the conglomerate
bed is cut off sharply against the dike, whereas in
the fault, to the left of the dike, the conglomerate is
somewhat crumpled. From this evidence it may be
■^Mining and Scientific Press. December 27, 1913. p. 1009.
•Mining and Scientific Press. October 11, 1913.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
539
assumed that the dike intersected a rigid bed, whereas
the fault may have occurred at some previous period,
when the beds were more plastic. In the ascension
theory, it is necessary that there were channels of
communication between the beds and the source from
whence the gold-bearing solutions were derived. Why,
then, has Mr. Horwood preferred the dikes that in-
tersected the strata after its solidification, as shown
in this illustration, to the pre-existing faults? He has
shown conclusively in Fig. 28A, on page 808. and Fig.
28B and 28C, on page 809,4 that there is a decided
rise in the gold contents as the line of faulting is
approached, but he does not show a similar occur-
rence in the neighborhood of a dike, except in the
Crown Reef where an upthrow fault occurred as well.
That basic igneous dikes form channels for the ascen-
sion of other than molten mineral matter will not be
generally accepted by geologists, and 'the fact that
these dikes contain an infinitesimal quantity of gold.
as stated by Mr. Horwood. may be accounted for by
their having robbed the gold-bearing beds which they
intersected. Metamorphosis by basic dikes has rarely
been recorded, and then only in a slight degree. Basic
igneous dikes when intersecting coal beds, do not
change the nature of the coal for more than a few
feet on either side, and in quartzites their influence
is almost imperceptible.
Mr. Horwood 's comparison between ordinary min-
eral veins and banket beds (footnote No. 44, on page
6045) is certainly far-fetched. On page 723 Mr. Hor-
wood states that in 1903 he came to the conclusion
that "traces of gold could be found in every series.
and in much of the intervening qnartzite, showing that
the whole of the Witwatersrand beds had been, to
some extent, permeated by mineralizing solutions";
and this is perfectly correct. I have crushed quartz-
ite from the Venterskroon area that yielded 12 dwt.
(free gold) per ton, and I have had assays of over
an ounce from the silicious beds of the Hospital Hill
slate.
Further, my experience goes to prove that gold
exists in the Witwatersrand beds where uninfluenced
by either dikes or faults, and I have been informed
by a geologist of high standing and long South Afri-
can experience that in the West African mines, now
yielding gold from strata identical with the Witwat-
ersrand, there is absolutely no evidence of the exist-
ence of igneous intrusions in connection with the gold-
bearing conglomerates in that country.
My own investigations have led me to the conclusion
that the gold and other mineral-bearing solutions were
introduced into the Witwatersrand beds while the
latter were in a porous condition, whether by means
of fissures or directly from the aqueous solutions in
which the beds were formed, as originally proposed
by De Launay, is an open question, and, in conclusion,
I would ask Mr. Horwood to explain whether every
characteristic of the gold-bearing Witwatersrand beds.
which he has taken such pains to collect and describe,
could not be equally as readily accounted for if the
gold had been derived from other sources than the
igneous dikes, granting that time and pressure were
given credit for the metamorphism and crystallization
of the contents of the conglomerate. Mr. Horwood will
no doubt be interested to learn that when the Riet-
fontein reef was being opened up, a number of nug-
gets of gold were taken from the mortar-box, and
some were found in handling the ore. One of these
nuggets weighed over two ounces, and several were
over an ounce in weight. There were about 20 in all.
They were handed to me for exhibition in the Cham-
ber of Mines' museum, of which I was curator for a
number of years, but at the outbreak of the war they
were returned to the late Harold Strange, managing
director of the Rietfontein company, and they are
now probably in the possession of his executors. They
were ordinary nuggets such as are found in alluvial
gold-bearing deposits.
London. February 18. David Draper.
How Close Can You Estimate Heights?
The Editor :
Sir- — The accompanying photos were taken at the
Quartette tailing pond during a recent examination
at that property. They illustrate an interesting case,
where nature shows in a 'laboratory' way the cause
and effect of canon and gorge topography. The minia-
ture gorge illustrated was formed by a very small over-
flow stream from the tailing pond, which cut quickly
*Mining and Scientific Press. November 22, 1913.
'•Mining and Scientific Press. October 18, 1913.
HOW HIGH ABE THESE CLIFFS?
through a series of sand and slime strata which had
been previously caked and dried into layers under
desert conditions. The walls are about four feet high
and the individual layers are fractions of an inch in
thickness only. It has been interesting to note various
estimates ;is to the height of the Avails on casual in-
spection of the photos. These have ranged from 20
to 2000 feet.
San Francisco. March 10. A. W. Geigek.
540
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with the practice of mining, milling,
and smeltng.
Moisture in ores from the Rochester Weaver leases,
Nevada, averaged 3.6% in 1913.
Copper ore smelted at Mt. Morgan assayed 55.6%
silica, at a cost of 13c. per unit to flux the silica.
An endless-rope haulage 2400 ft. long is working
satisfactorily on No. 42 level, south of No. 6 shaft,
of the Osceola mine, Michigan.
Mine drainage at the Brunswick property, Grass
Valley, California, is done by a Dow pump, which is
on the lowest level. 1250 ft., and lifts the water to
the drainage adit, 128 ft. under the collar of the old
incline shaft. Costs have been reduced since its in-
stallation.
The danger of killing mosquitoes with the hands has
been drawn attention to by the Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine. The mosquitoes are liable to carry
parasites which cause elephantiasis, so that especial
care should be observed in districts where the latter
disease is known to exist.
A carat is l/24th part. The term has been gener-
ally adopted to indicate the gold fineness of alloys
used for industrial purposes. The carat, or fineness.
represents the parts of gold per twenty-four parts.
The remainder is generally silver or copper used for
hardening and cheapening purposes.
Where a person wilfully trespasses on the patented
land of another in Arizona, and digs shafts thereon
which may become a pitfall for stock belonging to
that other, he is guilty of a misdemeanor under the
provision of Section 532 of the Penal Code, and upon
complaint properly sworn, to before the nearest justice
of the peace, can be criminally prosecuted.
Demand for molybdenite is growing, and supplies
are irregular, so that at the present time as high as
$1500 per ton has been paid for clean molybdenite.
It is possible that better prices could be obtained, un-
less these high prices call forth a large supply and
again depress the market. For a number of years
the average price has been about $500 per ton, but
owing to the growing demand and the decrease in sup-
ply, the prices indicated above have been reached.
This condition will only be permanent if the supply
remains limited. From an operator's point of view,
it would not be profitable to undertake wTork unless
it was justified by the prices of about $500 per ton
for clean concentrate, in spite of the high prices at
present indicated.
Matte from cyanide clean-up is easier to treat when
it contains more gold than silver. If it is rich in gold,
with some silver, the gold will be reduced at once and
the silver remains in the matte, especially when treat-
ing it with iron shaving, according to G. Simpson, of
the Ketahoen mine. Sumatra. For every 100 oz. of
silver in a silver matte he collects, 2.2 lb. of turnings
is added in melting. Cast iron is not as good as steel
for this purpose. The matte is run down first with
1.1 lb. of iron, then a second time with a similar quan-
tity, it being found better to do this than to melt hot at
once. After refining gold and silver bullion in a cruci-
ble, it is found that matte sticks hard to it when poured
into a mold. The higher the value of the matte, the
tighter it adheres to the bullion. If a little cyanide
salt is added during melting, this makes the matte of
lower value, and it separates easily from the bullion.
The addition .of a little iron shaving during melting
acts in a similar way, is cheaper, and there is no danger
from fume.
Treatment at the Grand Junction mill, Waihi, New
Zealand, shown in the accompanying cut, is as fol-
lows : The ore consists of a gangue of quartz and
calcite. with 8 to 10% sulphide, in a country rock
of highly altered dacite. Metals average $8 and $1
silver per ton. The 40 stamps, having been increased
to 60, crush an average of 8400 tons per month, yield-
ing bullion worth about $80,000. Cyanide solution
GRAND JUNCTION MILL, WAIHI, NEW ZEALAND.
and lead acetate are added to the batteries. The pulp
flows to three elevator wheels and then to a series
of spitzkasten. The underflow passes to Wilfley tables
and the overflow to eight tube-mills, two being 19*4
by 4% ft., and the others l&A by 4^ ft., revolving
at 27 r.p.m. All the ground pulp goes to thickeners,
from which it is pumped to one of a series of 12
flat agitators revolving at 4 r.p.m.. which act as stor-
age tanks. It is then pumped to Pachuca tanks for
agitation for 18 hours. Filtration is done by a Moore
type of plant. All solutions are precipitated on zinc
shaving. Melting the fluxed precipitate is done in
Ballack tilting furnaces, and the bullion refined in a
kerosene-fired furnace. Costs of milling and treat-
ment are about $1.50 per ton.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
541
Special Correspondence
TORONTO, CANADA
Kirkland Lake Mixes. — Nipissixg Profits and Future. — IN-
TERNATIONAL NICKEL PROFIT SHARING. — BLACK LAKE AS-
BESTOS Co. — Mineral Rights ox Lands in Alberta.
Kirkland Lake flotations are still creating considerable
excitement in London, notwithstanding the severe criticism
the methods employed by the interested parties have under-
gone. From the Kirkland Lake Proprietary, the original
flotation, which appears to be an outgrowth of the Union
and Rhodesian Trust, C. A. Foster, of Haileybury, received
£25,000 in cash for which he gave to the Company the benefit
of those contracts and negotiations which he had entered
into for properties in the Kirkland Lake district. Accord-
ing to the prospectus of the Kirkland Lake Proprietary,
after the original issue of 75,000 £1 shares for every two
shares issued up to an additional 50,000 shares, Mr. Foster
was to receive either £1 in cash or one fully paid-up share
of stock. It is understood that upon receipt of this £25,000
in cash, Mr. Foster purchased 25,000 shares of stock, also
obtaining, as per the original agreement, an additional 12,500
shares, giving him a total of 37,500 shares, which is the
largest individual holding in the Company. Mr. Foster then
sold to the Kirkland Lake Proprietary a 99':;% interest in
the Tough-Oakes mine in Kirkland Lake, in which he is also
the largest shareholder. It is understood that the price paid
was $3 per share for the 450,000 shares outstanding. For
the purpose of taking over this property, a London company
called the Tough-Oakes, Limited, was formed with a capital
of £500,000, shares of which were issued at par. When this
Company has been successfully launched, Kirkland Lake Pro-
prietary will receive back all the money which it has spent
on the property, and in addition 100,000 shares of Tough-
Oakes stock. It is understood that the other properties
which the Kirkland Lake Proprietary has under option will
he handled in a similar manner. Reports on these various
properties, the Tough-Oakes, Burnside, Sylvanite, and Teck-
Hughes, have been made by H. H. Johnson. These reports
leave much to be desired. Mr. Johnson, notwithstanding
the fact that the Tough-Oakes mine has only been opened
at the 250-ft. level and has a comparatively small amount
of driving done, estimates, with insufficient data, developed
and prospective ore to the value of £220,000. From this,
however, must be deducted the cost of further development
and the expenditures necessary to equip the property with
a mill and plant. Mr. Johnson further estimates that the
annual net earnings will be £150,000 per year. These figures
are based on the returns from a mill having a capacity of
30,000 tons per year, and, with only 19,000 tons of ore actu-
ally developed, the estimate of annual profits is certainly
open to criticism. The necessity for caution by prospective
investors in the securities of any of these Companies is evi-
dent, and while the properties under consideration have
considerable merit, the possibilities are that greater profits
will accrue to the promoters than to the stockholders.
The recent activity in the stock of the Nipissing Mining
Co., which dropped from about $9 to $6.40 per share, is be-
lieved to be preliminary to a cut in the dividend. This
Company at present is paying dividends at the rate of 30%
per year on a capital of $6,000,000, quarterly dividends being
5% regular and a 2 ' ■/'■<• bonus. In the event of action being
taken, it is believed that the bonus will be dropped. In
this connection, a recent circular sent out under the signature
of E. P. Earle. president, is of interest. Mr. Earle states
that the report for the year 1913 will be sent to the share-
holders in April, and will contain full particulars of opera-
tions for the year ended January 31, 1913. Inasmuch as
there has been of late a falling off in the net earnings due
to the lower average grade of the ore produced, and as it
is impossible for the management to state whether this
condition will prove temporary or permanent, it was con-
sidered advisable to submit a brief statement to the stock-
holders. The nature of the orebodies in the Cobalt district
is such that it is impossible to predict earnings far in ad-
vance. The earnings of the Company will in the future,
as they have in the past, depend upon the continuation of
the known veins which are now being operated and the dis-
covery of new orebodies. There have been periods in the
past when earnings have fallen off because of conditions
similar to those now existing. The Company owns a large
area of undeveloped territory which presumably contains
orebodies of value. Mr. Earle states further that during
the past three months five new veins have been found in
partly developed ground which will aggregate about 8 in. of
2000-oz. ore. On January 1 the Company's ore reserves were
practically the same as were estimated for December 31, 1912,
when they stood at 9, 643,33s oz. The Nipissing, in common
with the majority of the Cobalt mines, is depleting its high-
grade ore reserves at a faster rate than they are being sup-
plemented by the discovery of new orebodies. The high-grade
veins have been responsible for the large dividends paid by
Cobalt mines, and. notwithstanding the large tonnage of low-
grade ore available, a cut in the dividend is inevitable, as
the high-grade ore becomes less. Statements for the last
few months showed that the net value of the ore mined
varied between $165,000 and $185,000 per month. As the
present dividend requirements call for $150,000 per month,
and working expenses are between $50,000 and $60,000, it
is easily seen that unless a decided change for the better
takes place, a reduction in the dividend rate is only to be
expected.
Of the 3000 shares of International Nickel common stock
which employees of the Company were recently permitted
to subscribe for at $110, practically all has been taken up.
Of the 4000 persons on the payroll. 40% subscribed for their
allotment of shares. The minimum subscription was one
share to any employee of under five years' service receiving
up to $825 per year, while the maximum subscription was
10 shares to anyone receiving over $4000 per year who has
been in the employ of the Company for over 10 years. This
stock will be paid for in monthly installments, and the
employees will receive dividends as soon as the first install-
ment is paid. An additional bonus, equal to 5% of the stock
so paid for. will be distributed equally to such employees
as retain their stock and remain in the employ of the Com-
pany. The success of this innovation, which is the first of
its kind among any of the large mining companies in Canada,
has been very gratifying to the management.
The statement of the Black Lake Asbestos Co. for 1913 is
not likely to prove a very pleasing document to the share-
holders, as it shows a loss of $20,939 on the year's oper-
ations. From the available figures, it does not appear that
the Company sold any asbestos in 1913, as the only receipts
given in the profit and loss statement are $1617 for rents
and $4796 for interest, against an expenditure of $27,352.
The directors state that the results of the past year's oper-
ations have been unfavorable owing to a decline in the per-
centage of asbestos obtained from the rock, due to a change
in formation in one of the largest pits. The asbestos fibre
was 3.8'/r for the last six months of the year, as against
5.1r/c for the preceding half-year. It is, however, stated that
new pits are being opened which will furnish asbestos rock
equal in quality to the best now being mined. The Company
is in a better financial position than the profit and loss
statement would indicate, as it has $73,000 loaned on col-
34-2
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
lateral security. Current assets, including this loan, amount
to $150,881, while current liabilities, including a bank over-
draft of $23,366, total $29,616. The entire estimated output
of the Company has been contracted for up to next October
at advanced prices, and indications are that a still higher
price will be obtained for the balance of the output. The
Black Lake company was one of the several large consoli-
dations for which a bright future was predicted. On account
of the condition of the asbestos market, and exceedingly ill-
advised financing on the part of the promoters, the Company
was forced into liquidation. After it was reorganized, the
capital was decreased and fixed charges largely eliminated;
but notwithstanding this, the Company does not seem to be
making much headway.
On account of the right of the Dominion Government to
grant mineral rights on lands in the vicinity of Calgary
being questioned, an interesting situation has arisen in con-
nection with the oil and gas leases in that field. This threat-
ens to lead to a great amount of litigation which may pos-
sibly invalidate the securities of those who invested either
in oil leases or in the stock of oil companies. It has been
generally understood that land filed on for homestead pur-
poses prior to 1889, carried with it the mineral rights, and
that all homestead lands taken up since that date were
without such rights. In 1889 an order-in-council was passed
which provided that, under patents issued by the Crown, all
mineral rights should be reserved. This condition prevailed
until 1908, when a new act was passed which expressly pro-
vided that mineral rights should be excluded from homestead
entries. It is on this understanding that leases have been
applied for, and during the recent oil excitement in the field
southwest of Calgary, about 50% of the leases in the district
are for oil and gas rights under lands that were homesteaded
between 1890 and 1908. It is now stated on good legal au-
thority that during these years the Government had no right
under the law to take these reservations of mineral rights
from the homesteaders, and that these rights belong to the
owners of the surface rights or to anyone to whom the sur-
face rights may have been assigned. Should this contention
be upheld, a large part of the leases recently applied for
would be valueless: but on the other hand, it is pointed
out that homesteaders who have entered on their lands and
ultimately accepted a patent with the knowledge of the regu-
lations supposed to be in force, now have no grounds for
complaint.
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
Estimate of tiik Line of the Rand by the Chamber of Mines.
— Other Areas Likely to Be Profitable. — Probable
Depth of Miking. — Results in 1913.
A mild sensation has been caused in mining circles by
the appearance of a statement, prepared by the Chamber of
Mines for the Government Economic Commission, showing the
probable life of the Witwatersrand goldfields. The exact
length of the life of the Rand was not estimated, because
so many factors enter into the question, but the probable
life of the Rand as it is known today is, according to the
Chamber of Mines, so much shorter than anticipated, that
it may not be out of place to give the principal features
contained in this official statement. First, it is pointed out
that the Rand goldfield has been proved to extend from
Randfontein on the west to Holfontein on the east, a dis-
tance of over 60 miles. The limit to deep mining through-
out this length was taken at 7500 ft. vertical, because the
government has actually refused to proclaim any ground for
mining purposes where the 'reef is supposed to exist below
that depth. To arrive at the probable gold contents of this
deep unproved ground, this has been taken as equal to the
gold contained in the last 1000 ft. of the developed reef, no
allowance being made for the flattening or decline in gold
content in depth, both of which are known to exist. If work-
ing costs continue as at present, the Chamber of Mines esti-
mates that in 42 of the mines, the other mines not included,
there are 550,000,000 tons of profitable ore, which, at the
present rate of crushing by the 42 mines, will maintain
the Rand with only sufficient ore to keep the mills run-
ning for about five years. It must be admitted that the
method of arriving at this conclusion is only an approxi-
mate one; but coming from such an authority as the Trans-
vaal Chamber of Mines, it has attracted considerable atten-
tion. It was further estimated by this institution that under
existing conditions the tonnage crushed in the year 1930 will
probably fall to one-half its present quantity, an estimate
which in most quarters seems difficult to believe. The sting
contained in the above estimate of the future of the Rand
is, however, to some extent removed by subsequent state-
ments, one being to the effect that outside this official esti-
mate there are three properties in the East Rand now in
a sample banket from the new rietfontein.
course of development, comprising 4140 claims and capable
of yielding 1,800,000 tons of profitable ore per year, while
there are eight other properties closed down in the same
neighborhood, owning 6420 claims, whose milling capabilities
may be assumed to be 2,500,000 tons per year, not taken
into consideration. Then it is pointed out that there are
no less than 86,000 other gold claims in the Far East Rand,
where boring operations have proved the reef, also excluded
from the official estimate; so that it will be seen that the
estimate made by the Chamber of Mines is a conservative
one. The Kimberley Reef series, and the probable westerly
extension of the Main Reef series, are lightly considered;
but it seems clear that the Chamber of Mines does not look
for much extension in the central and western Rand, the
Far East Rand being best able to add to the present gold
production of the Witwatersrand.
If this statement of the Rand's future be studied, it will
be seen that, while it may be a broad and general statement,
there is much in it with which most engineers will agree.
At the same time, any attempt to fix the life of the Rand
by years must necessarily be an approximate one only, on
account of the many varying factors and difficulties surround-
ing the question. There is, for instance, the question of
the limit to deep mining on the Rand which the Mines De-
partment seems to have fixed at 7500 ft. vertical. The pres-
ent deepest mine on the Rand has attained a depth of over
5000 ft., without adding materially to the cost of working,
and on the basis of working costs, an ultimate depth of 7500
ft. vertical seems quite within reach. As for mining diffi-
culties due to depth, these are not particularly noticeable,
and with the excellent underground conditions the depth
March 28, 1!U4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
543
limit assumed seems attainable. The real difficulty surround-
ing 'ultra-deep' mining on the Rand seems to be that of
the gold content of the reef, because, taking the Rand as
a whole, quite one-half of its entire length seems to have
depreciated to such an extent as to make the task of deep
mining one of working at a profit a reef at a depth of
over 5000 ft. yielding only $5 gold per ton.
This depth has not yet been attained on the western Rand,
but it is doubtful whether at such a depth the average
value will exceed $5 or $6. In the central Rand the pros-
pects of deep mining are good, but it is doubtful whether
the output from the western and central Rand will improve
in the future, while that from the east Rand can only ex-
pect at least to be maintained. The only section of the
Rand affording scope for an increased output is that known
as the Far East Rand, beyond the town of Boksburg, but
this opening for new mines was fully dealt with in the Cham-
ber of Mines statement submitted to the Economic Commis-
sion. There can be no doubt, however, that the Rand pro-
duction of gold has reached a point scarcely likely to be
exceeded, and one that only with difficulty will be maintained
after the next ten years.
It has been the rule on the Rand for the output of gold
to steadily increase, month by month and year by year, for
the last 20 years, and to be told by no less an authority than
the Chamber of Mines that these increases were coming to
an end, came as a shock to the Rand. Last year's figures
show, however, that this is the case, for while in 1912 the
value of the Transvaal gold output was £38,686,250, the total
value of last year's output was only £37,372,952, being the
first time since the Rand was discovered that the output
of gold registered under normal conditions a decline. [The
strike during the past year helped to reduce the output. —
Editor.] It seems evident that increases in the future will
become more difficult, but the present output ought to be
maintained for more than five years, and probably when the
permanent decline sets in it will be more gradual than the
statement made by the Chamber of Mines would lead us to
expect
During 1913 all the mines treated 25,628,432 tons, as against
25,486,361 in 1912. The average yield declined from $6.96
to $6.66 per ton, the lowest yet recorded. Costs fell from
$4.48 to $4.30, and working profit from $2.40 to $2.28. Aggre-
gate profits were £12,189,105, as against £12,678,095. There
were 9337 stamps and 278 tube-mills working, compared with
9449 and 262. respectively, and the stamp-duty rose from
8.39 to 8.82 tons per day. Sorting fell from 12.57 to 10.74%.
Dividends increased from £7,952,994 to £8,194,099.
The output in January 1914 was worth £2,768,470, the low-
est for many years. The tonnage treated was 1,902,433, av-
eraging $6.56 with a profit of $2.22 per ton.
LONDON
The Institution ok Petroleum Technologists Inaugural
Meeting. — Flotation Litigation, Elmores v. the Sul-
phide Corporation Decision.
It is not only the engineer interested in metalliferous min-
ing who finds it expedient to have a professional society
to protect the public against impostors. Those connected with
petroleum have also been stirred to form such a society. I
recently attended the inaugural meeting of the Institution of
Petroleum Technologists, and, to judge by the large attend-
ance and the character of the men present, the new society
appears to have a destiny. Sir Boverton Redwood is the
first president, and supporting him on the platform were such
well known men as Vivian Lewes, Sir Thomas Holland, Cun-
ningham Craig, and John Cadman. The president made a
statement formulating tin- aims and objects of the Institution.
The commercial element does not come within its scope.
There Is no desire to push the advantages of petroleum and
its products in their applications as producers of power and
light or as lubricants. The sole aim is to advance the scien-
tific treatment of petroleum problems in their geological,
chemical, and mining aspects, and to promote the better train-
ing of the future leaders of the petroleum industry. After
Sir Boverton's inaugural statement, three short addresses were
delivered by Sir Thomas Holland. Cunningham Craig, and
Vivian Lewes, the first being strictly technological, and the
other two being in the nature of amplifications of the presi-
dential address. Sir Thomas Holland's lecture was devoted
to the geometry of the various types of asymmetrical anti-
clines, and gave mathematical directions for tapping the crests
of the successive oil-bearing beds. In his address, Cunning-
ham Craig said that the public and the financiers had to
be taught the elements of petroleum geology, and petroleum
mining must be put on a strictly business footing. Mr. Craig
has already earned the thanks of bis professional friends
by his refusal to lie talked into giving favorable reports
either by governments or promoters. In this connection, his
views on the chances of finding oil in South Africa are well
known. He is the author of that excellent book. 'Oil Finding.'
He was also eloquent on the lack of opportunities in England
for specialized training in connection with petroleum, and
he commended the action of John Cadman, professor of min-
ing in the University of Birmingham, for his enterprise in
establishing a course where geology, chemistry, and mining
are taught from the point of view of the petroleum tech-
nologist. By means of this school, it is hoped that native
talent will be trained, fitted for the multitude of posts now
offered. At the present time, chemical advice is sought on
the Continent, and engineers and drillers are brought from
America or Galicia. The concluding address, by Vivian Lewes,
called attention to the chemical side of the subject, as afford-
ing the possibility of even greater prizes than the geology
and engineering. The removal of troublesome sulphur com-
pounds affords an important field for research, and the pro-
duction of petrol products from petroleum by cracking or
otherwise is an equally attractive subject.
Three weeks ago I gave particulars of the hearing of the
appeal from the New South Wales court, by the Judicial Com-
mittee of the Privy Council, in connection with the suit by
the Elmores against the Sulphide Corporation, alleging that
the Minerals Separation process as used by the Corporation
was an infringement of the Elmore patent of 1901, which
claims the use of acid for aiding the selective action of
oil for metallic or sulphide particles. The five judges appeared
to be inclined to restrict the arguments to this narrow-
scope, and for that reason there was a general impression here
that the Elmores would win. It comes as a surprise, there-
fore, to find that the judgment sustains the Australian court
and dismisses the appeal, leaving Minerals Separation the
victor. Unfortunately, the practice of the Judicial Committee
does not indicate whether the judges are unanimous. In the
purely English courts each judge delivers his individual opin-
ion. It is probable that the five were divided and that the
majority was a case of three to two. Though the arguments
before the court appeared to be in favor of narrowing the
issue to the 1901 claim, the judgment rambled over much
wider ground, and finally the judges' said that Elmore used
oil as the concentration and flotation agent, while Minerals
Separation depended for the same effect on the principle of
surface tension. The case was presented differently by the
Elmores in this litigation on the New South Wales patent
from the form in which the lawsuit was fought in England.
In the earlier case both patents, that for oil in IN9X, and
that for acid in 1901, were cited. As :ill the judges pro-
nounced against the 1898 patent, the Elmores decided to
rely solely on the 1901 patent in the New South Wales case.
On the other side, the defenders of Minerals Separation were,
in the interval between the House of Lords and Judicial Com-
mittee hearings, placed in a more favorable position by Lie
o44
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28. 1914
consolidation of interests with the De Bavay company which
owns the Potter patents. In the old days, Minerals Separa-
tion was 'between the devil and the deep sea,' being attacked
by oil on one side and buoyant bubbles on the other. When
peace was made with bubbles, greater stress could be laid
on the surface tension principle, and the oil could be rele-
gated to a more obscure position. This presentation of the
surface tension proposition appears to have formed the basis
of the Judicial Committee's decision. The flotation question
bristles with so many details and apparent contradictions
that it is well nigh impossible to arrive at any concise view.
Moreover, the whole of the facts are not known to the public
and to journalists, so it is easy for us outsiders to fall into
error. I may be committing an egregious blunder, therefore,
in wondering why the Elmore vacuum patent was not cited
in the case. It indicates the use of surface tension and
small amounts of oil and acid, and it antedated by a year
the main Minerals Separation patent of 1905. Probably the
reason is that the vacuum process runs against the Potter
surface-tension process patented in 1902, and this was the
enemy's territory by purchase.
NEW YORK
copper exforts am) trade i.n europe. — federal mining &
Smelting Co.'s Smelting Contract. — Calumet & Arizona
Mining Co.'s Report. — Mexican Notes.
Curiosity as to how exports of copper to Europe can con-
tinue at record-breaking figures in spite of dullness in busi-
ness there as well as in this country, seems to be becoming
more general. From 1909 to 1912 exports increased yearly
at the rate of about 6% per year, but during 1912 there was
a slight decrease. But the 1913 exports increased nearly 40%
over the preceding year, while the exports of the past four
months have averaged nearly 10% larger than during 191::.
Exports in February were 83,899,183 lb., and are estimated
at 85,000,000 lb. in March. C. W. Morse, who has just re-
turned from Europe, has made the following statement: "I
was impressed with the general falling off in business, which
at this particular time is more than normal. In Germany.
France, and England every line of business is showing a
marked decrease." In putting these two facts side by side,
the state of mind of the copper consumer can be best shown
by a large question mark. Following the Democratic victory
in 1912, and the knowledge that the tariff would certainly
be reduced, high exports of copper to European manufacturers
were perfectly natural last year. The copper consumed dur-
ing the Balkan war helped out through the necessity of
restocking arsenals with ammunition; but what basis exists
for the present unprecedented flood of copper to Europe is
hard to see.
The suit of the minority stockholders of the Federal Min-
ing & Smelting Co. to annul its smelting contract with the
American Smelting & Refining Co. is now being heard, and
the facts brought out make interesting reading for everyone.
It will be remembered that, in 1905, Charles Sweeny sold
the control of the Federal, held by himself, J. D. Rockefeller,
and George J. Gould, to the Guggenheim organization. Gug-
genheim representatives went on the Federal board, and the
smelting contract with the American Smelting & Refining Co.
was extended for 25 years. It soon developed that the ore
reserves in the Federal were not nearly so rich as supposed.
Meanwhile a change in the smelting situation caused an
unexpected marked decrease in the smelting charges on the
ores of the district. As a result, the Federal was soon mak-
ing almost, no profit out of mining its ores, while the Amer-
ican Smelting & Refining Co. was making a good profit at
smelting them at a rate much above the prevailing one for
competitive ores. This state of affairs has been worrying
the minority shareholders, and they are trying to break the
smelting contract. A contract is a contract, however, and,
unless not entered into in good faith, usually has to stand
even if it proves a losing one.
The Calumet & Arizona Mining Co., which operates mines
and a smelter in Cochise county, Arizona, has published its
report for 1913, containing the following information: De-
velopment covered 15,635 ft. at the Irish Mag, Oliver, and
Powell shafts of the C. & A. mine. Little work is being
done at the first-named just now. No new orebodies were
opened in the Oliver, but a good tonnage of ore from small
shoots at 1150 and 1250 ft. was mined. This area has sev-
eral small rich sulphide shoots. A large reserve was devel-
oped between the 1250 and 1350-ft. levels. Prospecting is
under way at the Powell shaft. At the Courtland mine, de-
velopment totaled 3591 ft. Until November 30, ore ship-
ments averaged 600 tons per week. In July, the Germania
shaft started to move and prevented hoisting ore. By ar-
rangements with the Eeadville Mining Co., its Maid shaft
was used for this purpose. The mine is now leased. These
two properties produced 135,979 tons of ore averaging 4.93
and 5.40% copper.
At the Superior & Pittsburg mine the total work was
47,201 ft., at the Hoatson, Junction, Briggs, and Cole shafts.
Results to 1000 ft. in oxidized ore at the Cole have been
satisfactory. The Junction shaft was concreted, being fin-
ished on February 8, 1914. At 1300 ft. south from the
shaft, ore was opened nearly to the 1200-ft. level. Along the
Copper Queen side-line a fair-sized body of good sulphide
ore was opened. At 1400 ft., in the southwest corner of the
Ormond claim, a shoot 40 ft. wide and 60 ft. long was de-
veloped. Steady shipments were made from 1300 ft. at the
Briggs area. The shaft was sunk to the 1500-ft. level of
the Junction. A motor line at 1400 ft. will haul Briggs
ore to the Junction. Considerable ore was opened at the
Hoatson shaft down to 1400 ft. Ore mined totaled 393,941
tons, averaging 6.27% copper. Shipments to the smelter were
376,452 tons. The new smelter is in full operation. It cost
$2,218,218. Total earnings from copper, gold, and silver were
$9,160,975. and sundry revenue, $21,020. The net income was
$4,074,637. Expenses on outside properties were $146,830,
covering work at the Daggs-Newman and Copper Giant claims
in Pinal county, and the Amole and New Cornelia in Pima
county, the latter at Ajo. Work at the latter has been the
proving of ore reserves, water development, and surveying
a railway from Ajo to Tucson. Estimates of the ore are
as follows: available by steam-shovel, carbonate ore, 11,954.-
400 tons averaging 1.54% copper: sulphide ore. 20,526,800
tons averaging 1.54%: underground mining, sulphide ore,
7,776,800 tons averaging 1.40%; and rock stripping. 3,308,400
tons containing 0.60% copper. The carbonate ore will be
leached, and a good recovery by flotation of the sulphide
ore is shown by tests.
Work is to be resumed by the Amajac Mines Co., whose
property is in the state of Jalisco. Mexico. A 50-ton mill is
in course of construction. Walter J. Pentland is general
manager. Nearly 300 tons of ore per day is being treated
in the new Cinco Minas mill. The recovery is up to 96%.
The Company is marketing its bullion through the Sociedad
Afinadora de Metales, the French refining concern of Mexico
City. Arrangements for the marketing of the concentrate
have not yet been closed, but these products probably will
be shipped to Wales. Mine development has been resumed
and plans have been made for extensive work. The main
working shaft is to be sunk to a depth of 1000 feet.
From the Amparo Mining Co.. 150 tons of concentrate has
been sent to the Selby smelter in California. The average
value is $500 per ton. This is the second shipment to this
smelter. Much interest has been attracted locally by an in-
terview with Emeterio de la Garza, published in the Sun.
St. Garza has served under Diaz, de la Barra. Madero, and
Huerta. having been the confidential envoy of the last at
Washington. He advocates a peace conference.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
545
1
ALASKA
The annual report of J. R. Willis, collector of customs for
the territory, at Juneau, shows the following results for 1913:
Total commerce, domestic and foreign $67,422,307
Decrease compared with 1912. due to lower gold
yield 5,318,753
Gold and silver exports to United States 12,959.266
Copper ore and matte 3,765,132
Tin ore and concentrate 72,734
All fish products 15.803,073
Gypsum 129,375
Marble 92,588
Shipping, foreign and domestic, total, tons 1,389,306
Population, decrease 1.126
Cordova
Heavy snowstorms have interrupted traffic on the Copper
River railroad, and trains have been stalled.
Fairbanks
It is proposed to hold an exposition here in 1917, to com-
memorate the fiftieth anniversary of the acquisition of Alaska
by the United States from Russia, and the probable completion
of the authorized railroads from one of the southeastern ports
to Fairbanks. A company with 15 directors and a capital of
$1,000,000 is to be formed.
Juneau
The 1913 returns of the mines was as follows:
Alaska United.
Alaska Alaska Ready 700-Ft.
Mexican. Treadwell. Bullion. Claim.
Tons 227,112 886,057 222,992 225,435
Gold output $489,697 $2,358,422 $611,391 $532,152
Proflt 171.797 1.223.437 323.602 325.669
Dividends 180,000 1,000,000 $414,460
ARIZONA
According to official statements at Globe, Gila county, the
Tucson. Phoenix & Tidewater is to be constructed from
Tucson, in Pima county to Phoenix in Maricopa county. The
line will be 120 miles long and will probably run through
Florence in Pinal county.
Col iiisk County
The Shattuck-Arizona company paid 50c. per share on April
20, amounting to $175,000, and $1,925,000 to date.
Gila County
It is probable that an electric tramway will be constructed
to operate between Globe and Miami.
Shipments of ore from the London-Arizona Consolidated
Copper Co.'s mines to the smelter are now proceeding regu-
larly. A recent shipment of 50 tons averaged 6.2% copper and
3 oz. silver per ton. The net smelter returns on this carload
were $414. Four more cars are now in transit.
Santa Cbuz County
■Smelter returns from ore sent from the Patagonia Mining
& Development mine, gave 30 oz. silver and 13.72% copper, the
net value being $46.28 per ton.
CALIFORNIA
Oil statistics for February are as follows: Rigs completed
during month, 17; wells drilling, 225; wells completed, 44;
wells abandoned, 23: producing wells, 5787; net output, 7,943,-
638 bbl.; shipments, 7,384,406 bbl.; and stocks, 51,180,067
barrels.
Amador County
Dividends paid by the South Eureka, Bunker Hill, and Fre-
mont companies during the first three months of 1914 are
$62,997, $15,000, and $12,000 respectively. The lone Coal &
Iron Co. has received an offer for the output of its coal mine
at lone. The Central Eureka mill is again in operation. The
Plymouth Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited, has a capital of
240,000 £1 shares, of which 127,000 are issued fully paid,
and 113.000 were offered to the public at par on January 26 to
28, 1914, according to the prospectus. These shares were over
subscribed for in short time. The directors are John Barry,
David Richards, and Cyril Wanklyn, all on the board of the
Sons of Gwalia, Limited, operating a profitable mine in Wes-
tern Australia. Ore reserves in the Plymouth are 110,113 tons
worth £150,667, with a profit of £72,S58. Working costs will be
about $2.72 per ton, and 90% recovery is allowed for. A 300-
ton mill is now being erected, and should be working in Sep-
tember next.
Butte County
During 1913, the Oro Water Light & Power Co.'s dredges re-
covered gold worth $542,240, at a cost of $255,538, and with a
net return of $275,579. Profits of the whole concern were $349,-
455.
Five dredgemen have gone, and nine others are leaving Oro-
ville for Dawson, Yukon, where they will be employed by the
Guggenheim company. Fire destroyed property valued at
$100,000 at Oroville on March 19. Two boats of the Oroville
Dredging Co. recovered $4791 during the first week in
February.
Imperial County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Imperial Reduction Co.'s
mill and cyanide plant is now in its second month, with
good results. It consists of three Gates dry-crushing rolls,
three 8-ft. Hardinge tube-mills, fifteen Deister tables, one
Dorr thickener, two Trent agitators followed by two Trent
replacers. The ore reserves are extensive and of a profitable
grade.
Ogilby. March 13.
Nevada County
It is reported that San Francisco people have acquired the
Golden Gate mine, a promising property near Grass Valley.
Three men had their right hands injured in various ways at
the Champion mine. At the Empire 3800-ft. level, W. Allen,
an old Grass Valley miner, was killed by a descending skip,
through some unaccountable cause. On May 13, 1913, Guiseppe
Domiano fell down a chute in the Birchville mine. He is
now suing for $31,247.50. Five claims in the Meadow Lake
district are in dispute as to ownership.
Placer County
C. H. Dunton, collector of minerals for the Sacramento
Valley Expositions Commission, has been making inquiries in
this county for samples of gold, copper, asbestos ores, and
clay and marble. Several men were injured on March 20, by
a gravel bank at the Goggin placer mine, forty miles from
Forest Hill, caving on one and the nozzle striking others.
Plumas County
The California Mines Co. has been organized to work a large
mine on the Mother Lode and developing the Oakland and
Osborne claims in the southern part of this county. The
officials are 1). C. Demarest, W. de Varila, L. H. Fordham,
and H. C. Bocchio of San Francisco, and two Minneapolis
people.
Shasta County
The new 100-ton decantation slime plant at the Midas mine,
at Harrison Gulch, is in operation. It cost $30,000 and is
similar to the Globe mill in Trinity county. The 20-stamp
mill of the Midas is running full lime. Rich ore is being
extracted by C. C. McDonald from bis claim on Mule moun-
tain, near Redding. He is erecting a 5-stamp mill.
546
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Sierra County
A gravel channel under a capping of lava has been' opened
by an adit driven from an old hydraulic mining area at the
Mountain House property.
Siskiyou County
A dredge is to be moved from the Oroville district to
operate between Montague and Yreka. L. N. Parks will be in
charge.
Yuba County
Probably the Pennsylvania and Bessie mines at Browns
Valley will be unwatered and reopened.
COLORADO
Conejos County
(Special Correspondence.) — There is nothing much doing
PART OF CONEJOS, KIO GRANDE. MINERAL, AND ARCHULETA
COUNTIES, COLORADO.
at Platoro, but it is said that the Golden Cycle people have
taken hold of the Mammoth property there and will shortly
start men working.
Platoro, February 27.
Mineral County
(Special Correspondence.) — Conditions at Creede have not
changed much. The Humphreys Creede United Mines Co.
mill is not yet started on account of the low price of lead,
and will not for some time, probably not before next summer.
There is more snow here this winter than ever before in the
history of the camp, but even at that there is not enough
to bother working except temporarily.
The fluorspar mine at Wagon Wheel Gap is not shipping
at present, as the steel mill at Pueblo is overstocked. The
company is going ahead with development work and seems
to think there is a lot of mineral there. It is trying to
develop other markets than the steel works, and may ship
to various glass works in Kansas and Texas. This deposit
is remarkably pure, running well over 90% CaP without any
washing or sorting, while that from Illinois and Kentucky
is only about 85% or less.
Creede, February 27.
Montrose County
(Special Correspondence.) — The recent discovery was In
Happy canon, about 7 miles south of Montrose. As soon as
news of it leaked out, everybody in that town made a break,
and you could not get even a horse, much less a rig at Mont-
rose, as they were all strung out along the road to Happy
canon. The ore occurs in a flat stratum of sandstone and
gold content as high as $60 are reported. The first car of
ore was to be shipped today, and they expected it to run
$60 per ton. The American Nettie, and possibly some of the
other mines just below Ouray, were in quartzite, and possibly
this may be a similar deposit. Of course, there is no telling
yet whether it amounts to anything or not. There are said
to be about 200 tents out there, so it is quite a boom camp.
Montrose, February 27.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
On No. 12 level of the Isabella Mines Co.'s main shaft, a
shoot 5 ft. wide has been opened by a raise, containing tellu-
rides and averaging from $200 to $300 per ton. Thirty sets
of lessees are working at the property. The total number
of people engaged about mines in the district is 3200, of whom
2476 are miners. Lessees operating blocks of ground of the
Stratton estate, under lease from the Stratton Cripple Creek
Mining & Development Co., paid a total of $61,121 in royalties
during the year 1913.
IDAHO
The annual report of Robert N. Bell, state inspector of mines,
has been submitted to Governor Haines, and includes the fol-
lowing information : There were 4000 men employed in all
mines. There were 26 fatal accidents, 25 of which were in
Shoshone county; also 45 serious and 75 slight mishaps. These
occurred in mining 2,000,000 tons of ore and an equal amount
of waste. The gross value of ore and bullion produced was
about $24,000,000 and $4,500,000 was paid in dividends. The
state again assumed first place in the list of lead producers.
The coal deposits in the new county of Madison are described
in the report.
Bonner County
A raise in the Idaho-Continental mine, 26 miles from Port-
hill, is opening ore assaying 71. 3% lead and 38 oz. silver per
ton. Shipments will be made in July.
Shoshone County
Around Murray the snow is melting and a busy season is
looked for in mining. Machinery at the National mill will
be ready, for a run by April 1, although that for the flotation
plant is somewhat behind.
MICHIGAN
i
Houghton County
In his testimony before the committee of inquiry into
the strike, James MacNaughton, of the Calumet & Hecla,
gave the following information: Probably half of the opened
ground was worked out, and the other half would not be
so rich in copper; the proportion of copper per ton of 'rock'
in the district was about 20 lb., the Calumet conglomerate
yielding 28 lb.; in Butte this was 62, Arizona 74, and the
Arizona and Utah porphyrites 22 lb.; to mine conglomerate
is 50 to 75% more expensive than the amygdaloid; Calumet
& Hecla normally hoists 20,500 tons of 'rock' per day; from
mining to marketing of copper, a period of about six weeks
elapses; 300 shaftmen are employed at the Calumet & Hecla:
80% of its 70 miles of drifts are used; hoisting engineers
in the district are not licensed; the contract system of
mining was based on the cubic fathom, 6 by 6 ft., measured
by the mine 'captain'; prices of contracts are cut down at
times, but there are 750 to 800 bosses, and some may not
be square with the men, this is not by the Company's orders:
a bonus system of 10c. per ton exists for mining over 900
tons per month; men were required to work not more than
150 ft. apart; before the strike the Calumet & Hecla com-
panies employed 419 one-man and 177 two-men drills; in
1912, miners with the former machine earned $3.34, and
with the latter $2.82 per shift; trammers in 11 mines moved
from 1200 to 1948 tons each per day over distances of 171
to 900 ft.; the Calumet & Hecla has had no labor troubles
since 1871; Mr. MacNaughton started work in 1877 carrying
water for coal shovelers.
A timberman, trammer, and finally a contract miner named
Joseph Ram, gave interesting evidence before the Commis-
sion. He kept his monthly pay dockets for 17 years, and
they were exhibited. From 1S97 to 1902 he averaged $2.32,
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
547
and from 1902 to 1914 $3.41 per shift, the latter term being
on contract. He worked an average of 297 days per year.
The strike in the district has been practically called off
by Charles H. Mover, president of the Western Federation
of Miners.
MONTANA
Sn.vKKiiow County
(Special Correspondence. ) — Estimates for the construction
of a 2000-ton unit of the new leaching plant of the Anaconda
Copper Mining Co. total about $1,250,000. The ultimate
capacity is to be 9000 tons per day. The plant will consist
of five main sections, namely, the dewatering, roasting, acid
manufacture, leaching, and precipitation of the copper. The
silver is also to be saved, and salt will be added during
leaching. There will be 28 6-hearth, 18-ft. diameter McDou-
gall roasting furnaces, and ten 50 by 14-ft. tanks for the
first unit. The slime plant consists of 160 28-ft. diameter
Dorr thickeners, 20 20-deck 16-ft. diameter buddies, three
50-ft. diameter by 14 ft. high settling tanks, and three Oliver
filters. Half of the buddies are working, and the remainder
will soon be ready. The 20-ft. diameter Great Falls con-
verter is treating 105 tons of matte at a single blow, which
lasts about six hours. A second one is to be constructed.
Anaconda, March 21.
At 2200 ft. the Middle vein has been cut in the Pilot-Butte,
but is low grade. The Anaconda company will have a large
exhibit at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915. Fifty feet
1*1 Hl»
tl
m in
f T
OM Utaiti Tuk t )ld L*Mhin< Tuti
*W»-
TJ
FLOW-SHEET OK 111 iTE-l>l I.UT1I 1-1. ANT.
within the Four Johns claim of the Butte & Superior, 35 ft.
of high-grade ore has been opened. During February the
Butte-Duluth leaching plant treated 3200 tons of ore with
89% extraction. The copper output was 65,000 lb. of elec-
trolytic and 40,000 lb. of precipitate.
NEVADA
Cm itciiii.L County
During February the Nevada Hills mine produced 4070
tons averaging $9.99 per ton, from which was recovered
$33,273 at a cost of $27,810. Development covered 558 ft.
at a cost of 80c. per ton. Total resources are worth $197,341.
Eureka County
The following description of the Buckhorn orebodies is
from an interview of Fred J. Slebert, consulting engineer for
the Buckhorn Mines Co., by the Reno Gazette: The property
is 28 miles south of Beowawe on the Southern Pacific rail-
road, where the Company's power-plant is operated. The mine
was discovered in the winter of 1908-09 by Joe Lynn, whose
partners were W. S. McCrea, William Kbert, James Dwyer,
and John Swan. Eventually, April 1910. George Wingfield
bought 14 claims and several fractions for $90,000. Since
then 20,000 ft. of work has been covered, and a large tonnage
of low-grade ore opened. There is no other mine with the
same characteristics. The central core of the orebody is
an intruded porphyry, augite andesite, intruded through many
different alternating sheets of basalt and volcanic scoria.
This central core has been the solution channel, and the
gold and silver has been deposited over great widths in the
beds of basalt and scoria, which have been favorable to ore
deposition. These beds of scoria have been most favorable
on account of their porous nature, but some of the softer
basalt flows have also formed large deposits. So far as the
work has progressed, it shows nine different basalt flows and
a similar number of scoria beds. From the central core of
the augite andesite the metal content decreases each way,
and tonnage depends, therefore, upon the cost of production,
but the commercial ore is in places at least 150 ft. wide.
The ore zone, so far as proved, is about 1600 ft. long. The
first 100 ft. in depth in the deposit includes practically all
of the oxidized ore, which will be mined and milled first.
The deposit to that point is almost vertical. It will be mined
by the glory-hole system. Below this depth the deposit turns
off rather fiat and will be mined by the top-slice system, which
is in effect the most up-to-date system of caving. No machine-
drills are used, as the ore is so soft. The main haulage level
from the mine is 2600 ft. long, 1750 ft. of which is underground.
Transportation is by electric locomotives. The 350-ton mill
is now in full operation, and was briefly described in the
Mining and Scientific Press of September 20, 1913.
Humboldt County
A 5>i.'-cu. ft. dredge at Unionville, owned by the Federal
Mines Co., is the only dredge in Nevada. It handles 1500
to 1600 cu. yd. per day. Gasoline engines are used.
Judge Farrington, in the United States District Court, on
March 12 gave his decision in the Rochester mine case,
wherein Dr. George and Stevens Bros, sued J. F. Nenzel, dis-
coverer of the Rochester mine, and the Rochester Mines Co.,
for a block of stock which they alleged had been secured
through fraud. The plaintiffs were awarded $210,000 worth
of shares.
The narrow-gage line built by the Rochester Hills Mining
Co. is to be extended right into the camp.
Lander County
The placer deposits in the Battle Mountain district are
yielding good returns to the claimholders, and are attract-
ing considerable notice. According to Will C. Higgins, editor
of 77ie Salt Lake Mining Review, who has inspected the place,
considers it of importance. The gravel is shallow, and every
facility exists for cheap transport of supplies.
Lincoln County
A station is being cut at 1400 ft. at No. 1 shaft of the
Amalgamated Pioche. A brecciated quartzite zone was en-
tered at the bottom of the shaft, and contains enough gold
and silver to warrant prospecting. Mr. Van Wagenen is super-
intendent.
Lyon County
From August 1913 to January 1914 the Nevada-Douglas ore
has averaged 6.5% copper, containing 3 002,516 lb. of metal,
worth $435,365.
The statement of the Mason Valley Mines Co. for the last
quarter of 1913 contains the following:
Ore smelted, company and custom, tons 50,197
Matte produced, tons 3,610
Copper content, pounds 3,694,227
Operating profit $53,561
Depreciation, deferred charges, bond interest 38,272
Net profit 15,289
Mineral County
The Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co. has secured an option
on the property of the Aurora Consolidated Mines Co. at
Aurora. The latter Company is building a 500-ton mill, which
is well on toward completion. This mine was examined by
the Tonopah Mining Co. prior to Jesse Knight and associates
buying it and building the new plant.
548
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Nye County
Owing to some good gold and silver ore being opened about
four miles north of Tonopah, a rush, among which were a
number of well known local people, set in to stake claims.
During the week ended March 21, ten mines at Tonopah pro-
duced 11,248 tons of ore worth $274,610. In February the
Tonopah company's yield was $187,945 from 11,492 tons, with
a profit of $80,550. At 1640 ft., in trachyte, in the Belmont,
the Belmont vein was cut. West End profits were $36,381
from 4357 tons in February. The Extension mill is treating
157 tons per day. Net earnings of the Montana in February
were $12,000. A tube-mill, capable of preparing 15 to IS
tons per day of chalcedony for use in the mills in Nevada
plants, is being erected at the quarry of O. Maris, six miles
from Manhattan. The Tonopah Mining Co. will compare the
local and Danish pebbles for grinding. Three mills are work-
ing at Manhattan, and with considerable development under
way the camp is busier than for some time..
White- Pine County
The Consolidated Copper Mines Co. will probably erect
an experimental mill near East Ely.
NEW MEXICO
Socobbo County
(Special Correspondence.) — At 900 ft. the Socorro com-
pany's drift has cut 8 ft. of $50 ore. The monthly mill pro-
duction is about two tons of gold-silver bullion, in addition
to a considerable tonnage of high-grade concentrate. The
Company recently retired its $200,000 issue of preferred stock,
from earnings. A good cash reserve is being accumulated.
In the Pacific, the stope below 250 ft. is from 10 to 15 ft.
wide, worth from $60 to $135 per ton. The Socorro com-
pany has an option on the property. The Oaks Co. is sur-
veying and sampling the Eberle mine. Ore assaying $34.80
gold and $16.77 silver per ton has been opened in a vein
off the main vein near the portal of adit 'A.'
Mogollon, March 9.
OREGON
Mining in this state has been described in 'Mineral Re-
sources of Oregon,' Vol. I, No. 1, published by the Oregon
Bureau of Mines and Geology, H. M. Parkes, director. This
serial will be published regularly. The total value of all min-
erals in 1913 was $3,650,000, of which $1,925,000 was from
gold, silver, lead, and copper. Josephine, Jackson, Lane,
Douglas, Curry, and Coos counties, in the southern district,
produced gold and silver worth $225,000. The ratio between
placer and deep mining is over 2 to 1. In eastern Oregon
the output was $1,700,000, 75% from deep mines, from Baker,
Malheur, Grant, Wheeler, and Crook counties. The volume
also deals with the necessity for a mineral survey, work
of the bureau, 'What is the Matter With the Mining Industry?'
by A. M. Swartley, coal in Oregon, and other matter.
UTAH
Salt Lake County
Underground work at the Utah Copper Co.'s mine at Bing-
ham has been almost discontinued, and within a few weeks
will he entirely abandoned. D. C. Jackling said recently
that this is a result of the advanced stage reached in the
stripping operations, which makes it possible for the steam-
shovels to provide even more ore than the combined capacity
of the two mills require.
WASHINGTON
Febry County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Ben Hur Leasing Co., in
the Ben Hur mine, is working on two shifts, entirely in
ore, north and south of the shaft, on No. 2, 3, and 4 levels.
Recent shipments have been low grade, but the ore is im-
proving at present. The Rathfon Reduction Co. has paid
$5000 to Ferry county on its option for the purchase of the
Republic mine. This leaves a balance of $18,000 of deferred
payments to be paid when due.
Republic, March 20.
Bids for the assets of the Republic Mines Corporation were
submitted at Spokane on March 10. The property included
the Lone Pine, Pearl, and Surprise mines. Robert Sterling,
of Wallace, Idaho, bid $230,000, on the understanding that
he could get an option on the Quilp mine; E. R. Davidson,
of Spokane, bid $250,000, exclusive of the Quilp; Henry Kehoe.
of Spokane, bid $150,000, provided he could get the Quilp
option, and certain other arrangements: Sidney Norman, rep-
resenting New York people, offered $150,000, part in cash and
part in stock in a company to be formed to acquire all the
producing mines at Republic, and also to erect a 50-ton
concentrating plant; and E. L. Tate, of the Quilp company,
offered $150,000 under certain conditions. It is said that
Mr. Sterling has under option 760,000 of the 1,000,000 shares
in the Corporation. The Corporation's property was eventu-
ally sold to Mr. Sterling for $260,000. He was acting for a
New York syndicate.
The Hope and Knob Hill mining companies, operating at
Republic, have purchased the mine and mill of the San Poil
HAN POIL MILL, REPUBLIC.
Mining Co., also at Republic, for $170,000. The payments are
to be made from ore from the former mines. The daily capac-
ity of the plant is 100 tons.
Stevens County
Foundations are being prepared for a 100-ton smelter for
the Copper King Mining Co. at Chewelah. Oil will be used
as fuel.
CANADA
British Columbia
An option on the Yellowstone group of claims, 17 miles
from tidewater up the Salmon river, has been taken by the
Canadian Mining, Exploration & Development Co. W. J. Rolf
is the Company's engineer.
The Granby Consolidated company's new smelter at Anyox
was blown in on March 16.
Ontabio
During February, the Dome mine's gold yield was 12,010
tons of ore for $69,000, or $5.74 per ton. Since April 1913 the
total is 130,240 tons, yielding $1,116,606.
A new hoist has been installed at Beaver Consolidated.
Cobalt, and extensive development will be done on 10 levels.
Thirteen machines are working underground at present. The
La Rose company is prospecting in the Fisher-Eplett mine,
north of the Beaver Consolidated, and at 300 ft. has opened a
large body of quartz assaying 40c. per ton in gold. The Mc-
Kinley-Darragh-Savage company, of Cobalt, has taken a six
months' working option on the Jupiter mine at Porcupine.
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
549
Personal
W. DeL. Benedict is in California.
Thomas T. Read is in Washington.
F. B. Lawson is here from London.
A. D. Spboat is at Guanajuato, Mexico.
E. H. Lesxie was at Denver this week.
. WnxiAM D. Pebegki.ve is at Denver, Colorado.
G. L. Sheldon was in Salt Lake City last week.
John Randall is now at Placerville, California.
A. W. Stick ney sailed for England on March 12.
Charles Janin has returned from Russia to London.
Albert Burch was in San Francisco for the week-end.
Whitman Symmes was in San Francisco over Sunday.
Ralph Arnold passed through San Francisco last week.
Ernest G. Locke is temporarily at Hollywood, California.
George T. Coffey has gone back to Dawson for the season.
H. M. Wolflin is visiting the mines of southern California.
Eugene Callens has gone to Johannesburg from Paris,
France.
B. N. Jackson has removed from Cibola, Arizona, to Los
Angeles.
W. Footson Wong has been visiting the Inspiration mine,
in Arizona.
Wallace Lee has left Los Angeles and is now at Washing-
ton, D. C.
A. B. Emery, manager of the La Fe mine, Zacatecas, is in
New York.
Edgar Collins passed through San Francisco, returning to
Arizona, Monday.
Edmund Juessen was at Manhattan last week and is now
in Plumas county.
James S. Douglas and Walter Douglas are inspecting the
Phelps- Dodge properties in Arizona.
Elwood Mead has been granted permission by the regents
of the University of California to return to Australia.
H. W. Mooke has been made general superintendent of
the Tropico Mining & Milling Co., at Rosamond, California.
I. F. Lalcks is at Silverton, British Columbia, on profes-
sional business for the Standard Silver Lead Mining Company.
Paul M. Paine has been appointed general superintendent of
the Honolulu Con. Oil Co. properties with headquarters at
Taft, California. •
Hyman Herman, director of the Geological Survey of Vic-
toria, has been elected president of the Australasian Institute
of Mining Engineers.
W. G. Anderson has been appointed general manager for
the Ore Chimney Mining Co., Ltd., at Northbrook, Frontenac
county, Ontario, Canada.
Gardner F. Williams will address the San Francisco sec-
tion of the A. I. M. E. on 'Modern View of the Origin of the
Diamond,' at the Engineers' Club, Tuesday evening, March 31.
Morton Webber has been engaged in examination work in
Idaho and Montana lor the past three months. He recently
returned to New York tor a lew days, and has left again
for the West to be absent about two months.
A. Housman, who died at Alameda, March 1, was best
known as having been connected for some time with the
State Mining Bureau. While in that office he did much of
the work upon which the bulletin upon copper resources of
California was based. He has also much other good work to
his credit, being a well educated engineer of experience and
attainments. His death is regretted by a wide circle of
friends.
Date.
31
MARCH
Name.
American Institute Mining Engineers, San Francisco
APRIL
American Chemical Society "$.1 1
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 10
American Electro-Chemical Society 16-18
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 16
MAY
Mining and Metallurgical Society. . .San Francisco 4
National Fire Protection Association 5.7
American Iron and Steel Institute 22
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 21
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 26
American Society for Testing Materials 23-27
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July 2
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of June
Franklin Institute Philadelphia end of June
AUGUST
American Inst. Mining Engineers .. Salt Lake City 10-14
SEPTEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixed
American Chemical Society 9-12
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 9
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-24
NOVEMBER ;
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 13
DECEMBER
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-8
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 10
Society of Naval Architects 11-12
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 11
American Museum of Safety 11-20
Geological Society of America, Philadelphia 29-31
Massachusetts 'Tech' has a student registration of 1687,
a gain of 74 over the last year.
Columbia University will spend $3,721,215 in operating all of
its departments from July 1, 1914, to June 30, 1915. For the
work of the university proper, $2,925,597 is appropriated, of
which $2,131,655 Is for educational administration and instruc-
tion. The balance is for buildings, grounds, library, and re-
demption fund.
The Institute of Petroleum Technologists held its inau-
gural meeting in London on March 3. The president. Sir
Boverton Redwood, was in the chair. 'The Geology of the
Anticline' was discussed by Sir Thomas Holland; 'The Edu-
cational Aims of the Institution,' by Cunningham Craig; and
'Petroleum Technology as a Profession,' by Vivian B. Lewes.
The Colorado School of Mines senior class trip includes
the following itinerary: Leave Denver on April 20; at Mid-
vale, Bingham, Tooele, and Salt Lake City, Utah, from April
28 to May 4, inclusive; the metallurgists' division will be
at Butte and Anaconda from May 5 to 11; and the miners'
division at these places to May 13. The tour will end at
Denver on May 18.
550
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
LOCAL, METAL PRICES
San Francisco, March 26.
Antimony 9 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15^ — 15%C
PiS lead 4.15— 5.10
Quicksilver (llask) $39. Oil
Tin 40^—42 c
Spelter 6 %— 6%c
Zinc dust, 180 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7% to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
New York, March 26. — More business Is doing In copper for
domestic trade and exports, and prices have advanced from
14.05 to 14.35c. per pound. Producers' agencies in London arc
quoting 14.67 to 14.72c. for electrolytic, according to delivery.
Lead and spelter show no change and are both flat. Tin is
steady at 38.55 to 38.75 cents. Bar silver in New York and
London are 58c. and 26%d. per ounce respectively. Net earn-
ings on the common stock of the American Smelting & Re-
fining Co. were equal to 7.47% in 1913, compared with 11.47'i
in 1912.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of tine silver.
Date.
Mch. 19.
20
21
22 Sunday
.58.00
.58.00
.58.12
Average week ending.
Feb. 11
li
Men.
. . .58.12
. . .58.12
. . .58.00
Monthly averages
1914
Jan.
Feb.
Men
57.58
57.53
1913.
Julv 58.70
Aug 59.3'.'
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov. 58.76
Dec 57.73
.5 1
.57.37
.57.53
.57.71'
.58.23
.58.04
.58.06
1914.
1913.
63.01
61.25
57.87
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
The report of the Royal Commission on Indian Finance and
Currency has been published, according to The Mining Journal,
London. The Commission reports that the currency most suit-
able for the Internal needs of India is silver and notes. On
the other hand, the system can only be satisfactory if the gold
standard reserve is maintained at an adequate figure. Tin-
reserve exists to secure the conversion into sterling of so much
of the internal currency as may at any moment seek export.
The Commission consequently suggests a rearrangement of the
assets at present at the disposal of the gold standard reserve
and the paper currency reserve. The gold specie, amounting
to six crores of rupees, or say £4.000.000, at present to the
credit of the paper currency reserve, should be transferred to
the gold standard reserve in exhange for sterling securities
to the same amount now held by the gold standard reserve.
The silver holding of the gold standard reserve, valued at
about £4.000,000. should similarly be exchanged with the paper
currency reserve, which, with the total amount of gold held
by the gold standard reserve, would raise that fund to about
£9,500,000 in specie. This sum, however, is considered insuffi-
cient, and a minimum of £15,000,000, it is suggested, should
be accumulated as rapidly as possible. This gold reserve would,
of course, be kept in London. There can be no question that
one of the most important financial questions of the time,
especially in view of the present declining tendency of the
world's gold output, is to secure that every ounce of gold is
made to support as much credit as possible. In English bank-
ing circles there is a general recognition that present reserves
of gold should be gradually increased, and so long as it is
possible to satisfy commercial opinion that the reserves held
are adequate, there seems no reason why gold should be wasted
through attrition, hoarding, casual loss, or distribution into
channels by which it passes out of the immediate control of
central organizations, when the actual functions of currency
can be discharged by notes, bills, and token coins.
Ul ICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver Is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.,
are given below:
Feb.
Mch.
Week ending
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
Mav 40.25
June 41.00
I Mch. 12
39.00 "19
...39.00 I " 26
Monthly averages.
1914
.38.50
.39.50
.39.00
39.25
39.00
1913.
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Dec 40.00
1914.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
.Mch. 19 14.05
•' 20 14.10
" 21 14.15
2 2 Sundav
" 23 14.20
" 24 14.25
" 25 14.35
1913.
Jan 16.54
Feb 14.93
Mch 14.72
Apr 15.22
May 15.42
June 14.71
Monthly averages
1914
Averaee week ending
Feb. 11 14.64
" IS 14.55
" 25 ]4 34
Mch. 4 14 22
" 11 14.04
" IS 14.01
25 14.I8
14.21
14.46
1913.
July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15.O8
Dec 14.25
1914.
LEAD
Lead
pounds.
Date.
Mch. 19.
" 20.
" 21.
" 22
" 23.
" 24 .
is quoted In cents per pound or dollars per hundred
New York delivery.
Sunday
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
Mch.
.Ian.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
. 4.28
. 4.33
. 4.32
. 4.36
. 4.34
. 4.33
11
18
25
4
11
IS
25
Monthly averages.
1914
Feb
Average week ending
4.11
4.02
1918.
July 4.35
4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
. 4.00
1014.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
4.60
4.70
4.37
4.16
4.02
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Mch. 19.
" 20.
21 .
1913.
Jan 6.88
Feb 6.13
Mch 5.94
Apr 5.52
May 5.23
June 5.00
. . 5.10
. . 5.10
. . 5.10
. . 5.10
. . 5.10
. . 5.10
Average week ending
Mch. 4...
" 11...
" 18...
Monthly averages.
1914
5.14
5.22
1913.
July 5.11
Aug 5.5]
Sept 5.55
Oct 5.22
Nov : 5.09
Dec 5.07
5.25
. 5.25
. 5.20
. 5.15
. 5.13
. 5.10
. 5.10
1914.
Zincblende at Joplin is selling for $38 to $41, basis of 60%
metallic zinc, compared with $49 to $52, basis, for the corre-
sponding week of 1913. Lead ore brings $50, basis of 80%
metallic lead, compared with $57 per ton, basis, a year ago.
New York prices control in the American market for tin, since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San'Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 45.10
1913.
1914.
50.45
37.85
49.07
39.76
46.95
49 00
49.10
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
1914
Billlton tin sold at public auction in 1913 at Batavia, Java.
totaled 66.000 slabs averaging 74.8 lb. each, or 4.938.800 lb., at
an average price of 42.61c. per pound.
Imports of aluminum, crude, ingots, scrap, etc.. in December
1313 were 1,354, SOS lb., valued at $224,278; in December 1912.
3,803.469 lb., valued at $653,401; In the year 1913, 23,185.775 lb..
valued at $3,905,977; and in the year 1912, 22,159,937 lb., valued
at $3,092,889.
March 28. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
551
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
March 25.
BONDS
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s 8 97}
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 6s —
General Petroleum 6s... 35
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated Oil —
Associated OU 41
E. I. du Pont pfd. —
Giant 81
Pac. Cst Borax, com —
Pacific Crude OU —
Sterling O. 4 D 1}
Unlisted. Bid
Natomas Consol. 6s —
Pac. Port. Cement 6s 100
Santa Cruz Cement 6s... 43)
Union OU 61 i
Ask
98)
81
38
STOCKS
Ask ; Unlisted. Bid
82) General Petroleum 3
41 j Noble Electric Steel 5
90 Natomas Consol 50c
86 Pac. Port. Cement —
67) Riverside Cement —
30c i Santa Cruz Cement 47
1) I Stand. Port. Cement 29)
Ask
26
61 J
Ask
41
02}
63
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
March 26.
Atlanta I .36
Belcher 41
Belmont. 7.62
Con. Virginia 17
norence. .67
Uoldfleld Con 1.77
Uoldfield Oro .14
Halifax 80
Jim Butler 1.05
Jumbo Extension. 37
MacNamara 09
Mexican 1.10
Midway 35
Mlzpah Extension .47
Montana-Tonopah I .99
Nevada Hills 31
North Star 37
Ophlr 45
Pittsburg SUver Peak 34
Round Mountain 86
Sierra Nevada 19
Tonopah Extension 2.00
Tonopah Merger .61
Tonopah of Nevada 7.00
Union 14
Victor 27
West End .88
Yellow Jacket... 46
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask.
Argonaut $2.75 .... Central Eureka
Brunswick Con $1.05 Mountain King
Bunker Hill 1.90 South Eureka .
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
Bid. Ask.
..$0.60 »0.69
0.50
. . 1.50
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson.
March 26.
Ask
Mills Building.)
Bid
AUoues I 41
Arts. Commercial *i
Butte 4 Superior 35i
Calumet 4 Arizona «8j
Calumet 4 Hecla 415
Copper Range 37)
Daly West. 2)
East Butte Ill
rranklln 6)
(iranby 88
Greene Cananea 37
Isle-Royale 19
M:uw Copper 2)
Bid
42 i Mokawk I 44
5 Nevada Con 16}
35| ! North Butte 27|
68) Old Dominion 411
416 i Osceola 77)
38} I Qulncy 59
2| Shannon 6J
11J Superior 4 Boston 2)
fit i Tamarack 35)
88) U. S. Smelting, com 39)
37( Utah Con 10}
l!l) ; Winona 3J
2jJ : Wolverine —
Ask
41 i
m
28
49)
78
80
«i
2»
33
40
10)
3|
47
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E.
Bid.
Braden Copper ... H \
Braden 6s 1 65
B. C. Copper 1 :l-
Con. Cop. Mines.
Davis-Daly 1%
Ely Con 4
First National ... 2%
Glroux 1
Holllnger 16
Iron Blossom .... 1 Si
Kerr I-rftk'- I
F. Hutton &
Marcli 26.
Ask.
Co., Kohl Buhding.)
ITU
1 ■•»
2«4
1%
6
3
1<4
17
4 y4
La Hose
Mason Valley
McKInley-Dar
Mines Co. Am
Nlpisslng ....
Ohio Copper .
Stand. Oil of
Trl Bullion
Tuolumne
United Cop. com
Yukon Gold
Bid.
1%
3
70c.
Ask.
75c.
1%
1 . 3 I 5
".7»
K
hi
%
hi
2%
hi
348
NEW VORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
Bid
Amalgamated $ 75}
Anaconda 36
A. S. 4 R., com 69}
Calif. Pet., com 27
Chlno 42}
Guggenheim Ex 66
Inspiration 175
March 26.
Ask
Bid
75J
36)
69)
27)
12}
56}
18
Miami $ 24
Nevada Con 15}
Quicksilver, com 1}
Ray Con 21)
Tenn. Copper 86
U. 8. Steel, pfd 110
Ask
24}
15|
2}
211
35}
110}
U. S. Steel, com 63J 63j
Mexican Pet., com 67) 68 I Utah Copper 66J 66)
I.O
(By cable, through
NDON QUOTATIONS
the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co..
New York.)
March 26.
d. £.
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell
Alaska United
Arizona
Camp Bird
Cobalt Townsite
El Oro
Esperanza
Granville
Kern River Oilfields..
£
1
8
3
2
0
2
0
0
o
0
AUSTRALASIAN
March 26.
£ s. d. I
5
0
2
«
0
0
12
6
17
6
13
9
17
6
10
0
8
S
Mexican Eagle, com 2
Mexico Mines 5
Messina 1
Orovllle 0
Pacific Oilfields 0
RIoTinto 71
Santa Gertrudls 0
Tanganyika 2
Tomboy 1
5
3
0
11
3
13
9
•2
6
16
0
16
0
6
0
3
9
British Broken Hill 2 1 3
Broken Hill Prop 2 0 0
Golden Horse-Shoe 2 12 6
Great Boulder Prop 0 15 0
Ivanhoe. 2 13 9
Kalgurll. 1 17 6
Mount Boppy 0 12 6
Mount Elliott 8
Mount Lyell 1
Mount Morgan 8
Walhl „ 2
Walhl Grand June.... 1
Zinc Corporation, Ord I
t s. d.
8 17 6
0
9
3
3
COAL AND IRON IN RUSSIA
Coal production of the Donetz Basin of Russia, which pro-
vides 55.5% of the coal consumption of the country, amounted
to 28,000,000 tons in 1913. At a recent conference of coal
men at Kharkof, estimates were made of the output and
consumption of Donetz coal for the next five years as follows:
output, 34,217,000, 37,828,000, 41,132,000. 43,787,000, and 44,274,-
000; consumption, 33,567,000, 36,149,000, :!8,2S0,000, 39,742,000,
and 41,295,000 short tons, respectively.
The metallurgical industry of Russia, which has its prin-
cipal centre in the consular district of Odessa, is showing
increased activity. The output of pig iron in the country
last year was 4,660,000 long tons, against 4,050,000 tons in
1912. Imports were about 50,000 tons. Orders received by
the Russian Iron & Steel Syndicate in 1913 were 2,435,000
tons. — Daily Consular Report.
GERMAN MACHINERY TRADE
Machinery exports from Germany in 1913 amounted to
593,969 metric tons, against 536,636 tons in 1912. The average
value was $276.29 per ton. Imports were 87,902 tons, against
77,937 In the previous year. These were worth $222.77 per
ton. The exportation of machines from Germany in 1913
was divided as follows: to Russia. 19%; Austria-Hungary,
11; France, 10; Great Britain. 7; Belgium, The Netherlands,
and Italy, each 5; Spain, 3.5; Rumania, Brazil, and Argen-
tina, each 3; Switzerland, 2.5; Denmark, United States, South
America (except Brazil and Argentina), and Japan, each 1.5%.
The remaining 17' ; went to Norway, Sweden, Canada, China,
India, etc. According to official data, the United States sup-
plied 40% Great Britain ;!4, Switzerland 6, Canada 7, Belgium
2, and Austria-Hungary 1.6% of Germany's machine imports
in 1913. — Daily Consular Report.
Imiisthiai. establishments in Italy, according to the 1911
census, totaled 243,985, employing 2,305,698 people, and 1,573,-
774 lip. Of these, mining and metal-working industries were
63,667. employing 799,346 people and 257.770 hp. There were
495 chemical works, employing 10,165 people and 3867 horse-
power.
5oL>
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Company Reports
BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY MINING CO., LIMITED
During the six months ended November 30, 1913, this well
known concern had the following results:
Ore treated, tons 158, 863
Refinery output:
Silver, ounces 2,750,671
Lead, tons 49,723
Tailing treated by flotation, tons 181,463
Zinc concentrate produced, tons 43,914
Profit $691,000
Good progress has been made with the foundations for the
iron and steel plant at Newcastle, and the work is being
pushed on as fast as possible with a view to starting work
early in 1915.
MACNAMARA MINING COMPANY
This Company operates a mine, 10-stamp mill, and cyanide
plant at Tonopah, Nevada. The report for the past year
includes the following information: Development is being
done on the 500, 600, 625, and 700-ft. levels on the Lower
Contact vein, and will be started soon at 800 ft. During the
year, 2103 ft. of work was accomplished on this vein. Good
widths of ore with good bullion contents have been opened,
but. the occurrences were rather irregular. In places the
vein is 40 ft. wide, but averages 30 ft. High-grade ore was
cut on the 500-ft. level.
Development, feet . . . 3,28 4
Ore treated, tons 28,098
Average value, per ton $8.41
Gold yield, ounces 2,842
Silver ounces 266,772
Recovery, per cent 92.7
Gross value $219,002
Cost per ton:
Mining, including development, taxes, insurance, etc. $4,349
Mining, including management, interest on debt, etc. 3.523
Bullion expenses 0.136
Cash at November 30, 1913 $4,444
The mill costs were 17c. below those of 1912. All mill residue
has been impounded since the start, and experiments show
that there is a profit of a few cents per ton in them. Total
costs were $6.38 per ton, against $6.92 in 1912. The gross
output to date is 1,778,304 tons yielding $59,475,201, and $26,-
330,470 in dividends.
GOLDFIELD CONSOLIDATED MINES COMPANY
From a total of 330,217 tons of $14.88 ore milled, and 19,248
tons of $27.39 ore shipped, the different mines of this Nevada
company produced as follows: Combination, $1,332,957; Mo-
hawk, $1,765,345; Red Top Laguna, $336,496; Clermont-Jumbo,
No. 2, $1,422,271; dumps, $54,496; and Clermont, $527,284.
The gross value was $5,438,853, and the revenue from ore
was $4,942,828, according to the president, George Wingfield.
The expanses of mining, transport, milling, construction,
taxation, and general were $2,210,883, leaving net $2,731,945.
Two dividends, 30 and 40c. per share, amounted to $2,491,404.
Cash balances at the end of the year were $1,074,372, with
other outstanding settlements of $161,217. The uncertainty
of the Nevada bullion has been settled, and the transporta-
tion company controlled by the Goldfield Consolidated, will
merely continue to work at actual operating cost. According
to Albert Burch, the general manager, development covered
38,696 ft. at a cost of $8.42 per foot. Operating conditions
are becoming increasingly more difficult, as 90% of the present
ore is from pillars, ends, and sides of old stopes from which
the best ore was mined some years ago. Mining costs are
$3.41 per ton. Measurable ore reserves consist of 136,000 tons
of average grade, and are larger than at the beginning of
1913. The mines contain large quantities of low-grade ore,
which will be treated if some means of doing so is devised.
ASSOCIATED NORTHERN BLOCKS (W. A.), LIMITED
This Company owns 48 acres of property at Kalgoorlie,
and 93 acres at Ora Banda, 40 miles from Kalgoorlie, West-
ern Australia; and 112 acres at El Refugio, Mexico. The
first-named area has produced £1,728,043 from 365,555 tons
of ore to date; the Victorious, £115,263 from 102,797 tons;
while owing to the revolution in Mexico, little has been done,
and the mine is to be leased. Dividends, including £35,000
paid in the year ended September 30, 1913, total £726,250.
The Iron Duke claim, at Kalgoorlie, is practically worked
out, although tributers mined 17,963 tons of ore, yielding
gold worth £68,671. The sulphide mill treated, in all, 25,047
tons of ore, including 5923 tons of purchased ore, also 32,276
tons of residue, yielding £102,348. Royalties amounting to
£16,417 were collected from tributers. A profit of about
£17,479 was made on this property. Developments at the Vic-
torious mine have been noted in the Special Correspond-
ence pages of this journal from time to time. Development
covered 6688 ft. at a cost of $7.96 per foot. Shaft-sinking
168 ft. cost $84.60 per foot. Stations cut amounted to 9477
cu. ft. Three lodes produced 97,639 tons of ore worth £124,943.
The country around the ore is very decomposed, causing
great strain on timbers by creeps. The estimation of ore
reserves is difficult, and work in the sulphide zone is not
sufficiently advanced to make estimates. The mill produced
bullion worth £108,370 at a cost of $1.23 per ton. Detailed
costs will be given in another issue of this journal. The
report includes one made by Edward H. Liveing on the
two properties in Western Australia. He gives little hope
for the Iron Duke mine, and advises postponing the erection
of a sulphide plant at the Victorious until No. 6 level is
well developed. The year's work left a surplus of £23,867,
while investments are worth £37,210. W. Martin is super-
intendent of the Victorious mine, and George M. Roberts gen-
eral manager for the Company.
ASHANTI GOLDFIELDS CORPORATION, LIMITED.
This Company controls a large concession, and operates
mines and treatment plants in the Gold Coast Colony, West
Africa. The directors' report under review covers the year
ended June 30, 1913. The reduction works treated 148,447
short tons of ore, yielding 107,977 oz. gold, and 7296 oz.
silver, realizing a total of £476,800, with the bullion from
14,661 tons of old tailing. The working profit was £253,116.
but on adding sundry receipts and deducting government
royalty, depreciation, development, etc., the net profit was
£175,147. The balance from the previous year was £76,169,
which gave a total of £251,315. Three dividends, amounting
to £187,507, were paid out of this total. Ore reserves at
September 30 were estimated as 365,300 tons, worth £1,505,-
000, with a profit of £573,600. These are 27,540 tons less,
but worth £24,000 and £21,300 profit respectively above those
of the previous estimates. Working costs in West Africa
averaged $6.24; bullion charges, 19c; London expenses, 28c:
government royalty, 74c: development, $1.29; and depre-
ciation 66c; a total of $9.40 per ton. Gas-engines have been
installed at the mines in place of steam power. The direc-
tors considered the present state of the mines to be highly
encouraging, the profit in sight shows no decrease, and the
metallurgical methods have improved.
The consulting engineer's, W. R. Feldtmann, report, cov-
ers the year ended September 30, 1913. Development at
all mines covered IS. 278 ft. The Ayernm mine produced
March 28. 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 553
25,782 tons of ore, yielding £47,500. This came from No. 5 HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY
level stopes, and a little from No. 6 level. The lode below T
No. 4 level has been dangerous to mine. The main shaft ,. ,?°lni , dlvldends l>aid. this Company stands fourth in
is down 565 ft., and drifts at this depth have opened the ' ,T°f the WOrld's goId mines> beinS exceeded by the
vein, which is quartz in irregular lenses of a low grade. ," ,!*' EaSt Rand Pr0Drietary sroup in the Trans-
There is 105,000 tons of ore in this mine. The Ashanti ***}• a"d the Goldfield Consolidated of Nevada: but when its
mine produced 77,207 tons, yielding £318,000. Ore reserves °f °PeraUons and future is considered, it probably occu-
are 182,300 tons, averaging $28.60 per ton. The Obuasi shoot P'!f. St plaCe'
on No. 10 and 11 levels has opened excellent ore. The . rep0rt 0t T" J' Gner' superintendent, covers the cal-
Justice claims produced 16,720 and 6170 tons of oxidized *ndiU' >ear 1913' and contains the following information:
and sulphide ore, respectively, returning £31,000 and £10 900. DeveIoPment covered 16,313 ft. of drifts and 686 ft. of raises.
Blackie's mine yielded 12,897 tons and £33,500 in gold. A Th<> depths °f the shafts remain as the-v were a >'ear ago.
considerable amount of work was done on outside proper- nanle,y: E1IlS0"- ^50 ft.; B. and M., 1550; Golden Prospect,
ties with varying results. There was a large shortage of U00: G°lden Star' 1400; 01d Brig- 80°: and Golden Gate, 800
labor during the year, hampering work generally. Mr. Feldt- , Broken ore In the stopes amounts to 2.206,671 tons, an
mann's report gives great detail of mining and future profits. lncrease of 176,000 tons. The property is in fine physical
Treatment of the different ores produced consists of roast- londltion' and Prospects point to a long and profitable life.
ing and direct cyaniding, and a filter-press plant, showing A modern change-house was erected for the miners, and
recoveries of 92.6 and 80.14%, respectively. Some of the Recreation Building at Lead was built and is now ready for
Ashanti ore contains graphite. a" of the ComPan>''* employees. Assets of the Company are
worth $23,811,776. which includes all equipment, cash, and
YUKON GOLD COMPANY bullion. Liabilities include capital stock, $21,840,000; accounts
payable, $2942; outstanding drafts, $492,713: unclaimed div-
This Company operates dredges and hydraulic plants near idends, $5660; and profit and loss balance, $1,470 460
Dawson, Klondike, dredges at Iditarod, Alaska, and a boat Results may be summarized as follows:
on the American river, California. The report of O. B. Perry
for the year 1913 gives the following information: No. 4 Ore-treated, tons 1.540,961
and No. 6 boats in the Klondike were dismantled, and are AveraSe value realized, per ton $4.0148
being rebuilt on other areas. The cost of moving them and Gold outPut $6,186,652
constructing power-lines was $164,484. The eight Dawson Balance from 1912 1.455,958
boats worked from May 1 to October 31, a season of 164 days. °ther revenue 132,716
The average recovery and cost was 65.13c. and 29.53c. per Total revenue 7,775,326
cubic yard, respectively. Owing to power troubles with the Costs: Per ton.
Granville Power Co., the boats were idle 20 days, or 11% of Mining and 'dead work' $1.4So
the possible time. The power contract is to be canceled, and Milling 0.254
power will be obtained from the Yukon Gold Co.'s own plant. Cyaniding sand, direct cost 0.104
Of the area mined at Dawson. 445,624 sq. yd., or 68.4%, was Regrinding ()M':>
frozen and had to be thawed by steam. The Iditarod dredge Cyaniding slime 0.0ST.
worked from May S to November 25, a season of 203 days. Assay office 0.021
The average recovery and cost was $l.t;7 and 64.:>,3c. per cubic Foundry and shops 0.061
yard, respectively. The two California boats, two at Oro- Shafts 0.137
ville for a time, and later one at that place and one near Hydro-electric plant and electric operation 0.028
Auburn, worked satisfactorily. The latter has a capacity of Hospital, Recreation Building, etc O.lOfi
120,000 cu. yd. per month. Hydraulicking at Dawson re- General, including property purchase, taxes, timber,
suited in a loss, due to stripping the top gravel before the water, salary, survey, etc 0.434
'pay' could be mined. The water-supply fell from 524,249
miner's inches in 1912 to 406,135 in 1913. The area blocked Total cost $2,720
out and stripped could not be completely mined and the ^, ,„
gold recovered. About 50% remains to be cleaned to bed- Divid«d« totaled $2,146,224, equivalent to $1.39 per ton.
rock, so the gross value is not representative of the area aDd *?*' rea,lzable va,UP I>er to" was *4-0148- The discrep-
mined, or of the gold content of the gravel. The cost was a"cy is due to other sources of income. It is also to be
9.7c. per cubic yard, and duty of the water 6.6. Drought, T fiK"reS *" baSed UP°n t0"S mUled' WhiC'!
. .. , . . . , , does not agree with tons mined. It is impossible with the
using water for generating power, and a bad break in the _ nnt.uon.uic ™.lu mr
ditch system were responsible for unsatisfactory hydraulic fig"res at hand to state separately the actual cost of milling
work. Scattered claims leased to individuals gave a good ^ ?in'ng per t0"' n°'' is there any info™ation given as
profit. Results may be summarized as follows: t0 ,total ore reserves or recovery. Both are known to be
satisfactory, since the reserve is sufficient for many years
Work done. Cubic yards. Gold yield. Cost. Profit. and the ta,„ ]oss ,g understood to be about ,4c ^ '
Dawson dredging. . .5,133,575 $3,343,667 $1,515,872 $1,827,795 It is to be notpd that at the Homestake much construction
Dawson hydraulick- )a charged into C0Kt and not capitalized, although recently
lng 2'875'952 256'491 278-917 *22'426 new capital was issued against the cvanide plants, water
Iditarod dredging... 496.756 827,420 319,560 507,860 gyrtem, hydro-electric plant, and other work that has been
California dredging. 2,550.271 176,023 103,849 72,174 under way for somp ypara back As we notpf] ftt ^ ^
Miscellaneous 185'800 33-756 I52-044 the excess profits, above regular dividends, are divided be-
tween stockholders and workers, the latter receiving a T7,
Total $4,789,403 $2,251,955 $2,537,449 dlvfdend on paph „,„,,.„ pay for the ypa]. T1)p „ompstakp
•Loss due to causes explained. ,g a grpat minp an(, fte management js doing exce,ient
Royalties paid were $787,278; amortization, $520,886; inter- work. It is to be regretted that the accounts a.s published
est, general, $145,373; a total of $1,453,536. A dividend of 6% are somewhat Inadequate, and we should like to see them
was paid. The indebtedness to the Guggenheim Exploration classified more in detail. However, we believe this is not
Co. was reduced by $425,000. The surplus at December 31, due to any indisposition to give stockholders and public
1913, was $489,576. all proper information.
554
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28, 1914
Book Reviews
Igneous Rocks; Composition, Texture, and Classification;
Descbiption and Occurrence. By Joseph P. Iddings, Vol. II,
Xvo, xi + 685 pages. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.;
London, Chapman & Hall, Ltd., 1913. For sale by the Mining
and Scientific Press. Price $6.
Volume II is a worthy successor to the earlier volume of
Mr. Iddings' 'Igneous Rocks,' and to the mining man, inter-
ested in the broad relations of ore occurrence, is of greater
interest. Volume I, which appeared in 1909, describes suc-
cessively the chemical composition of igneous rocks and the
minerals which compose them; the physical chemistry of
magmas; the crystallization and the texture of igneous rocks;
their mode of occurrence; the process of magmatic differentia-
tion, and the classification of igneous rocks.
Volume II is devoted to a description of the composition of
igneous rocks, both chemical and mineral; their texture
and their genetic relations. The latter entails a knowledge
of the mode of occurrence; their relation to other rock
masses; their geographical distribution, and a determination
of the period of the earth's history when they solidified. The
treatise is separated into two parts: "one dealing chiefly
with the description of the material features and their modes
of occurrence as rock masses, petrography in its narrower
sense; the other part treating of the occurrence of groups
of igneous rocks in all regions of the earth." The first
chapter is devoted to a resume of the character of igneous
rocks as solidified liquid solutions, the presence of grada-
tional facies between all rock types, and the advance in
petrography due to the introduction of the quantitative sys-
tem of classification. As to date the latter system has not
been in sufficiently long or general use by petrographers to
serve as the foundation of a description of the igneous rocks
of the world, Mr. Iddings introduces a qualitative classifica-
tion.
Descriptions of the various igneous rocks follow, arranged
according to this classification, in which Iddings recognizes
rocks composed of (1) quartz preponderant; (2) quartz and
feldspar; (3) feldspar; (4) feldspar and feldspathoids (nephe-
line, leucite, and sodalite) ; (5) feldspathoids; (6) mafic min-
erals (amphibole, pyroxene, olivine, iron ores, etc.). Under
each are described first the phaneritic (crystalline) rocks, and
then their aphanitic (porphyritic and glassy rock) equival-
ents. The numberless names which have been applied to
various rocks as described by previous petrographers of each
division are defined, and the origin of the name explained.
Notwithstanding the advantage in the quantitative classifica-
tion of rocks in the treatment of certain petrographic prob-
lems, the mining engineer must depend on a selected few of
these old fashioned and to him practical rock names. Class
No. 2, for example, includes granite, quartz-monzonite.
granodiorite, quartz-diorite, and quartz-gabbro. Mr. Iddings,
in attempting to give to each name a definite rock signifi-
cance, introduces certain quantitative limits which can be
followed with advantage even in petrographic work of a
roughness such as suffices for most economic work. He places
in division No. fi. for instance, gabbros, in which the femic
minerals (pyroxenes, hornblendes, olivines, etc.) exceed the
salic (feldspar, etc.) by more than 5 to 3. More feldspar-rich
gabbros belong to Division No. 3. Under each division the
characteristics of the minerals composing the rock members
thereof are described, as are the rock textures. A discussion
of the chemical composition then follows, the volume con-
taining over 2000 rock analyses.
Part II begins with the description of the distribution of
igneous rocks in the world with generalizations particularly
upon petrographical provinces. The difficulties partly inher-
ent to the problem itself and partly due to the absence to
date of sufficient data, are emphasized. The major structural
and petrographic features of each continental land mass and
the principal island groups are then discussed. After the
description of the igneous rocks, that of the petrographical
provinces of each land unit follows. Maps, on a small scale
to be sure, of the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Japan and
the East Indies, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific,
show the world distribution of igneous rocks. Naturally, be-
cause of the author's nationality, and because of the wealth
of American petrographic data, America is particularly fully
described. No matter, however, what continent or what poli-
tical division thereof may be for the moment of interest to
the mining engineer, he will find a digest (with citations to
the most valuable literature) of our knowledge concerning the
local igneous rocks. It is this regional description of igneous
rocks which the mining world will find of most interest and
value. Certain ores and non-metallic products are known
to be confined to certain igneous rocks; each of us in addi-
tion has a distinct impression that still other useful sub-
stances are prone to be associated with certain classes of
igneous rocks. Nowhere else, to the reviewer's knowledge,
is there so much material by which such associations, some
of which have become axiomatic can be applied, while others
still hypothetical, can be tested. S. H. B.
American Red Cross Abridged Text-Book on Fibst Aid.
Miners' Edition. By Charles Lynch and M. J. Shields. P. 186.
111., index. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Philadelphia, 1913. For
sale by the Mining and Scientific Press. Price, 30c.
This useful and practical text-book is similar to the earlier
editions of the Red Cross first-aid books, but contains much
additional information and instruction. It is designed to be
a manual for miners and for the use of instructors of miners.
The first 132 pages of the book are devoted to physiology and
explanations of the symptoms and treatment of all kinds of
injuries that may be caused by accidents, such as sprains,
dislocations, fractures, wounds, bleeding, and electric shocks.
Such subjects as freezing, drowning, gas poisoning, artificial
respiration, and bites of insects or reptiles are also covered.
The siibject of 'Miners First-Aid' is confined to one chapter of
42 pages, of which 28 pages are photographs showing how
mine accidents may be caused by carelessness or negligence.
Although this book does not treat extensively of mine acci-
dents, it gives simple and efficient instructions for the treat-
ment of persons who have met with injuries from any source.
First Aid in Mining. By Louis G. Irvine. P. 114. 111.
South African Red Cross Society. Johannesburg, 1913. For
sale by the Mining and Scientific Press. Price, 60c.
This valuable little hand-book is supplementary to the
regular series of First-Aid Manuals, and contains specific in-
formation regarding accidents occurring in mines. It is not
intended to be a complete text-book, but rather as a series of
notes and additional information which will be of service
in the treatment of injuries sustained in and about mining
properties. The book contains specifications for emergency
stations and first aid equipment; rules for the treatment of
wounds, bleeding, burns, sprains, and fractures: and methods
for the transport of injured men underground. There are also
important chapters treating of accidents due to poisonous
gases, electricity, and cyanide poisoning. The explanations,
directions, and illustrations dealing with the treatment of
wounds and fractures, and the transportaton of the injured,
are especially clear and simple. The working drawings of
the Red Cross plank stretcher should be of great value to
every mine superintendent. The various methods of artificial
respiration are excellently described and illustrated. The book
should be in the hands of all of our mine operators, for a
practical knowledge of the treatment of injuries can only be
acquired by means of a thorough study of the subject.
March 28, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
555
Ore ox Dump — Part of Realty
Where purchasers worked a mine under an option, and,
after making the required payments to the owner up to the
date of expiration, allowed their option to expire and forth-
with entered into a new agreement with the owner it was
held that ore which had been extracted and left on the mine
dumps while working under the first option, became a part
of the soil and subject to the provisions of the second option.
Savage v. Nixon (California), 209 Federal, 122. October 9,
1913.
On. ami Gas Lease — Forfeiture
Plaintiff's- grantor executed an oil and gas lease to defend-
ant to run for 40 years under which defendant was only bound
to pay 1% of the net proceeds derived from oil or gas ob-
tained, should he see fit to develop the land, and in so doing
obtain oil or gas. Held that an unexplained delay for a period
of 18 months on the part of the lessee in commencing develop-
ment operations was sufficient to work a forfeiture of the
lease, there being no consideration for the lessor's agreement
either in the way of money paid or work done by the lessee.
Davis v. Riddle (Colorado), 136 Pacific, 551. November 10
1913.
Right of Subjacent Support — How Waived
Where the owner of land retains the surface estate and
conveys the estate in minerals thereunder, he may convey
or waive the right of subjacent support for the surface, but
such conveyance or waiver should not be implied unless the
language of the instrument is appropriate therefore and
clearly indicates such to be the intention of the parties to
the conveyance. Damages allowed to a lessor of coal lands
whose lessee under a mining lease had removed so much
coal as to cause the surface to cave and fall in.
Walsh t>. Kansas Fuel Co. (Kansas) 137 Pacific. 941. Jan-
uary 10, 1914.
Mineral Rights — Taxation
The assessment for taxing purposes of mineral rights
where they have been separately conveyed and are owned by
persons other than the owners of the surface, without any
corresponding deduction from the assessments against the
surface owners does not violate U. S. Constitution, 14th
Amendment, as discriminating against the owners of mineral
rights so assessed, where it does not appear that mineral
rights known to exist were consciously relieved from taxation
if they belonged to the owners of the surface.
Downman v. Texas (U. S. Supreme Court). Dec. 1, 1913.
Brown Bear Coal Association, 42 Land Decisions, 320.
August 13, 1913.
Mining License — Forfeiture Set Aside
Where landowners granted a mining license to other persons
to mine upon their property for a period of five years, and
the licensees entered into possession, and expended some
money in sinking a shaft and extracted a small quantity of
ore, and where said licensees suspended their operations for
a period of several months thereafter and then renewed them
for a further period, the licensors will not be permitted after
acquiescing in all these operations to arbitrarily terminate
the mining license on the grounds that there had been a sus-
pension of work at one time during the period, nor to exact
a higher royalty than was originally agreed upon as a con-
dition for allowing the licensees to continue work.
Gates v. Steckel (Missouri) 161 Southwestern, 1185.
December 11. 1913.
Russia. A handbook on commercial and industrial condi-
tions. By John H. Snodgrass and other consular officers.
Special consular report, No. 61. P. 255. Maps. Department
of Commerce. Washington, 1913. As its name implies, this
publication covers everything of interest connected with Rus-
sian enterprises in Europe and Asia.
Statistics on Copper and Copper Mines. Compiled by J. t'.
Wilson & Co., Mills building, San Francisco, 1914. P. 16. This
is a handy little booklet and contains details of copper pro-
duction of the world, the principal producing states or
America, consumption of the metal, new uses, average prices,
and dividends paid by American copper companies in 1913.
Wateb Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Department of
Western Australia. First annual report, 1912-13. H. C.
Trethowan, under-secretary. P. 101. III., maps, charts, plans,
index. Perth, 1913. In 1912, the goldfields water supply,
metropolitan water supply, agricultural water supply, country
towns, irrigation drainage, artesian boring, water supplies,
and stock routes in mining districts, and other state organiza-
tions for similar purposes, were consolidated under the name
of the above department. The combined capital expenditure
of these important undertakings is $32,000,000, employing 771
people. The report under review contains the past year's
work and present position, and extracts, especially of the
goldfields water scheme, which cost $15,800,000, will be pub-
lished in other issues of this journal.
United States Geological Survey publications, Washington.
1913:
Interpretation of Anomalies of Gravity. By Grove Karl
Gilbert. Professional paper 85-C. P. 9. Map.
Mineral Resources of the United States, 1912. Part II.
Non-metals. P. 1218. Maps. The different chapters in this
valuable compilation have already been extensively covered
in this journal during 1913, as they were published in pamph-
let form by the U. S. Geological Survey. Authors on the var-
ious subjects were as follows: E. W. Parker, B. Hill, David T.
Day, Charles A. Davis, E. F. Burchard, Jefferson Middleton,
J. H. Hance, Ralph W. Stone, A. T. Coons, T. Nelson Dale,
Frank J. Katz, Frank L. Hess, Charles G. Yale, Hoyt S. Gale,
W. C. Phalen< James M. Hill, J. S. Diller, Douglas B. Sterrett,
Edson S. Bastin, and George C. Matson.
Geological Atlas of hie United States. U. S. Geol. Surv.,
Folios 185. Murphysboro-Herrin; 187, Ellinjay; 188, Talula-
Sprlngfleld; 189, Barnesboro-Patton; 190, Niagara. Washing-
ton, 1912-1913. The geological atlas that is being published by
the U. S. Geological Survey is issued in the form of elaborate
folios, one for each quadrangle or group of quadrangles as
they are surveyed. Each includes topographic and geological
maps and a brief text. The maps illustrate the great re-
finement that has been attained by the Survey in its carto-
graphic work, and the folios constitute the standard source of
information for the areas they cover. The Murphysboro-Herrin
?nd the Talula-Springfield folios were prepared in cooperation
with the Illinois Geological Survey, and the Barnesboro-Patton
with that of Pennsylvania. In each case the mapping has in-
cluded platting structural contours which, in connection with
the topographic sheet, are of the greatest value in opening and
developing the various coal beds and other mineral deposits.
The Illinois folios are especially interesting because they rep-
resent the extension of this method into a flat area where the
surface is heavily drift covered. The results are highly credit-
able to both the state and national surveys concerned.
556
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
March 28. 1914
1,080,721. — Method of Treating Materials With Solutions
of Titanous Salts. Christian M. Edward Schroeder, Ruther-
ford, N. J., assignor to The Titanum Alloy Manufacturing Co.,
New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maine.
The method of bleaching materials which comprises immers-
ing them in a bath containing metallic titanium and an acid
solvent of titanium.
1,080,606.— Converter Process. Otto Thiel, Landstuh!, Ger-
many.
Introducing a portion of the pig metal into the converter,
ihen subjecting the charge to the blast and allowing it to re-
main in the converter, then introducing more of the charge
into the converter and then subjecting the combined charge
to the blast to the end, until finished.
1.080,573.— Steam Turbine. John F. Metten, Philadelphia,
Pa., assignor to the Wm. Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Build-
ing Co., a corporation of Pennsylvania.
The combination in a turbine with a rotor, a casing having
a removable segment, and a dished diaphragm having a pack-
ing around the axis of the rotor, of a separate nozzle carrying
element, and means whereby the nozzle carrying element en-
gages the casing and the diaphragm to lock the latter against
longitudinal movement.
1,080,658. — Centrifugal Pump. William K. Richardson,
Leavenworth, Kansas.
In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotor
adapted to subject fluid to pressure due to centrifugal force,
of a plurality of blades in position to deliver fluid into the
eye of said rotor and revolve therewith, said blades being in-
clined toward the rotor in a direction opposite to the direction
of rotation, and having a calculated translatory displacement
approximately twice the rated volume designed to pass the
screw.
1,080,707.— Rock Drill. Edwin M. Mackie and Percival F.
Doyle, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co.,
Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey.
In combination with a rock drill, an air feed device co-
operating therewith, a valve for admitting pressure fluid to
the air feed, and a fluid pressure actuated governor for con-
trolling the degree of pressure admitted to such device, said
governor having provision for releasing such pressure there-
from.
1,074,150. — Process of Treating Materials. Frederick W.
Yost, Chicago, Illinois.
Treating finely divided metal-bearing material capable of
undergoing propagative reaction, which comprises initiating
a reaction in a mass of the material, conducting a current of
reaction-supporting gas through the mass in one direction,
conducting another current of reaction supporting gas through
the mass in another direction and controlling conditions so
as to cause propagative reaction between components of the
currents of gas and of the mass.
1.080,586.— Roasting Furnace. Charles W. Renwick, Isabella.
Tenn., and Nicholas L. Heinz, LaSalle, 111.
Ore roasting furnace of the class described, the combination
with a hollow rabble-shaft and hollow rabble-arms of L shaped
tubular ports vertically extended in the shaft and arranged in
different radial planes, connections for the arms with the shaft
comprising slotted coupling pieces on the shaft in conjunction
with rods extended through the arms, and means at the outer
<nds of the arms for putting the rods under tension in said
coupling pieces and for releasing the same.
The National Tube Co, announces publication of bulletin
15A. dealing with National pipe for drilling purposes.
The Wm. Powell Co. has for distribution a 'Powell White
Star Valve Booklet.' which contains full descriptions of this
well known line of valves.
The Hardinge Conical Mill Co. announces that it has re-
ceived an order from the Beatson Copper Co., at Latouche.
Alaska, for five of the largest sized Hardinge conical mills.
Arthur G. McKee is distributing a catalogue describing
and illustrating in detail the 'Baker' suspension type storage
bin as built by him in wood, steel, or concrete for any one
of many uses.
The Laidi.aw-Dunn-Gordon Co. has issued under date of
January 1914, Bulletin L 523-A, containing complete de-
scriptions of 'Cincinnati' gear duplex Corliss steam driven
air-compressors classes WA and XA, made by that company.
The Freo M. Prescott Steam Pump Co. has published in
the form of bulletin 106 the record of a duty test made on a
Prescott, Duplex Missabe Waterworks Power Pump' at
Dubuque, Iowa, which showed an overall efficiency of 83.5
per cent.
In Leschen's Hercules for February is a well illustrated
account of coaling United States warships at sea, as also
of how wire rope enters into rapid steel frame construction,
logging, handling gravel and sand from a pit, and various
other uses.
The copper smelting and converting plant of the Yampa
Smelting Co. at Bingham Canyon, Utah, which was of 1000
tons daily capacity has been purchased by the Morse Bros.
Machinery & Supply Co., which will dismantle the entire
plant and all of the material is offered for sale.
Sauerman Bros, are supplementing their regular and well
illustrated catalogue of the 'Shearer & Mayer' drag-line cable
way excavator with individual leaflets of 4 by 7 in. size
punched for convenient filing in standard loose-leaf note books
and illustrating various situations in which the excavator
is being used to advantage.
The Sweetlani) Filter Press Co. is now ready to send in-
quirers copies of catalog No. 10, containing a complete ac-
count of the new 'Sweetland Self-Dumping Filter' of the
clam-shell type. In this filter the leaves are enclosed in a
horizontal steel cylinder of which the lower half is hinged
and so arranged as to drop back out of the way when the
filter is to be discharged.
The Arizona Engineering Co. has just been incorporated
for the purpose of doing a general engineering business and
handling mining supplies in Mohave county, Arizona. The in-
corporators are E. F. Thompson; J. E. White, former mana-
ger at the Quartette mine: G. R. Franklin, purchasing agent
for the U. S. Stores Co.; and R. P. Wheelock, county
engineer. The principal place of business will be at King-
man.
The Sprague Electric Works has issued catalog 329 deal-
ing with electric fans and Bulletin 49,000 describing the
portable ozonators made by that Company. Fans are widely
used tor ventilating purposes nowadays. The ozonators are
designed for use in situations where for any reason a venti-
lating system is impossible. They act upon the principle that
ozone, an unstable form of oxygen, readily unites with organic
matter in the air and so purifies it.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.
Whole No. 2802
VOLUME 108
NUMBER 14
San Francisco, April 4, 1914
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EDWARD WALKER ------ Correspondent
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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Courtenay De Kalb. C. F. Tolman, Jr.
F. Lynwood Garrison. Horace V. Winchell.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL! Page.
Notes 557
Diamonds and Diamond Mining 559
The Mining Code Commission 559
What is the Matter with the Rand? 560
ARTICLES!
Incaoro Gold Mine and Mill, Pallava. Bolivia
Francis Church Lincoln 561
A Government Coal Mine 565
i 'nsts at the Victorious Mine 565
The Persistence of Ore in Depth Malcolm Maclaren 566
Air Agitation by Continuous Method ... Donald F. Irwin 571
Motor Truck Haulage F. L Sizer 573
Mining in Manica, Portuguese East Africa 573
Progress at Chuquicamata
An Interview witli Daniel Guggenheim 574
The Weidlein Leaching Process 575
Blasting and Use of Explosives 577
The Ching Hsing Coal Basin Edward di Villi 578
Concreting the Junction Shaft of the Calumet & Arizona 579
Determination of Sulphur in Pyrite 579
New York Metal Market Review 594
DISCUSSION i
Some Unwritten Cyanide History H. Foster Bain 580
Prospecting anil Government Aid. . .F. Sommer Schmidt 581
Prospecting ami Leasing It. W. Brock 582
Ore Venturesome 582
CONCENTRATES 583
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 584
GENERAL MINING MOWS 588
DEPARTMENTS!
Personal 593
The Metal Markets 595
The Stock Markets 596
Current Prices for < ires and Minerals 596
Current Prices for I hiniicals 597
Companv Reports 597
Decisions Relating: to Mining 598
Book Reviews 599
Industrial Progn ss 600
TRON as well as petroleum are to be developed in
-*• China through American enterprise. It now de-
velops that the Bethlehem Steel Company participates
in the concession recently granted to the Standard Oil
Company and acquires rights as to iron ore lands. Fol-
lowing the incursion of this Company into Chile, this
indicates a far seeing policy designed to acquire raw
materials for a world-wide manufacturing and selling
industry.
TITEXICAN bank notes are being put out that rest
-"-*■ on the security given by rubber stamp signature
and a gaudy official seal, according to reports from the
Mexican capital. This new brand of currency is being
turned out by the print shops of Mexico City and its
validity secured by an edict, making a refusal to accept
it punishable by fine and imprisonment. If the presses
do not break down under the strain, a happy solution
of Don Victoriano's financial difficulties has at last
been found.
T^EPRECIATION for exhaustion of orebodies as
*-* mined at "a reasonable rate not to exceed 5 per
cent." allowed under the United States income tax law,
does not predicate complete amortization in 20 years,
as a little reflection shows. Assume an orebody of
which one-twentieth is mined each year. On each twen-
tieth as mined, a 5 per cent depreciation is allowed.
At the end of 20 years all the ore is gone, and only
5 per cent in all has been allowed for amortization.
It is difficult to see how mining companies are to be
taught proper accounting and shareholders brought to
regard dividends from mines as in part return of
capital, if the United States continues to set such an
example.
QUESTION'S as to the persistence of ore in depth are
among the most vital that come up in connection
with any mining proposal. It is rarely that a mine
can be bought for the ore in sight, and estimation of
the value of most mines, as all prospects, must be
based upon the judgment as to the depth to which the
ore may be safely assumed to persist. We have pub-
lished numerous articles upon this subject, and this
week we present a general summary by Mr. Malcolm
Maclaren that appeals to us, particularly since it is
not a generalization based upon all ores, but a careful
consideration of the effect of depth upon particular
558
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
types of gold ores. This, we believe, is the right way
to approach the problem. Mr. Maclaren's paper was
presented to the International Congress of Geologists
at Toronto. It rounds out nicely various contributions
made by him earlier to our own columns, and will, we
are sure, be read with interest.
JAPANESE newspapers are protesting at the terms
" of the contract recently entered into between the
Standard Oil Company and the Chinese Government ;
it is considered that the provision that in event that
the fields first to be prospected prove barren, other
territory is to be opened to the Company, practically
creates a monopoly and violates the 'open door' prin-
ciple. Not having the terms of the agreement before
ns, we are unable to judge as to the merits of this criti-
cism, but we do believe profoundly that development
of the oil resources of China under present conditions
can only be safely undertaken by a large and experi-
enced organization working under monopoly or near
monopoly conditions. Any other plan is certain to be
wasteful of capital and oil ; and in the long run some-
body pays for the waste.
VYTALKIXG down a city street is one of the most
» " dangerous occupations if one may judge from
the number of accidents and deaths reported. For ex-
ample, there were 2,099 killed and 42,544 injured in
street accidents in Great Britain in 1913. Of these.
579 were killed and 18,365 injured in the metropolitan
district of London alone. These figures may be com-
pared with the 2360 killed in the coal mines and 661
killed in the metal mines of the United States in the
same year. Exact comparisons are impossible, since
the total number exposed to accident in the streets is
unknown. It does seem clear, however, that the acci-
dent rate in the mines is decreasing while the reverse
is true of street accidents. Motor cars are responsible
for a marked increase in the death and accident rate
in the cities, though in the city of London proper the
number of deaths from this cause has begun to decrease.
Apparently nature is working in the usual way ; the
clumsy have been killed and the survivors have learned
to dodge.
JFST to let our friends in other states and lands
know that the supposed protest of the Pacific coast
cities against the repeal of the Panama canal free
tolls provision for coastwise ships is not unanimous,
we want to say that the straight forward, plain spoken
message of the President has received the approval of
a large part of the more thoughtful citizens resident on
the west coast. A loud protest is being made in cer-
tain quarters, but it should not be taken too seriously.
There would be much political gain to many now in
sorry plight if the President could be 'put in a hole.'
Without unduly discounting the honest, but as we be-
lieve mistaken, convictions of others, we think this the
prime impelling force back of the furore. When the
free passage of coasting vessels was proposed, senti-
ment was naturally for it. California was still smart-
ing from the inflictions of the ancient railway monop-
oly aided by the pretended competition of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. It was hard to believe that
the day for such things had passed, and the cry for
absolute freedom of the water route had not only
sentiment but business to commend it. In the interval
since the power of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion and of the various state commissions to regulate
rates and prevent abuses has been placed upon a wholly
unexpectedly secure basis. The power of the courts to
dissolve a monopoly has been shown, and there is much
less reason to fear a return to oppressive tactics by
transportation agencies. No one was more surprised
than the Westerners when England and other countries
took the ground that the new law violated treaty rights.
It had seemed, and still seems, to relate to a matter
that is entirely one of domestic concern. However, the
whole world apparently thinks us wrong in this, and
Californians no more than other Americans relish being
considered treaty violaters, whether the charge be just
or unjust. Conditions having changed and the eco-
nomic argument being now unimportant, there is strong
sentiment in favor of giving up as a courtesy what
might, if necessarv, be defended as a right.
"jlTETAFU'RGY is really chemistry applied to the
■"■*• business of making dollars out of ore, and the
art owes much to the chemists who have contributed
so much to its advancement. Not long ago we chron-
icled the advance which Mr. W. A. Hall has made
toward the solution of the vexing fume problem, and
this week we print the specifications of the patent
taken out by Mr. E. R. Weidlein covering the process
which he has devised for the recovery of copper from
its ores by leaching. The research work on which
this is based having been done in the Mellon Research
Laboratories of the University of Pittsburgh, which
have been widely exploited in the popular magazines.
Too much may perhaps be expected of it, just as the
son of a famous father is at some disadvantage. Sub-
stantially this same process is covered by United States
Patents 723.949 (1903), and 930.967 (1909). and Mr.
Weidlein 's hope is therefore to succeed where others
have failed. To carry out the suggested process of
precipitating the copper from CuS04 solution by pass-
ing SO= into the warm solution under pressure, it is
necessary to first neutralize the excess of acid present
and this is not only an appreciable item of cost, but
presents great difficulty. It is suggested that this
can be done with limestone, but anyone who has had
practical experience in the neutralization of sulphate
solutions with lime or limestone is painfully aware
that the resulting hydrated sulphates of calcium pre-
cipitate go back into solution and re-precipitate with
slight changes of temperature and pressure in a most
annoying and disconcerting manner. This is only one
of the difficulties, and while the process does not in-
volve the consumption of sulphuric acid, it must not
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
559
be overlooked that the collection and compression of
S02, followed by passing it through the solution, in-
volves an appreciable cost. The management of the
Mason Valley plant has always had the best reason
for giving out details of practice — well directed and
successful work — and it is greatly to be desired that,
even if the proposed process shall not prove as suc-
cessful as is hoped, yet a full record of the results
attained will be made public for the guidance of others.
Nothing is more futile than the laborious re-acquiring
of other people's fruitless experience. We recently
mentioned that a European company is about to aban-
don a process after two years' work upon it and take
up another which has similarly been tried and aban-
doned by an American company, which is, about to
take up the first process. It is quite possible that,
under the different conditions, this is exactly the right
thing to do, but what an amount of profitless labor
could be avoided if each company were possessed of
a full record of the results attained by the other. Suc-
cess is not the only praiseworthy thing: well directed
effort is equally honorable ; and their duty toward their
fellows should impel metallurgists to make public, in
so far as they reasonably and honorably can. the fruits
of their experience.
Diamonds and Diamond Mining
Diamonds are a luxury, and while the world is
prosperous, the mining of this form of carbon is profit-
able, according to Mr. Gardner F. Williams, who gave
a most interesting illustrated lecture on the subject
before the San Francisco section of the American In-
stitute of Mining Engineers on March 31. Before the
financial depression in tin- United States in 1908, the
Kimberley group of diamond mines employed 4000
whites and 27.000 kaffirs: hut. during this period these
numbers were reduced by 2000 and 10.000 respectively.
After many years of careful study of diamonds, Mr.
Williams has no definite theories regarding their origin.
Peculiar combinations of diamonds and other minerals
have been found, and were shown on the screen dur-
ing the lecture. An early theory of their formation
advocated especially by the late II. Carvel Lewis was
that the carbon came from the shales around part of
the diamond 'pipe' or blue ground: but this theory
has difficulties to meet. Previous to the discovery of
the Kimberley deposits, all diamonds had been found
in rivers, and river diamonds differ from those mined
at Kimberley.
A large percentage of the Kimberley stones are
broken, and those from each mine have distinctive
characteristics; but so expert are the valuators that
they can identify them at once. Open-cut mining was
continued to a depth of 1000 feet, but it then became
dangerous, and underground work is now being done
to 3520 feet. Hoisting at one shaft is done at the rate
of 1000 'loads', of 1<><>(> pounds each, per hour. It was
found that the hoisting ropes whippec1 about in the
shaft and cut the timbers, but steel is now being used
in place of them, and to prevent this cutting the ropes,
hoisting is done at a great speed, the ropes thereby
being kept taut as a rod. The blue ground is spread
out on large areas of 'floors' to a depth of 10 inches,
and after over a year or two it disintegrates so much
that 66 per cent will pass a 16-mesh screen. During
the washing and concentration of the blue ground, the
diamonds are recovered on grease tables. Why they
are caught, and practically nothing else, is explained by
Mr. Gardner by the fact that diamonds are not wet by
water, and therefore stick to the vaseline used. On
Page 597 of this issue, will be found an abstract of the
annual report of the Premier Diamond Mining Com-
pany, Limited, showing' the scale of operations at this
other great South African mine, and its low costs.
The Mining Code Commission
The Smoot bill proposing a commission to codify
and suggest amendments to the United States mining
laws, has been reported to the Senate. In revised form
it provides for a commission of three "two of whom
shall be lawyers of large experience in the practice of
mining law and one a mining engineer who shall have
had practical experience in the operation of mines."
This commission is to hold hearings in the principal
mining centres in the Western United States and
Alaska, to consider the experience and laws of other
countries, and to submit within a year a tentative code
applying to mineral lands of all classes. The members
are to be paid $500 per month and expenses and an
appropriation of $25,000 is made to cover the expense
involved.
We believe that the amendments made by the Senate
committee materially improve the bill. There is a wide-
spread feeling that it is still capable of betterment,
principally in that provision should be made for a
larger participation by mining men. The final law
will necessarily be written by some member or members
of Congress, and there are so many capable lawyers in
that body, including a number who have had extended
experience in practice of mining law, that it may be
safely assumed that the proposed code will be put in
good form before it becomes a law. The main duty of
the commission will be to determine what are the real
defects of the present system and how far it is wise to
go in attempting to correct them. This calls for ex-
perience in mining, and now that the bill has been
broadened to cover coal. oil. gas, phosphate rock, and
similar materials, it woidd seem especially important
to have the commission so constituted as to draw upon
experience in both the main branches of mining, that
relating to metals and the non-metallics. It would be
a grave responsibility for one mining engineer to repre-
sent the whole mining industry in such a work. A
commission of five is not too large in view of the work
to be done, the short time allowed, and the fact that it is
not expected that tbe whole time will be devoted to the
task. We believe that the real sentiment and experi-
ence of the mining world can be felt out better by mine
560
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
operators and engineers than by lawyers. After it has
been determined what to do, the lawyer will have the
very important task of determining how it can be done
with the minimum of disturbance of our present legal
fabric. It will be no easy task, and the phrasing of the
law should be left wholly to those who are expert in
that art. By the same rule, the determination of the
wants and experience of the mining men may appro-
priately be left to those who feel the wants and have
the experience.
The change in the phrasing of the bill, so as to charge
the commission with the duty of studying the laws
governing non-metallic mineral lands, renders it in-
appropriate that the legislation now before Congress
and designed to establish a leasing system for coal, oil,
and phosphate lands, be passed in advance of the re-
port of the commission. Public sentiment is rapidly
coming to favor, or at least to acquiesce in, legislation
such as that proposed, but there are important difficul-
ties yet to be met. Contrary to the implication of the
press reports, the Ferris bill now before Congress, pro-
poses not to deal with the withdrawn lands. In the
case of petroleum, at least, the real difficulties are now
with lands that have been reserved, but are actually
developed, or are being claimed, by locators. It would
seem better to work out the lines of general policy first
and then provide for its application as rapidly as pos-
sible, to the cases where there is already trouble.
What is the Matter with the Rand?
South Africans have been much disturbed at the de-
crease in the gold yield of the Rand and are holding
many a solemn inquest. The South African Mining
Journal has been running a series of articles on 'What
is Wrong with South African Mining?' In the issue
of February 21 it is urged that the Government should
offer more liberal terms on leases so as to induce the
opening of more mines. At this distance it would
seem to us a poor policy to open more mines when
stamps are hung up and plants are already idle be-
cause of lack of labor, and when one, at least, of the
difficulties is that capital has been too easily obtained
in the past. All mining districts, even the largest,
come to a time when decreasing grade of ore requires
lower operating costs. The easy way to meet the situ-
ation is to increase the plant and distribute fixed
charges over a larger tonnage, at the same time that by
shortening the life of the property the total sum
spent in annual salaries is decreased. It requires, how-
ever, nice judgment to do this without disaster. The
need ordinarily arises when the mine or district is
doing well and when it is easy to obtain money. If
the new money be charged to capital account, satis-
factory operating costs are obtained and these last
long enough, in many cases, to allow those chiefly con-
cerned to sell their holdings, but not much longer.
Such at least has been the history of many a good mine.
The production of metal, however, must go on regard-
less of changes in stock ownership, and the engineer
on the ground has then the very practical problem to
face of how to reduce the real costs. It is this situa-
tion that the Rand engineers must face. They have
further a peculiar difficulty in that the enormous scale
of operations, in proportion to the population, calls for
a labor supply that simply does not exist; taking into
account racial prejudices that, rightly or wrongly, for-
bid opening the field freely to the labor market of the
world. The mines of the Rand must have more labor or
more efficient labor. The former is, at present, out of
the domain of practical politics ; the latter points the
way to long years of effort and raises troublesome ques-
tions as to what would be the future relations of the
white and black races in South Africa, if the black
men were trained and educated to real efficiency.
The American way of meeting the situation would
be to train some black men and use more white men.
We are by no means prepared to say that that plan
would meet the situation in South Africa. Our race
problem, even in the southern states, is no such prob-
lem as exists on the Rand, and we have by no means
made such a success in solving our problems as to
warrant preaching to others. At the same time, we
may be permitted to point out that in proportion to
the work accomplished in the past century, the United
States has been chronically short of labor. Our cap-
tains of industry have had to develop machinery and
relatively efficient workmen because men of any sort
were scarce. Despite the large investment, immense
scale of operations, and the use of 'cheap' labor, Rand
costs, while low, are not too low. Making allowance for
the 'phantom profits' of which Mr. T. A. Rickard has
written effectively in The Mining Magazine, the cost is at
least 20 shillings per ton. At the North Star mine in
California, a gold-quartz vein is worked which in
thickness, dip, and depth of workings resembles greatly
the Rand bankets. The ore is mined, hoisted, crushed,
and treated by amalgamation and cyanidation, as
on the Rand. A trifle over 100,000 tons per year
is handled and the cost is just about 20 shillings.
At the Empire mine nearby, Mr. George W. Starr, who
formerly operated on the Rand, manages a similar
mine, and, while detailed figures are not made public,
it is known that the cost is at least as low as at the
North Star. This work is all done with white labor,
working 8-hour shifts, under union conditions, for $3
per shift and above. Comparisons of cost made also
with thin vein coal mining in various European coun-
tries, as well as with metal mines in general, raise
grave questions as to whether the 'cheap' labor of the
Rand is really cheap.
It is to be anticipated that the output of the Rand
will decline in any event. To open more mines would
be simply to rob the others of workmen. To increase
the units of output from existing mines seems hardly
possible save by the old fashioned plan of increasing
the input of labor, and an American may be permitted
to 'guess' that this will only be done by increasing the
cfficiencv of the workmen in one way or another.
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
561
The Incaoro Gold Mine and Mill, Pallaya, Bolivia
By Francis Church Lincoln
The Incaoro Mines Company of Delaware is operat- made. The remaining two days of the trip must be
ing a gold quartz mine and mill at Pallaya, near Yani, made on muleback. On the second day, the conti-
district of Lareeajas, department of La Paz. Bolivia, nental divide is crossed into Amazonian drainage ter-
Horace 6. Knowles, formerly American minister to
Bolivia, is president of the Company, and David G.
Bricker, once of Butte, is general manager. .
Pallaya is 117 miles from the city of La Paz. and
the trip to the mine ordinarily consumes three days.
One day in the saddle may be saved by taking ad-
vantage of the weekly stage to Achacache. After as-
cending rapidly from La Paz at an elevation of 11.800
ft. to Alto with one of 18,200 ft., the stage crosses the
tableland of the Alto descending slowly to the shores
of Lake Titicaca, 12,500 ft. above sea level, and skirts
the lake to Achacache where the first night's stop is
ritory, and the descent made to the town of Sorata
nestling in the valley of the San Cristobal river at the
foot of the beautiful snow peak of Illampu and at an
elevation of only 8500 ft. On the third day. a quick
ascent is made to an elevation a mile greater than
that of Sorata. three high passes, each over 15.000 ft.
are crossed, and a slight descent made to the camp at
Pallaya.
Pallaya is situated on the eastern slope of the Andes.
in a glacial valley facing the north and surrounded by
rugged slate mountains. The general appearance of
the camp is shown in Fig. 1. Its elevation. 13,fi50 ft.,
FIG. 1. GENERAL VIEW OF INCAORO.
562
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
places it well above timber line, so grass and flowers
constitute the sole vegetation. The elevation also ren-
ders the climate cold, and the situation on the eastern
side of the Andes renders it wet. In winter there are
clouds of fog nearly every afternoon, and in summer
it rains almost every day. The climate is therefore
unfavorable to man, and the lack of timber and fuel
is a handicap to mining operations, but on the other
Fig. 2a.
hand the heavy rainfall supplies an abundance of
water which may be utilized for power.
The country rock is a black non-fossiliferous slate,
classified by d'Orbigny as of Silurian age. At a short
distance from the mine, strata of fine grained gray
quartzite are interbedded with the slate, while at a
distance of more than a mile, andesite dikes occur.
The sedimentary rocks throughout the district have
been closely folded and greatly contorted during the
process of mountain building.
The ore deposits are bedded veins which have been
folded with the country rock and have developed most
peculiar shapes as will be seen by reference to the
sections shown in Fig. 2a, 2b, and 2e. In some respects,
these veins resemble the saddle reefs of Uendigo. Aus-
tralia, and of Xova Scotia, but in others they are
unique. Quite frequently a single vein presents the
appearance of a series of parallel veins as a
result of erosion of the edges of the folds, as
shown in Fig. 2b, and the final result of such
erosion is to produce the curious elongated
orebody shown in Fig. 2a. No faulting is ap-
parent, but during the folding process parts of a
vein have at times been squeezed apart for short dis-
tances or pressed together into huge irregular masses.
On the whole, however, the veins retain their widths
and continuities to a remarkable extent and make
it appear likely either that the folding process was
a slow one which gave the vein quartz time to re-
crystallize as it bent, or that silicious solutions were
present to heal the breaks with fresh quartz as
fast as they were formed. Some of the veins are un-
doubtedly nothing more than quartzite strata more or
less replaced by vein quartz, and it is possible that
all are of this character, although no unaltered quartz-
ite lias as vet been found in the vein mined.
o lo 30 A-a 5o
Fig. 2b.
The principal vein mineral is quartz, always accom-
panied by some white mica and native gold, and ocea-
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
5G3
FlO. 3. .MINK. Mil. I.. A\l> TKAM.
sionally also by arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite. slate or intergrowii with the arsenopyrite. When not
The gold is occasionally visible to the native eye, most visible to the naked eye. colors are obtained on pan-
frequently in the quart/., but occasionally also in the ning. The arsenopyrite and pyrite have high refrac-
tory gold content, but are present in such small quan-
tities as to be relatively unimportant.
'Flic present producing vein is in an anticline of
black slate, one side of which has been eroded till one
leg of the vein is partly exposed. This vein is a wide
one. and was quite extensively worked by the ancients.
They left some pillars and a large amount of fillings
containing gold. Mining at present consists mainly
in the removal of these fillings and pillars, a task
which sounds easy, but is in reality somewhat difficult
owing to the extremely irregular crumplings and dis-
tortions which the vein has undergone. Development
has been pushed beyond the ancient workings, and
good faces of solid ore have been opened up to supply
future needs.
About 100 Ayniara Indians are employed in the
mine, but this number is greatly reduced immediately
after pay-day. and also when feast days are in process
of celebration in neighboring villages. The wages
paid vary from lis. (1.40 ($0.16) for the smallest boys
to lis. 4 ($1,601 for mine captains. Work begins at
6 a.m.. but is stopped from !) till 9:1") to permit the
Indians to chew coca: again from 11 to 11:30 for
lunch: and still again from 2:30 till '_' : 4."> p.m. for
coca: and ends at •"> : 30 p.m. The working day is
therefore 1 1 ' •_• hours long with 1 hour off for rest
and refreshment. Some of the development work- is
Fi(i. 3. siokk. ami manager's hoi-re. performed by contractors, who are supplied with steel,
564
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April i. 10U
Pig. 4. details of book constriction.
lj~
i
i
V
1
■
i i
i i
i i
'
i
i
i i
i i
■f-Z-o-
FlG. 5. PLAN OF ROOF.
:;-^*i.1V;i---!
Fig. 6. view of mill, showing roof construction.
April 4. 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 565
but furnish all else themselves. They are paid at CoStS at the Victorious Mine
the rate of Bs. 30 per linear metre ($3.66 per linear
foot) of drifts and cross-cuts. Holes are sometimes The Associated Northern Blocks operates this mine
paid for at the rate of Bs. 0.10 ($0.40j per inch when and a mill at Oro Banda, forty miles from Kalgoorlie,
in quartz, or Bs. 0.05 ($0.0-2) when in slate. Western Australia. The mine is opened to No. 6 level,
An inclined gravity tram is employed to lower ore and the oxidized ore and country are soft, giving
from the mine to a large storage biu, whence it is trouble with creeps and necessitating heavy timbering,
wheeled to the mill as required. Fig. 3 gives a The sulphide zone has not been opened to any great
general view of the mines, trams, and mill. The amal- extent yet, although shipments to the Kalgoorlie sul-
gamating mill is of the llardiuge type and has a phide plant have been made for testing purposes. The
capacity of upward of 50 tons per day of 24 hours, mill consists of a rock crusher, four 5-ft. Huntington
Power is furnished by a 24-in. Pelton water-wheel mills, grinding pans, agitators, and Ridgway niters, all
which receives its water by pipe-line from a glacial driven by suction gas engines. During the past fiscal
lake a mile distant and 700 ft. higber. When the year the plant treated 97.639 tons of ore yielding gold
ore arrives at the mill, it is dumped upon a 31- by worth $519,000, with 88.6% extraction. The mills
7-ft. grizzly with 7/%-m. spaces between bars. The crushed 77.5 tons each per day. The three filters av-
undersize falls directly into the mill-bin. while the eraged 90.4 tons each per day, forming cakes in 6 to 7
oversize is first crushed in a 7 by 14-in. Buchanan minutes, and washing them in 12 to 14 minutes. Mag-
jaw crusher. From the bin, the ore passes into a nesia in the ore gave trouble with the filter-cloths,
41/;; ft. by 13-in. Hardinge conical ball-mill, which re- added' to which was 8 to 10% solids in the water used,
duces it to a maximum size of about J/i m- The pulp At first, water was added to the solution sump, but this
then enters a 6 ft. by 22-in. Hardinge conical pebble- was changed to feeding it to the mills. Cloths now
mill, which reduces it to about 3d mesh. The pebble- last from 6 to 8 weeks. The ore contains a large quan-
mill pulp is led over amalgamating plates, of which tity of silicate of magnesia, rendering settlement diffi-
there are two sets of 4 by 5-ft. plates each. Concen- cult, the thickener product rarely being over 40%
trating tables are soon to be added to save the con- solids. Costs are as follows:
(•(nitrates, which though small in amount are high in Ul .
. . Mining: Per ton.
value; and in the near future a second unit is to be Development , $0.41
added to the mill, thus doubling its capacity. A pecu- stoping 0.47
liarity in the construction of the mill building is well Hoisting and transport 0.30
worth noting. Instead of using steel or timber trusses Timber, waste filling, maintenance 0.34
„ , /, Al 1 Supervision 0.05
to support the root, the trusses are ingeniously eon-
11 _ General charges 0.02
structed of iron pipe as shown in big. 4. o, and 6.
The walls of the mill building, as of all other build- Total mining $1.59
iiiLrs in the camp, are constructed of slate. Milling:
Tile void bricks obtained from the mill are very Breaking and storage $0.05
pure, running from 796 to 902 fine in gold, from 93 Milling 0.47
, „, ., , ,,. , ,., • 1 , „, , ,, rP1 Pumping and grinding 0.02
to lt>l in silver, and 19 to 43 111 base metals. 1 he ... , ... „,o
. . . Agitating and cvamding 0.1S
bricks are sold to the Hank of the Bolivian Nation. Vacuum nitration 0.15
and will be used in coining the recently authorized Precipitation and clean-up 0.06
Bolivian gold coins. Disposal of residue 0.03
Power 0.14
A Government Coal Mine G^rai^harges "!"!"! "!".'.!! '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. oios
According to the Kerlamnlian Ilecord the coal mine Total milling $1-22
on the North Dakota Pumping Project mined 34.365 General expenditure:
tons of coal in 1913 at a total average cost to date of Sundries $0.01
$1.76 for both operation and .Maintenance. The total Salaries, office, etc 0.13
,' .„., , , ,ni.» nn Fire and accident insurance 0.04
average was reduced 12.1c during 1913. 1 he average BulMon chargeg 0.03
cost for coal mined in 1911 was $1.56: in 1912, $1.89;
and in 1913. $1,438. It is expected to reduce the aver- Total general $0.21
age cost at least 20c per ton during 1914 and at the Total costs $3-02
same time improve the condition of maintenance. This
reduction will mean $2000 on the annual production The Victorian Government, Australia, owns and
Of 10 000 tons and a corresponding reduction in opera- operates a coal mine at Wonthaggi, about 60 miles
ti 'eogt from Melbourne. During the four years ended Novem-
ber 23, 1913. the total output was 1,535.212 tons of coal,
Bank notes were issued by the first Ming emperor of exclusive of that used at the mine and sold to mines.
China. Hung-Wu. in 1368-1399 A. D. Wages paid in that time amounted to $2,736,000.
566
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
The Persistence of Ore in Depth
By Malcolm Maclaren
*A study of the recent literature of ore deposits in-
evitably forces the conclusion that workers in this
branch of geology are endeavoring, in their zeal for
the advancement of knowledge, to wrest from the
scanty data available more than the simple facts war-
rant. Data that have been garnered from the examina-
tion of a given metalliferous deposit, and that have a
real value when applied to the construction of a sound
theory of deposition for that metal alone, have been
transferred to stay and brace the tottering structure
built for another metal, with which the first may even-
tually prove to have only the slightest genetic affinity.
however closely allied they may appear to be today.
When all the known facts concerning the deposition
of any one metal have been collected, collated, -and
analyzed, then, and not until then, ma}' comparison
be made with the data of another metal similarly
treated. Some metals — for example, tin and copper —
clearly lie so far apart genetically that no confusion
of data has resulted, but the general impression ap-
pears to be that the data concerning the ores of other
metals are interchangeable. They may often indeed
be so, but the time has not yet arrived when transfers
may be made with safety. For this reason, therefore,
the ores of one metal only, namely, gold, are consid-
ered in the following brief review.
What Is Depth?
As a preliminary, a definition of 'depth' appears
to be necessary. Here it is assumed to cover only the
(presumably) primary ore that lies beneath the /.ones
of secondary enrichment (oxide and sulphide) and to
extend for a limited depth, say 1000 ft., below the
bottom of the deepest mines, Or 6000 ft. in all. To
take the enquiry deeper is to enter the barren zone of
speculation. The combined depths of the oxide and
sulphide zones of enrichment may vary with climatic
conditions from a few feet to a few hundred feet.
Ordinarily, below 500 ft. we are, for most gold ore-
bodies, in the primary zone. A word may be said in
regard to the use of the term 'primary ore.' It com-
prises that ore for which we know no prior state of
combination and no former locus in space. In this re-
view then, depth is understood to be a zone extending
downward from f>00 to 6000 ft. below the earth's
surface. The ore in this zone may be assumed to have
been deposited during a single short geological era.
and to owe nothing to accretions of a widely separated
and later period. It is proable that the irruption of
auriferous solutions was normally paroxysmal in char-
acter and indeed was comparable to volcanic eruptions
of the present day. Only those fissures and channels
*Read before the International Geological Congress at
Toronto.
that were open at the geological moment, so to speak.
were filled with ore. An assumption of this nature
may help to explain the vertical variations in the tenor
of the ore in the primary zone, where in many mines.
horizontal bands of richer and poorer ore alternate.
These alternations conceivably represent the varying
horizons at which successive upward pulsations of
metalliferous solutions either became sufficiently cool
to bo deposited or met with fluid agents of deposition.
A Simple Classification of Deposits
I have elsewhere1 attempted to show that the gold
deposits of the world fall naturally into well defined
auriferous groups, the members of each group, though
widely separated in space, being closely allied in gene-
sis, in character, and in geological age. One of the
most important distinguishing characters of the sev-
eral groups is persistence (or otherwise) of ore in
depth. The classification adopted must therefore be
outlined.
PRE-CAMBRIAN
Occurrence. Examples,
(a) Arising as the end- Western Australia ( Kal-
product (generally following goorlie, etc.), India (Kolar,
albite-porphyry) of diabasic Hutt'i, and Dharwar), Rho-
magmatic differentiation se- desia, Transvaal (Witwaters-
ries intrusive into schists. rand, Pilgrim's Rest, Barber-
ton), Brazil (?), Guianas.
Appalachian fields, eastern
Canada (Porcupine, etc.).
rERMO-CARBONIFEROUS TO POST-JURASSIC (?)
(6) Arising as the end- (a) Urals,
product of granodioritic in- (6) Eastern Australia and
trusions. Tasmania.
(c) Western North Amer-
ica (California. Oregon, and
Alaska).
MIDDLE TERTIARY
(c) Associated with an- Northern Chile, Peru, Co-
desite volcanic eruptions. lombia. Mexico. California
(Bodie), Nevada, Utah, Colo-
rado, Unalaska. Japan, Su-
matra, Celebes, New Zealand,
and Transylvania.
The above table slightly varies from that originally
adopted, but four years further field experience has
enabled me to abolish the former tentative subdivision
of the pre-Cambrian deposits and has given a much
clearer view of the general sequence of events leading
up to auriferous deposition in that age. These groups,
therefore, contain all the important gold deposits of
the world. Two of these, the pre-Cambrian and the
Tertiary are extremely well defined; the third, includ-
ing all apparently dependent granodioritic magmas.
is still somewhat indefinite and will certainly be modi-
iMaclaren. 'Gold.' London. 190S. pp. 42-75.
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
567
fied with increase of knowledge. Probably, when^the
exact age of its auriferous impregnation is known, the
Ural chain of deposits will be brought into close ac-
cordance with the eastern Australian, while the Cali-
fornia (Mother Lode, etc.) occurrences may eventu-
ally be transferred to the Tertiary andesite group,
with which they are indeed orographically closely con-
nected.
In any consideration of the question of the persist-
ence of gold ore in depth the foregoing divisions must
be kept closely in mind, since the recurrence of the
evidence of the complete dependence of gold deposits
on geological conditions, both for deposition and for
extension, lateral and vertical, is certainly the most
salient feature arising from the study of the goldfields
of the world.
The Andesitic Gold Deposits
It will probably be most convenient to first consider
the younger goldfields. These are the andesite fields
that have furnished some of the greatest bonanzas that
have been known. Their petrological range is from
pyroxene-andesite to quartz-trachyte, and occasionally
to rhyolite, all apparently the differentiation members
of dacitic magma. Their geological range is from
Eocene to Pliocene witli a special development in the
Oligocene and Miocene. With one notable exception
they follow very closely and are confined to the so-call-
ed 'Pacific Circle of Fire', with which line of volcanic
activity they have clearly a very close genetic connec-
tion. The outstanding feature of gold deposition in this
group is its modernity and its consequent intimate as-
sociation with existing volcanic phenomena. The geo-
graphical exception is the Transylvanian goldfield of
Hungary, the andesites of which were erupted during
the Aquitanian stage, and along lines of crustal weak-
ness initiated in the Oligocene and indicated at the
present day by the active volcanoes of the Mediter-
ranean.
Auriferous deposition in this group has probably
been closely associated with solfataric action. Maclau-
rin has indeed shown that the hot springs of the sol-
fataric region of New Zealand at the present day bring
to the surface and deposit notable quantities of gold
and silver in the silicious sinter that forms on the
edges of the boiling springs. A similar deposit is re-
corded from near the De Lamar mine. Idaho. The
New Zealand hydrothermal region is on the same line
of crustal weakness as the goldfields of the Ilauraki
peninsula. On it. only 40 miles away from Rotorua,
is the famous Waihi mine, until three years ago one of
the greatest of the world "s gold mines. The ehalce-
donic character of the silicious filling of the veins of
many andesite fields also appears to point to a deposi-
tion from hot waters. In andesite and allied rocks in
the neighborhood of auriferous veins 'propylitization'
is universal. In this facies of the original andesite
rock the feldspars and ferrO-magnesian silicates have
been converted to quartz, serieite, calcito. epidote.
chlorite, serpentine, and pyrite.
The outstanding feature of auriferous orebodies in
andesitic fields is their general irregularity, both in
form and tenor. The great persistent fault fissures so
often found in older and deeper seated rocks are un-
known, or, at any rate, have not served as loci of de-
position. There is nothing in any andesitic field com-
parable, for example, with the Mother Lode fracture
of California.
It is, of course, conceivable that strong fault fissures
could readily have been formed, but it is improbable
that in any active volcanic and solfataric region, such
fault fissures would remain open for any length when
large quantities of cementing igneous and acqueous
matter were being brought to the surface along the as-
sumed line of weakness. The Comstock Lode with a
total length of two and a half miles is probably the
longest .fault-fissure lode of economic importance in
the andesitic fields. Normally the fissures of andesitic
fields appear to be local tension fractures due some-
times to cooling and sometimes to minor local move-
ments. They are therefore limited both in linear and
in vertical extension, falling into the group of 'gash
veins' of an old nomenclature. When two or more local
series of fractures intersect, the 'stockwerk' so char-
acteristic of many New Zealand and Transylvanian
areas results.
Where the veins of the stockwerk are sufficiently
close together a great bonanza may result as in the case
of t lie Shotover and Caledonian mines. Thames, New
Zealand. The original irregularity of the andesite fis-
sures is greatly accentuated by the selective action of
auriferous solutions that replace the fissure walls with
ore.
Non-Persistence of Young Deposits
No andesitic field has as yet carried its bonanzas to
great depths. By far the deepest is the Comstock
where shafts were sunk to o^iOO ft., but though ore was
found erratically distributed through the lower work-
ings, it was in nowise comparable to the great bon-
anzas that occurred between the 1000 and 1800-ft.
levels. Only a few mines in andesitic regions have
carried rich ore below 1000 ft., and the characteristic
feature of even these is uncertainty of persistence in
depth. For the lack of persistence a definite reason
may very often be given, namely, the change along the
downward course of the lode from dacite or andesite
to the underlying basement rock, or. in rarer cases,
to a member of the andesitic differentiation series un-
favorable to gold deposition. Often the mere ap-
proach to the basement rock connotes impoverishment
of lodes. Instances are numerous, for example, in
New Zealand (at Coromandel and Thames), in Colo-
rado (at Cripple Creek and Telluride). in Transyl-
vania (at Vnlkoj, Korabia, and Nagyag) ; but there
are many lodes that persist in a homogeneous rock,
which may be either a member of the andesitic differen-
tiation series or may form a member of the basement
complex through which andesites have burst, and that
nevertheless, show a marked diminution in value at
568
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
comparatively shallow depths, often less than 500 ft.
For some of these impoverishments a physical cause
may be advanced, namely, approach to the bottom of
the fissure of tension: but for others, indeed for the
great majority, no such explanation is possible. For
example, the Comstock fissure is well defined as far
as it has been followed downward. The great Martha
Lode fissure (Waihi) persists as strongly as ever below
1000 ft., but whereas above that level the gangne was
mainly quartz, below it the matrix is calcite. The
Martha Lode appears to have been originally wholly
a ealcite lode that was attacked by solfataric waters
above 1000 ft., silica with accompanying gold almost
completely replacing the caleite. Either, then. 1(100 ft.
below the surface marks the horizon at which solfataric
waters become active agents of solution and deposition
or, and more probably, the percolating waters had no
access to a zone of the lode immediately below the
1000-ft. level. Whether at greater depths they used
the lode-fissure as a channel and replaced its calcite
gangue, future exploration alone can show. Here, as
has so often been the case, the solution of the question
of the persistence of ore in depth depends on economic
considerations.
Cause of Impoverishment
The impoverishment of the veins of the andesitic gold-
fields in depth is a feature so universal that a general
cause for diminution in value must be sought. I have
attempted to show elsewhere that the probable form in
which gold travels in solution, in depth at least, is not
as the chloride, but as an alkaline auro-sulphide, and
that pyrite and other sulphides are not the natural
precipitants in depth but that precipitation may be due
to a more general cause as cooling of uprising solu-
tions.1' Recently Victor Lenher.s to whose laboratory
researches field workers are deeply indebted, has
shown that the alkaline sulphide solutions are highly
efficient carriers of gold, that pyrite has no effect on
their contained gold and that their gold is readily pre-
cipitated by acid waters or by exposure to oxidation.
Both these agents may reasonably be assumed to oper-
ate only near the surface, especially in volcanic regions.
Maclaurin found that the waters of the acid lake on
White island. New Zealand, contained 5.47% of free
hydrochloric acid. Little proof of the existence and
wide distribution of acid waters at the earth's surface
in solfataric regions is, however, necessary. While the
former cause probably operates directly in andesitic
regions proper, deposition of gold in the numerous
eases in Colorado, Nevada, Transylvania, and else-
where, in which the gold-quartz veins lie in older sedi-
mentary or plutonic rocks, is more likely to be due
to oxidizing waters, the influence of which naturally
reaches only a short distance beneath the earth's sur-
face.
Recognition of the irregularity and lack of persist-
-•Maclaren, 'Gold,' London, 1908, pp. 38, 78, etc.
sEcon. Geo!., Vol. VII, 1912, p. 744.
ence of auriferous orebodies in andesitic fields is of
prime importance to the mining engineer. For such
orebodies not a single ton of ore more than has been
actually proved may be assumed.
The Granodiorite Deposits
The seeond group of the classification already out-
lined includes those goldfields that are apparently
genetically connected with granodioritic or closely al-
lied magmas and that occur as a product of their dif-
ferentiation. This group contains three geographical
provinces : Eastern Australia. California-Alaska, and
the I'rals. For the purpose of the present paper they
may also be divided simply into (a) lodes in grano-
diorite and allied rock and (b) lodes in the sedimen-
tary complex through which the granodiorite is intru-
sive. The relations of the former are simple. Those of
the latter are greatly complicated, from the present
point of view, by changes in tenor likely to take place
when lodes pass in depth from one member of the
complex to another.
The deposits of the eastern Cordillera of Australia
are initially dependent on great granodioritic intru-
sions that have taken place along an axial line of earth
folding. Gold-quartz veins may occur in the igneous
rock itself or in the sedimentary strata overlying or
adjacent. The habitus of the gold deposits in the north
is. in the main, in the granitoid rock; while in the
south gold-quartz veins are generally found in sedi-
mentary rocks. Important exceptions to both rules oc-
cur and are of special value as evidences of the general
genetic connection between the gold deposits of the
north and the south, respectively. The general age of
the plutonic intrusion is probably late Permo-Carboni-
ferous. All adjacent strata of greater age may there-
fore carry auriferous veins. Charters Towers in north
Queensland with a production of nearly £29.000.000
is the most important field in the granitoid rocks. Its
igneous complex comprises rocks ranging from gray
hornblende granite to tonalite. the latter being the
predominant rock. The two principal lodes are the
Brilliant and the Day Dawn, which have been worked to
depths of 2500 to 2700 ft. On the whole, the ore has
shown a gradual though small diminution of tenor in
depth. Similar fields are those of Croydon (Queens-
land), and Wyalong (New South Wales"! ; neither fur-
nish any evidence bearing on the point in question.
Ores in Sedimentary Rocks
Considering the number and great importance of
the goldfields of eastern Australia developed in sedi-
mentary roeks the light thrown by them on the general
question of persistence of orebodies in depth is singu-
larly little. Certainly some, as Gympie (Queensland')
and Ballarat (Victoria), depend for auriferous deposi-
tion on the intersection of lodes or quartz veins and
graphitic bands in sedimentary strata, a condition
which is not necessarily recurrent at depth. Others.
including the majority of the important Victorian
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
569
fields and the Hargraves field in New South Wales, are
developed in tension fractures between unlike beds at
the crests of anticlines forming the famous 'saddle
reefs" of Bendigo and Castlemaine. In these fields
saddle reefs are successively met with in depth when
sinking on an anticlinal axis, so that a condition en-
sues very different from that met with when consider-
ing the filling in depth of a single continuous fissure.
But the experience gained on these formations all
tends to show that the lower saddles are not nearly so
rich or so large as those above. At Bendigo mining
operations were carried to 4614 ft. below the surface
in the New Chum mine, but it is very prohable that,
taken as a whole, work on the Bendigo field below 2500
ft. has not been profitable. Certainly the tenor of the
ore has decreased in depth.
In the California-Alaska belt of gold lodes which
are apparently dependent on granodiorite magmas,
the various Mother Lode mines and the Alaska Tread-
well group in southeastern Alaska are the most im-
portant. The latter are still shallow and are of no
help in the present discussion. Many of the Mother
Lode mines, especially in Amador county, are nearly
2000 ft. deep and some, as Kennedy (3650 ft.). Gwin.
(2650 ft.), and South Eureka (2850 ft.), have reached
much greater depths.
The Mother Lode
The Mother Lode is a fissure /one thai may be
traced from Bridgeport in Mariposa county to near the
northern boundary of Eldorado county, a distance of
120 miles. In many places it is a solid lode 100 ft. wide,
but often it is merely a shattered zone in whicli numer-
ous quartz stringers are developed. It is undoubtedly
due to major faulting developed along a line parallel
with the axis of the Sierras during the V>lift of tnose
mountains. The faulting has selected the softest beds
(Mariposa slates) of the sediments and has uplifted
them for great distances. So far as my three months'
examination of the Mother Lode permitted I have not
been able to make out any appreciable diminution in
tenor in depth. Many mines have certainly 'bottomed'
the ore in given fissures at depths less than 2000 ft., but
it often happens that two or more parallel lodes occur
within the Mariposa slates and that when one becomes
barren a hanging wall or foot-wall lode may carry ore
to much greater depths. In few auriferous regions is
cross-cutting from wall to wall of the lode channel
more necessary : in few has less been done than along
the Mother Lode. The mines of Angels Camp are often
instanced as evidence of the occasional non-persistence
of Mother Lode mines in depth, but. assuming for the
moment that no ore occurs there in depth, their evi-
dence cannot be admitted against Mother Lode mines.
They are, it is true, on the line of the Mother Lode fis-
sure-zone, but, from the Hardenburg mine south of
Jackson to near the Rawhide mine south of Tuttletown,
the Mother Lode fissure-zone, keeping a straight course,
leaves the Mariposa slates, which curve to the west
through the Gwin mine and run parallel for many
miles before rejoining the fissure-zone south of Stanis-
laus river. One of the factors (the presence of carbon-
aceous slates) that makes Mother Lode mines is there-
fore laeking at Angels Camp. While, therefore, any
given fissure of the Mother Lode series may cease to
yield ore in depth it is probable that ore will be found
at greater depth in another adjacent member. Pin-
ally when broadly considered, the Mother Lode may,
with unchanged geological conditions, be expected to
carry ore with undiminished tenor to and perhaps be-
yond the limit of 'depth' set forth in this paper.
No evidence of value is to be derived from a study
of the gold veins of the Urals. They are nearly all
small and irregular and no deep mining has been done
on them.
Reviewing the scanty evidence furnished by the
granodioritic group, we find for eastern Australia a
gradual though small diminution of the tenor of ore-
bodies in depth, while on the Mother Lode all the evi-
dence points toward a general persistence in depth
for typical Mother Lode mines. A mining engineer,
dealing with the future of these mines, would not,
therefore, unless he had evidence of an approaching
change in geological conditions, be justified in disre-
garding-all ore except that "in sight': some might be
expected to occur below the deepest present explora-
tions, and such ore should always be taken into eco-
nomic consideration.
The Ancient Orebodies
Tlie third group of the classification includes all
pre-Cambrian goldfields and comprises the most im-
portant now being worked. These lie in two geo-
graphical areas, one on the borders of the Indian ocean,
ranging from Western Australia through southern In-
dia and Egypt to Rhodesia and the Transvaal, and the
other along the eastern side of America from eastern
Canada through the Appalachian chain and the Guianas
to Brazil and Tierra del Kuego. The former is a very
well defined group of goldfields that, though geograph-
ically widely separated, present so many points of sim-
ilarity that a geological description of the various rocks
and of their internal relations in any given region
wotdd serve, with the mere change of place names, for
any other region of the group. The members are con-
sequently believed to form a single petrological and
metallogenetie province, for which the appellation Ery-
threan' has been suggested.
A typical pre-Cambrian field is that of Kalgoorlie in
Western Australia. Its total gold production has been
more than forty millions sterling. I have closely
studied this field and find that it throws considerable
light on the' general question of auriferous deposition
in pre-Cambrian rocks and on the persistence of ore in
depth in those rocks. Briefly, the area is one of ancient
schists (mainly calc-schist) through which a quartz-
<Maclaren. Trans. Inst. Mln. Met.. Vol. XVI, 1307, p. 15.
570
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
dolerite magma with its differentiation products have
intruded. The differentiation sequence appears to have
been quartz-dolerite (quartz-diabase) followed first
by members as basic as peridotite and then by more
acid segregations ranging through porphyrite to final
albite-porphyry, the last being often intrusive through
the quartz-dolerite. Auriferous impregnation followed
closely on the intrusion of the albite-porphyry. Rich
lodes have been developed only in shear zones in a
broad dike of quartz-dolerite, the shear zones being
barren when they pass in depth or in linear extension
out of the quartz dolerite. Since the shear zones arc.
when considered over depths of 3000 ft., approximately
vertical, and the quartz-dolerite dike which is parallel
to the strike of the shear zones dips west at 65°, the
shear zones pass in depth out of the dike, the eastern
shear zones with their contained lodes reaching barren
ground sooner than the western.
Kalgoorlie, therefore, well illustrates an outstanding
feature of all goldfields, except indeed some in the
Tertiary group, namely, that non-persistence of ore in
depth is a function not of depth b*t of geological struc-
ture. In Kalgoorlie three well defined parallel shear
zones may be made out. Taken severally and having
regard to the depth factor alone, they show (a) non-
persistence of ore in depth (Australia East and Lake
View-Perseverance lodes), (b) persistence of ore in
depth (Great Boulder and Ivanhoe-Horse-Shoe lodes).
and (c) a probable enrichment in depth (Ivanhoe West
lode).
Depth Alone Misleading
Generalizations based on the depth factor alone
when geological conditions are unknown are mislead-
ing. T. A. Riekard5, for example, has relied on the
evidence furnished by the failure in depth of the eas-
tern lodes and an impoverishment in the Ivanhoe mine
at 2500 ft. to support a general theory of impoverish-
ment in depth. F. L. Garrison" also quotes the Ivan-
hoe impoverishment as possible evidence of non-
persistence in depth. The Ivanhoe impoverishment
does take place, but it is local and is due to the fact
that the vertical Ivanhoe lode here passes through a
thin albite-porphyry dike dipping west about 05°. The
great Boulder lode passed through the same dike with
local impoverishment at 2200 ft, When, however, the
latter lode was encountered beneath the albite-por-
phyry dike it proved as rich as in upper levels, and
the same result may reasonably be expected in Ivanhoe
deeper levels. So far. then, as the evidence furnished
by Kalgoorlie goes, it indicates that, so long as its
lodes remain in quartz-dolerite. so long will they fur-
nish ore equal in tenor to that found from the 500 to
the 2000-ft. levels. The ITorse-Shoe-Ivanhoe group of
lodes may therefore be expected to carry ore to the
5500-ft, level, provided always that the quartz-dolerite
dike persists, does not flatten in dip. and is not thrown
'•Mining and Scientific Press, August 31, p. 264.
«Loc. cit.. November 30, 1912, p. 701.
westward in depth by westerly dipping reversed fault-
ing.
Archean strata, from the vicissitudes to which they
have been subjected in the course of long geological
ages, are normally much folded and distributed, while
lode fissures in them are nearly vertical. It is a fun-
damental axiom in these older deposits that the nature
of the lode wall exercises a vital influence on the rich-
ness and sometimes on the mineral character of the ore-
body. Hence it rarely happens that a great depth is
reached before the lode, worked from the outcrop down-
ward, has passed out of the favorable rock. A notable
exception is the Champion Reef of the Kolar goldfield.
southern India, probably the richest single gold lode
ever worked. From 3200 to 3800 ft. ore as rich as any
obtained in the upper levels is now being worked and
ore may be expected to persist in this fissure as long as
it remains in the favorable hornblende-schist.
The greatest goldfield of the world, namely, the Wit-
watersrand, responsible for 37% of the world's gold
production, is a pre-Cambrian goldfield, but the criteria
of ordinary pre-Cambrian fields do not apply to it. Its
deposits lie in sedimentary quartzites and conglomer-
ates and are undoubtedly decreasing in tenor in depth.
Having regard to all the geological conditions sur-
rounding auriferous deposition on this field, it may be
assumed that its gold was deposited relatively near the
then existing surface and that deposition was due
cither to cooling on approach to the surface or to ad-
mixture with oxidizing waters, which in basin shaped
sedimentary areas as those of the AVitwatersrand, we
know from analogy with artesian areas, may reach to
depths of several thousand feet. The surface of most
pre-Cambrian goldfields, on the other hand, has been
subjected to erosion during a large portion of geolog-
ical time, and the locus of gold deposition though now
comparatively near the surface, was at the period of
impregnation many thousands of feet below the then
existing surface and beyond the reach of oxidizin".
waters, perhaps even beyond the influence of thermal
changes.
Summary
Where auriferous orebodies have been deposited by
the influence of meteoric oxidizing waters or by eoolini;
on approach to the earth's surface, they may reason-
ably be expected to diminish in tenor with increasing
depth and finally to disappear. The deposits to which
this generalization appear to apply are those of the
Tertiary andesitic group. Even for many of these, non-
persistence of ore is more often a function of geological
structure than of increase in depth. For all other de-
posits, and especially for those of the pre-Cambrian
group, ore formed in strong well defined fissures may
be expected to persist unchanged (apart from local
horizontal variations) in 'depth', provided the rock of
the lode walls is homogeneous and that the ore-bearing
fissure does not pass out of that rock. In all these,
therefore, geological structure and not 'depth' is the
factor controlling the persistence of ore.
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
571
Air Agitation by Continuous Method
Bv Doxald F. Irwin
In the majority of accounts which relate the per-
formance of agitators, emphasis is laid upon theoret-
ical conditions affecting power consumption or rela-
tive efficiency in causing units of pulp and solution to
come into frequent contact, but the daily experience
of working conditions is often lacking. As details of
current practice may have interest for the sake of
comparison, the following notes are submitted on con-
tinuous air-agitation in a battery of tall tanks at El
Tigre, Sonora, during the past two and a half years.
The conditions for which this installation was de-
signed were as follows: The treatment of 250 tons of
ore daily, for a period of 48 hours; 80 to 90% of the
ore. containing about equal parts of sand and slime,
to pass a 200-mesh screen; the pulp undergoing agita-
tion to have a consistence of 2.5 to 1. and treatment
to be continuous.
In 1910 when this plant was designed, the Esperanza
Mining Co.. of El Oro. in .Mexico, had just effected a
notable success in continuous agitation by the use of
Paehuea tanks, and their type of equipment is re-
flected in the plant at El Tigre. particularly in the
manner of transfer of pulp from one tank to another.
The accompanying sketch (Fig. 1 - shows the pipe con-
nections for that pur-
pose. Later installa-
tions have tended to-
ward the surface
catch-box type of
pulp transfer from
tank to tank, as first
described in technic-
al publications by
Huntington Adams,
of Xatividad, but if
conditions are close-
ly watched, the sub-
merged diagonal
transfer pipe of the
Esperanza type is
quite satisfactory in
operation.
This battery of ag-
itators is equipped
with the short, cen-
tral air-lift columns
described in 1910 by
A. ■]. Yaeger, with
This one uses a full
in the discharge of
L
1 S~.r«,
/S'
ill,. 1.
the exception of the hist agitator.
length column to save elevation
pulp to the storage tank.
Operations began with the agitators piped as shown
'Mining and Scientific Press, December 24, 1913.
in the full lines of the sketch (Fig. 2). Believing that
pulp would flow freely in the connections, no opera-
tive difficulties were anticipated. However, trouble
was first caused by imperfect classification, resulting
in unduly sandy pulp for the agitators: sand began
to settle in the piping between the tanks when the
pulp was too thin, and this stopped the flow entirely
in some cases. A supply of air at 80 lb. pressure was
at once provided for, the piping of the by-pass system.
and by manipulation of the three-way cocks, this high-
pressure air could be admitted to any cock in either
direction, forward or back, at will.
As the air-pressure was much greater than the re-
'" 'o6e ^~ \
^ M \
W" ■
Pressure
rcr
ccney
lj.1 I 1 1
^ Z" /.owPresSci
1/ jBisj/Ze
r."
i^- /" (net use J)
" cocA -for hose connection
* Z " P/uo Coc4 vf'Sh Sra.sj P/<.
Fig. 2.
V
sistance of the pulp plus the head in the tank, it easily
dislodged the sand when needed, and forced a pas-
sage for the stream of pulp, being sufficient to start
the pulp washing through and to bring the level of
the tanks to the proper height again. 'Blowing' of
the three-way cocks is now rarely done, save to dis-
lodge any waste, rags, or carpenter's rubbish that
may have accidentally fallen into the stream of pulp
and gotten past the chip-screens. Classification has
been satisfactory for a long time past, and 'sanding
up' is unknown.
After more than a year of uninterrupted operation
of the agitators, decision was made to empty each
one in succession and investigate the inside of the
tanks, as it was suspected that sand had accumulated
in them to some extent. When this was done, deposits
of sediment was disclosed in several instances, which
had seriously reduced the capacity of the tanks, and
consequently the time of treatment of pulp. All the
tanks so found had maintained the circulation of pulp
by means of a small well or shaft through the body
of the settled pulp. These mills were about 2 or 3 ft.
in diameter, and were connected below with the foot
of the central air-lift column. This sedimentation was
apparently not governed by the sequence of tanks in
the battery, as tanks No. 1 and 2 were nearly free
from settled pulp, whereas it would be supposed that
heavy particles would settle out at the first oppor-
57:
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
t unity afforded them. The sketch (Fig. 3) shows the
peculiar conditions found in tanks No. 4 and 5, and
the step taken to prevent its recurrence. A crescent-
shaped mass of slime and fine sand was banked up on
the outer sides of these two tanks, while the opposite
sides were fairly clean. Doubtless the current of pulp
flowing through had cut across between the central
air-lift column and the wall of the tank, leaving a
dead area on the opposite side of the column where
tlic pulp was free to settle. In order that the current
might be directed straight through these two tanks,
branching around both sides of the central columns as
it had done in other tanks, the transfer pipe was
Hanged to the outer sides. This has served its pur-
pose well, as shown by inspections of the tanks after
six months service following the change ; the tanks
being found to be quite free from deposited slime and
in no need of cleaning.
After the general overhauling referred to, an addi-
tional pipe for air supply, 1 in. diameter, was run
down inside of each tank as far as the junction of the
eoue-bottom and the wall of the tank. At this point
a circular ring of pipe was laid around the top of the
cone and provided with eight %-in. pipe nipples. 12
in. long, spaced at equal intervals around the ring.
These pipe nipples were reduced to about Vx hi. at the
tiji. and were pointed downward and parallel to the
side of the cone. This ring, or bustle pipe, is blown
for two or three minutes on each tank twice every
shift, and to this is attributed a part of the freedom
from sedimentation during the past six months. There
is no other air-pipe entering the tank save the air-lift
supply pipe, nor is there any provision made for ad-
mitting solution under pressure through the airlines,
as is done in some plants where air-agitation equip-
ment has been installed. High-pressure air may be
admitted to the 5-in. discharge line, to which all the
tanks are connected in common at the bottom of the
cones. This is useful in case that tanks refuse to be-
gin circulation with the use of the air-lift alone, but
it is seldom needed. Operation conditions now admit
i if a much thicker pulp than was possible in the earlier
days, and it is of great value as a preventive of sedi-
mentation.
This group of agitators stands upon a combination
concrete foundation and platform, with proper drain-
'asre launders leading to the sump of an air-lift which
returns any pulp or solution to the boot of the ele-
vators that hoist pulp to the agitators. Such pro-
vision has been found to be valuable, and, in fact, in-
dispensable, as the pulp under treatment is freqmently
subject to foaming. When this condition begins, large
quantities of foam, or frothy pulp, are shoved OHt over
the tops of the tanks and gather in the patio below.
Ore of this character may suddenly start foaming
when the level of the pulp in the tanks is near the top,
and thus cause them to foam over excessively. If
heavy tonnage-duty is required the pulp-level cannot
be lowered, and until this is done the foam will con-
tinue to boil over, unless ore from different stopes is
received. This foaming is aggravated by high pro-
tective alkalinity, but the chief cause for foaming lies
in the ore itself; ore containing the largest propor-
tion of slime causes the formation of more foam than
quartzose ores. When pulp contains not more than
two parts of solution to one of pulp, foaming is dimin-
ished, bul the specific cause of the foaming is un-
known. The solid concrete patio beneath the tanks
serves as an emergency pulp-container or as a kind of
safety valve, and the air-lift then will return the pulp
to the tanks at the first opportunity. When running
at or above tin* rated capacity, it is a common occur-
rence for a battery of agitators, connected for con-
tinuous agitation, to start foaming and sloping over
in response to sudden increases in tonnage, or feed
from the pulp-storage tank, and thus relieve the con-
dition of tlie agitation battery. During periods when
agitators have been running temporarily at a low level,
I have occasionally observed clear foam on the surface
of the pulp in the agitators over 50 in. deep.
Classification that will deliver pulp to the agitators
for treatment with 80 to 90% passing "200 mesh, and a
thickening of the pulp to 2.5 or 2 to 1. will do much
to obviate the need of secondary air-equipment for
starting up tanks after long periods of quiescence.
These tanks call for little attention or adjustments
by the solution men. occasional adjustments of the
pulp level being almost the sole care required by the
tanks themselves. The blowing of the bustle pipes is
a part of the general routine, and does not take long —
possibly about two and a half hours out of the twenty-
four.
Air-compressing equipment for agitator service con-
sists of a Sullivan Machinery Co.'s compressor, single-
stage, duplex type, size 10 by 14 in., supplying 30 to
35 lb. air at the rate of 108 eu. ft. piston displacement
per minute. Power is supplied to the compressor by
an Allis-C'halmers motor of 100 lip., running at 490
r.p.m. : and an air-receiver. 4 by 12 ft., serves the usual
purpose. Meter readings at the motor show the power
supplied to be 88-90 lip., a rather higher figure than
is sometimes quoted for this service. From this figure
should be deducted the power consumed by the opera-
tion of eight air-lifts in the mill and cyanide plant, all
of which are operated by this air-supply and all (save
the one in the patio below the agitators') in constant
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
operation. To prorate the use of power accurately
would be a tedious task, as all the air-lifts work under
different conditions as to heads, tonnages, and thick-
nesses of pulp, but they doubtless consume as much
power as one extra agitator. Therefore it appears
that a fair estimate of the power required for agita-
tion at this altitude, under conditions as described, is
9.7 to 10 electric horse-power per tank. This figure
includes all power losses in motor, in compressor, and
in transmission of air to tanks.
Local construction having been influenced by ideas
and results achieved in the El Oro district, where the
climate is mild or even hot, the consequence was that
the cyanide plant was only partly enclosed, the agi-
tators being without housing save the deck that covers
them on top. Inasmuch as the winters in the Sierra
Madre of Sonora occasionally have low temperatures
with considerable snow and iee. it is now purposed to
enclose the tanks to permit of successful heating of
the pulp during agitation in cold weather, for investi-
gations have shown that maintenance of heat in the
pulp during treatment will be attended with a profit.
Experimental work proved the inertness of the
Xa,ZnCX4 during cold weather, compared with its be-
havior during the warm months, and showed the
necessity of warming the pulp in winter in order to
secure the most satisfactory results.
Motor Truck Haulage
By F. L. Size it
Below is the record of a Pieree-Arrow motor truck.
Xo. 435. in service from June 18. 1913, to February
28, 1914. on the road between Willcox and the Mascot
mine, a distance of 16% miles.
Total miles traveled 6,462
Gallons of gasoline used 2,135
Tons of ore hauled 763.4
Tons of merchandise hauled 170
Cost for labor and materials, per ton $2.90
Cost per ton per mile $0,175
The ore was hauled from the mine to the railroad
station at Willcox and the merchandise hauled on re-
turn trip to the mine, which is a continuous up-grade,
there being a rise of 2200 ft. in the distance of 161/;
miles. There was considerable interruption of the
haulage on account of bad roads in the rainy season
during the summer and also in the winter. The mine
is at such an altitude that the ice and snow makes it
impossible at times to use even a motor ear for two or
three days at a time. Taken as a whole, the truck has
given satisfaction when the climate and grades are
taken into consideration. It is to be noted that there
are grades of 23% on the road traveled.
The British Association, a well known society of
scientists, will meet in Australia in 1915. It is hoped
that Madame Curie will be one of the members of the
party.
Mining in Manica, Portuguese East Africa
•The chief mining events in this territory in 1913
were the progress made on the Braganea mine be-
longing to the Andrada Mines Ltd. and the comple-
tion of the dredge for dredging the auriferous alluvials
of the river Revue which has been built by the same
Company. On the Braganea, another level, the 240-ft.,
has been opened and two winzes sunk from this to a
depth of 100 and 70 ft. respectively with a view to
opening another level at about 360 ft. The 120-ft. level
has also been driven a considerable distance north.
Development of the lode at depth is satisfactory. The
output of this mine for the year amounted to 4801 oz.
fine gold of which 355 oz. was in concentrate shipped.
Preparations for dredging the Revue valley have been
pushed ahead with the greatest energy during the past
year. In the Inhamucarara valley, a new 1000-hp.
electric power-station has been erected containing two
hydro-electric units each consisting of a Pelton wheel
and generator.
The 3-pliase current is generated at 4500, transmitted
at 15,000, and reduced to 450 volts for use on the
dredge. Twelve kilometres of main line, and two kilo-
metres of low-voltage line were erected. The new
plant is connected with the existing Tristao plant of
the same Company. The dredge, which was built by
the Bucyrus company of the United States is 110 ft.
long, carrying 71 buckets, of 71/;. cu. ft. capacity each,
and designed to dig 25 ft. below water level, with a
bank of 20 ft. above and. under favorable conditions,
it should be able to handle up to 120,000 cu. yd. per
month. Under normal conditions 450 hp. will be re-
quired. Regidar dredging is now under way. In addi-
tion to the Braganea mine, two small properties pro-
duced gold regularly during the year, and the Guy
Fawkes and four others produced small quantities of
gold during various months in 1013. The production
of gold considerably increased in 1913 as compared to
the two previous years. This increase was due to the
opening up of the Braganea mine. The output of sold
for the territory was 5(100 oz. fine gold.
Fortunately, throughout the year the labor sup-
ply has been fair, the health of the white workers
has continued <*ood. and that of the natives has been
excellent, as in former years. This field continues to
maintain itself very free from contagious diseases and
no scurvy appears to exist on the field. The work of
the geological survey which is being carried out under
the direction of Wyndham Dunstan. director of the
' Imperial Institute. London, was again continued dur-
ing the dry season of 1013. The region examined in-
eluding the district of Sena and the greater portion
of the Circumscription of Gorongoza. During the year
a mineral survey map with explanatory notes and pho-
tographs was published in English, in pamphlet form,
summarizing the results of the work of the creoloffieal
snrvev in 1011 and 1912.
♦Abstract from The Beira Post.
574
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
Progress at Chuquicamata
An Interview with Daniel Guggenheim
The head of the A. S. & R. Co. was recently inter-
viewed for the New York Times, with the following-
results :
The London newspapers, in reporting the recent an-
nual meeting- of the Exploration Company, quoted its
Chairman and Managing Director as referring to the
Chuquicamata mine as the greatest copper deposit in
the world, and the Industriale, an Antofagasta news-
paper, told of the plan now in progress for building a
model city in the mountain desert. 9500 ft. above sea
level. Mr. Guggenheim was asked if the statements
thus made were accurate, and he confirmed them. Fur-
ther details given by him in a matter-of-fact way show
that the development is to be not only most extensive,
but in several respects unique.
General Situation
The copper district, besides being up in the moun-
tains, is 150 miles from the port of Antofagasta by rail.
It is without a natural water supply, and wrater for min-
ing operations and for the thousands of workmen who
will be employed there is to be piped a distance of 40
miles. Although the Company owns rights for more
than 30,000 hp. at a moderate distance from Chuqui-
camata, it has been found more advantageous to build
a power plant at Toeopilla, on the coast where 53.000
hp. will be developed by means of an oil steam plant
and transmitted 89 miles in the form of electric energy
to the mining site in the mountains. This plant is to
cost $3,500,000. The first contract for oil. covering ;i
period of years, will amount to $10,000,000.
The extent of the deposit, 8000 ft., or more than a mile
and a half, makes necessary the construction of rail-
road tracks in various directions, and this construction,
together with electrolytic tanks, is part of the work
now in progress. The preparations for the health, com-
fort, and convenience of the population to be trans-
planted to the district are thus described in the
Industriale :
"With an astonishing rapidity, Chuquicamata is tak-
ing on the aspect of a great city of the future. The
North American company, which is putting in very
powerful installation, is busying itself at the same time
in arranging all the conveniences possible for the thou-
sands (if workmen and employees which it must use in
its operation. This is not done even in the very capital
of the republic. Chuquicamata, indeed, will be the
most healthful city of the country, and the cleanest; in
fact, a city where its population has the greatest num-
ber of conveniences. The North Amreicans who will ex-
ploit Chuquicamata have undertaken a task which we
do not hesitate to applaud. The buildings which are to
lie constructed for the many who will be employed in
the workings of these mines constitute an example for
other industrial enterprises. This Company will erect
in the city which is being formed the following build-
ings among others: A soldiers' barracks, two public
schools, a Court House, a telegraph and postal building,
a theatre, a hospital, a public quarantine, a Protestant
Church, and a Catholic Church, a music hall for work-
men, and a public library, and in all of these works
large capital will be invested."
The Panama Canal establishment has been drawn on
for both industrial and social welfare purposes, ar-
rangements having been made to bring from the
Isthmus some of the steam-shovels that have been used
in digging the canal and sanitarians having been en-
gaged to combat the same sort of conditions that have
been overcome there. Incidentally, the Panama canal
is one of the most important factors in making the de-
posits commercially available, as shipments can be
made from Antofagasta, on the west coast of South
America, direct to New York or London without going
around Cape Horn or around the world. The Panama
canal also affords a comparison by which an idea of the
magnitude of the work to be done at Chuquicamata
may be gauged. The known deposits are estimated by
engineers at 200.000.000 tons of ore, to mine which a
total yardage of earth must be removed, about 5.000,-
000 more than were removed in cutting the canal. It
is estimated that the amount to be paid in wages to
Chilean labor alone in getting out the known ore will
reach $225,000,000.
Discovery and Early Work
Mr. Guggenheim said that the existence of the de-
posits had been known for a great many years, but that
owdng to the natural difficulties and the need of large
capital they were not regarded as available until re-
cently, when they were bought by A. C. Burrage. who
subsequently interested the Guggenheims. The de-
posits had been passed over time and again, after ex-
amination by engineers.
"The ore deposit," said Mr. Guggenheim, "is really
a long hill, extending north and south 8000 ft. and the
mineralized surface shows an average width of practi-
cally 1000 ft. The drillings show conclusively that the
deposit is richer in copper at a depth than it is near the
surface, and that the mineral is not found in veins, but
is thoroughly disseminated through minute fractures
in the rock so as to make a uniformly mineralized ore-
body. Our engineers on the ground, who have made
the drillings, tell us that tremendous as is the amount
of ore already thoroughly developed, nevertheless only
the minimum is known, and no one can make any calcu-
lations as to the maximum quantity of ore which may
be extracted from this deposit, or as to the average
value of the ore which has not yet been placed in sight,
but which is absolutely certain to be developed by
future work.
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
o o
" While the underlying sulphide ores — that is, practi-
cally all of the ore below 400 ft. from the surface —
can be treated in the customary way by water concen-
tration and direct smelting, no steps are being taken at
present to mine or treat any part of this lower sulphide
deposit. All of the attention of the Company is being
given to mining by steam-shovels the upper sulphate
part of the deposit and to treat these sulphates by ;i
simple and inexpensive process. For more than a year
a demonstration plant has been working upon these
ores, and it has been found from months of continuous
operation that 90% of the copper can be extracted from
them by means of the sulphuric acid obtained from the
ore itself.
"'More than 1500 men are working at the millsite and
many more at the coast power plant. The work is be-
ing pushed with such energy that the latest informa-
tion from Chile is that the plant will be ready for opera-
tion by March 1, 1915. The plant now being erected
has a capacity of 10.000 tons of ore per day. which
will produce 120.000,000 lb. of copper per year, and it
is expected that the actual production of copper will be
begun soon after March 1. 1915, and that it will take a
few months to get the plant up to its full capacity.
Later an additional 10.000-ton plant will be added, as
the coast power plant is more than sufficient to take
care of 20.000 tons per day. To erect the second plant
probably will take about eighteen months, so that he-
fore July 1. 1917. Chuquicamata should be producing
at the rate of more than 240.000.000 lb. per year."'
The Weidlein Leaching Process
For some time past E. R. Weidlein lias been studying
the application of leaching processes to the treatment
of copper ores, working in the Mellon Research Labora-
tories of the University of Pittsburgh, under the au-
spices of the Metals Research Co., which is a subsidiary
of the W. B. Thompson interests. Mr. Weidlein has
devised a process, for which 1'. S. patent No. 1.089,096
was issued on March 3. and is now engaged in the con-
struction of a small plant at Wabuska, Nevada, to test
the process on a working scale under actual operating
conditions. In the patent specifications the process is
described as below.
The present invention relates to the recovery of cop-
per in the wet way, from its ores, and is based gener-
ally upon the reversible reaction
CuS04 + S02 + 2ILO = Cu + 2ILS04
More specifically, it contemplates a mode of oper-
ation which makes the utilization of this reaction of
high commercial value, in that in actual practice the
copper can be precipitated substantially quantitatively
in the metallic form. This substantially complete pre-
cipitation is likewise accompanied with the regenera-
tion of twice the amount of sulphuric acid necessary
to dissolve out the same quantity of copper precipi-
tated, so that the solution, while it is still hot. and
after the copper has been precipitated out. may be
used for re-leaching the original body of ore. or for
leaching a new batch of ore. as the case may be.
In the preferred practice of the invention, the ore
is leached, by percolation, or by agitation with or with-
out the admission of air. with a 3.6% sulphuric acid
solution. The free acid content of the copper sulphate
solution thus obtained is lowered during the leaching
operation to less than 1% of free sulphuric acid. The
free acid is thereupon neutralized by adding the cal-
culated amount of calcium carbonate or ordinary
limestone, or, in fact, any alkaline substance. If the
alkaline substance added is one which forms an in-
soluble sulphate, as is the cise when calcium carbonate
is employed, the precipitated insoluble sulphate is sep-
arated by filtration or otherwise removed in any known
way.
The copper sulphate solution will be neutral and
will contain 1.5$ copper, in which condition it is sup-
plied to the absorption tower, of any suitable or con-
venient type. Sulphur dioxide (for instance, sulphur
dioxide contained in smelter fume) will thereupon he
pumped into the solution until the desired concentra-
tion of (1.5%) sulphur dioxide for the amount of
copper in solution is obtained. The solution is then
pumped to the precipitation tank or tanks, which may
be made of iron, lead-lined throughout, and which are
adapted to withstand, with safety, a relatively high
pressure. Heat is then applied to the solution, in
any suitable way. until a temperature of 150°C. is
attained, giving a pressure of 100 lb. per square inch.
As soon as these conditions of temperature and pres-
sure are obtained, the pressure is released, the tanks
emptied upon a filter, and the hot solution is run back
on the ore for re-leaching purposes. The solution is
very easily filtered, and the copper remains on the
filter in a finely divided form. It may then be con-
veniently handled by melting and poling, or by com-
pressing it to form anodes.
The typical example given embodies the conditions
necessary for completing the reaction for the attain-
ment of the lust results. Thus, it has been found
that the best results are obtained with 6% solution
of CuS04-5II..<) (containing 1.5% copper") and under
a pressure of about 100 lb. per square inch, at a tem-
perature of about 150 Y'. It is commercially feasible,
however, to increase the strength of the solution up
to 3% metallic copper and to obtain a precipitation
of approximately three-fourths of the copper.
The treatment of the solution, as it comes from tin'
leaching tank', with an amount of calcium carbonate
or other alkaline substance sufficient to neutralize the
free acid, together witli the conditions of temperature
and pressure and of concentration of the sulphur di-
576
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
oxide in solution relatively to the concentration of
copper in solution in the sulphate liquor, determine the
nature of the precipitate which, under these conditions,
closely approximates 100% finely divided metallic cop-
per. The quantity of sulphur dioxide passed into the
solution is determined by the degree of concentration
of the copper, that is to say, the concentration of the
sulphur dioxide solution expressed in per cent by
weight should not materially exceed the concentration
of the copper in solution expressed in the same terms.
In this connection, it is to be carefully noted that solu-
tions of copper sulphate stronger than 6% CuS04-5H20
may be, in part, precipitated by sulphur dioxide as
metallic copper when the solution is first neutralized
by the calcium carbonate or other neutralizing agent
employed, but, in such case, the precipitation as metal-
lic copper will not be complete. So also, at higher
temperatures and pressures than 150°C. and 100 lb.,
complete precipitation of the copper in the solution
may be obtained, but this precipitate will consist only
partly of metallic copper and will contain, in large
quantities, oxides, sulphites, and sulphides of copper;
although sulphuric acid will nevertheless be regener-
ated under these conditions in sufficient quantity for
re-leaching purposes.
The process is particularly applicable to the extrac-
tion of copper from low-grade copper ores, principally
the carbonate, oxide, and basic sulphate ores. The
sulphur dioxide may conveniently be obtained from
smelter fumes, inasmuch as the percentage of sulphur
dioxide in such fumes is normally sufficient to satu-
rate a 6% CuS04- 511,0 solution. Furthermore, the
process finds a special application in connection with
sulphide ores, inasmuch as the conversion of the sul-
phides usually occurring in such ores into the oxide
by roasting Mill yield, in most cases, even more sul-
phur dioxide than is required for subsequent treatment
of the solution. It may. therefore, be said that the
process is applicable to all ores or other products con-
taining copper, as, for instance, in addition to those
above noted, to roasted matte from which the copper
may be efficiently brought into solution by sulphuric
acid. It is proposed to leach with the solution as it
comes hot from the precipitation tanks, thereby utiliz-
ing its maximum leaching efficiency, and making the
process continuous in the sense that the leaching solu-
tion is utilized over and over again for re-leaching the
ore, after the copper has been precipitated each lime
out of the solution.
In order to maintain a constant volume of solution,
the leachinji is effected, as hereinbefore indicated, with
a 3.6% sulphuric acid solution, assuming a chemical
and mechanical loss in the leaching operation of about
25%. The precipitated copper is not contaminated
with other metals more electro-positive, such as iron,
as they will not be precipitated under the same con-
ditions. The ferric iron present in the solution will
use up some of the sulphur dioxide and convert it
into sulphuric acid which will be an added advantage
to the process, and, at the same time, the reduced
ferrous sulphate in the solution, when agitated with
air, is an excellent leaching agent for copper.
It will be noted that the amount of copper precipi-
tated, expressed in percentage by weight, corresponds,
within certain limits, to the ratio of the amount of
SO, employed to the amount of copper contained in
the solution. For instance, if the solution contains
1.5% copper and the amount of SO, employed is 1.5%,
then approximately 100% of the copper present will
be precipitated as metallic copper. Or, if the same
1.5% copper solution contains 1% SO,, then approxi-
mately 66% of the copper present will be precipitated
as metallic copper. If the percentage of SO, exceeds
1.5%, a complete precipitation of the 1.5% copper
solution will be obtained, but will consist more or
less of oxides, sulphites, and the like.
It will, of course, be understood that I do not claim
broadly the use of sulphur dioxide as a precipitating
agent in the treatment of copper sulphate solutions,
inasmuch as the general reaction, as hereinbefore in-
dicated, is well known, and its utilization, for com-
mercial purposes, has been heretofore attempted. In
every such attempt, however, in so far as I am aware,
the precipitation of the copper in the metallic state
substantially quantitatively has not even been approx-
imated, and even its precipitation in the form of a
mixture consisting largely of oxides and sulphites ac-
companied sometimes with a relatively small propor-
tion of metallic copper has been incomplete. By the
practice of the present invention, on the contrary,
practically complete precipitation of all the copper in
the solution may be obtained in the metallic form, by
observing the conditions of temperature and pressure
and of concentration of the sulphur dioxide solution
relatively to the concentration of the copper in solu-
tion in the sulphate liquor, as hereinbefore specified ;
and, even with higher concentrations of copper in solu-
tion, and at higher temperatures and pressures, the
preliminary neutralization of the free acid permits
the complete precipitation of the copper partly in the
metallic state. So also, with the employment of the
preferred conditions of temperature and pressure here-
inbefore specified, even though the concentration of
the copper in solution may exceed the optimum, a
much larger proportion of copper in the metallic form
will be precipitated than is obtainable, in so far as
I am aware, in the commercial practice of any other
process based upon the employment of sulphur dioxide
in the reversible reaction quoted.
By the term "substantially quantitatively'" as used
in the specification and claims is to be understood
such a precipitation as will residt in a residual leach
liquor, which when used as a final wash-water, will
leave associated with the spent ore an amount of cop-
per so small that it shall not represent a material loss:
that is, a loss whose maximum may be said to be one-
fourth of the amount of copper originally present in
the ore.
April 4. 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
Blasting and Use of Explosives
1. Powder magazines must bo kept dry and well
ventilated. Powderman in charge must keep maga-
zine clean and free of litter of papers, sawdust, empty
boxes, box covers, etc. All powdermen must observe
and obey the special rules and instructions posted in
the magazines relative to the storage, handling, thaw-
ing, and caring for explosives.
2. Separate magazines are provided. Dynamite and
black powder must not be stored or kept in the same
magazine. Blasting caps, electric fuses, and explod-
ers must not be stored with dynamite and black pow-
der.
3. Open or exposed lights positively must not be
used in or around magazines or fuse and cap houses.
4. Smoking is positively prohibited in or around
magazines or fuse house, or in or around the pit or
mine workings where explosives are being conveyed
or are being used.
5. Employees must not slide or handle roughly or
carelessly cases of dynamite or other explosives, either
in magazines, in wagon transportation, or in and
around the mine workings.
6. Blasters and their helpers and all employees en-
gaged in the handling of explosives must not wear
hob-nailed shoes. Shoes with sobs studded witli hob-
nails, or other heavy nails, or with metal toe or heel
plates may be a source of danger and must not be
worn.
7. Tlie accumulation of an excessive quantity of
explosives at or near a hole is prohibited. The neces-
sary supply of powder for one or more bore-holes pre-
pared for loading must not lie delivered within 50 ft.
of the nearest hole. From this temporary supply,
powder must be carried to bore-hole only in such quan-
tity as can be rapidly loaded, so that at no time dur-
ing the charging of a hole will there be more than
150 or 200 lb. of powder in the immediate vicinity
of or at the collar of the hole.
8. Blasters must protect their field supply of explo-
sives. Canvas tarpaulins, asbestos or fireproofed cov-
erings are furnished by the Company and must be
used by blasters to protect their supply of powder
from dampness and the possible danger of flying
sparks and flying rocks and debris from blasts.
9. The use of frozen or chilled explosives is posi-
tively prohibited. Wasters must not cut or break a
frozen stick or cartridge of dynamite.
10. Iron or steel bars or tools for tamping must not
be used. Use only a wooden tamping stick with no
metal parts.
11. Packages of explosives must not be opened with
a nail-puller, chisel, pick, shovel, or other steel or
iron tool. Employees must use hardwood wedge and
mallet provided for this purpose.
12. After 'springing* a hole, that is. exploding a
•From the book of 'Rules and Regulations' of the Nevada
Consolidated Copper Company.
charge to chamber a bore-hole, blasters must wait at
least an hour, or until the bore-hole is cool, or has
been cooled by a deluge of water, before loading
charge to blast.
13. A primer (a cartridge of dynamite with blasting
cap and fuse, or an electric fuse attached") must not
be forced into a bore-hole.
14. The regulation crew for loading bore-holes shall
be and consist of not more than 4 men. the blaster
in charge with three helpers. At no time shall there
be more than four men allowed at or around a bore-
hole when same is being loaded or charged.
15. Employees, other than blaster and his regular
helpers, are positively prohibited from approaching
closer than 50 ft. of a bore-hole when same is being
charged with explosives. Employees or other person
or persons violating this rule do so at their own risk.
16. Blasting caps, electric fuses, and miner's or safe-
ty fuses with detonators attached must not bo carried
or conveyed around the pit or mine workings with
dynamite or black powder.
17. Blasting caps, electric fuses, and safety fuses
with caps attached must not be carried by employees
in their pockets.
18. Electric blasting apparatus must be frequently
tested, and must not be used unless in good repair,
and all leading wires and electric fuse wires, etc.. must
be in perfect condition. Do not use old, damaged elec-
tric fuse or connecting wire.
19. For bank blasting, electric fuses with insulated
copper fuse wires less than 30 ft. long must not be
used.
20. Safety fuses for use in bull-dozing or top blast-
ing must be prepared in fuse magazine. Blasting caps
or detonators must bo securely and properly crimped
upon the fuse.
21. Safety fuses, cut and prepared in the fuse house
for regular blasting operations, must not bo less than
24 inches in length.
22. The use of a fuse less than 24 in. long is posi-
tively prohibited. Powdermen and blasters must not
cut fuses short to save time or for any other purpose.
23. In bull-dozing or dobie blasting, blasters must
not light or fire more than 20 charges or shots at one
time.
24. In dobie blasting, when a piece or length of
safety fuse is used to spit or light a number of charges
to be fired, blasters must see to it that the fuse so
used has no cap attached. The use of a fuse with
blasting cap attached for a 'spitter' is positively pro-
hibited.
25. Tn firing two or more charges, no two fuses
should cross each other.
26. The free end of safety fuse must lie slit and
turned sideways to expose the powder train or core
without spilling out the powder so that the fuse can
l>e readily and quickly lighted.
27. "When blasting is to be done after regular shift
hours, powdermen and blasters must always wait 10
minutes after dismissing the shift before firing shots.
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
The Ching Hsing Coal Basin
Bv Edward ni Villi
The Ching Using coal basin is one of a series of
bituminous coal basins in western Chile province,
north China, at about 114°E and 38°N, skirting the
foothills which border the flat flood plain of the Yellow
river. To the west are the well known and extensive
anthracite deposits of Shansi province, while to the
north and south are other coal deposits extending south
to X 35° 15' and north 40° 50'. These deposits must
not be confused with those worked by the Chinese
Engineering & Mining Co., and the Lanchow M. Co.,
which are near Tongshan, in the same province but
northeast of Tientsin.
A competent mining engineer has given the following
section through a part of the Ching Using coal field :
Feet.
Loess 46
Argillaceous shale 2
Arenaceous shale 2
Argillaceous shale 3
Yellow sandstone 3
Compact sandstone t2
Marl 12
Marl 4
Carbonaceous shale y2
Coal i/j
Arenaceones shale 8
These
Feet.
Fine grained basalt %
Baked coal 3
Marl 3
Arenaceous shale 3
Dark arenaceous shale . . 3
White slate 3
Calcareous shale 3
Light indurated clay.... 3
Clay-slate 3
Coal 28
Coal y2
ast dimensions are in Chinese feet =\x/z Eng-
lish feet.
The Chii Yang Hsien coal field is situated 60 miles
north of the Cheng Hsing Hsien coal field. The geolo-
EE3 L/mestome )-— H Coal measures
FlG. 1. SUPPOSED CB0SS-SECTI0X AT CHING HSING.
[3 L
OES
My own observations were made in different work-
ings and the geological section as below:
gical age and mode of occurrence are the same for both
fields. The area of the coal fields is about 10 square
FIG 2. BLOCK FAULTING AT CHING HSIXG. THE COAL IX THE BLOCK TO THE LEFT IS 120, THAT IN THE MIDDLE IS 160, AM) THAT AT
THE RIGHT IS 280 FT. BELOW THE SURFACE.
Geology of the Basin
Tile geological horizon in any direction for several
miles is of Carboniferous age and I was able to obtain
reliable paleontologic evidence to confirm this opinion.
The ground is formed into a series of square plateaus
by step-faults, intersecting each other at right angles.
and having north-south and east-west trends. The
earlier and greater faults run east-west. The later
ones are more numerous and have a lesser throw. The
result of this system of faulting is that there are cer-
tain areas in which it is unprofitable to mine. The
depth from the surface to the coal varies from 120 ft..
157 ft.. 180 ft.. 280 ft., up to 400 ft. That the north-
south faults are of recent geological age is shown by
the unworn edges of the fault scarps, sometimes as
much as 100 ft. high, but more often only 5 or 10 ft.
high. The slickensides are not mineralized, but some
very pretty crystals have been extracted from the
slickensides of . the east-west system of faults.
The following log shows the thickness of the strata
nassed throutrh in sinking a shaft at Hsi Kou :
miles with some smaller detached areas to the north
and east. A typical section through the strata is as
follows :
Feet.
Loess, clay, sandstone,
slate 300
Coal ( very poor and
stony) I1-..
Slate, sandstone 100
Coal, No. 1 4
Sandstones and shales.. 3Vi
Coal, No. 2 7
Feet.
Sandstones and shales. . 5
Coal, No. 3 10
Sandstones and shales. . 5
Coal, No. 4 12
Limestone, sandstones,
and shales
Coal
Limestone
' The Chinese work these coal mines in a primitive
manner and solely to meet the local demand for pottery
making. Shafts have been put down everywhere and
abandoned. Flooding is a problem with which they do-
not care much to grapple. The work seems to go on
in a haphazard manner with nobody in command. If
you go down a shaft you will be let down in a very
dilapidated and dirty basket, and if you are inclined
to be at all nervous don't examine the ropes. That
can always be done afterward, it provides food for
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
57!)
reflection. No consideration has been given for the
comfort and convenience of the coolies. Ventilation
is a problem that has ever troubled Chinese mining en-
gineers. Fatal underground explosions are not at all
of rare occurrence. In fact, everywhere you will find
evidence of the Celestial total disregard for the value
of human life. Nevertheless the Chinese always man-
age to extract handsome profits from their mining
ventures. With their primitive methods they have car-
ried out some truly wonderful work. Eliminate the
'hanger-on' system and I would sooner work with the
Chinese than with any other man on earth.
Concreting the Junction Shaft of the
Calumet & Arizona
•This is one of the main shafts of the Superior &
Pittsburg portion of this property at Warren, Cochise
county. Arizona. It is a splendid piece of work and
was finally finished February 8. when the putting in
of the guides and cleaning of shaft was completed. The
work was commenced December 2. 1012. and the actual
working time on the job was 2!>5 days. The shaft has
five compartments, (i by -"' j ft., and is concreted to
the bottom, a depth of 1535 ft. below surface, the first
forms being placed in position there, and work being
upward from this point. Concrete was sent down the
shaft by a 4-in. pipe, the material being delivered to
an iron bucket in which was a bottom of wood, and
leading from which was a distributing pipe which
could be directed to any point in the forms desired to
be filled. This method worked without any hitch and
progress was rapid. When the 1535 ft. was complet-
ed, work was started at the bottom of the shaft, on
the 1800-ft. level, and brought up to connect with the
concrete above. All divisions in the shaft were con-
creted, and the pump stations at the 10(10 and 1500-ft.
levels were made fire proof by putting in concrete
floors and plastering the walls. There was 6530 sq. ft.
of rioorhiL' in the 1000-ft. station, (iuides in the shaft
were bolted to the walls, holes being drilled through
the concrete and timbers.
The concrete walls of this shaft are from S to over
'24 in. thick. In places where there were openings be-
hind the shafl that were not too large they were com-
pletely filled with the concrete. There were no bearers
put in the shaft, as these wall inequalities when filled
with the concrete made them unnecessary. It was
found that it was about as cheap to fill the moderate-
sized openings back of the shaft with concrete as with
waste, the cost of the concrete poured being about $4.50
per yard. In places where openings were particularly
large, waste rock was used. Through the central por-
tion of the shaft is a weak piece of ground, -hi old
water course filled with water-worn boulders and
where trouble could 1"' looked for if it came in any
portion of the shaft. Kxtra precautions were observed
here in making the shaft as strong as possible. The
•Abstract of an article by George A. Newett in Iron Ore.
shaft is a fine one. not a half inch out of line for its
entire length, and cages go through it smoothly.
The cost of concreting this shaft was about $200,000.
the top 1535 ft. requiring an expenditure of $164,701.
The cost of wooden forms was $5160; cost of the pipe
through which the concrete was fed, $1443; and stor-
age bins. $7500. The work also included the concret-
ing of the ore-pocket at the 1400-ft. level. There was a
complete plant at the mouth of the shaft for crushing.
mixing, and handling the materials. The limestone
with which the cement was mixed came from the Com-
pany's quarry near by. The sand was obtained at Fair-
banks. All of this, with the storage bins. etc.. has been
removed and there is nothing about to indicate that
such an important job was done. Eight men were em-
ployed per shift, three shifts worked per day and for
seven davs in the week.
Determination of Sulphur in Pyrite
A new method for the determination of sulphur in
pyrite has been described by Ernest Martin in Mon.
Set., and an abstract is given in Chemical Abstracts. The-
method is as follows:
Treat C' gin. of finely ground pyrite in a 150-c.c.
Mask with 25 c.c. aqua regia (equal parts 1IC1 and
UNO.,) prepared a few minutes in advance. Allow
to act several hours (preferably over night) in the
cold, add about 1 gm. NaCl, evaporate almost to dry-
ness on a sand bath, take up with 2 c.c. IIC1 and suf-
ficient water, then add 50 c.c. boiling water and little
by little 4 gm. Xa,CO.,. The precipitate is not bulky
and does not retain sulphates when washed with boil-
ing water. To the filtrate add two drops methyl or-
ange (0.17c) and neutralize exactly (rose tint) with
IIC1. Boil off CO,, add 60 c.c. of Ba(0H)2 (45 gm. per
litre) and a drop of phenolphthalein. Pass CO, (care-
fully washed), stopping the flow of gas the moment
the rose color just disappears. Filter, wash with hoi
but not boiling water, cool, and titrate with 0.5 XIIC1
to a rose color. .Multiply the c.c. IIC1 used by 0.008
to find the S in the sample, or by 1.6 to find the per-
centage. To determine S in burned pyrite. weigh out
3 gm. and proceed as before, but use 8 gm. XaCO.
and 25 c.c. Ba(OII),. To determine Pb. Cu, and Zn
in pyrite, mix 3 gm. in a porcelain crucible with
2 gm. 8 and 8 gm. KN'aCO... cover with a little Na,CO,,
put the lid on the crucible and fuse for 15 minutes.
Extract the cooled mass with 300 to 400 c.c. of hot
water, add 20 c.c. IIC1 (22°B.), allow to digest sev-
eral hours, remove, and wash the crucible. Add 25 gm.
crystals sodium acetate, allow to settle, filter, and
wash with Il.S-water containing sodium acetate. Sep-
arate the ZnS by dissolving in IICI, precipitate as ZnS
and weigh as ZiiO. Burn the filter -f- CuS -f PbS in
a porcelain crucible, dissolve in HNO., and clectrolyze,
or, if preferred, separate the Pb as PbSO,.
Bank clearings in the United Kingdom in 1913 totaled
$79,987,760,065.
580
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
and other matters pertaining to mining and metallurgy.
The Editor welcomes the expression of views contrary
to his own, believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to the readers
of this journal.
Some Unwritten Cyanide History
The Editor :
Sir — Decision of the suit for infringement by the
Tonopah Mining Co. of the Brown patents removes
one threat of pestiferous litigation from the field of
metallurgy. It also recalls a bit of history which
may interest others. In the years 1900 to 1903 I was
associated with mining companies in Colorado, with
si une of which Alden II. Brown, the patentee in the
suit poneerned, was also connected. Mr. Brown is ;i
graduate of the State University of Iowa. After serv-
ice in the engineering corps of the Burlington. Cedar
Rapids & Northern railway, he came to Boulder coun-
ty, Colorado, about 1898. and. in connection with J.
('. Beeler, a prominent contractor and quarryman at
Cedar Rapids. Iowa, purchased, worked, and shortly
sold at a good profit, the Longfellow mine. Later he
took the management of the Wano Mining & Milling
Co., which owned a property near Jamestown, also in
Boulder county. The ore contained gold, partly in
the form of tellurides and partly finely divided and
intimately associated with metallic sulphides. One of
the officers of the Wano company was James (;. Berry-
■ hill, of Des Moines, now vice-president of the Nevada
Douglas Copper Co. Mr. Berryhill was at the same
time the principal stockholder in companies operating
;it Idaho Springs and Cripple Creek, upon whose staffs
I was then serving. Mr. Berryhill learned in Chicago
of the work done at Mystic. South Dakota, by Fred-
erick H. Long, and visited the plant. Being impressed
with the results Mr. Long was obtaining in the treat-
ment of the so-called 'blue ores' of the Black Hills,
lie sent me to make preliminary tests and investigate
the process. This was in the summer of 1901. It will
In- remembered that this was when cyauidation had
progressed only to the point of leaching relatively
coarse sand and when chlorination was still the domi-
nant process at Cripple Creek. Mr. Long, however.
was, grinding his ore fine, 'all-sliming' we have since
learned to call it. was agitating his solutions with
an air jet much as is now done with a Pachuca vat.
except that the apparatus was smaller and the circu-
lation was down through the vat and up through an
outside pipe, and he had developed a filter, which de-
pended upon a water pressure to wash the cake and
which filtered excellently though it was out of com-
mission for hours afterward while the cake was being
removed by hand. Mr. Long was attempting to treat
nre by chlorination, developing the chlorine by elec-
trolysis in the solution while it was being circulated
in a closed apparatus not greatly unlike the agitator
already described. Incidentally, cyanide was added
to the solution, but the main reliance was upon the
chlorine.
Preliminary tests being favorable, arrangements
were made for a thorough trial, running upon ore
from the Wano and from the Hull City or Independence
Consolidated at Cripple Creek. Samuel Newhouse and
Messrs. W. P. Dunham and Eben Smith joined in hav-
ing the tests made. A. J. Bettles represented Mr.
Newhouse, \V. C. Gates came from Philip Argall's staff
to represent Dunham and Smith, Mr. Brown looked
after the interest of the Wano company, and I repre-
sented Mr. Berryhill. With the enthusiam of youth
and lacking somewhat the experience of years, I rec-
ommended a large-scale test. In the consultation of
the principles at Denver this grew until several car-
loads of Cripple Creek ore were shipped to Mystic.
as well as one car from the Wano. Mr. Brown and I
went ahead to organize the staff for the mill test,
he acting as assayer. When the ore arrived, a ear
was unloaded and work began. The first difficulty in-
volved was the tine grinding of so large a quantity.
It was before tube-mills had ]>eiietrated beyond cement
manufacture and the apparatus used was a Kent mill.
It did the work, but at large cost for repairs. Even-
tually the Wano ore was pulverized, and, the others
having arrived, a test was run. It resulted in an ex-
traction of 65 in place of the expected 90%. A sub-
sequent test on the Cripple Creek ore gave about the
same result. After the first trial the use of salt and
the electric current was discontinued, and straight cy-
anidation was done. While it was found impossible
to raise the extraction, surprisingly quick results were
obtained. My recollection is that on the Wano ore
as much gold went into solution with sliming and air
agitation in 15 minutes, as Mr. Brown had been able
previously to dissolve in five days' leaching. This
fact and the filter impressed all of us, but the main
result claimed, decomposition of the tellurides. having
failed to materialize, further work was abandoned. I
recall that in studying the tailing from one of the
tests, Mr. Brown suggested that the coarse gold and
that associated with the sulphides could be saved by
simple concentration following cyanidation. Doubtless
this was the germ of the idea that he later worked out
in practice at Jamestown and patented. The patents,
passing into other hands, became the basis of the spec- .
ulative lawsuit just decided.
The little group that worked together those pleasant
summer days is widely scattered. Bettles is dead and
his great mill at Bingham has been rebuilt : Oates has
gone. I know not where : Brown turned his attention
to Cuban iron ores and has done well ; Long is in Chi-
eago. and, I believe, applied his filter to other uses;
and I now work with pen and paper in place of sam-
pling cloth and notebook. It was a congenial circle
and the work itself most interesting. Not far away,
C. W. Merrill was then working on the slime press
April 4. 191-4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
581
he later perfected. Still nearer. J. V. N. Dorr was
perfecting the Moore filter and developing the other
processes and devices that are now being so widely
adopted. At Mystic, with the value of all sliming
demonstrated, with air agitation in use. and with a
workable if imperfect pressure filter, we let slip the
chance to make the Black Hills notable for other of
the more important inventions that through cyanida-
tion have let loose on the world a flood of gold.
H. Foster Bain.
San Francisco, March 25.
Prospecting and Government Aid
The Editor:
Sir — I had some experience in British Columbia last
winter which I think should interest those who have
been discussing how the Government can help the pros-
pector and mining companies.
I was working for the British Columbia Copper Co.
in connection with a big diamond-drill job near Prince-
ton. Charles Camsell was district geologist of the Can-
adian Geological Survey, lie had been there and writ-
ten a paper based on the work done there several
years previous. With the accumulating data that the
British Columbia company was gathering, he was en-
abled to correct and modify original ideas. He made
frequent trips to the camp to keep in touch with new
data. He did not bring a staff with him, but came
alone. Before leaving, he would express opinions and
give ideas and then write them up at headquarters.
He made the rounds of all the mining properties in
his district with some regularity, ami was familiar
with geological conditions prevailing in that region be-
cause he visited so many properties. Most of them
were prospects. It must be remembered that we were
developing by drill-holes mainly, and that the mines
had never made any shipments, and that there was
no assurance that there ever would be any at that
time. The fact that the Company was spending a
large sum every month in that district made the Can-
adian Geological Survey feel that they should give us
the benefit of a geological expert who would do all
he could to guide us. This meant that he frequently
expressed an opinion instead of a demonstrated gener-
ality, and you could take it as an opinion or leave it.
I think these reports on *hat whole district were as
practical and helpful as any geological studies could
be. They were intended t<> bear directly on our prob-
. lem. They were not expensive. There were no elab-
orate preliminary topographical maps.
The points that impressed me were: (1) that by con-
stantly making the rounds of one district, the district
geologist becomes more familiar with the conditions in
his territory: (2) that examinations were frequent;
(3") that they were inexpensive: (4) that almost any
prospector could gel information from a well qualified
government geologist by doing work- on his ground;
(51 that the geologist in his examination, and also in
!iis reports, would take the chance of drawing a con-
clusion like anj' other mining engineer has to do, and
not confining his report to what is already known;
(6) that these papers appeared in print promptly.
I examined one prospect owned by two men who
worked on it conscientiously. They had a good road
built part way and a trail the balance of the way.
The Government had built that road the previous year.
They applied to the road supervisor for a road. He
actually looked over their ground to see that it was
not a fraud. Being satisfied, he spent $200 that year
on a road to a prospect that had not shipped a pound
of ore. The Government must have spent at least
$20,000 on the road from Princeton to the British Co-
lumbia company's drilling ground before the tonnage
was developed and. therefore, at a time when help was
most needed.
Now it has been my experience that as far as metal
mines are concerned, our United States Geological Sur-
vey does not come into the district until its reputation
has been established, which is when you need it least.
Like most American mining engineers, I am proud of
our Geological Survey and the splendid personnel, but
1 do wish they would get in the same touch with us
that they did in Canada. I am beginning to believ*
that our Survey would do better in covering more
ground and by not going into such minute details about
matters that are inconsequential, and going over the
ground oftener. I recently made an examination in
the Eureka. Nevada, district. The Geological Survey
reports are classics that date back to Clarence King
in the early eighties. Since then a great deal of work
has been done, and these old reports are not now worth
much. They go into great detail about fossils and cor-
relation of strata. If the geological work had been
confined solely to economic considerations and geolo-
gists had been going in there at regular intervals, the
whole job would not have cost any more and there
would be some modern ideas on the files. There is
no use making a most detailed academic report on a
camp at a time when it is booming and everybody has
plenty of ore and then leaving the poor thing neglected
for -SO years. Eureka is by no means a 'dead one.' A
lew kind words from the Survey today, based on a
comparatively inexpensive examination of present con-
ditions, might do more good than all the reports made
30 years ago.
1 should like to see the district geologist in our
Western states making his rounds continually and re-
porting annually on the geological progress and lay-
ing stress on published ideas that have been disproved
or new theories that the companies are trying out.
Such a district geologist would not need to be a first-
class man. Through association with the managers in
his district be would get into much closer touch with
the needs of bis district, and might get to that stage
after a while where be could make a report without
telling how many millimetres in length are the vari-
ous feldspar crystals. Occasionally the enormous ap-
petite of the Survey for this sort of stuff could be
582
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
satisfied by sending in a 'regular' geologist.
There arc many obscure camps which could be made
successful by the solution of some geological problem,
but the operators do not know enough about geology
to even know their own needs or recognize the solu-
bility of their own problem. The Survey will overlook
that camp until it has a reputation, which might never
be. The district geologist, acting as a scout, would
not overlook it and would bring it to the attention of
his superiors, with the possible development of a new
camp. When a camp is prosperous the Survey comes
in with both feet, but when a. camp is on the wane
and ore is getting scarce, and we need the geological
data like a sick man needs a doctor, that is just the time
they 'shake' us and leave us high and dry with data
that are ancient history. 1 have made examinations
in several camps which the Survey had not visited for
the last eight years and which were by no means de-
cadent.
I think the Survey will work in closer touch with
us as time goes on. and the point I want to make is
that I think we can learn something from Canada in
this respect, though I do not like to admit it.
P. Summer Schmidt.
Salt Lake City, March !).
Prospecting and Leasing
The Editor:
Sir — I have read with interest the discussion rela-
tive to prospecting, and am glad to note the consensus
of opinion regarding the ways in which prospecting
may be aided and the unanimity of opinion against
any direct government aid. There is one point which
it seems to me has not been brought out as clearly
and emphatically as it warrants. The greatest handi-
cap to prospecting is that under the present laws the
prospector is virtually confined to the unexplored re-
gions, and these are no longer where they used to be.
For as soon as a find of any consequence is made,
the world rushes in and patents all ground in the whole
region, forcing the prospector back into the wilder-
ness, where a find to be worth attention must be of
exceptional value. While it is true that some of these
claims are dropped after the collapse of the boom, it
is done gradually and it is difficult for the man in
the field to discover what is open and what is held.
If claims were leased instead of being patented, and
reverted to the Government when the holder ceased
to take further interest in it, the prospector could al-
ways know in the field the ground upon which he could
pursue bis calling, and this he would still be able
to do close to transportation, in many cases even in
the midst of a producing district, where capital would
be most willing to support his efforts and where any-
thing found would have a value. Under such condi-
tions there would also be less likelihood of camps being
abandoned while yet there was much undiscovered min-
eral in them. R. W. Brock.
Ottawa. Canada. February 9.
Ore
The Editor:
Sir — Ore is metal-bearing rock: no more and no less.
I find an outcrop of ore: by hard work and living on
straight beans and jackrabbit. I manage to make ex-
penses or a little more. Along comes T. A. Rickard.
and 1 take a liking to him at once; we go into partner-
ship.
Mr. Rickard by adding tomatoes and canned salmon
to our bill of fare, at once turns my ore into waste, and
we have our first squabble. By cutting down expenses
and working harder, we manage to break exactly even
at the month end. and I take a day off washing clothes
in the wheelbarrow, while my partner fossicks around
for a new word.
We keep digging, put up a whim, and hire a few
miners; my partner doing the assorting, which he does
into four piles: (1) ore. (2) probable ore. (3) possible
ore. and (4) waste. I entreat him to call the hole a
mine, as we have to use candles, and the windlass days
are over. He insists that it is still a prospect, and we
call on the cook as judge. He tells us that if we will
both casually fall down the hole, he will be able to
form an opinion; that if we break our necks it is a
mine, if not then it is only a prospect. Things rock
along in this way for some time, when my partner,
after balancing up the books, comes over to the board-
ing house and addresses us in this way: "I am sorry
men. but you are not miners at all. you are all 'muck-
ers': I find that the 'ahem' is not paying expenses."
Then one of us quietly closes the door and we surround
him and we all talk at once. We tell him that a mini-
is an excavation where ore is extracted: that the other
fellow's hole may or may not be, but one's own is a
mine every time: that a definition or a word, to have
place in our language, must stand the test both of time
and place : that we do not use 'Gadzooks' today, nor will
we use 'piffle' tomorrow: that ore is ore just as sure as
eggs is eggs and it makes no difference if the rancher
who raises them does go broke at it. Mr. Rickard ad-
mits his mistake (there were 12 of us), and to play
safe I will not sign my name.
Naeozsri, February 9. Venturesome.
New topographic maps, 16VL> by 20 in., recently pub-
lished by the l*. S. Geological Survey, are as follows:
Holt quadrangle. San Joaquin county, California:
Marysville, Butte, and vicinity, embracing parts of
Butte. Colusa, and Sutter counties. California : Red
Mesa, in La Plata county. Colorado; Slug creek, em-
bracing parts of Bannock and Bear Lake counties.
Idaho: Stockton. San Joaquin county. California: and
Woodland island, including parts of Contra Costa and
San Joaquin counties. California. The price is 10c.
each, or $3 for 50.
Fifty tons of metallic tin was produced in the I'nited
Slates in 1913. This came from three places in Alaska,
one in South Dakota, and one in South Carolina.
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
58:-?
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with the practice of mining, milling,
and smeltng.
The foundry of the Mysore mine. India, produced 395
tons of castings in 1913.
St. Louis is now building a filtration plant to handle
160.000,000 gal. of water per day. When completed it
will he the largest rapid sand filter in the world.
Mule traction is being used on No. 10 level of the
Tonopah Belmont mine. The animal hauls three cars
of 190(1 lb. each trip, and lessens tramming costs.
Consumption of chemicals at the Xundydroog cyan-
ide plant, India, during 1913. was as follows: cyanide.
0.557; zinc, 0.075: caustic soda. 0.180: and lime. 0.542
lb. per ton.
Flotation at the Lloyd copper mine. New South
Wales, is doing good work. Before treatment the tail-
ing averages 1.3%. and the residue 0.25% copper, a
recovery of about 81 per cent.
Transporting wire rope to inaccessible points is often
necessary. In the state of Puebla a track cable weigh-
ing 29,000 lb. was carried to a mountain top in con-
necting coils of about 100 lb. each, by an army of
peons. When mules are employed about 220 lb. weight
is allowed to each mule.
Crushing equipment for a simple gold ore may not
extend beyond rock breakers and stamps: but the best
results from leaching practice are generally obtained
when a larjre percentage of the sand passes 60-mesh
screens. There arc. of course, instances where a
coarsely crushed product can be leached with economic
success: but such cases arc exceptional and com-
prise instances where the ore is usually porous. With
a normally hard ore. comparatively fine crushing is
essential to success, and the stamp-mill is not altogether
suitable for the purpose. The practice of following
stamp-mill crushing with rcgrinding in tube-mills is
generally adopted as an alternative scheme. A tube-
mill is. however, essentially a sliming machine, and two
disadvantages accrue from its use in this connection.
Amalgamation after tube-milling does not recover the
percentage of gold obtainable after single crushing by
stamps, and more slime is made than by the alternative
method of reduction. Increase in slime production
often means an increase in cost of treatment in excess
of the increased recovery. Power consumption, espe-
cially where coarse mine rock is used in the tubes, and
where comparatively large tonnages of chippings and
gravel from the 'pebbles' have to be ground to the
same mesh as the final product to be cyanided, is out
of all proportion to the work done. On the other hand.
fine crushing in a stamp-mill, that is beyond 30-mesh
screens, involves insurmountable difficulties in screen-
ing and discharge. The latter operation can be only
partly successful and is unsatisfactory when fine screens
are used. Besides, there is constant trouble due to im-
pact of coarse rock and jar on the fine mesh wire which
results in frequent breakages of the screens and con-
sequent loss of time. As a suggestion toward obviat-
ing these disadvantages, in single crushing to beyond
30 mesh, the use of the wet-crushing ball-mill may be
mentioned. In the latter case, the screens, of what-
SECTION OK A KHl'l'P WKT BALL-MILL. PARTS AS FOLLOWS:
Perforated grinding plates
Flange holts
Side liners on the feed side
Side liners, real' side
side plate bolts
Inner coarse screen
Inner screen bolts
Fine screen (frame with win
eloth)
Holts for screen frame
Return scoops
Return screen
Bracket for coarse screen
Sheet Iron casing
Spitzkasten
k I Hseharge nozzle
I Supply pipe for fresh water
e. Oi, o2 Hoses
p Stopcocks
s Slide
tv. Slide-racking gear
t Hand wheel for slide-rack-
ing gear
m Manhole
w Main shaft
\ ( (verflow for slime
>■ Supply pipe for ascending
water
/. I discharge box
7.1 Plug
ever mesh, are kept free and clean by a constant
reverse spray of water through the screening and into
the mill. The fact that the screening is. in addition,
constantly passing through a water-bath is also an ad-
vantage. There is no danger of breakage of the screens
except as the result of direct wear, and even the latter
is minimized. The ground pulp is screened automat-
ically through coarse punched sci nine' before going
to the tine screens, the oversize being returned to the
centre of the mill for regrinding. Hence only fine
material comes into contact with the tine screens. An
additional advantage also results with regard to amal-
gamation, and lies in the fact that the classifying ac-
tion of the mill allows of the immediate discharge of
the ainaljramable gold as soon as it can pass the outer
screening. Unnecessary 'hammering' is therefore
avoided, and a higher amalgamation efficiency obtained.
584
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
Granby Minim; & Smelting Co. Starts Second Fifty-Year
Lap.— Prepare to Fight Heavy Water in Sheet-Ore Dis-
trict.— Zinc and Lead Notes.
The oldest mining company in the Missouri-Kansas-Okla-
homa district is the Granby Mining & Smelting Co., which
has just completed a corporate existence of 50 years. The
Company began work when only galena was mined com-
mercially, zinc ore, known as 'jack,' being discarded as worth-
less. At a meeting of directors of the Company in St. Louis,
holders of 19,684 out of a capital stock of 20,000 shares voted
unanimously authorizing the officers to continue the life of
the Company. Five directors of the Company were elected
as follows: Norris B. Gregg, J. H. Grover, H. O. Edmonds,
Kennett Burns, and Elias S. Gatch. The Company's first
mining was at Granby, Missouri, where several hundred acres
had been purchased. A small lead smelter was operated
there before the war. During the Civil War the rival armies
alternated in the possession of the lead smelter. Today the
Granby company has nearly 30,000 acres, much of which
has been proved to be mineralized. A lead smelter is oper-
ated at Granby, and a zinc smelter of 3760 retorts at Neo-
desha, Kansas. A new zinc smelter of 3240 retorts will be
completed at East St. Louis this year. In addition to oper-
ating its smelters and several large mines, the Company
also does a leasing business, and scores of producing mines
are operated on its various tracts.
An electrically belt-driven pump, of centrifugal design, with
a capacity of 1500 gal. per minute, has been installed as
an emergency pump at the North Webb City, Missouri, cen-
tral pumping plant, which drains the bulk of water from
that field. Expectation of heavy spring rains caused oper-
ators to make the addition. The North Webb City plant is
the largest ever operated in that field. At the present time
three pumps are kept going continuously, throwing 1800 gal.
per minute. These consist of two centrifugals and one steam
pump. There is also an extra 5-in. steam pump for emer-
gency. Water is lowered to 210 ft., above which level all
the mining is done. The ore carries from 1 to 3% blende
and galena, the former predominating. Operators of the
various mines affected by the pumping contribute toward
its upkeep.
Homer Sewall, representing Ohio capitalists, paid $35,000
for first lease on 120 acres of the Sheridan-Adams Royalty-
Syndicate property at Thorns Station, the lease being held
by the Coats & Ortt Mining Co. Two concentrating plants
are in operation on the property, one, the Coats & Ortt mill,
having recently made an unusually good showing. The other
is the Vinegar Hill mill, operated by the Hardy Mining Co.
This has been a steady producer for more than a year.
Prior to about a month ago, the ore at the Coats & Ortt mine
was low grade. Operations were extended to deeper ground,
the result being an improvement in the concentrate, which
now runs close to 60% metallic zinc.
Deeper work is being done at the Little Mary mine, oper-
ated by T. F. Lennan and associates, northwest of the Neck
City, Missouri, camp. The ground is so soft that timbers
have to be set almost touching each other and spiling has
to be driven ahead of the heading; but the richness of the
orebody coupled with the high grade of the cleaned con-
centrate makes this soft-ground mining attractive. The Little
Mary ranks as one of the longest lived producers of the
north part of the district. Operators have faced several
handicaps, such as caving ground. At one time the ground
caved in beneath a creek that flows across a portion of
the lease and the mine was flooded. Months of steady pump-
ing were required to drain the ground, while a new channel
had to be dug for the creek. The new work is being con-
ducted from a shaft, just completed, which was sunk to a
depth of 165 ft., northwest of the mill. Driving is being
carried into virgin ground.
Three prospect churn-drills are at work in section 12, New-
ton county, Missouri, by the Granby Mining & Smelting Co.
At a depth of 200 ft., 30 ft. of ore has been cut in several
drill-holes. The clippings indicate a mill recovery of 4 to
o% blende. The prospecting is in virgin territory, although
shallow mining has been carried on nearby.
DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA
Reopening the Oro Hondo by Colorado People. — -Development
of the Heidelberg Group. — Dakota Continental and
Minnesota Mines. — School of Mines.
What is regarded as one of the most important and sig-
nificant mining transactions in this section in several years
is the opening of the Oro Hondo by .1. T. Milliken, president
of the Golden Cycle Mining Co., of Cripple Creek. Mr. Milli-
ken states that he is furnishing all of the funds himself; has
no partners or associates in the enterprise other than advisers
and engineers. Oro Hondo is a Spanish phrase which may be
literally interpreted to mean 'deep ore.' Developments indi-
cate that the name is 'apt and pat.' At a depth of 1000 ft.,
about 1500 ft. of cross-cutting failed to reveal any profitable
orebodies, although the workings are believed to be directly
on the strike of the Homestake ore deposits. The shaft is
2640 ft. from the Ellison, the main shaft of the Homestake.
and the most southerly on that Company's property. It is
stated that the ore-shoots opened on the lower levels of the
Ellison are pitching rather steeply to the south and east, and
that in order to cut the ore the Oro Hondo shaft must be sunk
to deeper levels. Mr. Milliken intends to do this, and has
announced that the shaft will be quickly sunk to the
2000-ft. point. The boilers have been fired and two skips of
600 gal. capacity each are in operation removing the water
which stood within 50 ft. of the collar. As the mine makes
but little water, it is expected that the workings will be
drained by the end of this month. Sinking will be under-
taken with a full equipment of Ingersoll-Rand jackhamer
drills. A boarding house at Pluma, one mile from the shaft,
has been rented and equipped for 25 men. E. .1. Carr is super-
intendent.
Fifty business men of Deadwood each pledged themselves,
by signing notes, to pay $100 each to a fund to be used in the
development of the Heidelberg group, on Two Bit creek, three
miles east of the city. This was a concrete result of work by
the mines and mining committee of the Deadwood Business
Club, in an attempt to promote the mining interests of this
area. The agreement with the owners provided that in return
for this $5000, which was to be expended in exploitation of
the ground, the subscribers were to receive a one-half interest
in the property. Under the arrangement as perfected, the
details of which need not be given here, the first payment
of the subscribers was made on August 23, and on that date
work was started on the construction of a wagon-road to
the camp. Nearly two miles of road was constructed, a
part of it heavy work, but which gives a maximum grade
of Z% from the mine to the top of the Two Bit divide. This
road cost $750, and the commissioners of Lawrence county
appropriated $250 of the amount. Bunkhouse, blacksmith-shop,
assay office, small barn, kitchen, etc., have been built, and
within the past couple of months some energetic work has
been done underground. The formation is shale of the upper
Cambrian, with sills and sheets of rhyolitic porphyry, and
through which an 'ore vertical' has been followed for a dis-
tance of 160 ft., with the end not in sight and the face still
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
585
in ore. The vertical vein, which cleanly cuts the horizontal
shales, has a course of north 25° east, and has a width of
about one foot. On contact with strata of sand shale this
vein is from 3 to 10 ft. wide; this has been removed as
the incline adit has been driven. Of the ore taken out, 35
tons, in two shipments, has been sent to the Golden Reward
cyanide mill at Deadwood. This assayed $16 and $20 per ton
in gold, as received at the plant. Several thousand tons of
$3 to $6 material, which would pay well to cyanide in a
mill on the ground, has been piled on the dump. Tub tests
of the ore, made at the Golden Reward mill, show an extrac-
tion of 91 and 93% on material crushed to 25 mesh and
treated without classification or agitation. As the last pay-
ment is not due until May 23, considerable In the way of
development, it is anticipated, will be done in the mean-
while. The property consists of 1S5 acres, including several
good sites for a gravity mill, with excellent tailing dump and
plenty of water. A part of the ground is covered by a heavy
growth of yellow pine. A. T. Roos is superintendent and
an owner in the property. He located it eight years ago and
found the ore three years since.
In the first 17 days of sinking at the Dakota Continental
Copper shaft, 17 ft. of depth was made. This is considered
good work, as the jackhamer drills which are being used were
new to nearly the entire crew. Better headway is anticipated
in the future, and it is hoped to have the shaft 1000 ft.
deep (it is now 830 ft.) in a comparatively short time.
At a recent general meeting of the Deadwood Business Men's
Club, C. C. O'Harra, president of the South Dakota School
of Mines, suggested that effort be made to induce the state
legislature to make such provision and appropriation as would
permit the school to make ore assays for gold for 25 cents.
His opinion was that at such a price the school would be
enabled to help the prospectors and others of limited means
to get reliable assays for a modest sum that would about
cover the actual cost of the materials employed. The sug-
gestion was heartily received by the gathering, and it is
quite probable that the Club will authorize a strong lobby
to go before the next session of the state's lawmakers. Among
other matters, Mr. O'Harra touched on the interests of the
school, and mentioned that it was rapidly growing both in
enrollment and course of study. Many of its graduates hold
responsible positions, not only in this state, but are fairly
well scattered through the mining districts of the world. It
is an educational institution of college rank.
The Minnesota property, at Maitland, was recently exam-
ined by E. J. Collins on behalf of Michigan and Minnesota
people, and since his return home, and pending his final de-
cision, the workings have been kept pumped. A favorable
report will mean the immediate resumption of operations.
The Minnesota has been idle for several years, but it is the
general belief that the remedy for all its ills lies in sufficient
money to equip and develop it in miner-like manner.
BULAWAYO, RHODESIA
Brighter Mining Prospects. — New Mills Working and New
Gold Yields. — Dividends in 1913. — Globe & Phoenix. —
Geological Investigations.
A more hopeful feeling now prevails in Rhodesia in regard
to the future of the mining industry than has obtained for
a considerable time past. It is indeed safe to say that
not since the middle of 1910 has there been so much optimism
as prevails today, and it might be here remarked that a cheer-
ful outlook is far more justified at the present time than was
warranted 3% years ago. During the boom of 1910, Rhodesian
stocks were inflated by operators who made promises that in
the majority of cases have never been fulfilled, and more-
over are never likely to be. It would have been amazing if
the campaign of deceit did not have its own consequences. The
inevitable came in the shape of an aftermath of depression,
and during the reaction Rhodesian mining suffered severely.
It is to be hoped that the lesson of 1910 will not be forgotten
and that in the future there will be fewer regrettable inci-
dents, more clean finance, more businesslike methods, and
less 'wild-cats' than in the past. Such things are in large
degree inseparable from mining, but in the future Charter-
land will have to be as free from unpleasant flotation inci-
dents and share-market scandals as is humanly possible. If
not, interest in mining in Rhodesia will soon die a natural
death. A repetition of some of the incidents arising out of the
1910 boom would effectually close up the pockets of investors,
on whom the development of the country largely depends,
for many years to come. A period of honest finance and capa-
ble conscientious management would quickly bring due re-
ward. For today the mines of Matabeleland and Mashonaland.
taken as a whole, are in a more sound condition than ever
previously. Ore reserves are much greater, development has
proceeded on more businesslike lines, plants are better adapted
to the ores which they are intended to crush and treat, and
the prospects of an immediate increase in production ami
profits are undeniably good. Numbers of well informed min-
ing men in both Matabeleland and .Mashonaland anticipate
that the effect of production by the several new mines which
have recently been brought to the revenue earning stage
will be to increase the present rate of output by 50%, Today
the output is approximately 58,000 oz. fine gold per month.
The Cam & Motor plant has now been working for several
weeks and is said to be giving every satisfaction. The Shamva
DORR THICKENERS AND PACHUCA AGITATORS AT THE
LONELY MINE, RHODESIA.
Nissen stamp equipment has had trial runs. Within the next
few months the following additions to the monthly gold out-
put may reasonably be expected: Shamva 12,000 oz.; Cam &
Motor 7500 oz.; Falcon 3000 oz.: Bell 2000 oz.: and Antelope
1100 ounces. This gives a total of 25,000 oz. and adding this
to the 5S.000 oz. of present output, it will be realized that a
return of between 83,000 and 81,000 oz. per month, or say one
million ounces per annum, is not an unreasonable anticipa-
tion. In any case it looks as if Rhodesia would advance in
the list of the world's chief gold producing countries during
the current year.
As regards profits it is not at this juncture advisable to
attempt any prophetic figures, but it is certain that there
will be a substantial increase in earnings. While on this sub-
ject, it may be remarked that during 11113 Rhodesian gold
mining companies distributed £489,613 in dividends. In addi-
tion to this there are the profits earned by the smaller com-
panies, mines operated by small syndicates and tributers:
but it is not possible to give even a rough estimate of the
586
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
earnings of concerns of this kind. It is probable, however,
that the profits won by small operators if added to the divi-
dends distributed by the large companies would give a total
of close to £1,000,000. As to the limited liability companies,
the Globe & Phoenix easily heads the list with £280,000 fol-
lowed by the Eldorado, £90,000, and Lonely £81,301. Six other
gold mining concerns distributed earnings among stockhold-
ers, the Rezende £17,765; Giant, £13,104; Umniati, £2643;
Pickstone, £1800; Susanna, £1750; and Criterion, £1250. One
coal mining company, the Wankie Collieries, is in the divi-
dend list with £35,457, and one base metal mine, the Rhodesia
Chrome, paid £11,891. This latter industry would expand
considerably were railway rates on this material reduced. Re-
verting again to the gold mines, the overwhelming importance
of the Globe & Phoenix to the dividend aspect of the Rhodesian
industry calls for remark. This Company accounts for 60%
of the total distributed by all the auriferous ventures of
Matabeleland and Mashonaland during last year. The third
interim dividend of 24 cents per share in respect of last year's
operations was paid recently and compares with 42 cents a year
previously. But in this regard it should be recalled that at
the meeting held on October 27 last, it was announced that the
directors had decided, although there had been no diminution
in the returns from the mine, to reduce the dividend to pro-
vide for capital expenditure of a cash reserve. This decision
of the board is limited to the dividend above referred to. The
profit earned by the Company during December was £31,000,
and ore reserves at the end of the year were estimated at
180,757 tons of an average stoping value of $27.20. The figures
would have been more informative had they been expressed
in terms of recoverable value; but at the same time it should
be clear that, despite recent criticism regarding the manage-
ment of the Company, this mine is In a sound condition, and
no reasonable minded shareholder should begrudge the lesser
dividend if the financial status of the Company is to be further
bettered.
Science is considerably indebted to F. E. Studt. who for
some years past has been doing excellent geological pioneer
work in Northern Rhodesia and the Katanga region of the
Belgian Congo. Mr. Studt has from time to time given to the
Geological Society of South Africa details of some of his in-
vestigations and results, but in his latest contribution, 'The
Geology of Katanga and Northern Rhodesia,' he has given a
more comprehensive description than previously of a portion
of Africa which stratigraphically is but little known, and
which, on account of the copper, zinc, and lead deposits which
it contains, is of considerable economic importance. Detailed
investigation of the geology of these territories has, accord-
ing to Mr. Studt, shown that there is a striking parallelism
with the rocks of South Africa, so that on broad lines, the
general South African classification of rocks may be applied
there. The general absence of fossils except in a few limited
areas, however, limits the scope of determination in regard to
age. What Mr. Studt terms the Transvaal system, covers by
far the larger portion of this area. The basal beds form a
series of carbonaceous puddingstones and shales and are fol-
lowed by a series of dolomitic rocks with interspersed shales
and sandstones, and having copper, iron, and gold deposits. In
the years to come much economic results may come of Mr.
Studt's investigations. Meanwhile his painstaking work is
being noted with interest in Southern Rhodesia, which has
played such an important part in the opening of the mineral
deposits of the trans-Zambezi territories.
The last annual report of the Bechuanaland Copper Co..
which owns 180 claims 120 miles southwest of Bulawayo,
covers the term ended May 31. 1913. The mine was closed
down in April to enable a reduction plant to be erected. The
Siemens-Halske process, tried by Dr. Huth, proved satisfactory
for the ore. giving 91^ recovery. The ore reserves amount
to 30,000 tons of 8% copper ore which is proved by only
10,000 ft. of development work.
BOSTON
Nevada-Douglas Affairs Arizona Commercial Sharks. —
Calumet & Arizona. — Lake Superior Copper Affairs. —
The Butte, Wisdom & Pacific Railway.
Nevada-Douglas shares recently slumped from $1.25 to 73c,
afterward recovering to 85 and 90c. per share. The stock
has been weak for several months, but the break through
$1 per share was not generally expected. Reports were cir-
culated that the Company faced reorganization, that it could
not finance its leaching plant, and that .1. G. BerryhiU, the
largest stockholder, was 'unloading.' All these rumors were
flatly denied by the president, A. J. Orem. The Company's
mainstay now appears to be the leaching process with which
it is experimenting. The management at Ludwig sends out
the interesting announcement that it feels confident the
Company has found a way to treat the sulphide as well as
the oxide ores without the necessity of giving them prelim-
inary roast, and that in the treatment of the sulphide ores
all the iron and sulphur will be obtained as by-products in
the form of ferric oxide, red paint, and sulphuric acid. It
claims that ferric oxide will have a ready market on the
Pacific Coast for at least 2c. per pound, while the sulphuric
acid produced will be worth not less than $10 per ton to the
Company itself for the treatment of its oxidized ores. It
expects the value of the by-products to be ample to cover
the entire treatment cost of the sulphide ore.
If the Arizona Commercial mine had cut the Old Dominion
lode, and the Davis-Daly the Belmont vein, the former in
cross-cutting on the 1400-ft. level and the latter on the 1050-
ft. level, there is no telling what might have happened in
a market way on the Exchange and the Curb. Arizona Com-
mercial is an Exchange issue, and Davis-Daly is on the Curb.
But both expectations miscarried and the stocks suffered in
a market way. A report was current here that Phelps, Dodge
& Co. had taken an option at $5 per share on 5000 shares
of Arizona Commercial, and the recent weakness in the
stock was stated to have been due to the option not being
exercised: but it was also said that the option has until
April 15 to expire and action has not yet been taken upon it.
The annual report of the Calumet & Arizona company was
well received in Boston from the standpoint of the Com-
pany's expansion. Much interest was expressed in the low
costs, its new smelter, its acquisitions in Bisbee and the
New Cornelia property, and the prospects of increased pro-
duction. It is thought here that the New Cornelia will prove
to be one of the large steam-shovel properties of the South-
west.
The reorganization of the Butte Central Copper Co. is pro-
ceeding rapidly, and it is expected that the Company will
resume operations at an early date.
At last the Lake Superior strike is officially off, the West-
ern Federation of Miners having stopped all strike benefit
payments, it is announced, and closed its supply stores, plac-
ing them in the care of sheriffs. As the result of the stop-
ping of the strike, a revival in Lake copper shares is looked
for in Boston, and the feeling of investors is much more
favorable toward them. Even the assessments are likely to
be generally paid in the majority of instances. The United
States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co. is expected to even-
tually consolidate several of the 'drill coppers' in the south
range and make a strong company out of them. The latest
report of the Michigan state geologist, R. C. Allen, states
that there is more unmined than mined copper in the Lake
district, and sentiment is much more optimistic that It
has been since J. R. Finlay's famous 'revision downward' in
the summer of 1911.
Western and English interests are understood to have re-
cently pledged subscriptions running into millions of dollars
for the purpose of completing the construction of the Butte,
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
587
Wisdom & Pacific railway, which will run from Butte to
Jackson, Beaverhead county, Montana, connecting with the
Elkhorn mining district in that county, and the French
Gulch district in Deer Lodge county. The road will be about
110 miles long and is bonded for $3,000,000, the property
being that of the Boston & Montana Development Co. Free-
man I. Davison, of Boston, went early in February to Lon-
don and interested an English syndicate, headed by Sir Rob-
ert William Perks, in the building of this road, and the lat-
ter and his engineers will check the route during April, it
is understood. The English interests are also supposed' to
have taken large options on the Boston & Montana stock. A
Butve syndicate composed of bankers and capitalists has been
formed to furnish additional financing to the mining prop-
erties. This syndicate is practically the same as the one
which acquired, in the latter part of 1913, 1,094,000 acres of
ranch lands in Sonora, west of Juarez, where cattle breed-
ing will be done and the cattle driven to the Big Hole basin
of Beaverhead county for feeding, preparatory to shipping
them to Seattle and Alaska. This deal was consummated in
anticipation of the new railroad being built into the Big
Hole country.
NEW YORK
Annual Report of Phelps, Dodge & Co.— Fraudulent Mine
Promoters— Federal Lead Co. and American Smelting &
Refining Co. Suit.
Although the Phelps, Dodge & Co. mines made a record of
output in 1913, the income of the Company was $9,581,495, as
compared with $10,411,535 in 1912. The average net price
realized for the copper sold being 15.37c. net cash f.o.b. New-
York, as compared with 15.51c. in 1912. The dividends were
$7,425,000, $1,500,000 was charged off for depreciation, and
$173,786 was paid for taxes and other expenses, thus reducing
the surplus of $2,035,185 of last year to $482,709. In addition
to the 151,080,018 lb. of its own copper, the Phelps-Dodge or-
ganization sold 50,409,778 lb. of outside copper on commission.
In addition the Company produced 5,701,628 lb. of lead, though
it is not commonly thought of as a lead producer. Of precious
metals, the output was 32,037 oz. gold and 2,073,376 oz. silver.
The Stag Canon Fuel Co. mined 1,322,813 tons of coal. Of the
ore mined, about 55% was concentrated and 45% smelted direct.
In his presidential report, Dr. Douglas calls attention to the
necessity for providing increased ore reserves as the mines are
depleted by ordinary mining, and additional property has
been acquired by the Detroit Copper Mining Co., and the Burro
Mountain and Charming mines have been purchased. In the
Copper Queen and Mootezuma mines, exploration work has dis-
closed increased ore reserves. It is interesting to notice that
the gold and silver output of this Company only amounts to
about %c. silver and "ic. gold per pound of copper produced.
In the report of the Phelps-Dodge company, Dr. Douglas calls
attention to the increased working expenses of that Company
through the increased cost of labor, higher taxes, etc. The
daily papers in New York have read into this the argument
that since working costs are to be higher the price of copper
will be higher, an obvious error. As a matter of fact, when
the Chile Copper Co. begins turning out copper at 6c. per pound
delivered in Europe, and some of the big Western companies
work out a successful scheme for recovering the copper in
their tailing, it is highly probable that the other companies
will have to devise a scheme for lowering their total produc-
tion cost, even if some items in it do go up.
Judge Julius M. Mayer, of the United States District Court
of New York, last week ordered that Albert R. Freeman be
granted a new trial. It will be remembered that Freeman was
convicted, along with Julian Hawthorne and W. J. Morton,
of using the malls for fraudulent purposes in connection with
their activities in the promotion of mines in Ontario. Free-
man was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary; Haw-
thorne and Morton got one year each, and have served out
thexr term, Hawthorne having utilized his as material for a
series of articles which are doubtless more profitable than the
mining venture. Freeman has all the while been out on
$150,000 bail. The learned judge now finds that one of the
jurors in the trial of Freeman had previously sat on a grand
jury which had considered the question of these mining
frauds, and that therefore Freeman had not had an impartial
trial. Whether the public prosecutor will go to the expense
of another trial has not been announced. If a second con-
viction is secured there is always the doubt as to whether
on appeal, it may not be disclosed that the wife of one of
the jurymen had a prejudice against men named Freeman,
and a third trial ordered. In face of the fact that it has now
become almost impossible to secure the conviction of any
criminal who has enough funds to take advantage of all the
technical evasions possible, while on the other hand no in-
nocent person is safe from charges will bring almost as much
abuse as a conviction, and without redress, it is not remark-
able that the public is becoming very tired of our present
system of judicial procedure.
The disturbed condition in Mexico is reflected in the report
of the American Smelting & Refining Co. which shows earnings
of 7.47% in 1913 as compared with 10.1% the year before. The
gross income was $13,429,933. By cutting down its deprecia-
tion charge to $1,525,517, or only about half of that allowed
last year, the total of charges was kept down to $3,675,392,
leaving net earnings of $9,756,540. Considering the fact that
at times all the Mexican plants of the Company have been
shut down, and only the Aguascalientes and the Chihuahua
plants have been able to keep up even an approximately
steady rate of output, it is cause for congratulation that the
shrinkage in earnings has not been greater. The profit and
loss surplus amounts to $18,495,782 and the assets and lia-
bilities show no material change as compared with the two
preceding reports.
The suit of the minority shareholders to abrogate the smelt-
ing contract between the Federal Lead Co. and the American
Smelting & Refining Co. was heard last week. The plaintiffs"
attorney pointed out that, in 1903, a sixth contract was made
providing that the American Smelting & Refining Co. was to pay
for 90% of the lead content of the Federal ore on the basis of
New York prices up to 4.10c. per pound, and about that figure
to divide the excess. In 1905 Charles Sweeney, then presi-
dent of the Federal, sold the control of the Company, then
vested in. himself, J. D. Rockefeller and George J. Gould, to
the Guggenheim interests. When the Guggenheim represent-
atives went on the board existing contract was extended for
25 years, providing for a treatment charge of $8 per ton and
the right to deduct freight charges to Denver or Pueblo.
Shortly after the International Smelting & Refinery Co., at
Tooele, became an active bidder for lead ores, and the rates
prevailing in the open market became much more favorable
to shippers. The contract between the American Smelting &
Refining Co. remained in force, and minority shareholders in
the Federal, which was barely meeting working expenses for
part of the time, naturally were not pleased to be obliged to
pay more* than the prevailing rate for treatment charges.
The counsel for the defense argued that if the contract was
profitable in 1905, and it was profitable at that time, it was
proper that it should be extended. In 1905 the Federal ores
yielded 31 oz. silver and 51% lead,, against 15 oz. and 43% in
1913. The decision has not yet been handed down, but the
chief point at issue is whether a contract between companies
where the contracting parties have neutral affiliations is
legal or not.
In the course of the month aluminum lost at least '4c, the
quotations early in the month being 18.50 to 18.75c. for both
domestic and foreign prompt delivery, whereas toward the
clo»i it was down to IS to IS. 25c. for metal 9S to 99% pure.
The demand was not good.
588
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1914
General Mining News
ALASKA
Cordova
The disputes regarding mining claims at Chisana were
before the court at Cordova on March 12. They include the
following: C. H. Lakaits v. W. A. Johnson; Lakaits v. James,
claiming No. 7 fraction and $10,000; Sutherland v. Jurdy,
No. 3 Big Eldorado; Woodman v. Eriksen, No. 1 Chicken;
Cloninger v. Findlansen, No. 1 Bear; Nikell and Foster v.
W. A. Johnson, No. 8 Bonanza; Hussey v. Eriksen, No. 1
Caribou; Foster v. Johnson, No. 1 below Chathenda; Dattaits
v. James, No. 1 above Bonanza; Delander v. McPhail, No. 2
above Gold Run; Maddox v. Moskley, No. 2 above Skookum
gulch; Cloninger v. Moskley, No. 4 below Big Eldorado; Cos-
tello and Bollinger v. Jurdy, No. 8 above, fraction, Bonanza;
Delander and Simpson v. James, discovery annex, Gold Run;
Hertzberg v. Doyle, No. 3 above Glacier; Wolfe v. Gates, No.
1 above Gold Run; and Tibbs v. Verreau, No. 1 Skookum
gulch. On March 18, Judge F. M. Brown gave his decision
in the case of Lakaits v. Johnson, which involved the right
of the defendant to title of No. 1 above Bonanza creek, and
was in his favor. In the case of Lakaits v. James, the jury
could not agree after 56 hours' deliberation, and was dis-
missed. The amount of litigation is creating much dissatis-
faction.
At the Mother Lode mine, an 80-hp. gasoline engine is
being installed to drive an air-compressor for 7 Sullivan
drills. A cross-cut adit will be driven to give 350 ft. of
vertical depth below the Marvelous adit. A winze will then
be sunk 300 ft. After this is done a power-plant will be
erected, and then a 3400-ft. adit driven to cut the vein at
a vertical depth of 1400 ft. The work will take 10 months,
at a cost of $175,000. A road 13 miles long, from Shushanna
Junction, the old McCarthy station, to the mine will be
constructed, costing $25,000. Two auto-trucks will then haul
40 tons of ore per day to the railway.
JUNEAU
February returns from the mines on Douglas island were
as follows:
Alaska Alaska Alaska
Mexican. Treadwell. United.*
Development, feet 67 129 1,508
Stock of broken ore, tons. . .—8,665 — 46,776 —8,072
Stamps working 120 240—300 240
Days 27.4 26.8—20.6 25.14—27.7
Ore crushed, tons 17,850 61,866 33,172
Concentrate saved, tons 321 1,273 659
Gold by amalgamation $19,299 $ 95,550 $34,056
Gold by cyanidation 20,734 82,117 24,331
Total realizable value $39,632 $175,890 $57,803
Net profit 8,518 108,594 t714
♦Includes the Ready Bullion and 700-Ft. Claim mines.
fLoss.
The work in the 700-Ft. Claim mine consisted principally
of stations and ore-bins for the Treadwell, Mexican, and 700-
Ft. Claim at the Central shaft.
The following information has been published by B. L.
Thane, general manager of the Alaska Gold Mines Co.: The
Sheep Creek adit is now within 500 ft. of being connected
with the main shaft and this should be made within the
next three weeks, as they are continuing not only the work
at the adit end, but are also driving from the bottom of the
shaft to make the connection sooner. The adit is now in
good ore, both at the Sheep Creek end and the end being
driven from the shaft, and has been in this ore for over
100 ft. This point is about 2300 ft. below the surface ore
and is a good quality of gabbro, with quartz, galena, and
free gold. It is the Ground Hog orebody lying to the foot
of the Perseverance slate vein, and is much better here
than it is on the main Alexander level. The indications are
therefore favorable to a large high-grade body on this level.
This is one of the most important developments that has
taken place at the property since it has been under the pres-
ent control, particularly in the indication of the maintenance
of good ore at depth.
ARIZONA
CocnisE County
Metal production of the Calumet & Arizona company's
mines in 1913 was as follows: copper, 52,987,383 lb.; silver,
880,915 oz.; and gold, 18,989 oz. The value of precious metals
was $24.36 per ton of refined copper.
A bond issue of $3,000,000 was authorized by the stock-
holders of the Mascot Copper Co. at a special meeting held
in Chicago on February 28. At the same time the stock of
the Company was increased to $15,000,000. The bonds are
to be convertible into stock at $6 per share after July 1, 1917,
and it is hoped that the present stockholders will absorb
them on the basis of payment subscriptions one-half in stock
at $4 per share. Recent quotations of the stock at San Fran-
cisco have been from $1.50 to $2.50. Development at the
mine is favorable, but has been slow, and additional equip-
ment is desired.
Gila. County
The Starlight copper and lead mine, 9 miles southwest
of San Carlos, is to be cleaned out for examination. As
there are between 8000 and 9000 ft. of underground work-
ings, this will take about six weeks. An engineer of the
Tri-Bullion Smelting & Development Co. will make the in-
spection. In 1906 the mine produced ore containing up to
18% copper, 49% lead, and some gold and silver.
Pinal County
(Special Correspondence.) — Work on the Copperosity group
of mines is progressing favorably. J. F. Wagner, the super-
intendent, has a force of men driving from the 200-ft. level
to connect the old workings and has 180 ft. of this work
done. Connections will be made shortly. The property is
an old one from which considerable ore has been shipped,
but it is the intention of the company to devote all present
effort toward the thorough opening of the mine. The main
shaft is down 270 ft., and the mine is equipped with a
gasoline hoist and air-compressor, and machine-drills are
used on work in the drift. . The company has three silver-
gold-lead claims adjoining, on which it will do some devel-
opment. The district is livening up, and the prospects for
the future are bright.
Casa Grande, March 26.
CALIFORNIA
According to the state mineralogist, F. McN. Hamilton,
the estimated mineral output in 1913 was as follows:
Petroleum .' $ 46,000,000
Gold 20,000,000
Cement 8,000,000
Copper 5.500,000
Crushed rock and granite 6.000,000
Brick 3,000,000
Borax 1,250,000
Natural gas 1,250,000
Silver 800,000
Quicksilver 700,000
Other minerals, including asphalt, clay, lead, mar-
ble, mineral earths, salt, tungsten, zinc, etc... 7,500,000
Total $100,000,000
The total in 1912 was $91,472,385.
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
589
Butte County
The North California Mining Co., in which H. H. Yard was
the principal holder, has sold several thousands of acres of
land in Butte, Yuba, Plumas, and Lassen counties, comprising
all its holdings in these four counties, to the Western Realty
Co. of Denver, Colorado. The North California company now
passes out of existence.
I>'yo County
Most of the lead ore produced in California has come from
the Cerro Gordo, Darwin, and Modoc districts of this county,
according to Adolph Knopf in Bulletin 680-A of the U. S.
Geological Survey. The Cerro Gordo has produced about
$7,000,000 in argentiferous lead, and the Darwin between
$2,000,000 and $3,000,000. The latter district lies at an alti-
tude of 4750 ft., and is arid country, the rainfall at Keeler, 1100
ft. lower, being 3.15 inches. Water is piped 8 miles and sold
in 1913 for a >£c. per gallon for mining and lc. for domestic
purposes. Ore is hauled from the mines to the railway at
Keeler at $6 to $8 per ton. Freight to the district is $1 per
ton more. Miners' wages are $3.50 to $4 per day. There is
telephone connection between Darwin and Keeler. The ore
deposits are generally inclosed in lime-silicate rocks, although
some are in limestone, and small isolated masses of ore are
found in the quartz-diorite. The minerals are galena with
silver, cerussite, anglesite, and the gangue calcite and
fluorite. Several mines are described, and in the early part
of 1913 there was considerable activity in the district, espe-
cially at the Christmas Gift, Lucky Jim, and Custer mines.
The Death Valley railroad, now under construction from
Death Valley Junction on the Tonopah & Tidewater line, will
be completed and in operation by July 1, 1914. This road,
primarily constructed for the purpose of handling the crude
borax of the Pacific Coast Borax Co. from its deposits, will
make the development of other minerals easier in this region.
Nevada County
An adit at the Premier mine is in 1500 ft., and enough ore
has been developed to supply a 5-stamp mill for a consider-
able time. Rich ore was recently opened in a raise. There
is said to be good gravel on this property. The Conlan mine
will probably be worked again, after seven years of idleness.
A 5-stamp mill is to be erected shortly at the Bennefontaine
mine at Willow Valley. Richard Martin is superintendent.
Placer County
All the mines at Iowa Hill are busy. Twenty stamps are
being added to the Pioneer mill. The Mohawk and Copper
Bottom are preparing for an active season.
__ Shasta County
Dredging ground near Redding has been sold for $65,000 to
J. K. Kendrick of Willows, Glenn county. Four miles from
Redding is the Silver King, shut down on account of a dis-
agreement among shareholders, but it will probably be re-
opened in a few weeks. It is said that good headway has been
made in the East in securing money for the Afterthought
Copper company, operating near Ingot. A large tonnage of
gold-sllver-copper-zinc ore is developed. S. E. Bretherton is
manager. Work with the Hall process at the Balaklala plant
has been stopped until it has been decided what to do about
the recently destroyed crusher plant. S. A. Holman, Jr., is
now in charge of the mine.
Sierra County
Although there are about 150 men employed at the mines
about Alleghany, there is little new to chronicle, and there
will be no increased activity until the summer. The same
may be said of the Forest City district, where steady work
is being done at the Kate Hardy, North Fork, North Fork-
Wisconsin drift-gravel mine, and the South Fork. Operations
have been resumed at the Miners Home gravel claim at How-
land Flat. A mill is being erected at the Mexican mine.
Trinity County
The Trinity Dredging Co.'s boat has been laid up most of
the winter, awaiting a casting weighing 15,000 lb. This has
arrived, after being dropped into the river with a wagon. The
dredge will start early in April.
At the Globe mine, near Dedrick, No. 6 level is being rapidly
advanced. It will cut the main orebody at a vertical depth
of 585 ft. below No. 2 adit. The 20-stamp mill and cyanide
plant is treating 120 tons per day, yielding about $40,000 per
month.
Tuolumne County
Diamond-drilling at the old Sledge mine, near Confidence,
is to be done by the Tuolumne Deep Channel Mining Co. A
thick lava capping covers 130 acres of the property, under
which is the gravel deposit.
COLORADO
Clear Creek County
(Special Correspondence.)— Three feet of smelting ore has
been opened for 30 ft- in the Centennial vein on Leavenworth
mountain, and assays return 18.2 oz. gold and 170 oz. silver
per ton. D. Kennedy is manager. The Malm mill, partly built
here three years ago and left uncompleted, is under option
to the Bunker Hill & Sullivan M. & C. Co., of Kellogg, Idaho.
That Company has obtained such favorable results from pre-
liminary tests with the process that a working plant is de-
sired. It is undecided whether ore will be shipped to George-
town for a series of tests or the mill will be taken to Idaho
and re-erected, though the former plan, it is believed here,
will be adopted. Ore assaying 140 oz. silver per ton has been
cut in the east drift on the Rosebud vein on Democrat moun-
tain. G- W. Teagarden is manager.
Georgetown, March 23.
Lake County (Leadville)
Work has been started and ground broken for the new zinc
smelter at Leadville. The first 50-ton unit is to be ready
by August next. It will consist of a crushing plant, eight
furnaces, cooling pipes, and a bag-house. The ore to be
treated will be low-grade carbonate of zinc, and the products
will include oxides used in paint manufacture. Mr. Augustine
is in charge of the work.
Ouray County ,
A 200-ton blast-furnace is to be installed by the Wanakah
Mining Co., while the present 100-ton plant will be held as
a reserve. The new furnace will cost from $10,000 to $15,000.
A sintering machine is also to be installed. John T. Roberts,
Jr., is manager. The Ouray-Michigan Miuing & Development
Co. has been formed to work the Stenographer and Cabinet-
maker mines on Oak creek. A 300-ft- cross-cut will be driven,
and a raise put up to connect with the old workings.
San Juan County
At Silverton, machinery is being installed at the Wiifley-
Mears plant. A flume is being erected for the treatment of
tailing in the lake near the mine and a large tonnage is
swatting treatment.
Summit County
In the Breckenridge district the Tonopah Placers Co. is
overhauling the two Bucyrus dredges for the coming season.
For No. 2 boat in the upper part of Swan valley, 51 new
buckets have arrived. There are 70 buckets on the line. No.
1 boat, in the Blue River valley, will have 100 buckets. The
Reliance dredge is working upstream in French gulch, from
its junction with the Blue river. Steam is used to prevent
the dredged material from freezing while being washed and
on the stacker. The Reiling boat of the French Gulch Dredg-
ing Co. will soon be started again. It has a good record.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
On March 26 there was a meeting of mining men held at
Cripple Creek, and a branch of the Colorado Metal Mining
590
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4. 1014
Association was formed, with H. L. Shepherd as chairman
and E. P. Arthur, Jr., as secretary. It was decided that the
board of directors consist of nine members, three from Cripple
Creek, three from Victor, one from Goldfleld, one from Inde-
pendence, and one from Elkton. Local dues are 50c. per year.
IDAHO
According to the report of the state inspector of mines.
Robert N. Bell, the various counties of the state produced
minerals valued as follows: Ada, $9034; Adams, $26,795;
Bingham and Bonneville, $3114; Blaine, $175,416; Boise,
$604,333; Bonner, $52,265; Canyon, $521; Clearwater, $57,448;
Custer, $892,133; Elmore, $102,014; Fremont, $380,143; Idaho,
_ SCALE Of MILES ~^
0 ZS »
MAP OF IDAHO.
$55,311; Lemhi, $888,926; Lincoln, $312; Nez Perce, $352S;
Owyhee, $217,784; Shoshone, $21,115,812; Twin Falls. $457;
and Washington, $5209; a total of $24,572,396.
Owyhee County
Very rich gold ore has been found in the Ruth mine on
War Eagle mountain, near Silver City. Great excitement
prevails in the district. Portland people own the property.
Shoshone County
The Bunker Hill & Sullivan company pays on April 4 div-
idend No. 199, amounting to $81,750. The total to date is
$15,056,000.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
The report of the Winona Copper Co. for 1913 gives the
following data:
'Rock' stamped, tons 120'^
Refined copper yield, pounds 1,448,73.
Revenue from copper $223 299
Total revenue ($128,506 from assessments) 419,235
Expenditure 344 727
Balance of assets over liabilities 74,508
MONTANA
Silvebbow County
The recent report of the Tuolumne Copper Mining Co.. of
Butte, covers work in 1913. The three-compartment shaft
was sunk from 2080 to 2400 ft., stations cut at 2200 and
2400 ft., and cross-cuts driven to the vein. On the former
level the vein was opened to the eastern boundary, While
at 2400 ft. it was only cut on February 20. This level is
promising. Ore was mined from the east end of the 1800-ft.
level, in two raises at 2000 ft, and at 2200 ft. The output
was 2,633,651 lb. copper and 109,705 oz. silver, worth $200,218.
Expenses were $233,222; dividends $160,000; cash on hand
January 1, 1913, $202,763; cash on hand at end of 1913, $12,787.
NEVADA
Esmekalda County
According to the February report of J. W. Hutchinson,
assistant general manager of the Goldfleld Consolidated, 26,731
tons of ore yielded a net realization of $182,183. Costs were
as follows:
Per ton.
Stoping and development $3.32
Shipping expense 017
Dump moving 0.04
Transportation 0.10
Milling 1.95
Marketing 0.10
General expense 0.47
Bullion tax 0.10
Total costs $6.25
Miscellaneous earnings 0.04
Net costs $6.21
Development covered 2688 ft. at $9.45 per foot, and gener-
ally there was nothing of importance from this work. Costs
are 36c. per ton higher than the preceding month, due to
extraordinary administration charges, and a poor quality of
pebbles in the tube-mills; the increased cyanide consumption
raised costs 20c. per ton. Two 2,{>-in- machine-drills are now-
working on the 500-ft. level of the Silver Pick mine, replac-
ing the hand drilling. Walter S. Norris is superintendent.
Rich ore has been opened on three levels in the Florence.
The Velvet claim of the Merger company has been sold to
the Jumbo Extension company. Since this deal was concluded,
the 921-ft. level drift has opened 4 ft. of $58 to $70 ore. The
Merger company is to continue development on a larger scale
than formerly. Up to the middle of last November, a total
of $254,414 has been spent in prospecting, sinking the shaft,
and equipment. The 1750-ft. level of the Atlanta is opening
satisfactorily.
Eubeka County
A shaft has been sunk 900 ft. at the Nevada Central Copper
Co.'s property, at Cedar, 50 miles from Buckhorn, but work
is temporarily suspended. Deposits of copper ore have been
only small on the surface. Nothing was cut in the shaft.
H. A. Linke is manager.
Humboldt County
(Special Correspondence.)— James Edmunds has had two
men working on a promising copper-gold-silver ore here
all winter, and is planning to make shipments to the smelter.
The ore assays from $40 to $100 per ton. This discovery
was made by a couple of Indian boys while hunting deer
last fall. Mr. Edmunds has ample funds of his own and
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
591
is backing the discoverers, and going right ahead with the
property without looking for any outside help financially.
John A. Hassell, of New York City, is expected here soon
to commence operations on a large scale on his property,
which is patented, developed, and ready for a plant. He has
about 20,000 tons of 4 to 6% copper ore developed. Curry
and DeVoe are extracting ore and getting ready to ship as
soon as the roads will permit from their Winnebago mine.
They shipped 7 or 8 tons from this property last fall which
returned 20.8% copper with several dollars in gold and silver
per ton. Frank Baldes has two lessees preparing to com-
mence shipping ore from his property. Former shipments
gave about 22% copper with several dollars in gold and silver
per ton. W. E. Christiernsson has about ten tons of ore
sorted and ready to ship from his best vein on the Champion
group, where he has several thousand tons of ore blocked
out and ready for a plant on the ground. W. S. Elliott, a
well known mining man, is making quiet trips into Sulphur
and has several men locating and developing some gold and
silver prospects with a view to putting in a 50-ton concen-
trating and cyanide plant.
On the whole, the outlook is bright for this district, and
a boom is neither expected nor desired. A prosperous and
steady producing mining camp will be here during the com-
ing season. A custom smelter is needed to handle the ores
from the numerous high-grade prospects which are situated
along the range for twenty miles or more.
Sulphur, March 8.
A rush has set in to a new goldfield in the Kings' River
district, in the northern part of the county, near the Ore-
gon boundary line. The National district is being deserted
for the new camp. Reports from the new district are most
encouraging and a large number of miners from various
parts of the state are going into this district.
The Seven Troughs Coalition mill has yielded $17,908 from
52 tons of ore so far for March. The winze is below No. 10
level, and shows 110 ft. of ore from where it was cut. In
the bottom, 4 ft. averages $28.35 and 15 in. $1445 per ton.
The gold is worth $12 to $13 per ounce.
The property of the Seven Troughs Mining Co. is situated
30 miles northwest of Lovelock, on the Southern Pacific
railway. The report covers the year ended December 31,
1913. C. W. Poole is manager.
The Seven Troughs range is about S by 24 miles in area,
and has a maximum height of 3000 ft. a'vove sea-level. The
property consists of 29 claims and fractions. Country rocks
are mostly rhyolite, basalt, and andesite. The Fairview-
Florence and Lowden veins occur in intrusive basalt dikes.
A fault at 600 ft. has completely cut off the veins, and the
throw has been so great as not to warrant further prospect-
ing for them. Lessees have secured several blocks of
ground, and royalties in 1913 were $5.79. Cash on hand at
the end of 1913 was $13,547. The present salary list is $250
per month. The total output of the property to date is about
$275,000.
The annual report of the Rochester Weaver Mining Co. for
1913 gives the following information: The property was
leased in 300 by 600-ft. blocks, and ore was opened by three
lessees. The Colligan lease produced ore worth from $22.40
to $31.74 per ton. The claims have been proved better by
lessees than the Company could have in over twice the time.
The Company drove an adit 430 ft., and 150 ft. of driving
on three veins, showing 5 ft. of ore worth $8.50 per ton.
Development by the Company and lessees was 1164 and 2430
ft. respectively. Ore has been developed to 350 ft. depth, and
the leasing system is to be canceled. It is planned to con-
solidate the Rochester Weaver, Rochester Mines, Nenzel
Crown Point, Rochester Belmont, Original Rochester, and
Pocahontas properties. Ore shipped from all leases was 953
tons, worth $30,254. from which the Company drew royalties
of $2783. The year's results left a deficit of $3582.
Nye County
Preparations are being made at the Railroad Valley Co.'s
property for a resumption of drilling for potash. No. 7 well,
which was left at 745 ft., will not be put down deeper, but
another one sunk nearby. On April 21 the Tonopah Mining
Co. will pay a dividend amounting to $250,000. At the Jim
Butler, a Nordberg hoist with herringbone gear, and driven
by a 150-hp. electric motor, is to be installed. The mine con-
tinues to develop in a promising way. The West End shipped
48,124 oz. bullion last week, the clean-up for 18 days in
March. The Belmont's Western vein being opened on No. 12
and 13 levels is an important orebody. At 1640 ft. the Bel-
mont vein has been cross-cut for 15 ft. in the trachyte
formation. During February the 10 producing mines at Tono-
pah yielded 42.736 tons of ore, worth $S16,455.
Stobey County
In summing up his reports of the Crown Point Gold & Silver
Mining Co., Belcher Silver Mining Co., and Yellow Jacket Gold
& Silver Mining Co. for the year ended December 31, 1913,
George S. Sturges, the manager of these companies stated:
The Jacket mill in 184 days either whole or part operation
treated 23,943 tons, of which 6678 tons was from the Crown
Point, 2924 from the Belcher, and 14,341 from the Jacket. This
ore yielded 3319 oz. gold and 29,049 oz. silver. A considerable
part of the year the work of all three companies was concen-
trated on preparation for and installation of two centrifugal
incline sinking pumps in the joint Crown Point-Belcher incline
and in necessary equipment for their operation. The Jacket
mill was placed in better working condition by the Jacket com-
pany and the shaft and incline were repaired jointly by the
three companies and are now in better condition than for a
considerable time past.
OREGON
Southwestern Oregon has long been known for its wide-
spread and varied mineral resources, among which gold, sil-
ver, copper, platinum, and coal are the most important.
They have been the subject of investigation for a number of
years by J. S. Diller, of the U. S. Geological Survey, and
the results have just been published in Bulletin 546. The
gold rush of '49 landed many a prospector in southwestern
Oregon. Placers were opened and placer mining has ever
since continued to be a thriving branch of mineral industry.
The gold produced in southwestern Oregon before 1881 can
not be closely estimated, but it was many millions of dol-
lars, while from 1S81 to 1912, inclusive, the production of
gold has been $11,257,772. During the 10 years 1903 to 1912,
inclusive, the placer mines produced $2,014,715 and the lode
mines $1,523,226. Besides the gold and a considerable amount
of copper, the production of silver during the same period
was valued at $63,385, platinum $15,293, and coal $2,602,122.
JosEriitNK County
A 10-day run at the placer claims of Martin and Daniels,
l'/i miles below Galice, yielded 184 oz. gold. At the Ander-
son placer mine, owned by 'Dry Wash' Wilson of Nevada, 8
miles of ditch and pipe-line was completed recently, but a
slide carried away 1500 yd. of the ditch. Rich quartz has
been found by R. Boswell, at a depth of 15 ft., on Suoker
creek, 4 miles from Holland, and near the Anderson placer.
TEXAS
Bbazoria County
(Special Correspondence.) — A steady shipment of sulphur
from the Freeport mines has been sent by rail to the East-
ern and Northern markets since the first of the year, and
Texas sulphur is meeting with marked favor with paper manu-
facturers and chemical buyers who have purchased the Free-
port product. The first shipload of sulphur from the Free-
port mines is scheduled to leave this port on the steamer
592
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
Honduras of the Seaboard & Gulf Steamship Co.'s line early
in April.
Freeport, March 18.
UTAH
Juab County
The Dragon Consolidated Mining Co. operates at Tintic,
and the report covers the year 1913. A large tonnage of
iron ore is blocked out ready for the smelters when they
desire this class of material. Shipments of quartz are lim-
ited at present, as it is low-grade and better suited for mill-
ing. Development covered 4765 ft., and was encouraging.
The surface adit has been extended along the Governor vein
for 1700 ft., opening a large tonnage of mill ore. Results
were as follows:
Quartz ore, tons 3,558
Value per ton in gold, silver, lead, and copper $19.83
Iron ore, tons 12,892
Iron, per cent 55.8
Value per ton $3.05
Revenue from ore sales $91,988
Operating expense 92,023
Summit County
Ore shipments from Park City during the past week were
1258 tons. The annual report of the Daly West Mining Co.
gives the following information: The mill and hoist were
burned on December 28, 1913, but these will be rebuilt by
September 1, 1914. The mine produced 1555 tons of ship-
ping and 59,233 tons of milling ore. Of the ore, 13,428 tons
came from old workings at 900 and 1550 ft. The larger ore-
bodies occur from the 1700 to the 2000-ft. level; but most of
the output was from the former depth. The mill treated
59,233 tons of ore in 319 8-hr. shifts, producing 8332 tons of
lead and 1598 tons of zinc concentrate. Assays of the crude
ore and concentrate were as follows: lead, 5%; silver, 7.7 oz.:
zinc, 4.3%; lead, 35.54%; silver, 40.01 oz.; and lead, 4.83%;
silver, 18.27 oz.; and zinc, 35.37% respectively. Recoveries
were 79.55% of the silver and 99.6% of the lead, according to
the mill superintendent, F. W. Sherman. Of the 503S tons
of crude ore marketed, the average was 52.61 oz. silver, 0.0398
oz. gold, 20.06% lead, and 1.86% copper. The year's revenue
was $517,093. a dividend of $27,000 was paid, and the cash
on hand at the end of 1913 was $23,648.
WASHINGTON
Kittitas County
At an altitude of from 2500 to 5000 ft. in the Wenatchee
mountains, on the eastern slope of the Cascade range, the
Dovre Mining Co. is developing five groups of claims in the
Cle Elum and Swank districts. The Northern Pacific railroad
is 28 and 16 miles distant respectively from these places. The
former district ores contain gold, silver, copper, lead, and
antimony, while the Swank ores contain gold and silver. At
the Black Bear, Ruby King, Majestic, and Grizzley Bear
claims, at Cle Elum, a good deal of encouraging development,
1800 ft. in all, has been done. Assays of ore from these
claims, by Falkenburg & Laucks of Seattle, have given high
returns. In the Swank claims a total of 500 ft. of work has
been done. The Company has been formed with a capital of
2,000,000 shares of $1 each.
Stkvkns County
On March 25 the lower adit of the United Copper mine cut
the vein at 4220 ft. from the portal, and at a depth of 1100
ft. from the surface. The cross-cut went through 27 ft. with-
out reaching the foot-wall. On the east side of the vein is
30 in. of high-grade ore. This adit cost about $70,000. At
a depth of 500 ft. in the Copper King, 700 ft. from the United
Copper mine, 4 ft. of gray copper ore has been opened. The
new 100-ton smelter may be ready in about 30 days.
CANADA
Albebta
The annual report of the International Coal & Coke Co.,
operating mines and coke-ovens near Colemont, shows that
the net profit lor 1913 was $146,829, of which $120,000 was
paid in dividends. Cash on hand at the end of the year
was $40,300. The Company's engineers estimate workable
coal at 205,000,000 tons. So far, 3,198,323 tons has been mined.
Bbitish Columbia
During February the Standard mine, near Silverton, shipped
1337 tons of silver-lead ore and some zinc concentrate, giving
a net return of $81,699. No. 7 level is in 2700 ft., and 600
ft. from the point under the shoot from No. 6. The surplus is
$293,332. During 1913 the Hedley Gold Mining Co. treated
70,796 tons of ore yielding $802,330, with a profit of $405,255.
Ontario
The mineral production of Ontario in 1913, according to
Thomas W. Gibson, deputy minister of mines, was as fol-
lows: gold, 220,837 oz.; silver, 29,724,931 oz.; copper, 12,941
tons; nickel, 24,838 tons; iron ore, 195,937 tons; pig iron,
648,899 tons; cobalt oxide, 1,188,526 lb.; and nickel oxide,
232,255 lb., with a total value of $37,794,277.
Sixty feet of ore has been opened on the 120-ft. level of
No. 3 Right of Way shaft in the new vein encountered some
weeks ago. The vein averages 2 in. wide containing from
2500 to 3000 oz. per ton. The vein is an extension of
No. 12, worked on the Princess mine by the La Rose Con-
solidated company on which a 200-ft. ore-shoot has been
opened.
During February the Buffalo mill treated 6163 tons of ore
yielding 103,256 oz. of silver. The Hollinger company reports
that, during the four weeks ended February 25, No. 8 vein
was cut by a cross-cut on the 300-ft. level, and No. 4 vein
was cut by a drill at 425 ft. The main shaft is 425 ft.
deep- Development covered 635 ft., and 522 ft. of drilling,
at a cost of 49.3c. per ton milled. Mining cost $1.88 per ton.
The mill treated 10,042 tons of ore averaging $17.50 per ton,
with 97.4% extraction, at a cost of $1.31 per ton. Total costs
were $5.52 per ton, and the profits were $111,679.
COLOMBIA
The Pato dredge produced gold worth $8300 from 25,500 cu.
yd. during the week ended March 3-
MEXICO
Mexico
During February the Mexico Mines of El Oro mill worked
24 days and treated 11,500 tons of ore. The gold and silver
output was worth $134,670, and profit $86,690.
DUKANGO
(Special Correspondence.) — In 1913 the Desengano mine,
next to the Fortuna, in the Guanacevi district, was worked
in a desultory manner, and produced bullion worth t*1,300,-
000 at a cost of 1*200,000. A good deal of ore has been stoped
at the Mexico Consolidated, and ore has been opened in the
Fortuna. As soon as railway communication is restored,
stoping will be started in the latter property. The contact
orebody of this district will probably be of considerable size,
and produce high-grade ore, as the Desengano has 100 tons
in one pile which will return '1*1000 net per ton.
Guanacevi, January 21.
VENEZUELA
(Special Correspondence.) — There is a fair amount of min-
ing activity here, but owners find it difficult to get sufficient
labor, on account of the miners being able to recover gold
by panning river gravel and stealing it. The class of labor
is poor, being chiefly composed of negroes from the West
Indies.
Ciudad Bolivar. March 6.
April i. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
593
Pope Yeatman is expected in New York.
E. H. Leslie has returned to San Francisco.
P. A. O'Brien has left Nicaragua for Colombia.
R. B. Stanford has been visiting the Canal Zone.
Leslie H. Webb was in San Francisco this week.
Thomas T. Read has gone to Ducktown, Tennessee.
J. H. Collier is now associated with the Joshua Hendy Iron
Works.
Horace Robertson has returned to New York from Bisichi.
Northern Nigeria.
J. A. Veatch is investigating the placer deposits of Battle
Mountain, Nevada.
W. J- RicKEi.L has left Seattle for Knik. Alaska, where he
will be until October.
H. A. Linke, manager for the Nevada Central Copper Co.,
Eureka county, Nevada, is in San Francisco.
Forest Rutherford and G. D. Van Arsdale, of the Phelps- •
Dodge company, have been visiting the Anaconda smelter.
W. H. Storms has returned from a mine examination in
Tuolumne county, California, and is in Nye county, Nevada,
on professional business.
James C. H. Ferguson, for the past thirteen years Pacific
coast sales agent of the Midvale Steel Co. of Philadelphia, has
severed his connection with that Company and is now the
Pacific coast representative of the William Cramp & Sons Ship
& Engine Building Co. of Philadelphia, with his office in the
Monadnock building, San Francisco.
Walter Laidlaw, who fell dead from heart disease in New
York while going home, March 24, was secretary of the Inter-
national Steam Pump Co, and with his brother Robert one
of the founders of the Laidlaw-Dunn-Gordon company of Cin-
cinnati. He was a Scotchman, 65 years of age at the time
of his death, and an educated mechanical engineer who was
an important factor in the development of the types of machin-
ery manufactured by his firm.
Pig Tin in March
New York Correspondence
February deliveries into consumption exceeded expectations,
amounting to 3300 tons. The total visible supply March 1 was
17,308 tons, which was 5004 tons above that of the same date
a year previous. Total deliveries for January and February
of this year showed a decrease of 300 tons as compared with
the same months last year. On March 2 the price was 38c;
on March 9, 37.37 'jC. ; on March 16, 3S.05c; and on March 23,
38.50c. The lowest ([notation was 37.37 ! I.e., on March 9, and
the highest 38.65c, on March 24. Early in the month the
market was adversely affected by the erratic behavior of Lon-
don, and business was also hindered by the storms which cut
off communication with interior points. At times in the month
there was a steady, though moderate, business, but at no time
was there any real heavy trading. Toward the close of the
month the supply of the metal was more than ample, the
arrivals up to and including March 27 totaling 4718 tons, while
there was afloat on that day 3997 tons. Deliveries into do-
mestic consumption in March are estimated at 4500 tons. The
auction sale of Banca tin in Holland on March 26 realized an
average price of lOS'j florins, equivalent to 39.60c c.i.f. New
York or £180 15s., a high figure in view of the fact that it was
£6 over the closing price at Ixmdon (£174 15s. I. The amount
sold was 2300 tons.
APRIL
Name. Date.
American Chemical Society 8_] i
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 10
American Electro-Chemical Society 16-18
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London.... 16
MAY
Mining and Metallurgical Society. . .San Francisco.... 4
National Fire Protection Association 5-7
American Iron and Steel Institute 22
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London.... 21
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 26
American Society for Testing Materials 23-27
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July 2
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of June
Franklin Institute Philadelphia. .. .end of June
AUGUST
American Inst. Mining Engineers . .Salt Lake City 10-14
SEPTEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixed
American Chemical Society 9-12
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 9
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-24
NOVEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 13
DECEMBER
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-8
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 10
Society of Naval Architects 11-12
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 11
American Museum of Safety 11-20
Geological Society of America, Philadelphia 29-31
SEPTEMBER 1915
American Institute of Mining Engineers, San Francisco. . 14-17
Engineering Congress, San Francisco 20-25
Columbia University has decided to raise the requirements
of admission to the school of mines, or engineering, and
of chemistry, and generally to elevate and strengthen the
course of engineering and technical study, from and after
July 1, 1914. The new arrangement will make no substan-
tial change in the age of graduation from the professional
school. The last bulletin describes the various departments
and illustrates the apparatus used, besides the accommoda-
tion obtainable.
The Harvard Engineering Journal contains the following
articles: 'Notes on the Construction of Section A of the
Dorchester Tunnel,' by Philip C. Nash; 'The Catskill Water
Supply of the City of New York,' by Charles S. Brisk; 'Sci-
entific Management — a Viewpoint,' by Edward L. Lincoln;
'Limnology at Squam Lake,' by Carl Marsh; Experiences with
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.' by P. S. Don-
nell; The Proposed New Water Supply for Oklahoma City,'
by Theodore R. Kendall; 'Comparative Application of Gas-
Electrics, Storage Batteries, and Trackless Trolleys.' by G.
Hall Roosevelt; and several editorial subjects.
594
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
New York Metal Market Review
Standing out above all other features in copper are the
continued heavy exports. In March there were periods of
fair buying on the part of domestic consumers, but the heaviest
buying was on foreign account. The producers and agencies
have shown a tendency to advance prices on the slightest
taking hold by buyers, probably on the principle that domestic
consumers usually buy on the rise of the market and that a
good movement might he started by such tactics. Domestic
consumers, however, have been wary. The demand for brass
and copper products is not at all what it should be. Lead
descended to the low level of 3.90c. New York, and the exports
heretofore referred to have increased. Spelter has not been
active to any considerable degree and the course of prices in
the month has been downward. Antimony has been dull and
some brands are lower. Heavy dealing in tin was wanting
and its most noteworthy feature was the large supplies on
hand. Aluminum has been quiet and quotations have declined.
COPPER
A remarkable feature in copper is the enormous exports
which, up to and including March 27, totaled 40,546 tons.
Much conjecture has been indulged in as to where all this
metal is going, or, at least, what disposition is being made
of it, but after all is said it remains but conjecture. Some say
it is' going into unofficial warehouses abroad, others declare
that the Germans are accumulating enormous stocks which
for some time will make them practically independent of out-
side sources, while others say that foreign manufacturers are
loading up at the comparatively low prices which have pre-
vailed abroad. Business reports, especially those from Eng-
land would scarcely indicate that unusual quantities are being
consumed in that country. The exports in February reached
a total of 34,384 tons. The month of March opened dull with
electrolytic metal held at 14.50c. cash New York, a price which
was followed by a decline for the reason that big consumers
refused to pay more than 14.37 i.e. cash New York. The
willingness of at least a few producers to accept the lower
price paved the way for still lower quotations, and business
was done at 14.25c. cash New York in the first week of he
month, domestic consumers taking fair quantities. In he
second week foreign buying loomed up strong again. On he
strength of the better demand an effort was made to send the
orice up ttc, but consumers refrained from touching copper
a the higher price, and the 14.25c. level was for the time
adhered to The statement of the Copper Producers Associa-
tion for February had little effect on the market While
shocks were shown to have decreased, this was .offset by h
fact that domestic deliveries in February were about 12,000 000
b less than they were in the same month a year ago while
he comoined deliveries of January and February of this year
were" ver 29,000,000 lb. less than those of the same two months
Tn 1913 Toward the middle of the month a good business was
aone with both domestic and foreign buyers, a movement winch
wis pre ipitated by the dropping; on March 13 of the cash price
T about 14.12V.C. New York. This quotation held lor two
°r three days, when there was an advance to 14.25c. «* and
on April 18 there was a further advance to 14 37 fcc .cash
New York Buying subsided with the higher price, and be-
fween he last advance and March 26 there was little done.
Despite the lull, producers on March 24 again advanced the
"rice this time to 14.50c. cash New York, a figure which, while
called the market, could be shaded. The new Quotation was
based on an advance caused abroad by speculate bull in-
Tuences and it occasioned much comment to the effect
was unjustified by conditions existing in the United States.
At the time, many of the mills in Connecticut were operating
on a 4 or 5-day week basis and the demand for finished copper
•md brass products could not be called good. The American
Brass Co on March 13 reduced its prices for hot rolled sheet
copper %c. per pound, making the base 19 %c. per pound, and
on March 16 it reduced various of its brass products He. per
pound also, making the,, base on high brass sheet metal 15V&C.
per pound and high brass rods 1514c. per pound. Prime Lake
copper was scarce throughout March and prices were nominal,
or practically so, at all times. The quotation was 15c. cash in
the first few days of the month, with the last previous sale
made at 15.12%c. Then 14.75c. cash was quoted, but later the
nominal quotation was 15.87%c. cash, where it stood March 25.
What selling there was in open market was mostly of arsenical
and other inferior brands not suited for high-grade brass work
and prices for these ranged down to 14.37'Ac. cash. On March
25, prime Lake was said to be unobtainable for April delivery.
The heavy snow and wind storms which swept over the At-
lantic coast states in the early days of March helped the
copper wire industry by destroying hundreds of miles of tele-
phone and telegraph wires, mile after mile of poles being
snapped off at or near the ground, while in other cases they
were stripped of cross-arms. The Waterbury average for
February was 15.12M;C. per pound.
LEAD
At the beginning of March there were more sellers of lead
than buyers. At this time 4c. was the New York price, with
St. Louis between 3.85c. and 3.87 M..C, and it was believed that
the bottom had been touched, but before the month was over
3.90c. New York was quoted. The exportations of lead, which
had become a subject of comment about this time, continued
throughout March, gradually growing heavier until, in the
week ended March 21, they amounted to 1800 gross tons. The
exports of January and February combined were 1577 gross
tons. It is to be remembered, however, that the government
statistics do not differentiate between strictly American lead
and that smelted in bond, but it is certain that with the
trouble in Mexico the bonded lead is far below normal. On
March 5, 6, and 7 there was a fair business and the price in
the West became stronger at 3.90c. St. Louis, but New York
remained unchanged until March 26, when the American
Smelting & Refining Co. reduced the price 10c. per 100 lb., or
3.90c. During the greater part of March the market was dull,
and toward the third quarter independent interests were
willing to make concessions in some instances to get business.
When the big interest announced the reduction referred to, the
St. Louis price dropped to 3.75c. Needless to say, at these
prices the metal is exceedingly cheap, and it is predicted that
some sellers will withdraw from the market until conditions
are bettered.
SPELTER
Not many features of interest are to be noted in spelter's
course in March. When the month began, quotations were
around 5.35c. New York, with St. Louis 15 points lower. Then
came a decline to 5.30c. New York, a price which held until
about March 20, when there was a second decline of about
2V> points, making the New York quotation 5.27M;C. and that
at St. Louis 5.121/oC. Business was dull almost steadily
throughout the month, with what demand there was coming
from the sheet mills. Toward the end of March it was learned
that the European stock of the metal, largely held by a syndi-
cate, were rapidly increasing and the foreign market was soft,
but at the same time it was pointed out that the margin be-
tween New York and London prices was sufficient to forestall
any depressing effect on domestic prices. On March 12 the base
price of sheet zinc in carload lots at the mill was reduced 25c.
to $7 per 100 lb. basis.
ANTIMONY
March opened with Cookson's at 7.20 to 7.25c; Hallefs at 7
to 7.25c. and Chinese and Hungarian grades at 6 to 6.25c. In
the last week of the month Cookson's was unchanged, Hallett's
was quoted at 6.75 to 7c, and Chinese and Hungarian grades
at 5.75 to 6c. The market was uniformly dull and there was
evidence that consumers were amply supplied.
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
59r
The Metal Markets
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco is not a primary market for the common
metals except quicksilver. The prices quoted below therefore
represent sales of small lots and are not such as an ore pro-
ducer could expect to realize. Ore contracts usually call for
settlement on the basis of Eastern prices, less freight and
treatment charges. The prices quoted are in cents per pound,
except in the case of quicksilver, which is quoted in dollars per
flask of 75 pounds.
San Francisco, April 2.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15% — 15%c
Pig lead 4.05— 5.00
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 40^—42 c
Spelter 6%— 6%c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 % to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, April 1. — There was a slight drop In copper at
the beginning of the week, but it is now firmer with more de-
mand both for domestic and export trade. Total exports in
March were 45,973 tons, which beat all records. Lead and
spelter are quiet, the former making the first move for several
weeks. Tin is easy at 37.50 to 38.87 ',£c. for spot. Antimony is
dull, Cookson's being 7.25c. per pound. Bar silver is 58Hc, and
26.81d. per ounce in London, the latter market being steady.
Investment stocks in London were buoyant.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Date.
Mch. 26.
8.00
8.00
8.00
Apr.
27
28
29 Sunday
30 58.00
31 58.00
1 58.12
Average week ending
Kelp. IS 57.37
'• 25 57.53
Mch. 4 57.72
" 11 58.23
" IS 58.04
25 58.06
Apr. 1 58.02
Monthly averages.
1913.
63.01
61.25
. . . .57.87
59.26
.60.21
1914. | 1913.
July 58.70
Auk S9 32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov 58.76
Dec 57.73
1914.
57.53
",s.01
Jan.
Feb. . . .
Mch. . . .
Apr. ...
May . . .
June 59.03
A comparison of the totals of silver exported to the chief
European and Asiatic countries during January and February
of this year with those relating to the same countries during
the first two months in 1913 is full of interest. It will be
observed from the figures that last year the Asiatic exceeded
the European demand. This year the reverse is the case. Also,
the European demand is greater by about £376,000 than that
of last year, while the Asiatic demand Is less by about £553,000,
according to Samuel Montagu & Co. It Is worthy of remark
that the exports to these five countries alone comprise almost
the whole of the exports in the periods mentioned, for those
to all other countries combined merely amount to about £141,000
in 1913, and about £183,000 in the current year.
Exports to: 1914. 1913.
Russia £ 448.937 £ 59,840
Germany 481,450 273,500
Netherlands 154.000 375,000
Total £1.084.387
China £ 40,000
India 898.265
Total £ 038,265
Combined total £2,022,652
£ 708.340
£ 115,000
1.376,350
£1,491,350
£2,199,690
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published In this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are In cents per pound.
. 1 (.25
. 1 1.25
.14.23
Date.
Mch. 26
■■ n'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..
29 Sunday
» 30 14-30
" 31 14.30
Apr. 1 14.35
Average week ending
Feb. 18 14.55
" 25 14.34
Mch. 4 14.22
" 11 14.04
" 18 14.01
" 25 14.18
Apr. 1 14.28
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb. . . .
Mch. . . .
Apr.
May . . .
June 14.71
1913.
16.54
14.93
14.72
15.22
15.42
1914.
14.21
14.46
11.11
1913.
July 14.21
Aug 15.42
Sept 16.23
Oct 16.31
Nov is, os
Dec 14.25
Last week the copper market was at first quiet, but by March
24 active buying began and the market stiffened so that on the
oth the price was advanced %c. with good sales, especially for
foreign shipment, chiefly for May and June deliveries Reports
from the Connecticut valley stated that the brass mills are now-
running nearly full time, instead of half time, as they have
been doing recently. Spring construction work is now begin-
ning, and the telephone and telegraph companies are busy re-
pairing the damage done by the heavy storms last winter The
market at the end of the week was quiet but Arm. Exports be-
tween March 1 and 26 amounted to 81,092,000 lb., as compared
with 76,110,000 lb. in the same period last year
LEAD
Lead Is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
Mch. 26.
" 27.
Apr.
29
30.
31.
1.
Sunday
3.80
3.80
3.80
3.80
3.80
3.80
F A.v„erase week ending
Mch
25.
4.
11.
18.
Apr. 1.
4.00
4.UU
4.00
4.00
4.0H
4.00
SO
1913.
Jan 4.28
Feb 4.33
Mch 432
Apr 4.36
May 4.34
June 4.33
Monthly averages.
914.
4.11
July
4.02
Aug.
3.94
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1913
. 4.35
. 4.60
. 4.70
4.37
. 4.16
. 4.02
1914.
Ql'ICKSII.VER
The primary market for quicksilver Is San Francisco Cali-
fornia being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column Is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, In dollars per flask of 75 lb
are given below:
Mch.
Week ending
39.00
. . .38.50
Mch.
in.
26.
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
Apr.
Monthly averages.
.39.50
.39.00
.39.0"
1914.
39.25
39.00
39.00
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
Sept 39.70
Oct 39.37
Nov 39.40
Lee 40.00
Zinc Is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, in cents per pound.
Date.
Mch
Apr.
26
.... 5.13
29 Sunday
30
.... 513
1
5.13
Average week ending
Feb. IS
" 25
Mch. 4
" 11
" is
Apr.
1 .
5.20
5.15
5.13
5.10
5.10
5.13
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr
May
June
1913.
i; «
6. 1 3
."..111
Monthly averages
1914
"..14
5.22
5.12
..23
.00
1913
July 5.H
Aug 5.5i
Sept 5.55
Oct 5 o"
Nov ' 5^9
Dec 5.0-
1914
TIN
New York prices control In the American market for t
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco qu
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given
monthly New York quotations. In cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1914. 1913.
37.85 Julv 40.70
39.76 Aug 41.75
2S.10 Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
in, since
otations
average
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
.50.45
.411.117
. IB. 95
4 9 no
.49.10
.45.1 0
596
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
SAN FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
April 1.
BONDS
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s 8 97J
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 6s —
General Petroleum 6s... 36
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated Oil —
Associated Oil 39J
Giant ■ —
Pac. Cst Borax, com —
Pacific Crude Oil —
Sterling O. <S D —
Uk
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
98}
. —
26
Pac. Port. Cement 6s....
100
—
81
Santa Cruz Cement 6s..
43}
—
Union Oil
.
88
STO
CKS
Vsk
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
8U
2
—
40}
Noble Electric Steel....
. 75c
—
57*
30c
1.40
Natomas Consol 50c
Pac. Port. Cement 90
Riverside Cement —
Santa Cruz Cement 45
Stand. Port. Cement 29}
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
April 2.
Atlanta * •30
Belcher *0
Belmont. 7.75
Con. Virginia l2
Florence •"'
Goldfield Con 1.40
Goldfield Oro -12
Halifax -80
Jim Butler 97
Jumbo Extension 31
MacNamara 08
Mexican 1.10
Midway 34
Mizpah Extension -47
COPPER SHARES— BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building,.)
April 2.
Montana-Tonopah
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophlr
Pittsburg Silver Peak
Round Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension ...
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada ...
Union
Victor
West End
Yellow Jacket
94
63
50
..11.00
.. .SO
.. .35
.. .31
.. .34
.. .32
.. .15
.. 2.07
.. 61
.. 6.75
.. .10
.81
Bid Ask
Allouez 8 42J 13
Ariz. Commercial 4} 4|
Butte & Superior 35J 36
Calumet <fe Arizona 69 69J
Calumet & Hecla 421 424
Copper Range 37} 37j
Daly West 2} 2}
East Butte US 1'J
Franklin 6} 6f
Granby 89} 891
Greene Cananea 37} 37}
Isle-Royale 19 19}
Mass Copper 3} 3}
Bid
Mohawk 8 445
Nevada Con 153
North Butte 28|
Old Dominion 501
Osceola 78
CJuincy 62
Shannon 5}
Superior & Boston 2}
Tamarack 36}
U. S. Smelting, com 39
Utah Con 10*
Winona 3;
Wolverine 15
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E. F.
Bid.
Brad'-n Copper... 8 '4
Braden 6s 162
B. C. Copper 2 Vs
Con. Cop. Mines.. 2Vz
Davis-Daly %
Ely Con 4
First National. . . 2%
Giroux 1
Hollinger 16
Iron Blossom .... 1 Vs
Kerr Lake 4
Bid.
las
3
75c.
Hutton & Co., Kohl Building.
April 2.
La Rose
Mason Valley
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am. ... 2V4
Nipissing 5%
Ohio Copper V4
Stand. Oil of Cal.344
Tri Bullion Vs
Tuolumne %
United Cop. com. Vs
Yukon Gold 2%
Ask.
8%
170
2%
2%
1V4
6
2%
iy*
17
iv4
4V4
547
Current Prices for Ores and Minerals
(Corrected monthly by Atkins, Kroll & Co.)
The prices are approximate, subject to fluctuation, and to
variation according to quantity, quality, and delivery required.
They are quoted, except as noted, f.o.b. San Francisco. Buying
prices marked •.
Mln.
Antimony ore, 50*, ft ton *$18.00
Arsenic, white, refined, ft lb 0.02}
Arsenic, red, refined, ft lb °-08
Asbestos, chrysotlle V»M
Asbestos, am phlbole - 5.00
Asphaltum, refined, ft ton U-50
Barium carbonate, precipitated, ft ton *O-00
Barium chloride, commercial, ft ton 40.00
Barium sulphate (barytes), prepared, ft ton z^'!0!
Bismuth ore, 15* ft
Ask
45
15j
281
51
79}
64
6
2'
87
3S)|
11
33
46
)
Ask.
lsi
3%
SOc.
2%
6
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
April 2.
Ask '
Bid
Amalgamated 8 771 77j
Anaconda 338 35J
A. S. & R., com 69 69}
Calif. Pet., com 26J 27j
Chino 42j 12}
Guggenheim Ex 56} 56J
Inspiration 1KJ 18i
Mexican Pet., com 66} 67
Bid
Miami 8 23J
Nevada Con 15J
Quicksilver, com 1J
Ray Con 22}
Tenn. Copper 35}
U. S. Steel, pfd 110}
U. S. Steel, com 63}
Utah Copper 57}
Chrome ore, according to quality, ft ton 10.00
China clay, English, levigated, ft ton 15.00
Cobalt metal, refined, f. o. b. London, ft lb 2.80
Coke, foundry, ft 2240 lb 15.00
Diamonds: ... „ m
Borts, according to size and quality, ft carat i.uo
Carbons, according to size and quality, ft carat 55.00
Feldspar, If* ton ■■ 5.00
Firebrick: „.„
Bauxite, ft M 175.00
Magneslte, ft M 190.00
Silica, ft M 60.00
Flint pebbles for tube-mills, Danish, ft 2240 lb 21.60
Fluorspar, ft ton 10-°0
Fullers earth, according to quality, ft ton 28.00
Gllsonlte, ft ton 36.00
Graphite:
Amorphous, ft lb _ "•>»«
Crystalline, ft lb 0.04
Gypsum, ft ton 7.60
Infusorial earth, ft ton 10.00
12.50
20.00
20.00
15.00
80.00
26.00
275.00
66.00
22.60
16.00
30.00
40.00
0.02}
0.13
10.00
16.00
Iridium..
55.00
7.60
26.00
Magneslte, crude, ft ton 5.00
Magneslte, dead calcined, ft ton 20.00
Magneslte, brick (see firebrick).
Manganese ore, oxide, crude, ft ton 10.00
Manganese, prepared, according to quality, ft ton 30.00
Mica, according to size and quality, ft lb 0.05
Molybdenite, 95* MoS2, ft ton _ 500.00
Monazltesand (5*thoria), ft ton 150.00
Nickel metal, refined, ft lb 0.45
Ochre, extra strength, levigated, ft 100 lb 2.O0
Osmlrldlum, ft oz 25.00
Platinum, native, crude, ft oz 30.00
Silex lining for tube-mills ft 2240 lb 35.60
Sulphur, crude, ft ton 20.00
Sulphur, powdered, ft ton 30.00
Sulphur, 80*, ft ton 16-50
Talc, prepared, according to quality, ft ton 20.00
Tin ore, 60*, ft ton 450.00
Tungsten ore, 65* „425.00
Uranium ore, 10* mln 2500 per unit
Vanadium ore, 15*V2()5. $ ton 150.00 180.00
Wolframite (see tungsten ore).
Zinc ore, 50 * up.? ton _ »15.00 20.00
15.00
70.00
1.00
750.00
200.00
0.60
2.50
45.00
37.60
25.00
35.00
18.50
50.00
500.00
450.00
Ask
24 J
16
35 jl
110}
63*
57}
Current Prices for Chemicals
(Corrected monthly by Braun-Knecht-Heimann Co.)
Prices quoted are for ordinary quantities in packages as
specified For round lots lower prices may be expected, while
in smaller quantities advanced prices are ordinarily charged.
Prices named are f.o.b. San Francisco and subject to fluctuation.
Other conditions govern Mexican and foreign business.
Mln. Max.
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66°, drums, ft 100 1b 80.85 11.10
Acid, sulphuric, com'l, 66°, carboy, ft 100 lb 1.26 1.75
Acid, sulphuric, C. P., 9-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.13 0.18
Acid, sulphuric, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb 0.09} 0.12
Acid, muriatic, com'l, carboy, ft 100 1b 1.85 3.00
Acid, muriatic, C. P., 6-lb. bottle, bbl.. ft lb 0.15 0.20
Acid, muriatic, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb 0.10} 0.15
Acid, nitric, com'l, carboy, ft 100 lb 6.00 6.50
Acid, nitric, C. P., 7-lb. bottle, bbl., ft lb 0.16 0.22
Acid, nitric, C. P., bulk, carboy, ft lb.* 0.12} 0.15
Argols, ground, bbl., ft lb 0.10 0.20
Borax, cryst. and cone, bags, ft 100 lb 3.00 4.38
♦Extra chaige for packing nitric acid for shipment to conform to
regulations.
April 4, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
597
Borax, powdered, bbl., T» 100 lb 3.38
Borax glass, gd. 30 mesh, cases, tin lined, ¥ 100 lb 10.50
Bone ash, 60 to 80 mesh, bbl., ¥ 100 lb 5.50
Bromine, 1-lb. bottle, $ lb 0.55
Clay, domestic Are, sack, ■# 1001b 1.50
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 100-lb. case, ft lb 0.18
Cyanide, 98 to 100*, 200-lb. case, $ lb 0.18
Cyanide, 129*, 100-lb. case, ft lb . 0.22
Cyanide, 129*, 200-lb. case, $ lb 0.22
Lead acetate, brown broken casks, -$ 100 lb 9.00
Lead acetate, white broken caskB, f, 100 lb 10.50
Lead acetate, white, crystals, ij» 100 lb 12.50
Lead, C. P., test., gran., ¥ 100 lb 13.00
Lead, C. P., sheet, <fl 100 lb 15.00
Litharge, C. P., silver free, » 100 lb 11.50
Litharge, com'l, fi 1001b. 8.00
Manganese ox., blk., dom. In bags. ij» ton 20.00
Manganese ox., blk., Caucasian, In casks. ¥ t°n 39.00
(85* Mn02— J* Fe)
Nitre, double rerd, small cryst., bbl., f, 100 lb 7.00
Nitre, double refd, granular, bbl., f 100 lb 6.50
Nitre, double refd, powdered, bbl., t» 100 lb 7.25
Potassl^pi bicarbonate, cryst., ft 100 lb 12.00
Potassium carbonate, calcined, ^ 100 lb 7.50
Potassium permanganate, drum, ?! lb 0.10J
Silica, powdered, bags, $ lb 0.03
Soda, carbonate (ash), bbl., f, 100 lb 1.50
Soda, bicarbonate, bbl., n 100 lb 2.00
Soda, caustic, ground. 98*. bbl., f 100 lb 3.00
Soda, caustic, solid, 98*. drums, f, 100 lb 2.50
Zinc shavings, 850 fine, bbl.. ■$ 100 lb 12.00
Zinc sheet. No. 9—18 by 84. drum, ?, 100 lb 10.20
4.50
13.50
6.50
0.65
2.00
0.22
0.22
0.25J
0.25
10.50
10.75
13.25
15.00
18.00
13.60
9.50
25.00
50.C0
8.00
7.50
8.00
15.00
9.00
0.13
0.05
1.75
2.50
3.25
2.75
13.00
11.00
Company Reports
GREAT BOULDER PERSEVERANCE GOLD MINING CO.
The last quarterly statement of this Kalgoorlie company
shows the following:
Development, feet 1,536
Broken ore in stopes, tons 200,178
Value, per ton $6
Ore treated, tons 57,267
Gold yield $278,500
Working costs, per ton $4.30
' Generally, development was satisfactory.
MYSORE GOLD MIXING CO., LIMITED
This is one of the great gold mines of the world and is
situated in the state of Mysore, India. The report for 1913
is replete with every detail, and covers 75 pages with an
index and large plan of the mine. The report of Arthur Gil-
ford, the superintendent, shows the following:
Labor:
Europeans, 171; Eurasians, 108; Indians, 8312.. 8,591
Machine-drills working 110.9
Lowest working-level, feet 3,226
Development, feet 27,331
Stoping, fathoms 17.467
Other work, fathoms 427
Ore reserves, tons 1 .377,102
Rock rejected, tons 59,616
Ore stamped, tons 302,662
Sand and slime treated, tons 264,829
Total gold yield, ounces 232,178
Revenue $4,330,000
Profit 2,352,000
Dividends 1,824,000
From 1884 to 1914:
Ore treated, tons 3,917,109
Gold yield $73,344,000
Dividends 35,530,00
APOROMA GOLDFIELDS, LIMITED
This Company owns 1277 acres of gold placer deposits near
the Bauri river, province of Sandia, Peru. The report is for
the year ended March 31, 1913. Hydraulic machinery has
been installed. The Company's largest reservoir, which was
destroyed by a flood in December 1912, has been rebuilt. Two
other smaller reservoirs have had their capacity increased.
The water-supply available from these sources should in future
enable continuous sluicing operations to be carried on upon
a limited scale for about eight months in each year. Owing
to the accident to the large reservoir, gravel washing during
the year under review has been restricted. There was 4S.50O
cu. yd. of gravel washed, realizing $7400, showing a net recov-
ery of 15c. per cubic yard.
PREMIER DIAMOND MINING COMPANY, LTD.
This Company operates at Pretoria, Transvaal, and the re-
port for the year ended October 31, 1913, shows the following:
Ground washed, loads of 1600 lb. each 10,434,6S0
Yield per load, carats 0.202
Total output, carats 2.107.9S3
Value per carat $5.32
Value per load $1.0S
Cost per load $0.62
Total value of output in 1913 $11,216,000
Total value of output in 1912 9,620,000
Stock of diamonds unsold at October 31, 1913 2,210,000
Operating profit 4,061,000
Dividends for Company 1,920,000
Royalty for Transvaal Government 2,400,000
Carried forward 528.000
MONTAXA-TOXOPAH MINES COMPANY
Monthly outputs and details of mine development of this
Company have been given regularly in this journal, and re-
sults for the year ended August 31, 1913. need only be
summarized now. Arthur H. Lawry, the superintendent, re-
ports as follows: Development covered 10,243 ft., against
10,076 ft. in 1912. This work was confined to the opening
of the different veins, and to the exploration of their walls
and blocks of unexplored territory on the various levels. Al-
though no new veins were discovered, bodies of good mill
ore were found in the undeveloped portions of each of the
known veins. The most important discoveries made during
the year were in the Shaft and Triangle veins, in which
good bodies of high-grade ore were found. The cost was $4.86
per foot, a reduction of 37c. from 1912. Ore reserves are
roughly estimated at 32,000 tons, as the veins are broken
and faulted. Mining cost $2.62 per ton. The mill treated
52,402 tons, yielding S97s oz. gold and 784,494 oz. silver, worth
$665,208. The recovery was 91.2' 'c. Silver averaged CI. 15c.
per ounce. A dividend of $100,000 was paid, $156,757 advanced
to the Commonwealth Mining & Milling Co., and cash assets
are $312,051. Detailed costs of mining and treatment will
be given in another issue of this journal.
COMMONWEALTH MIXING & MILLING COMPANY
This Company is a subsidiary of the Montana-Tonopah Mines
Co., and operates at Pearce, Arizona. A new 300-ton mill is
now in operation. The report covers the year ended April
30, 1913. The superintendent, Edgar A. Collins, says in part:
The past year has been one of preparation entirely, no ore
having been shipped. A certain amount of ore was neces-
sarily broken in the development and stope preparation work.
This has been hoisted to surface and placed on the mill ore
dump, or has been stored underground at some suitable point.
Shipments of old tailing, averaging 50 tons per day, have
been made by the Calumet & Arizona smelter under its con-
tract with this Company. Development covered 6773 ft., of
which 82% was away from the vein, at a cost of $4.11 per
foot. Station and ore-bin cutting cost 12.2c. per cubic foot.
The total ore reserves, averaging $5.35 per ton, are worth
$1,378,00(1. This is down to about No. 7 level. Churn-drilling
was done in 1912. but the ground was so bard and fissured
598
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
that It was abandoned. The cost was $9.57 per foot. The
new mill cost $335,271, supplied by the Allis-Chalmers Co.,
Mine & Smelter Supply Co., Oliver Continuous Filter Co.,
Stearns-Roger Manufacturing Co., Merrill Metallurgical Co.,
Pacific Tank & Pipe Co., and the Ingersoll-Rand Co. B. A.
Bosqui is mill superintendent.
VAN RYN GOLD MINES ESTATE, LIMITED
This Company operates on the Rand, and the report is
for the year ended June 30, 1913. It may be summarized as
follows:
Ore reserves, tons 2,064,529
Value, per ton $6.50
Ore treated, tons 456,190
Gold recovered £637,788
Dividends 237,500
Transvaal Government tax 25,598
Miners' phthisis expenses 4,618
Costs per ton:
Mining $1.85
Development 0.45
Milling 0.46
Sorting, crushing, and transport 0.16
Cyaniding sand and slime 0.36
General, London, and Johannesburg 0.54
Total $3.82
DALY-JUDGE MINING COMPANY
The Daly-Judge Mining Co. operates an area approximately
4000 ft. wide and 11,000 ft. long, on the trend of the Ontario-
Daly-Daly West vein system at Park City. Another group
of claims, of 120 acres, is in the Big Cottonwood canon, two
miles west of the main property. Formations are of altered
sedimentaries, quartzite, limestone, shales, and quartz-dolerite.
Dikes of diorite and porphyry are found filling several fis-
sures, according to a geological report by George D. Blood.
Normal faulting is a feature of the Daly-Judge area. Ore
deposition is closely associated with Assuring, the ore occur-
ring as fissure filling, as replacements of wall rocks and
of certain beds some distance from the fissures. Ore of mill-
ing grade greatly exceeds in quantity that which may be
marketed directly, but milling is done to separate zinc from
lead-silver minerals. The mine is operated through an adit
6600 ft. long, and a vertical shaft 1600 ft. deep. The former
cuts the latter at its 1200-ft. station, and serves as an out-
let for ore to the shipping bins and mill in Empire canon,
near Park City. Waste is hoisted to the collar of the shaft.
Levels have been driven from the shaft at 500, 700, 900, 1100,
1200, 1400, 1500, and 1600 ft. below the collar. Three levels
. have been extended from the Daly West into the Daly-Judge,
corresponding to the latter's 1900, 210Q, and 2300-ft. levels.
When completed, the Snake Creek tunnel will serve as an
outlet and drainage channel for the southwest portion of
the property. The general superintendent, O. N. Friendly,
reports to the general manager, G. W. Lambourne, as fol-
lows: A large number of improvements were made to the
main adit, such as 8000 ft. of new rails, replanking, timber-
ing, etc. Excluding work done in ore, development covered
16,461 ft. Good ore was mined from the Daly vein above
the 500-ft. level. At 700 ft., 5912 tons was extracted: 17,533
from 900 ft. and 5881 from 1100 ft. Fissure No. 1222, the
Middle and Back veins are opening well. On the 2300-ft.
level, on the Daly and Ontario veins, work covered 1654 ft.
Top-slicing was adopted during the year for the Daly ore-
bodies. The mill treated 48,943 tons of ore in 376 days of
8 hours each, producing 11,909 tons of lead concentrate, and
;;719 tons of zinc middling. Ore sold amounted to 4954 tons.
The year's revenue was $617,393; balance from 1912, $524,478:
expenses, $469,521; dividend, $180,000; balance at end of 1913,
$492,350.
Decisions Relating to Mining
East Tintic Decision Reversed
In a decision rendered February 2, 1914, the Secretary of
the Interior has reversed the former ruling of the Interior
Department in the matter of the East Tintic lodes. (41
Land Decisions 255). The effect of the new ruling is to
give the Department's approval to discoveries of mineral
made through diamond drill borings and to permit such bor-
ings to count as common improvements toward patent. The
new decision has caused rejoicing among Utah mining men.
Cancellation of Mineral Entry— Effect of
Where a mineral entry has been finally canceled bi order
of the Commissioner of the General Land Office after applica-
tion for patent and after acceptance of purchase money, the
mere fact that the money remains on deposit in Washington
does not create any equity in the land in favor of the appli-
cant. He is relegated to his former position as a mere locator
and if he fails to perform his annual assessment work during
the ensuing year, his claim becomes forfeited upon the sub-
sequent location by another person, made after the expira-
tion of said year in which work was not performed.
Shank v. Holmes (Arizona) 137 Pacific, 871. January 14,
1914.
Conflict Between Calls of Notice and Boundaries
In a suit on an adverse claim the defendant proved that
his location end-stakes were placed at a greater distance from
the discovery point than called for in the location notice.
Defendant claimed that the position of the stakes in the
ground should prevail over the calls of the notice. When the
survey for patent was made the lines were swung within
the limits of the marked boundaries so as to include some
rich ground claimed by plaintiff under a location junior to
defendants. Held that defendant could not make an excessive
location and then remodel it to suit subsequent developments,
and that in a case such as the one at bar the calls of the
location notice should fix the limits beyond which stakes
could not be set. Title to the disputed area was awarded
plaintiff as being subject to the valid junior location.
Swanson v. Koeninger (Idaho), 137 Pacific, 891. December
24, 1913.
Round Mountain Case Again
The Supreme Court of Nevada has reversed itself on re-
hearing in the case of Round Mountain Mining Co. v. Round
Mountain Sphinx Mining Co., granting a new trial. The
former ruling of the court that where the patent upon its
face showed a conflict in area and ambiguity, the field notes
were admissible in evidence to explain the ambiguity and de-
termine priority of location was reaffirmed. The court, how-
ever, reconsidered its former ruling that priority of a location
as shown by the field notes would open the case to a determi-
nation of its validity by the courts, as other elements such
as discovery might enter into the matter. It was held,
moreover, that as respondent had failed to adverse during ap-
plication for patent it was forever estopped from raising
questions not directly appearing from an inspection of the
patent and field notes, that the findings of the Land Depart-
ment cannot be set aside by a mere showing of apparent con-
flicts in priorities in the field notes, and that no conclusion
of law in favor of the senior locator can be presumed there-
from.
Round Mountain Mining Co. v. Round Mountain Sphinx
Mining Co. (Nevada), 138 Pacific, 71. January 3, 1914.
April 4. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
599
Physical Measurements. By A. Wilmer Duff and Arthur
W. Ewell. P. 244. 111., index. Philadelphia, 1913. For sale
by the Mining and Scientific Press. Price $1.50.
The third edition of a text-book on physical measurements
designed for college students and written by two professors
of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The book is in-
tended for laboratory work where the apparatus mentioned
is at hand.
Annotated Bibliography of Iowa Geology and Mining. By
Charles Keyes. Iowa Geological Survey. Vol XXII. Pp. 908.
Des Moines, 1913.
This Is an unusually complete bibliography and is of in-
terest and value to all who have occasion to study either
geology or mining in the Middle West, since Iowa Is but a
portion of that great region, and papers descriptive of it are
in the main equally descriptive of much of the surrounding
area.
The Electbic Furnace. By Alfred Stansfleld. P. 415. 111.,
index. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York. 1914. For sale by
the Mining and Scientific Press. Price $4.
On account of the rapid development of the electric fur-
nace since the first edition of this book, in 1907, the present
edition was necessary in order to bring the work approxi-
mately up to date and to include all recent developments
of importance. The second edition has been in preparation
for three years, and contains double the quantity of mater-
ial that appeared In the original book. The history of
electric smelting, design and operation of furnaces, and re-
sults of laboratory furnaces are subjects which are interest-
ingly covered at some length. The chapters on the manu-
facture of iron, steel, zinc, copper, nickel, and other metals
by means of electric furnaces are especially pertinent and of
great value. Mr. Stansfleld has contributed an excellent work
on a subject which is of growing interest to all modern
metallurgists.
The Mining Manual and Mining Year Book for 1914. By
Walter R. Skinner. P. 1240. 111., Index. Walter R. Skinner,
and Financial Times, London, E. C, 1914. For sale by the
Mining and Scientific Press. Price $6.
This Indispensable compilation is now in its twenty-eighth
year, and appears with its usual promptitude. The author's
preface briefly covers mining throughout the world during the
past year, and the current year's prospects. Seventeen pages
give statistics of gold outputs of the leading mines. As was
stated in the last issue, the volume is divided into two main
divisions, 'African' and 'Miscellaneous,' occupying 390 and 540
pages respectively. These give all necessary information on
mines in Africa and the rest of the world, whether they pro-
duce gold, silver, copper, lead, or zinc. A directory of min-
ing directors covers 202 pages; mining secretaries, 43 pages;
mining and consulting engineers, mine managers, etc., 35
pages; mining terms, X pages; and an appendix with new
company registrations up to the end of January 1914, 7 pages.
This book will be found useful in libraries, editorial rooms,
mining companies' offices, stockbrokers' offices, and by mining
men in all branches of the industry.
Detail** of Cyanide Pbactice. By Herbert A. Megraw. P.
215. 111., index. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.. New York, 1914.
For sale by the Mining and Scientific Press. Price $2.
Although the millnian who operates a treatment plant is
the best person to explain the sundry troubles and general
results met with, yet the man who has been through it all,
and visits other mills, is well able to study their practice and
criticize or compare It with his and other experiences. The
descriptions of plants in this volume were first published in
1912 and 1913 in The Engineering and Mining Journal, and
attracted a good deal of attention, followed by some discus-
sion on the points raised. The author's examinations included
the following: the Cobalt district, Ontario; Nipissing high-
grade mill; the Hollinger mill, Porcupine; cyaniding at the
Dome mill; practice in the Black Hills, South Dakota; the
Liberty Bell mill, Telluride, Colorado; practice at Cripple
Creek: practice at Tonopah; practice at the Nevada Wonder
mill; methods at Republic, Washington; the mills of Grass
Valley, California; the Gold Road mill, Arizona; two Arizona
mills; and discussion on various subjects. The presswork Is
generally good, but several half-tones are very poor.
How to Build Up Furnace Efficiency. By James W. Hayes.
P. 126. 111. Published by the author, Chicago, 1914. For
sale by the Mining and Scientific Press. Price, $1.
The way to build up furnace efficiency, according to Mr.
Hayes, is to teach the fireman how to do it, not by relying on
a consulting engineer's infrequent visits. The logic of this
argument compels respect, and Mr. Hayes has contributed
much toward putting his idea into practice by writing this
little book in so readable a form that the aforesaid fireman
can be reasonably expected to read and digest it. But the
reviewer closes the interesting little volume with words
suggesting that much of what has been directed at the fireman
is really intended to produce an effect on the manager, a sus-
picion confirmed by the epigram on page 26: "It is a short
distance, as the crow flies, from the manager's office to the
boiler room, but it is a dickens of a long road by the route the
manager travels." Not a few managers make a fad of motion
study in the shop, while dollars are being shoveled away in
the boiler room. The book is so interestingly written that it
holds the attention of the general reader, and even the man
who only uses coal for household purposes ought to be able,
as a result of the useful hints received, to save many times
the cost of the volume
The Copper Handiiook. By Walter Harvey Weed. Vol. XI,
1912-1913, P. 1413. Published by the author, Houghton, Michi-
gan, 1914. For sale by the Mining and Scientific Press.
Price $5.
The long expected and much needed revision of the Copper
Handbook has been accomplished and in the new volume is
found an enormous mass of useful information. Mr. Weed,
the new editor, follows the lines laid down by the founder,
the late Horace Stevens, but has introduced features that
give additional value to the work. The material is classified
into five parts. The first includes the usual detailed
descriptions of mines in North America. The second is a
geographical index which permits the quick finding of a mine
when the name of the company has slipped from mind. The
third comprises descriptions of mines in foreign countries
and here the detail covering South American countries seems
sure to be of large immediate value. The fourth part is a
handy compendium of the significant statistics of copper and
copper mining. The fifth part is a register of the dead cop-
per mines with reference to the earlier volumes in which
details will be found. Mr. Weed has wisely continued the
policy of including all mines that produce copper even if
the latter is incidental. The book becomes therefore, at least
in part, a general register of metal mines. While from this
point of view it is not complete, as could hardly be expected,
it is the best book available in this field. The careful reader
will note that the new editor's criticisms, if couched in less
picturesque language than occurs in the earlier volumes, is
not less penetrating and frank and it is evident that 'The Cop-
per Handbook,' which has become an institution, has fallen
into good hands.
600
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 4, 1914
The Neverleak Coupling
Air leakage is one of the prolific sources of loss around a
mine. At 80-lb. pressure it is calculated that a 1/64-in. hole
permits a loss of 0.33 cu. ft. per minute, and a 1/32, of 1.33
cu. ft. An air wastage of 100 cu. ft. per minute, the equiva-
lent of the output of a small compressor, would result from
75 leakages of that size. At the higher pressures now coming
into use the leakage would be much greater. In many a
Tandem Electric Locomotive
We print herewith a picture of the 4-ton tandem locomotive
used by the National Copper Mining Co. at Mullan, Idaho,
and described in the Mining and Scientific Press, February
21, 1914. The weight of each unit is 8000 lb.; length, 10 ft.
mine the pipes sing constantly and it is, unfortunately, the
exception to go into a stope or a heading and not find one or
more couplings that leak. The old style malleable iron union
depends upon a flat gasket. It must be screwed up tight and
the gasket must be in place or there will be leakage. In the
hurry of getting work started these simple precautions are
often neglected, and if no gasket be nearer than the shaft
bottom, the coupling may even be put in service without any.
Many attempts have been made to make a simple coupling
that would avoid these difficulties, and the Cleveland Rock
Drill Co. is now placing on the market a 'Neverleak' hose
coupling which, it is believed, does so. The principle in-
Sbroud, adding to
length of bearing and
preventing dirt from
entering coupling.
Heavy locking lugs—
absolutely no breakage.
U Shaped Gasket
which never leaks.
Gasket being in
groove cannot be lost
Groove for "Never
Sup" Clamps.
Coarse rounded
threads on hose ends
insure clamps holding
hose tight on coupling.
Long bearing points,
insuring long life.
Coupling has only three
parts — male and female
ends and Gasket
TANDEM LOCOMOTIVE.
5 in.: height, 3 ft. 2 in.; width, 4 ft.; journals, 2% by 4'in.;
diameter of drivers, 24 in.; wheel-base. 3 ft. 2 in.; gage, 2 ft.
There are two 901 B Westinghouse motors, running at 250
volts. The locomotive was built by the Baldwin Locomotive
Works, and the object of having two units was to get ade-
quate power on a narrow track, distribute the weight on
the rails, and furnish the extra power needed on the line
outside the mine without increasing the train crew.
The Denver Fire Clay Co. now has ready for distribution
its 1914 catalogue, containing complete descriptions and pic-
tures of all the various furnaces and fire-clay goods made by
this pioneer firm. In comparing this with older editions, one
is at once struck with the progress made in the use
of gas and oil as fuel in metallurgical work. Indeed,
the Company advises that "if you are using eoal,
coke, or wood, you are behind the times and are
losing money on your fuel bills.'' It was but a few
years ago that it was unsafe to use an oil furnace
because the irregular distribution of the heat made
it impossible to secure uniform results. That day,
however, seems definitely to have passed, and a be-
wildering variety of tried furnaces is now offered
for sale. Attention is called to the fact that goods
sold by the Denver Fire Clay Co. are manufactured
entirely by that concern, which not only mines,
shapes, and burns the clay, but casts the iron parts
as well, and, in short, controls the whole process of
manufacture. As no mine is complete without
some laboratory, this catalogue will be in wide de-
mand.
DETAILS OF THE COUPLING AND CONNECTIONS.
volved is clear from the attached figure. In place of the plain
gasket of the ordinary union, a V-shaped rubber gasket is
placed in a groove in such manner that the air which would
ordinarily cause the leak, expands the fold, pressing one side
against the male and the other the female end of the coupling.
Being held in a groove it is secure from loss. The coupling
may be put together without a wrench, has no projecting parts
to catch as the hose is dragged, and is so made, in 12 sizes,
that any male end can be joined to any female end, whether
hose or pipe. Construction details are shown in the figure.
Recent studies of mine-rescue apparatus point to
a reaction against the use of the helmet type of
pneumatophors. The trouble is that it seems im-
possible to always make a close and safe connection between
the helmet and the wearer's face because of the irregularity
in outline involved. In cases where poisonous gases are en-
tered, which are not odorous, there is a constant and unsus-
pected danger. For this reason the mouth-breathing appar-
atus is preferred, and in a recent report by Haldane the hel-
mets are severely criticized.
Rumsey & Co., Ltd., are distributing a small folder giving
details of their power pumps for industrial purposes, includ-
ing belted and electric-driven triplex types.
The Steyens-Adamson Mfg. Co.'s catalogue, section 3, No.
19, contains useful charts for calculating capacities and horse-
power of belt-conveyors, complete descriptions of 'S-A' appa-
ratus, and an impressive set of pictures illustrating the wide
variety of uses to which the belt-conveyors built by this Com-
pany are put.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.'
Whole No. 2803
VOLUME 108
NUMBER IS
San Francisco, April 11, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
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MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
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CONTROLLED BY T. A. RICKARD
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EDWARD WALKER ------ Correspondent
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
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Gniered at San Francisco lJo.stoffice as Second-Class Matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL, i Page.
Not, -s 601
The Maranon Placers Again 602
The Radium Hill 603
Powder, il Coal in Metallurgy 603
ARTICLES 1
The Mineral Resources of the Harney Peak Pegma-
tites i Victor Ziegler 604
Acetylene Lamps tor Metal Mines .. Frederick H. Morley 609
Bureau of Mines Building 612
Charcoal Burning for Prospectors W. H. Washburn 613
High Cost of Sand Shafts 614
Estimation of Gold, Silver, and Platinum by !• ire Assay
G. II. Clevenger and W. H. Young 614
Work at the Phelps, Dodge & Co. Properties in 1913.... 616
Cost of Erecting Treatment Plants. ,W. M. von Bernewitz 619
Mineral Production of Broken Hill 620
Mastic Lining for Acid Tanks 620
DISCUSSION:
The Rand Banket T. A. Rickard, J. S. Hook 621
A Correction E. Gybbon Spilsbury 624
Agitation at the Nevada Hills Alfred James 624
CONCENTHATKS 625
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 626
GENERAL MINING NEWS 630
DEPARTMENTS:
Personal $34
The Metal Markets 635
The Stock Markets 636
Company Reports 637
Decisions Relating to Mining 638
Recent Patents 638
Recent Publications 639
Industrial Progress 640
EDITORIAL
Z^IOOL, in Eldorado county, California, comes for-
^ ward with a story of a water can left standing on
an ore pile during an electric storm, and which was
found, when the clouds cleared, to have become gold
plated. Our correspondent vouches for the facts, so we
can but pass the matter on to the Electrochemical
Society for discussion at New York. "We had always
understood that clouds were silver lined, but appar-
ently they do things differently in the Golden State.
T ITI6ATI0N over rights in disputed ground seems
*-* likely to lead to a bitter controversy at Tonopah,
Nevada. The question at issue is between the Jim
Butler and the West End, and repeated conferences
have been held in hopes that a compromise might be
effected. Apparently all such expectations have been
given up and the courts must decide the matter. It is
greatly to be regretted that the long record for har-
mony maintained at Tonopah is to be broken.
*/^<OLD is where you find it,' according to the miner's
^-* adage, and from Siberia to the Rand the trail of
the prospector is marked with mineral locations attest-
ing the truth of this statement. Mr. Douglas Mawson,
of Adelaide, Australia, who has recently returned from
a two-year exploration of Antarctic regions, reports
the discovery of many mineral deposits in this far-off
land. While their extent could not be determined
owing to the depth of snow and ice. many of them are
reported as rich, and a coal bed of large extent was also
uncovered. It may be that further exploration will
prove that the rainbow does end in the Antarctics.
A FIRST regular meeting for the purpose of organi-
■**• zation of the Nevada Safety Commission will be
held at Reno on April 18. It will be remembered that a
Safety First Congress was held at Reno under the
auspices of the University of Nevada last January. At
this time a committee of nine was appointed by the
Governor to consider the advisability of a permanent
organization. The meeting on April IS will be for the
purpose of permanent organization and the adoption
of the constitution and by-laws. The work of the or-
ganization will be directed by a board of 75 directors.
which will be subdivided into six committees for the
administration of the different branches of the work.
The committees will be known as the mining, trans-
portation, agricultural, power, varied industries, and
602
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
publicity committees. The subject of proper repre-
sentation at the Panama-Pacific Exposition will also be
discussed at this meeting. From both a humanitarian
and efficiency standpoint, the safety-first movement is
of prime importance to both employer and emploj-ee,
and as such it is to be hoped that the work of this new
organization will meet with that measure of success
which such an organization warrants.
"TVTATTERS of much interest to mining men and
■"■*■ metallurgists not directly concerned will be pre-
sented at the meeting of the American Electrochemical
Society in New York next week. At the Saturday
morning session, Mr. E. A. Smith is to give a general
lecture on progress in leaching and electrolytic treat-
ment of copper ores in South America. One does not
need to be concerned with the technology of electro-
chemistry to appreciate the importance of the Chuquica-
mata to the copper market, and Mr. Smith's work in
connection with the treatment of Chuquicamata ore is
sure to be wide reaching in result. His paper will be
followed with a number of others dealing with ques-
tions of ore treatment and the advance announcement
indicates that the New York meeting of this most ex-
cellent society will be quite up to the standard already
set.
TyyriNEKAL production of Mexico for November 1913.
*^*- as compiled by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Department of Hacienda, shows a material decline in
practically all branches of the industry during this
period as compared with the same period of the pre-
ceding year. Coin silver, minor mineral products, and
petroleum showed a slight increase in exports, but
these by no means compensated the general decline.
The exportation of gold for the month under review
amounted to 1*2.561,941. while that of the previous year
was P3.561.599, which is a loss of 1*999.658. The de-
cline in silver production was even more pronounced,
the exports for November 1912 being 1*8. 158. 786. while
in 1913 they fell to 1*4.432.277. being a decline of
5*3,726.509, or about 48 per cent. The decline in cop-
per exports was most significant and due of course to
the rebel activity in northern Sonora and Chihuahua.
The exports of copper reported for November 1912
totaled 1*2.177,654. while in 1913 they fell to 1*243,216.
a decline of 1*2,177,655. The decline in the exports of
other minerals during November 1913, as compared with
the same month of 1912 was as follows : antimony.
1*52,644; asphalt. 1*41.526: marble, 1*62,500. the total
production for November 1913 amounting to only
1*2000; graphite, 1*42.200. there being no production
during November 1913: the decline in lead was $382.-
000; and zinc, $72,323, there being no zinc exported
during November 1913. Petroleum showed a gain of
1*599.637. The total valuation of the mineral exported
during November 1913, according to the government's
statistics, was 1*9,121.065. as compared with 1*16,066.-
692 for the same period of the preceding year.
pi ROWTH of the Canadian Mining Institute hag
**■* necessitated the establishment of a monthly bul-
letin in order that members may be kept in touch with
the activities of the organization. So long as the In-
stitute was small, personal letters and attendance at
the annual meetings served this purpose sufficiently ;
but the Institute is no longer small, its membership is
widely scattered, and, as is true of other national
engineering societies, only the minority can be ex-
pected to attend the meetings in person. Those who
have enjoyed the hospitality of the Canadian Institute.
while rejoicing in. the recognition of success implied bv
the larger membership, will hardly escape a feeling of
regret that the old days of a small circle of friends and
men who are more to each other than names has passed.
Prosperity has drawbacks as well as advantages.
The Maranon Placers Again
The recently issued first annual report of the Peru
Gold Placers, Incorporated, contains a reproduction
of the report upon the Maranon placers by Mr. Ray-
mond McCune with various accompanying papers. It
gives practically no information not made available
months ago. but is prefaced by a letter from the pres-
ident of the corporation. Mr. David T. Marvel, which
contains the statement that "Your directors feel con-
vinced that no question can be raised as to the con-
servatism, honesty, and substantial accuracy of Mr.
McCune 's report." This raises a question as to what
constitutes "conservatism" and "substantial accuracy"
in the minds of Messrs. William R. Bassett. Henry H.
Bowman. Alexis I. du Pont. Otto R. Hartmann. David
T. Marvel, Charles S. Miller, and John J. Raskob. who
are the directors in question. As we pointed out edi-
torially, February 7. the report is the very antithesis
of conservative, if judged by the standards of any
intelligent engineer familiar with the testing of placer
ground, and it is a play on words to apply to it even
the elastic term "substantial accuracy." Another in-
teresting feature of the report is the statement that
"Mr. Robert S. Miller, of Miller. Franklin & Company.
Efficiency Engineers of New York City, went to Peru
to check Messrs. McCune. Henry, and Menard, and his
report fully confirms their findings." Mr. Miller's own
letter, which is published with the report, is obviously
that of one totally inexperienced in placer examina-
tions, one who is merely an onlooker. Boiled down
to facts, he states that he saw gold in pannings from
over 75 per cent of the test holes. So did, it will be
remembered, certain investigators in Santa Domingo
of whom we had recent occasion to write. This is not
"checking" an examination, and Mr. Miller's "belief"
that the value of the property will be greater than
Mr. McCune has estimated, is deserving of all the
weight attached to the belief of any other amateur
and no more. Wonderful things are expected of 'effi-
ciency engineers' in these modern times, but some lim-
its must be respected.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
(303
The whole matter as heretofore presented to the
public is one of belief, not of proof. Furthermore, the
basis for the belief as yet advanced is not convincing
to men experienced in such matters. Indeed, capable
engineers who have made examinations, and thorough
ones, in the very district concerned, laugh at the claims
made by the Peru Gold Placers company. We are
disposed to believe that the directors are allowing their
hopes to cloud their judgment, but others are not so
charitable and protest that the whole matter is a thinly
disguised scheme to milk the public. Certainly any
director who cares for his reputation and who does not
know better than to allow his name to be used as in
this report, would do well to seek advice from some
experienced as well as trusted friend.
The Radium Bill
Washington has been much concerned these past few
weeks with various proposals to amend the mining law.
We have, from time to time, commented on the different
bills, and in our 'Special Correspondence' columns this
week we present a general summary of the present
situation. It now seems certain that the commission
to codify the mining laws will be created, that the
Alaska coal lands will be leased, and that acts pro-
viding the leasing of unreserved coal. oil. phosphate.
and potash lands, and the radium* bill will be passed
in some form. Probably none of these has excited as
much feeling as the radium bill. As reported to the
Senate in amended form this reserves to the United
States a prior right to purchase at market price,
radium-bearintr ores produced from claims on public
lands hereafter located. It also provides funds for
erecting and operating a laboratory for treatment of
radium ores for the government hospitals. These pro-
posals have called out violent opposition, especially in
Colorado, and the proponents have been equally posi-
tive that a vital matter was under consideration. We
confess that we have been unable to see any adequate
reason for all this excitement.
The therapeutic properties of radium are still largely
undetermined. In treatment of certain diseases, nota-
bly cancer, beneficial results have been obtained, and
competent medical practitioners believe that with large
quantities to work with, even better results, amounting
possibly to cures, could be secured. This, however, is
far from being as certain as many have been led to be-
lieve by the highly sensational reports that have been
printed. If, however, any such benefits are possible it
is certainly proper that every effort should be made to
realize them. In the meantime private concerns are
producing radium, though in small quantities, and the
price is both high and speculative. It is altogether
probable that the material can be furnished to the
government hospitals at lower rates under the terms
of the bill through purchase of the ore as proposed than
through buying the finished material as now. The ex-
isting refineries control their own supplies of ore.
They will be in no way dependent upon the Govern-
ment in event of passage of the bill. The only harm that
can come to them is through the breaking of a poten-
tial monopoly, since the Secretary of Interior will have
authority to sell any radium or by-products not needed
for government use. Lands located prior to the passage
of this act will not come under its provision, and, since
the matter has been debated for some months, during
which time the search for such lands has been active,
it may be safely assumed that the known lands are
already located. The ore taken by the Government is
to be paid for at market rates ascertained (not fixed)
by the Secretary of Interior and announced on the first
of January and of July for each year. Upon tender of
ore by the miner and its refusal by the Department, all
the rights of the latter cease. In effect the Government
reserves a perpetual option to purchase the ore at the
market price. It is hard to see how this can work out
to much if any hardship. It is true that it is a de-
parture from precedent, though that alone is not suffi-
cient ground for condemning it. The real value of
radium is still largely undetermined and the money
appropriated in this bill is properly to be considered as
devoted to experimental research. It may turn out
well or it may prove to be wasted, but the amount is
small in proportion to the possible benefits.
Powdered Coal in Metallurgy
Pulverized coal is to be used as find in the revcr-
beratories at Anaconda if all goes well. One of the
furnaces is now being fitted for burning powdered
coal and it is expected to be in operation by the middle
of "May. Space has been left for equipping the other
furnaces if the firing proves satisfactory. Burning
with powdered coal is theoretically a much more
efficient method of heat production than burning coarse
coal. In cement burning, especially, it has proved pos-
sible to realize much of this efficiency, but in that work
it is possible to allow for the introduction of the ash
into the cement by adding the necessary lime. In gen-
eral metallurgy the additional ash is not so easily taken
care of. and in experimental work conducted some years
ago by Mr. L. D. Ricketts, at Cananea. it was further
found that the ash formed a blanket over the charge in
reverberatories and slowed the work to a point where
it was not economical. It is to be remembered, how-
ever, that the southwestern furnaces work on a high-
ash coal. At Copper Cliff, in Ontario, the Canadian
Copper Company, using low-ash coal from Pennsyl-
vania, has used powdered fuel in its reverberatories
with marked success for several years. At Anaconda
the ash problem will be more serious than at Copper
Cliff and less so than at Cananea. There would seem
to be excellent promise of success, and doubtless the
impetus will carry the process into other plants. In
time, possibly, powdered coal will be used under boil-
ers, but the intensity of the heat will require radical
reconstruction of the fire-box from present styles.
604
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11, 1914
The Mineral Resources of the Harney Peak Pegmatites — I
By Victor Ziegleb
The Black Hills consist of a series of uplifted sedi-
mentary formations dipping away radially from a
central core of pre-Cambrian metamorphic and igneous
rocks. The sedimentary strata represent more or less
completely the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.
The pre-Cambrian rocks are a complex of slates,
phyllites, graywackes, quartzites, and a great variety
of schists, cut by basic igneous rocks now metamor-
phosed into amphibolites. All are intruded by a much
younger, but still pre-Cambrian, series of granites and
pegmatites which centre at Harney Peak. Here schists
are the more abundant metamorphics, while farther
away the slates take their place. The more intense
metamorphism of the pre-Cambrian sedimentaries near
Harney Peak is probably due, as has already been
pointed out by C. B. Van Hise*, to the action of the
igneous intrusion.
The general topography of the region is quite rough.
The granites and pegmatites when intruded in schists
are eroded into picturesque, steep and castellated
forms. The quartzites iorm usually more rounded but
still steep hills. The more silicious schists and slates
yield steep slopes and, when cut across the schistosity,
these are exceedingly rough and craggy, while slopes
cut along the bedding planes stand at 60° and 70°
angles, and often practically vertical. The streams are
only small but have great velocity and as a rule the
valleys are narrow, often of canon like character, and
only in the vicinity of Hill City and Custer do they
widen sufficiently to yield fair tillable areas.
The Harney Peak granite is rich in muscovite and
quartz, and has as the important feldspars orthoclase.
anorthoclase, microcline, and albite. Oligoclase and
rarely biotite are present in small amounts, while
apatite and zircon are the invariable accessories, at
times accompanied by titanite, garnet, and magnetite.
On the whole, the more typical granite is coarse in tex-
ture and shows frequent and irregular gradations into
pegmatitic varieties characterized by somewhat coarser
crystallization, and by the greater abundance of such
minerals as apatite, garnet, tourmaline, beryl, triphy-
lite, lepidolite, cassiterite, and other metallic minerals.
In these latter types the individual crystals attain a size
sometimes of one to two or even four to five inches in
diameter. The granites themselves as well as the sur-
rounding pre-Cambrian schists are cut by a great num-
ber of pegmatite dikes and pegmatitic veins. These
show all gradations from a typical giant granite into
well defined quartz veins. They are variable in com-
position, showing enrichment in a number of rare miner-
als and yielding economic deposits of mica, tungsten,
tin. lithium, rose quartz, and rare metals, as niobium
*Van Hise (C. R.) Geol. Soc. Am., Bull., I., pp. 203-244, 1891.
and tantalum. Beryl, barfte, bismuth, feldspar, and
phosphates may prove of economic importance in the
future. Some of the gold-bearing quartz veins in the
vicinity of Harney Peak, also seem to be genetically
connected with this granite intrusion. In the case of
the Clara Belle mine the probabilities seem to be in
favor of this conclusion. Gold, however, has been
found by assays in some pegmatites and tungsten veins.
Below is listed the principal minerals, and on the map
opposite the more important mineral deposits.
Albite Leucopyrite
Alkali tourmaline Liebenerite s
Almandite Limonite s
Amazonite Magnetite
Amblygonite Malachite s
Amethyst Melanterite s
Andalusite Microcline
Anorthoclase Milky quartz
Apatite Molybdenite
Aquamarine Molybdite s
Aragonite s Monazite *
Argentiferous galena Muscovite
Arsenolite s Oligoclase
Arsenopyrite Olivenite *s
Arsenostrengite (new) Opal s
Autunite Orthoclase
Azurite s Petalite
Barite Purpurite s
Beryl Pyrite
Biotite Pyrolusite s
Bismite s Pyrrhotite
Bismuth* Quartz, rock crystal
Bismuthinite Rose quartz
Bismutite s Rubellite
Black tourmaline Rutile
Brown tourmaline Scheelite (also s)
Cacoxenite s Schorlomite
Caesium beryl Scorodite s
Calcite (also s) Sericite (also s)
Cassiterite Serpentine s
Chalcedony s Siderite (also s)
Chalcocite* Smoky quartz
Chalcopyrite Spessartite
Claudetite s Spinel *
Columbite Spodumene
Copiapite s Stannite
Corundum *? Stibnite
Cuprocassiterite Struverite
Diadochite s Sylvanite
Dufrenite s Talc s
Epidote (also s) Tantalite
Fluorite Tapiolite
Gold (assay) Tellurite s
Graphite Tetradymite (auriferous)
Griphite Titanite
Grossularite Torbernite
Hematite s Triphylite-Lithiophylite
Hiibnerite Triplite
Ilmenite Uraninite
Indicolite Vivianite s
Kaolinite s Wad s
Lepidolite (lavender, green. Wolframite
yellow, colorless, brown) Zircon
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
605
S^c
i£>:^!
• J-b" -*t
■■«•' •-</■- ~'"J '.-4
& I m-*??.
I
MAP OK THE HARNEY PEAK DISTRICT, s. I>.. SHOWING PROMINENT ECONOMIC DEPOSITS GENETICALLY CONNECTED WITH THE HARNEY
PEAK GRANITE; BASED LTON U. S. GEOLOGICAL 8UBVEY TOPOGRAPHIC MVP.
A'77/y •• TUNGSTEN O^M/CA U'SPODUMENE n-ZtMBLYGO/Y/TE
m<L/TH/OPHYLITE ft-B/SMUTH 9 -ROSE QUARTZ ®- BARYTA
1. Tin Hill 13. Tin City 26. Great Wonder 38. Wood Tin ."0. Crown
2. (ilendale It. Xaiad Queen 27. Wolfram (B. H. T. 39 Cobalt (Margaret) SI. New York
3. Samelias 15. Deacon Wright M. M Co.) 40 ,,vk„ -L.. white .Spar
4. Cowboy 16. I in Queen 28. \ iday May ,. -■„.,,.,, r,, ciim-iv
5. Coates 17. Louise 29. Petlt's claims (2) ,' T-}""vil„ :' c ! r ut
6. G<-rtie IV Tenderfoot 30. Wolfram ,J- KlitfMIra <>*■ Crooks
7. Carnhrav IS. Old Jeff 31. Reinboid 43- Swanzey .;>». Cobalt
8. Snowshoe and 20. Annie 32. Perberite >' Bull Conn 0*. Keinbold
Tin Bell.- 21. Tin Boom 33. Bond (Beecher) 4fl- Etta '" • Lo,st Bonanza
9. Blue Bird 22. Mohawk 34. Tin Queen 16. Hugo 08. Russell
10. Olvmphia 23. Casslterite 35. Rob Tngersoll 17. Peerless ."■!>. Windowllght
11. Tin Plate ?». Blaek Metal 36. Tiger 48. Kverley 60. Scott's Rose Quartz
12 Sally Cavanaugh 2S. Good Luck 37. Nichols 4!). Jenssen
Opposite is a list of minerals which were collected is about $1,500,000 distributed as follows:
from the pegmatites and pelmatic veins. The letter Mica $llfi7 800
V after the mineral denotes that it is of secondary Lithium 14'i 000
origin. Those minerals starred are included as having rpjn ,UKi tungsten 100 000
been mentioned in the literature, but which were not Miscellaneous 30 000
collected bv me. The minerals in italics are or may
prove to be of economic value. The mca Deposits
The total production from the pegmatites up to 1913 Most of the important mica deposits occur in the
606
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
immediate vicinity of Custer. The position of the more
important is shown on the accompanying map. The
Lost Bonanza, Climax, White Spar, New York, Me-
Macken (or Crown), and Window Light mines near
Custer have been the most productive in the past,
while many other claims such as the Monarch, Last
Chance, Warren, Crook, and also the Christianson
(now Hugo), Etta, Bob Ingersoll, Wood Tin, and
Everley mines near Keystone have produced smaller
amounts.
The mica is muscovite of good transparancy and
clearness. It is usually pale rose or brown colored
and known as 'rum' or, 'wine' mica. This is usually
faulty in that the books are commonly 'ruled' and
'wedge shaped.' By 'ruling' is meant that they possess
an extra cleavage about perpendicular with the basal
cleavage, which causes the mica sheets to split up into
thin narrow ribbons. Wedge structure is caused by
the thinning out of the foliae in one direction between
cleavage planes, yielding wedge shaped sheets instead
of those of uniform thickness. The properties about
Custer yield the best mica and some good sheet mica
has been obtained here. Practically nothing but scrap
mica has been produced by the deposits near Keystone.
Nearly all pegmatites are intruded with their longer
diameter parallel to the schistosity. A number such as
the Etta, Peerless. Hugo, Wood Tin, Tin Queen. Ambly-
gonite, and others are roughly equidimensional in
shape. The deposits near Custer have been described
so admirably by Sterrettf that little can be added to
his description.
The mica-bearing pegmatites are mainly coarsely
crystallized quartz and feldspar, the individual masses
often being several feet across. Large crystals of black
tourmaline, irregular masses of blue apatite, and white
or green beryl are also present. The muscovite occurs
in crystal aggregates spoken of as books, which aver-
age about 6 inches in diameter, but occasionally reach a
maximum diameter of 21/2 or 3 ft. These usually occur
in irregular seggregated bunches or streaks along the
contacts. Frequently they are so spaced that their
cleavage planes are perpendicular to the walls, while in
some cases the black tourmaline crystals with which
they are associated have their longer axis in the same
position. Such an arrangement is noticeable in the New
York, the Bob Ingersoll, the Everley, and the Hugo
mines as well as others. The muscovite also occurs in
irregular shoots or pockets distributed through the
dike, but even these are more liable to occur close to
walls, and in these the books are liable to be of smaller
size. The muscovite zones are especially regular and
well defined along both sides of the dike of the New
York mine.
While the individual mica books in the pegmatite
near Custer average larger in size than those near Key-
stone, the other minerals of the pegmatites in the lat-
ter locality, with the possible exception of tourmaline,
tSterrett, Douglas B., U. S. Geol. Surv., Bull. 380, pp. 382-
397, 1909.
greatly exceed in size those from the former. It is also
true that practically all of the mica-bearing pegmatites
near Custer are very persistent in length and form
distinct dikes or elongated lense shaped bodies. Most
of the important dikes are narrow, varying from 8 to
25 ft. in thickness. Near Keystone the pegmatites
yielding mica are more prone to be irregular stocks
or thickened and shortened lenses, attaining a thick-
ness of 100 ft. and more. About Custer accessory and
rare minerals are absent in the mica dikes, while about
Keystone they are prominent. Tourmaline and apatite
are present in about equal proportions in both districts.
Spodumene, triphylite-lithiophylite, amblygonite, beryl,
columbite-tantalite, wolframite, cassiterite. and lepidol-
ite are absent from most of the mica pegmatites near
Custer, although in some others they occur in small
amounts. They may be found in most of the pegmatites
about Keystone and often in some abundance. Fluor-
ite is very rare and has been found in only one peg-
matite near Keystone.
Mica has been produced somewhat spasmodically
since 1879. The table below gives the approximate pro-
duction only, as no definite information is available,
but on the whole is believed to be nearly correct. The
value has fluctuated as follows: sheet mica from 7.2 to
33.3e. per lb. Scrap mica from $9 to $16.71 per ton.
1879-1884 '. | 450,000
1885-1898 8o,000
1899 ii8oo
1900 46,500
1901 23,000
1902 18,400
1903 io.OOO
1904 3,000
1905 5,000
1906 5,000(?)
1907 120,000
1908 104,000
1909 100,000
1910 87,000
1911 90,000
1912 5,000
1913 10,000
Total $1,168,700
From 1907 to 1911 inclusive South Dakota was sec-
ond in the United States in the production of mica,
mainly due to the activity of the Westinghouse
Electric Co. which developed several of the more promi-
nent mines near Custer and especially the New York.
White Spar, and Climax mines. In 1912 the Company
closed the mines and in that year produced mica only
from material on the dumps. The greater part' of the
production of 1912 and 1913 represents rough mica
shipped from mines near Keystone. Renewed activi-
ties are assumed for the Custer district for the coming
year, as several contracts have been made for mica
and as foreign capital has become interested in de-
veloping several claims. With some trivial irregulari-
ties mining for mica is done consistently but in a small
way near Keystone. The mica is shipped in the rough,
mostly to Chicago.
April 11, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
607
IX THE HEART OK THE HILL.S.
Tin Deposits
Tin first attracted atten-
tion in 1876 as stream tin.
In 1883 it was discovered
in place in the Etta mine
near Keystone, which was
at that time worked for
mica. Mneh interest was
aroused which culminated
in the organization of the
Harney Peak Tin Co. This
Company operated on a very
extravagant scale, huying
up over a thousand claims,
most of them without
making any examination to
speak of. Mills with large
capacity were put up near Hill City and Keystone, and
equipped with costly machinery before much was
known regarding the amount of tin ore actually avail-
able.
Five thousand tons of ore was broken down with-
out an attempt to keep it separate from a number
of different prospects, and was milled in 1892, yield-
ing only 14% metallic tin.1 The general impression
throughout the Black Hills is that the operations of
this Company were directed, to say the least, in a
thoughtless manner. The concern went into the hands
of a receiver in 1894 and its properties were tied up
by the courts until 1909. when the Pahasa Tin Mining
Co. was organized, which took over the holdings of the
Harney Peak Tin Co. A number of claims had been
meanwhile allowed to lapse, and examinations showed
that the tonnage of tin ore available would not make it
advisable to resume operations on the scale demanded
by the mills and equipment of the defunct Harney Peak
Tin Co., or by the capitalization of the Pahasa company,
hence the new Company refused to consider further
operations and at present is selling off the equipment,
and the various claims still in its possession.
There are in this district many tons of easily mined
tin ore which will average 1%% of tin and which
would repay mining operations conducted on a small
scale. The salvation of the district lies in one of two
things. As has been pointed out by Hess,2 a central
milling plant doing custom work, would allow a great
number of prospectors to take out the small amounts
of tin ore available in their claims, and could also be
equipped so as to handle the wolframite ores, and pos-
sibly columbite and tantalite. There is no doubt but
that a thorough sampling of a number of claims
will prove that a small concentrating mill — one of 20-
ton capacity — will easily pay for itself and yield a
handsome profit besides. The tonnage available is too
small, however, to think of maintaining plants of 250
to 300 tons capacity, as has been attempted. On the
whole, the activity of the Harney Peak Tin Co. is to
'O'Harra. C. C Hull. S. D. School of Minis. No. C. 1902.
JHess, Frank L., V. S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 380, pp. 131-103, 1908.
be regretted, as it has clone nothing but hinder the
natural development of the tin deposits, and through
its failure has, to a large extent, brought them into
disrepute.
Tin in the form of disseminated cassiterite occurs in
most of the pegmatites north and west of Harney
Peak. They may be grouped in two districts, centring
at Keystone and Hill City respectively. The deposits
near Keystone attracted attention first, and more
especialy the Etta Knob, where the Harney Peak Tin
Co. erected a mill costing $235,000. As far as I was
able to ascertain, there is probably as much tin in the
Peerless, Hugo. Bob Ingersoll, Wood Tin, Cobalt (Mar-
garet), and some other claims, as in the Etta, and the
tin resources of all together would not warrant the
erection of such a plant. The Etta deposit carries in
addition to cassiterite. a secondary tin mineral, eupro-
cassiterite. a hydroxide of tin and copper, which is only
known from this locality. This is malachite, green in
color, has a dull to waxy lustre, and occurs as a staining
or as a coating in veinlets. It is formed by the oxida-
tion of stannite (the copper-iron-tin sulphide), which
occurs in very small amounts in this pegmatite.
Most of the prominent pegmatites in the Keystone
district are thick, stocky lenses or irregular cone-like
masses. They are characterized by excessively coarse
crystallization and by an enrichment in lithia and
beryllium minerals. Thus individual masses of quartz
and orthoclase four and five feet across are common.
Amblygonite nodules weighing over 1000 lb. occur in
some pegmatites, as the Hugo, Peerless, and Bob In-
gersoll. Beryl, albite, apatite, triphylite, lepidolite,
graphite, and tourmaline occur in masses two to three
feet across. Spodumene occurs in crystals like logs,
often four to five feet in diameter and over 30 ft. in
length. Such giant spodumenes are further mentioned
in the summary of lithia deposits. Occasionally milky
quartz masses are 20 or more feet wide.
The cassiterite occurs only rarely in coarse masses.
or well defined crystals, but usually as pepper tin
mixed with little wolframite and fair amounts of
columbite and other rarer niobates, such as tapiolite
and struverite. disseminated in mica-quartz aggregates
which come in irregular pockets in the pegmatites.
These aggregates are irregular in distribution and oc-
SIIAll HOUSE, MOHAWK MINK, III IX CITY.
60S
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
currence. They seem to favor the contacts. They are
usually of small extent. In appearance they suggest a
'greisen' and they are frequently and incorrectly
spoken of as such. At times such greisen-like rocks
occur in segregations about the spodumene logs, as is
well shown in the Etta mine. It may, however, be said
safely that the pockets are so restricted and so spas-
modic in occurrence that they will probably never be
important as sources of tin. The only way in which
such ore can ever be utilized commercially is by recov-
ering the tin ore incidentally in the mining of some
other minerals. Man}- tons of good ore could be se-
cured while mining lithia minerals or mica, and some
of the foresighted miners in this district are storing up
their tin ore in the hope that a future demand may
arise clue to the establishment of a custom mill. One
other objection to the ore of Keystone district, and
more especially that of the Etta Knob, is the common
association of cassiterite with iron minerals such as
columbite, tantalite, struverite, and tapiolite. which
will cause impure concentrates. Electro-magnetic sep-
aration will probably afford an easy solution of this
difficulty.
The more promising tin deposits occur in the vicinity
of Hill City and follow in general the course of Spring
creek southward and northeastward, as may be seen
from the accompanying map. These are almost al-
ways in the form of well defined dikes and veins or
in highly elongated lenses. The more promising de-
posits are narrow and veinlike. The large and thicker
dikes, such as the Sally Cavanaugh, Coates. Tin Belle,
are pegmatitic in character, but they are fine grained,
furnishing a marked contrast with those near Key-
stone. Albite, muscovite of pale green color, and
quartz are the most prominent minerals. The individ-
ual grains are one-half inch or less in diameter. The
muscovite is usually well crystallized, and occurs in
especially fine prismatic crystals at the Coates claim.
Lepidolite occurs rarely, as well as black tourmaline
and fine red and brown garnets (almandite and spess-
artite). Orthoclase, microcline, and oligoclase are only
of very minor importance. Columbite in small amounts
is almost universally present. The cassiterite in the
larger dikes is black and shiny metallic, frequently
prismatic. It usually appears in shoots or pockets
which are free from albite. In most cases the whole
of the dike would be unsuitable as an ore, but it is
certain that in a number of cases there are in sight
several hundred tons of good ore, which would easily
repay a prospector for a season's work. On most of
these pegmatitic dikes little work beyond that required
for assessment has been done. There are some notable
exceptions, however. The Coates mine has been opened
by an incline shaft to a depth of 350 ft. The Snow-
shoe claim has a tunnel 500 ft. long. Small tunnels
are on the Tin Belle and the Tin City claims.
The tin-bearing rock in the other cases, as for ex-
ample the Cowboy, Cassiterite, Tin Boom. Mohawk,
and several other deposits, appears to be a gradation
toward a quartz vein. These are rarely over three to
four feet in thickness and are up to 500 to 600 ft. long.
They consist of an aggregate of medium-grained quartz
and muscovite, frequently with much graphite, and
rarely with columbite and wolframite. The muscovite
appears to be a sericite variety, and favors, together
with the graphite, streaks and seamlets in the quartz
along which the cassiterite occurs. The cassiterite in
such veins is usually of reddish brown color, and in
fairly coarse grains. The Cowboy mine, opened by the
Harney Peak Tin Co., shows a lens-like vein 340 ft.
long, 300 ft. deep, and from 2 to 4 ft. thick. It is
opened by inclined shaft and drifts to the 300-ft. level.
A number of similar veins occur about a mile north
of the Cowboy, and slightly west of Hill City, chief
of which are the Tin Boom. Cassiterite, Mohawk, and
Annie. Most of these veins show a quite variable
strike, but generally in a northwesterly direction. The
majority show a trough-like structure pitching down
northwestward. Four such have been observed. This
spot appears to be a centre of folding and faulting,
and it may be that the veins of one claim are repeated
thus in another. Several of these are opened by shafts
sunk by the Harney Peak Tin Company.
In practically all of these veins the cassiterite ap-
pears to be more uniformly distributed than in the
larger dikes, but even here, as must be expected, the
distribution is irregular to some extent. Several of
these deposits, if worked on a small scale, should sup-
port a 10 or 20-ton concentrating plant for a number
of years.
Most of the dikes and veins show horizontal offsets
on the surface, suggesting somewhat the shingling over-
lap of the magnetite and pyrite deposits in the pre-
Cambrian rocks of eastern North America. Whether
this shingling overlap is qjso present following down
the dip remains to be proved, but seems entirely prob-
able, as the dikes and veins must originally have been
connected with the main body of the Harney Peak gran-
ite, even if only for a short time. Such shingling over-
lap, not too excessive in amount, might add valuable
tonnage of ore to that already in sight in these dikes,
especially when we remember that the top of the veins
is an especially favorable place for the presence of tin
on account of the upward rising mineralizing solution
in which the tin is apparently readily soluble.
There was an attempt to mine the ore at the Gertie
mine, near Hill City, several years ago. A small mill
and a smelter were erected and some ore was concen-
trated and smelted. There was difficulty in smelting,
the methods not being well understood, and after a
thorough examination had shown the ore to be of too
low grade, mining operations ceased. It was simply
another ill advised mining attempt in which a mill and
surface improvements were put up before the ore de-
posit was thoroughly examine*, and before the rich-
ness of the ore and the tonnage available was known.
The total tin production has not exceeded 40 tons of
concentrate. It was mainly smelted in England.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
609
Acetylene Lamps for Metal Mines
By Frederick H. Morley
Not very many years ago the acetylene lamp was a ceptacle for calcium carbide below the water recep-
novelty, and little practical use was made of this means tacle; an opening or valve through which the proper
of illumination. There was such a general distrust amount of water flows from the upper into the lower
of the innovation that people were afraid to employ receptacle; and a burner through which the acetylene
the brilliant light which could be so easily obtained Sas escapes. These parts have, of course, undergone
from the burning of acetylene, and the fear of explo- n0 essential changes; but the lamps have been made
sions kept the carbide lamp in the background for a lighter and more convenient in shape, practical at-
long time. As improvements were made, and acety- tachments for carrying or hanging the lamps have
lene lamps came to be more generally known, they been added. and extra carbide containers have been
were found to be excellently adapted for use upon provided so that lamps may be used for eight or ten
bicycles, so that the 'bicycle lamp' became very popu- hours without refilling. To prevent the clogging of
lar, and its use spread to other fields. The first acety- the burner by soot, the gas is filtered by passing
lene lamps used in mines were probably converted through a wire screen and a felt pad. and extra air
bicycle lamps. I remember seeing one of these lamps openings are provided in the burner to insure corn-
used by a mine manager at Aspen. Colorado, about Plete combustion. Stoppage of gas may be prevented
the year 1900, and at that time it was considered a bv the "se of a cleaning wire which passes through
great novelty. A few years later, in Cripple Creek, the water-tube into the carbide. With many lamps
I purchased an acetylene mine lamp that was merely a smaH instrument is provided with which the burner
a bicycle lamp to which had been attached a heavy may be cleaned if it becomes choked. In some lamps
wire handle and pointed hook. Although somewhat the flow of water is determined entirely by the size
heavy and awkward, it proved to be highly service- of the water-tube, no valve being used, so that it is
able, but it was later displaced by the light and con- impossible to regulate the size of the flame or to stop
venient 'cap lamp' especially designed for mine serv- the flow of acetylene gas. In other lamps the flow
jce of water is regulated by a valve which can be ad-
Discovery and History justed or closed when required. The modern miner's
lamp is made of brass or galvanized iron, weighs from
During the past ten years the improvements in 10 oz. to 2 lb. when charged, and is provided with at-
acetylene lamps for miners have been enormous, and tachments by means of which it can be carried on a
with the gradual dissipation of popular prejudice cap, on a miner's candlestick, or with a hook and
against them they now bid fair to monopolize the en- chain.
tire field of lighting for metal mines, except where A Record of Tests
electrieitv is used in the drifts and shaft stations. „ . ' TT . ., . „, . . .... ,
, , , " ,. . . ,ao„ , .. lests made at the Umversitv of Ltah, in 1910. for
Acetvlene was discovered m la-Jo. but it was not ,, TT .. , „x „ ,±. J, „ . . „,. . „,
. •,' ,™« ., . •„ -ii the United States Smelting, Kenning & Mining Co.,
until 1892 that its use upon a commercial scale was , , .. „ ,, .. , .. l .
.... , ,. . „ _. T „.., . showed that none of the domestic lamps then tested
made possible by the discoveries ot I. L. Wilson, in ., , ,. , .. _ , . . . . ,
TT . , „,, , , tt t>t • • T-i .. would burn an entire shift, the carbide being exhausted
the United States, and II. Moissau, in France, that . „ . , „ , , „ . J?
... ... „ ,,.,;, m trom 4 hr. 25 min. to 6 hr. 50 mm. Two foreign
calcium carbide could be manufactured by the fusion . . . . , „ , ,r , ,, . ;,-
. ,. , , , . . „ „,. . lamps tested burned for 8 hr. lo nun. and 11 hr. 30
of lime and carbon in the electric furnace. This com- . . , , „ , . , _
. , . , , , , , ., min., respectivelv. on one charge ot carbide. Bv
paratively simple process was soon adopted, and the 1 ,. , . . ., , .
r , J »,. .-ji A-j means of extra carbide containers, the American
manufacture of calcium carbide became a great indus- , ,.,, ™ ,
. ,, ... T-, ., , , , lamps can be used tor an entire shut, the lamps need
try, especially at Niagara Falls, where an abundance r
.'.,*. i .i ™ . , to be refilled with water everv three to three and a
of cheap electric power was available. I he acetylene . ... , , e ., ,.
r . , , . . . , . , ... half hours. The results of the tests of the candle-power
lamp was introduced into mines slowly, and with con- » , . , e u
-, ,, ■••«. ,. ii u »., i j- of certain lamps were as follows:
siderable difficulty, partlv because ot the general dis- '
... „ . ' . , ,, v p .. Lamp Lamp Lamp Lamp
like for an innovation and partly because of the im- Beginnfng No. x. No 2 No 3 No 4
perfection of the lamps. At present, however, a num- lst hour 1560 2.94 5.05 9.40
ber of satisfactory lamps, especially designed for mine 2nd hour 15.80 3.18 5.15 10.60
use, are being manufactured, and the prejudice of the 3rd hour 16.80 2.95 5.29 2.96
miners against carbide lamps is rapidly changing into 4th hour "•«* 2.53 5.27 0.76
, . P ,, 5th hour 14.95 4.30 3.13
a strong demand for them. 6th hour 10.45 2.80 2.11
In its general principles the acetylene lamp has 7tn hour 10.25
undergone few changes, although great improvements ■ ■
have been made in the details. The essential parts Average 14.52 3.11 4.17 5.93
of a carbide lamp are: a receptacle for water; a re- The lamps tested were the Wolf, Baldwin No. 39,
610
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
Scranton, and Baldwin No. 32, in the order given.
When candles were tested it was found that the aver-
age candle-power delivered was 0.85 per candle. Al-
though the candle-power of most of the lamps is fairly
low, yet even the smaller lamps give as much light
as four or five candles, and the light can be accu-
rately thrown upon the place where it is needed.
Since the miner wants a good light at a certain spot,
rather than a general illumination, the acetylene lamp
offers great advantages in this respect alone. Large
lamps for the illumination of stopes have been used
in some mines with varying success.
In order to ascertain the extent to which acetylene
lamps have replaced candles in metal mines, and to
obtain the opinions of mine operators regarding the
relative merits of the two forms of lighting, the man-
ager or superintendent of 21 of the principal metal-
mining companies of the United States was asked to
give his experience with carbide lamps. These opin-
ions are so interesting and instructive that many of
them are given below in full. At seven of the prop-
erties, acetylene lamps are in general use, and in the
remainder they are used to a limited extent. In six
of the mines, tests are being conducted preparatory
to equipping the mines with lamps as soon as a wholly
satisfactory lamp can be secured.
The objections to acetylene lamps are numerous and
varied, but many of them can be traced to prejudice
and the dislike of an innovation. However, the prin-
cipal valid objections seem to be : the offensive odor
of the gas; the fact that many of the lamps are un-
handy for general use ; the time lost in filling, clean-
ing, and regulating; the likelihood of damage to the
lamps due to falls, and the difficulty of keeping them
in working order. There is a very general complaint
that the lamps get out of order too easily, thus caus-
ing much loss of time. In many mines carbide lamps
are used only by skilled men, such as the superintend-
ents, foremen, bosses, and surveyors.
Disadvantages of Lamps
One mine superintendent in Nevada writes: "From
my own experience with acetylene lamps, I have not
dared to issue lamps to all the men working under-
ground, as a slight fall or careless handling is apt
to put the lamp out of business for some time, or
possibly permanently. This would mean that too much
time would be lost by the miners in repairing their
old lamps or in hunting new ones." The manager of
a large Cripple Creek property says: "Acetylene
lamps have not as yet displaced candles to any ap-
preciable extent in this mine. Our reason for not
using acetylene lamps generally is that so far we have
not found a lamp that is perfectly satisfactory. All
those we have tried, get out of order too easily, and
thus provide the men with an excuse to waste time
in fixing or refilling their lamps." In addition to the
objections quoted, several operators have found that
in many of the mine lamps the gas cannot be turned
off. nor is there any means for regulating the size of
the flame. The usual type of lamp has the disadvan-
tage that it cannot be carried on the cap and cannot
be stuck into a timber or rock like the ordinary can-
dlestick, but this objection has been overcome by many
manufacturers who are now supplying cap lamps and
lamps with candlestick attachments.
Advantages of Lamps
In some of the largest metal mines acetylene lamps
have been in general use for several years, and have
given perfect satisfaction. With regard to the Home-
stake mine, T. J. Grier writes: "We substituted acety-
lene lamps for candles about three years ago. and all
of our 1025 miners working underground are now using
lamps. Allowing for reasonable fluctuation in market
prices of illuminants, candles cost about four times
as much as carbide. Properly adjusted, the acetylene
lamp is less injurious to the health of the operative
than smoke from candles. In the big stopes large car-
bide lamps are used which light up the space remark-
ably well, facilitating the work and making it pos-
sible for the miner to see and avoid rock coming down
the slope of the pile at which he may be working."
L. S. Gates, manager of the Ray Consolidated, says:
"There is no question but that there is a marked in-
crease in efficiency in our workmen due to the use of
acetylene, as the illuminating power of the carbide
lamp is far in excess of candles. This was forcibly
demonstrated recently when one of our carbide ship-
ments was delayed and the miners had to use candles.
They complained bitterly while this condition lasted."
Out of the 1400 men employed underground at the
Ray,. 1200 are using carbide lamps. In the property
of the Osceola Consolidated Mining Co., all of the
625 miners use lamps, and the use of candles or oil
was abandoned years ago. The management believes
that the general efficiency of the working force is ma-
terially increased by the use of lamps, and there are
fewer accidents because the working places can be
readily examined and made safe. At the United
Verde mine, 575 of the 600 miners use carbide lamps.
W. L. Clark, the manager, says: "We have been using
various makes of carbide lamps underground for the
past two years. Until recently, however, we have not
been able to get a satisfactory lamp for our timber-
men and have adhered to the candles. We are now
using the regular carbide lamp with candlestick at-
tachment, which seems to work out satisfactorily for
this class of labor, and many of the miners also pre-
fer the candlestick attachment. For shovelers and
carmen we use the Wolf chain lamp, and this lamp is
also used by all other employees working where there is
much draught." In the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mines,
208 of the 460 men employed underground are using
acetylene lamps. The manager of this property. Stanly
A. Easton, says that "the efficiency of the miners cer-
tainly increases by using carbide. We greatly prefer
acetylene lamps to candles because of the lessened
danger of fire. Underground fires in mine timbering
are goneral'y caused by snuffs and burning candles
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
611
carelessly left by the workmen." In the mines of the
Ohio Copper Mining Co., where 96 men are employed
underground, 37 are using acetylene lamps. The super-
intendent. F. E. Turner, writes: "We have increased
our efficiency very materially ; and at the same time
have lowered our.'eost of illumination, by the use of
these lamps. Most of the ram "jvho use the lamps
have to travel about the mine considerably. They can
get around faster and more easily with the lamp, as
it gives more light than several candles would, and
the light is as good while moving as when .standing
still. As it will burn brightly in places where there
is bad air. where a candle would not burn, men using
the lamp might work in such places."* This last, of
course, is a serious objection.
The Test of Experience
Tin- following table gives the essential data regard-
ing the cost of acetylene lighting in ten of the large
metal mines whose managers furnished detailed in-
formation. In eleven other properties carbide lamps
are not in general use. so accurate figures could not
be obtained.
x x ~. '. ~. n
If I sl 85 h ?5
_ - Z _ ~ 1
Name of company. a, ~ ■" ~ * ■ E -* -
zz § E~ ; "3 ■ J; ' -3
Homestake Mining Co 1025 1025 8.0 :i.50 1.75 7.00
Ray Con. Cop])er Co 1400 1200 9.0 4.50* 2.50* 5.00*
Quinoy Mining Co 1389 575 6." 3.50* 1.46* ...
Osceola Con. M. Co 625 625 6.0 3.50 1.38
United Verde Copper Co. . 600 575 6.5 5.50 2.2:! 5.40
Bunker Hill & Sullivan Co. 46<i 208 7.n 5.25 2.30 6.18
Calumet & Arizona M. Co.lOOn 60 7.0 5.50 2.40 6.64
Ohio Copper M. Co 96 37 S.il 5.S0 2.90 ...
Nevada Con. Copper Co. . . 200 20 4.0 4.67 1.12 3.27
Mammoth Copper M. Co 12 10.0 5.86 3.66 5.15
Average 7.22 4.76 2.17 5.52
'Estimated.
It is interesting to note that acetylene lamps are
in general use in most of the copper mines, and that
other mines have been slow to adopt this means of
illumination. In many of the gold and silver mines
lamps are being tested or are used only by superin-
tendents, foremen, and surveyors, according to reports
received from such mines as the Yellow Aster, Camp
Bird. Iron Silver. Tomboy. Liberty Bell, Portland,
North Star. Tonopah of Nevada, and others.
The choice of a particular style or make of lamp
depends largely upon the use for which it is intended,
and upon the experience and judgment of the indi-
vidual mine superintendent or foreman. The large
'whole shift' lamps, with chain and hook attachment,
are usually preferred for carmen and shovelers and
for the illumination of large stopes. The small light
'cap' lamps are satisfactory for general use, and the
same lamps with candlestick attachment are well
adapted for use by timbermen and miners working in
stopes. Extra carbide containers have to be furnished
with the smaller lamps. The large Wolf lamp seems
to be commonly preferred where a general illumina-
tion is desirVd. The lamps most generally adopted are
those known -ms the "Baldwin. Maple City, Justrite. and
Wolf. The prices vary from about 65c. for the small
domestic 'cap lamps to $3.75 for the larger imported
lamps. Medium-weight lamps of strong construction.
designed for superintendents or foremen, cost about
$2 each. All lamps are provided with reflectors of
sheet metal or brass, nickel plated on the inside surface,
that serve to concentrate the light very effectually.
These reflectors are from 2 to 6 inches in diameter.
General Conclusions
In conclusion, it may be said that the principal ob-
jections to the acetylene lamp are as follows:
1. Lamps will burn in bad air, thus exposing the
miners to a danger which would be avoided if candles
were used.
2. The first cost of equipping a mine with carbide
lamps is high, involving a large additional expense.
3. Lamps may be injured or broken by careless
handling or falls of rock, so that the cost of repairs
and renewals may be an important item.
4. Much time may be wasted by the miners in fill-
ing, cleaning, and adjusting their lamps, or in replac-
ing damaged lamps.
The advantages resulting from the use of lamps in
metal mines are numerous and marked. The most im-
portant points in favor of acetylene lighting are:
1. Lamps are not as smoky as oil or candles, and
acetylene is not deleterious to the health of the miners.
2. Since they are not easily extinguished, acetylene
lights can be used most advantageously in wet and
drafty places where a candle could not be kept burn-
ing, and by men who have to move about a great deal.
3. One small carbide lamp gives more light than
four candles, and the light can be concentrated upon
the sp<it where illumination is most needed.
4. On account of better illumination, the working
places can 1 asily examined, with the result thai
there are fewer accidents from falls of rocks.
•">. The danger of fires in mine timbering is greatly
lessened when lamps are used.
6. The cost of acetylene lighting per man per shift
is very low. being about one-third of the cost of light-
ing by means of candles.
7. The use of carbide lamps results in a material
increase in the general efficiency of the underground
working force.
Vertical depths of shafts at the Calumet & Ilecla
copper mine, Michigan, are as follows:
Feet.
Red Jacket 4900
No. 5 Tamarack 5308M.
No. 3 Tamarack 5253
612
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
■
iaiiiiip~- iT**iiw'j«
^r^rTii
*'LIMMM
Bureau of Mines Building
Plans for the proposed $500,000 experiment station
of the United States Bureau of Mines at Pittsburgh,
have been approved by the commission appointed by
Congress for that purpose. The federal government
now owns the property upon which will be erected a
group of buildings, especially designed and adapted for
the carrying on of the mine safety work and other in-
vestigations in which the Bureau of Mines is interested.
Congress a year ago, in the public buildings bill, author-
ized a new home for the Bureau of Mines to cost $500.-
000. It is now expected that Congress, in its present
session, will make a specific appropriation so that con-
struction work may begin. It is hoped that contracts
may be let by July 1. The Director is hopeful that the
buildings may be completed in the fall of 1915, when
they will be dedicated with suitable ceremony, includ-
ing a second national mine safety demonstration, simi-
lar to that held at Pittsburgh. 1911.
The commission which has approved the plans con-
sists of J. A. Holmes. D. C. Kingman, chief of en-
gineers of the United States Army, and (). Wenderoth.
supervising architect of the Treasury. The state of
Pennsylvania has appropriated $'25,000 for cooperation
in establishing this experiment station and has ap-
pointed a state commission consisting of James E.
Roderick, chief mine inspector; W. K. Crane, deanof
the mining department, Pennsylvania State College,
and W. H. Caverly. This latter commission has ten-
tatively approved the plans.
The buildings which will constitute the experiment
station of the Bureau will form a part of a most re-
markable and unusual group of monumental edifices
devoted to educational purposes. On one side the Bu-
reau's buildings will face the great group of structures
of the Carnegie School of Technology. On another side
is the Carnegie Institute, in which are the art gallery,
museum, and library. Nearby is the imposing pile of
buildings of the University of Pittsburgh. Other near-
by buildings are the Memorial Hall. Pittsburgh Ath-
letic and University Clubs, and the Hotel Schenley. The
site consists of nearly twelve acres of land, part of it
on the higher level of the city streets and part of it
on the level of the B. & O. railroad, which railroad
will furnish adequate facilities for passengers and
freight traffic.
The group consists of three main buildings facing
Forbes street and the several street-car lines from the
uptown district. The central building of the group,
the mining building, will be three stories in height,
Hanked by two main buildings, one the mechanical and
the other the chemical building. In the rear of these
and inclosing a court will be the service building. Be-
yond the service building and spanning what is known
as Panther Hollow and thus connecting the Bureau of
Mines buildings with the Carnegie Schools, will be two
buildings over the roofs of which will pass the roadway
from Forbes street to the Carnegie School buildings
and Schenley park.
Between the main group and the power and fuel
group will be the entrance to a series of mine shafts.
One of these will be used as an elevator to carry heavy
material and passengers from the lower level to the
upper; another will be for tests of hoisting ropes and
similar mining appliances: another will be an entrance
to tunnels extending under the buildings and in which
mining experiments, such as fighting mine fires, will
be conducted. The portion of Panther Hollow above
the Power buildings will be arranged as a miners' field,
the slopes of the ravine being utilized as an amphi-
theatre which will accommodate 20.000 spectators who
may assemble here to witness demonstrations and tests
in mine rescue and first-aid.
The main or mining building will contain the ad-
ministrative offices, and those of the mining force. In
it will be an assembly and lecture hall, a library, and
smoke and other rooms for demonstrations and train-
ing in mine rescue and first-aid. The mechanical build-
ing will be for experiments and tests of mining
machinery and appliances and the chemical building
for investigation and analyses of fuels, explosives, and
various mineral substances.
The buildings now used by the Bureau of Mines as
an experiment station at Pittsburgh were loaned to
the Bureau by the War Department as an emergency
measure when the Bureau was created. The "War De-
partment has suggested that it now needs these build-
ings and it is felt the Bureau cannot retain possession
much longer. The buildings are very old and are en-
tirely unsuited to the needs of the Bureau of Mines
work. It is said that the investigations have been ser-
iously handicapped by the inadequacy of the structures
now in use.
April 11, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
613
Charcoal Burning for Prospectors
Bv W. H. Washbuhx
Fuel for tool sharpening and blacksmith work is
often an item of considerable expense in the develop-
ment and operation of mines in isolated districts, where
transportation costs are necessarily high. Where suita-
ble timber is available charcoal made on or near the
premises is generally used, and is an excellent fuel for
this purpose. It is usually burned in heaps (called
pits1 covered with earth, or in ovens, or kilns, where
the demand and conditions warrant the expense of
building them. Besides these well known methods,
that of burning it in the tree, seems to be not so well
known or understood, though it is well adapted to loca-
tions where the timber is large enough for the purpose.
While the larger trees may be more economically
made into charcoal in this way. those as small as 2 ft.
in diameter may be used, with good results: though it
would prove more economical to burn several of these
at the same time, or at least as many as could be at-
tended to by one man at a time. The tree selected
should be sound, and free from wind-shakes, or other
flaws, that would allow the fire to find its way to the
outside, as about three or four inches of this part of
the tree must be preserved to take the place of a kiln,
to keep the air from the burning charcoal, except
what is admitted under control, through the holes
hereafter described. It should be so felled that it will
lie about 1 ft. or more from the ground, if possible,
so the horizontal holes may be conveniently bored. The
top of the tree is also usually left mi for this reason.
The first hole, about 2 in. diameter, is bored verti-
cally from 3 to 4 ft. from the butt, and to a depth equal
to two-thirds the diameter of the tree. If this hole is
bored too close to the butt, the fire will eat through,
and necessitate banking it up with earth, which is
sometimes a troublesome job. A continuous row of
holes is then bored of the same size and depth, from
2 to 3 ft. apart, along the tree as far as it is suitable
for charcoal.
A corresponding number of holes are bored hori-
zontally, from both sides, to intersect the bottom of the
vertical holes. After these holes are all bored, they
may be fired, beginning at the butt, by inserting a piece
of lighted candle, about an inch long, in a splil splinter
of pitchy dry wood, lowering it carefully to the bot-
tom of the hole, and adding more splinters until the
fire is well started. Repeat this process until all the
holes are fired, adding a few splinters here and there
to those that seem to need them, to give them all an
equal start. They are then allowed to burn about six
or eight hours (depending on the size of the tree, and
the nature of the wood), care being observed to pre-
vent the fire from burning the holes at their outer ends,
for about 3 or 4 in. to deform them, so they could not
be tightly plugged. The bark must not be relied on
for this purpose, as it burns too freely to be easily
controlled.
A number of plugs should be on hand, ready to plug
each hole when necessary to control the fire, and pre-
vent it from eating away the outer end of any of them.
Should this happen, however, at any time in the opera-
tion, it will be necessary to bank it up with earth,
which will have to be held in place against those that
are horizontal, by small cribs of boards or shakes. This
hother is well worth avoiding, however, by careful at-
tention to each individual hole: plugging those that
seem likely to burn through, until the fire is under con-
trol, when they may be opened again, though perhaps
HE F^
wa
w ^. i
k fjf '
"Wwj.'jfl
Wi
* ' " '""
\ i
-.r- a*
":>:&
&j%m*&~-- '-
r
I 'J
w
// 1 ■', 7
B-M
" i - -/.
■*■ ^
V.-\ >
-:■ J**
rasv • ._J
l.o<; ARRANGED I "It CHARCOAL ni'RXIMi.
only partly. If they are plugged tightly, too long, so the
air is totally excluded, the fire will die out entirely
after a while, which is to be avoided until the time for
finally plugging the holes to extinguish the fire.
The tree is allowed to burn about six or eight hours
according to its size and the progress of the fire. Some
of the holes will probably burn faster, and require
plugging sooner than others. The object to be gained
is to allow the fire in each set of holes to burn until a
cavity is formed, about ti or 8 in. diameter, depend-
ing on the size of the tree, and lined with live coals
around the original course of the holes, except their
outer ends in the sap wood. When this point is reached
the}' are ready to be tightly plugged, and the accumu-
lated heat in the tree will char the wood between
them. From the time the fire is started until the holes
are finally plugged, the process usually requires from
10 to 15 hours, some of them being ready to plug
sooner than others, of course. After the final plugging
the fires gradually die out for lack of air-while the
wood is being charred. The time required for the fire
to completely die out is generally about three days
and nights. During this time the tree should be care-
614
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
fully watched, to guard against the fire breaking out,
and perhaps consuming the charcoal before being dis-
covered.
If more charcoal than one tree will furnish is re-
quired, others should be worked at the same time after
the first one is safely started. When the fire is entirely
out, the charcoal is ready for use, and may be taken out
as needed by chopping away the side of the tree, as
shown in the cut, leaving the remainder safely housed ;
unless it is preferred to remove it all, to be stored else-
where. Charcoal properly made by this method, re-
tains more of the volatile matter of the wood than
when burned in pits in the usual way. and so is of bet-
ter quality.
High Cost of Sand Shafts
One peculiarity of the Lake Superior iron region is
the prevalence of thick sand overburdens. For under-
ground mining this makes trouble in sinking shafts
through the sand, especially as the material usually
contains much water and is often quicksand. This has
tended toward fewer shafts and more permanent con-
struction, and has resulted in the number of concrete
lined shafts sunk during recent years. At several
mines such unusual trouble has been encountered in
putting down wood-lined shafts, that a year or more
has been consumed in merely getting through the sand
to bed-rock. This was the case at the Tully mine at
Stambaugh, Michigan, where the shaft twisted and
caved so much in the sand that often the work ''was
not so far along when Saturday night came as it had
been on Monday morning." At the Maas mine at
Negaunee. Michigan, a wooden shaft was first attempt-
ed, using great care and doing prodigious pumping, and
it is related that the caving of the surface around the
shaft formed a great pit in the centre of which the
timbered shaft appeared "sticking up like a smoke-
stack." This shaft was at last bottomed in solid rock,
but it always gave trouble by getting out of alignment
so finally it was replaced by a concrete shaft, the large
steel headframe being moved to one side on rollers to
permit this.
When such unusual trouble is encountered in sink-
ing a sand shaft, the cost per foot mounts into extraor-
dinary figures. To avoid this chance of getting caught
in the quicksand, many of the operators took readily to
letting the contract for sinking through a deep over-
burden to bed rock to the Foundation Company of New
York. This Company sinks concrete drop shafts by
the caisson method and has a trained organization of
'sand-hogs' accustomed to work in compressed air. A
concrete shaft sunk under such conditions is of course
permanent and will last as long as the mine, with little
leakage, and requires almost no repairing. As the
work is dangerous and requires special knowledge, and
also because there was no competitor in the region, the
Foundation Company charged what seemed to be high
prices. An ordinary price for shafts over 100 ft. deep
was $500 per foot, thus a shaft through 150 ft. of sand
would cost as much as $75,000.
This Company is very secretive about costs and meth-
ods, but is believed to have made large profits on al-
most all its contracts. Outside engineers, who figured
on one shaft that gave unusual trouble to the Founda-
tion Company, estimated that the actual cost was $50.-
000, while the price received for 140 ft. at $500 was
$70,000. The time taken on this particular shaft was
about eight months ; so much trouble was encountered
that the general opinion prevailed that the contractors
were losing money. For the first four months and un-
til the shaft was 100 ft. deep, everything went well ; the
estimated cost of this part was about $50 per ft. includ-
ing cost of concrete which in the thick walls was a con-
siderable item. From 100 ft. to bed rock at 140 ft.,
trouble was encountered from a layer of hard pan or
broken rock that proved very hard picking for the
men who could only work 40-minute shifts on account
of the high pressure of compressed air necessary in the
caisson to hold back the water.
At this time about 14 shifts were worked per 24
hours, six or seven men going down each shift: every
man worked two shifts per day and received $4 for the
80 minutes of work. In addition several surface men
and much coal were necessary, so that the cost was
easily $250 per day. So slowly did the shaft drop down
that a foot a week was good progress, and for several
feet the cost was several thousand dollars per foot.
Even this high cost was probably lower than the
amount it would have taken to sink an ordinary wood-
lined shaft by pumping methods. However, as the ore
bod}- was estimated at several million tons, a good per-
manent shaft was a necessity.
Estimation of Gold, Silver, and Platinum
By Fire Assay
By G. H. Clevexgek and II. W. Yocxc.
The accompanying chart is intended to serve as a
general outline of the principal operations involved in
the fire assay of ores and metallurgic products for srold,
silver and platinum. Tt is general enough to cover the
crucible and scorification method of assaying as well
as all individual ideas regarding the application of
these two methods.
Platinum so rarely occurs as a payable constituent of '
ores that ordinarily no effort is made to determine it I
by the assayer. On account of the increasing demand
for platinum, determinations of this metal are now more
frequently called for than formerly. Dewey* has de-
scribed a method which is capable of giving accurate re-
sults and is particularly suited to the determination of
small amounts of platinum. We have therefore indi-
cated on the chart how this method can be applied to
the determination of platinum in conjunction with the
ordinary fire assay for gold and silver.
*The Direct Determination of Small Amounts of Platinum
in Ores and Bullion.' Frederic P. Dewey. Trans. Amer. Inst.
Min. Eng., Vol. 43, pp. 578-581.
April 11. 1914
vIlMNG AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
615
ESTIMATION of GOLD. SILVER and PLATINUM
in OPES <* METALLURG/C PRODUCTS Br F/RE ASSAY
ORE or METALLU06IC PRODUCT
\
A smalt representative sample
— oriaTe .
T
Portion taken for Assay
Possible constituents of
the charge before fusion
General Classification of Important Constituents
of Ores and Mefalluraic Products
Seneral Classification of Flu yes used in
Assaying Ores and Mero/lunjK Products
^c/ds
SlIlca/SlQJ
Bases
tfeabcing
xfgents
Oxidizing
Agents
Hnaliclmimt Meals
<Hr reunites (sought)
iron Omaw 0%cy |s#*«te (ffS)\maa*(*,'u\ **>(/*)
Iron OxuXe (r*,0.) *mn*s (»Js) ra.On*0i.OJ CocpvfCo)
.tltmmx Cm&tMKy , .ti'mimUQYSi) \Hma Dm (MHO,) Zrtc (7n)
Caawi CmrtomtiOtOil ynM - CnstVTcai Oox (CO.) -
• (MfCOJ SmtTrlr (C)
0,~r (r.O) !
Ornk (Mafi)
inn Or*tt (r»o)
Cakxm OxiatOcaOl
• (HgO)
■ e*.oj
Bismuth (Si)
Tin (Sn)
Cobalt (Col
Mc*el DVij
+tfimony (St)
4rMOK 0*8)
MJtur/umOW
S**r»um (St)
Sulphur (S)
l?\
6oldC4u)
S,A*rO*l)
Acids
Bases
Heducing
Agents
Silica (SKVUitharae (PbOJ
into- load Cut,",)
Aobss QrtXKfi CO.)
(MtSAI Sea Cart, (Ha.0 a%)
Sod Bicarb (Mtoxaiig
flour
ArgolflmcjtA)
Starch
Charcoal (C)
Cokt Dusttc)
iomrryr*(*l.)
Sulphur (S)
' - -hxiOV
Oxidizing
Agents
Metals
Maitrol
Fibres
litharge 0"hO)
Hiler (KNO.)
Matf Out 0*4)
Car 6 Olox (CO.)
'Oxygen (0)
■ fi&s<rwa f^yrrf
Test lead fPbJ
Sheet
5ltmrroX(Ao)
teodtObl MM
x4 5u<fa&e wet&rf of ore comb/next mth The proper proportion of appropriate fluxes
ana" suhiecrea' to tf/sion either by ft* crvci&e or scorificarton methoa in the case or assay-
ing frah araae ix/ffion the openrflon woo/a' hepr? at cupe/fation
Products of rvaksn
Leod(t%rton)
Qo/d and ei/vmr seporotea
*y cupeiiahon (brtdahonj
Slat; consisting longdy of
silicates and Powdts mttt *o$m
Oosk and** m eoAmon or *u»-
Vblattie conshtuertts
chiefly water and aarbon di-
aria*. Some carbon mon-
ornd*. sulphur dmnde, etc ,
tweeted
lead ana* rvfrrVum*
an* aO*or-£>*d by ft*
Rejected
ttortammg button may canton gold.
aitvmr *-W platinum
Button consisting aT
gold and stiver cawed obr*
htivghed- weighing (a)
ktquortat**'. {&tX*r oo&mo' >r
no? a? Most fwtct fn€ n-m^ht
ot the fold, antf a ionpe ervess
ot stfWr /s necessary /f /atotinom
m present)
fbrted with cf/tufe nitnc act? rvasMa w/th
distilled nyater. dr/ed ana4 annectlea'
Silver nitrate and ¥vasr)ings
Adid dilute hydrvaen
sulphide water
fitter, wash and
Aen/te lb me/dJlK
sponge
tVrwp metal/K spono*
m lead tint and ctfoe/
Hut with strong
sulphuric acta,
wash and dry
Wctafred- wetgh/na (<d)
Xe/ected
if pidtinum
is not present
(foAat
Ms/ahea- tvenahinp (Jb)
xMeight ot Platinum - ct
Weight of GokX - h
weqht of Sttver - a-rh*atj ftfpiatinum /s present/
tVeiaht of Silver - a-o /if platinum is absent/
United States or-** many foreign Countries, the ao/d, silver.
and platinum are reported" m troy ounces and decimals
thereof per ton of eOQO pounae avoirdupois
Certain Fnqlisn countries, ao/d, eitver and p/atinx/m are
reported m troy ounces, penny -weights and grains per ton
of 22dO pounds avo.raupos9 *
Mexico and certain other countries; Srfyer is reported >
kitos per metric ton of IOOO Jtlhs. gotd anc* pAdJrxjm in
grams per metric fan of IOOO kilos
616
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
Work at the Phelps, Dodge & Co. Properties in 1913
•As mentioned in the 'Special Correspondence' pages
of this journal of April 4, this concern's subsidiary com-
panies treated a total of 1,978,892 tons of ore yielding
155,665,712 lb. of copper. 5,701,628 lb. of lead. 32.037
oz. of gold and 2,073.376 oz. of silver in 1913. The
Phelps, Dodge company received $9,110,000 in divi-
dends from its subsidiaries and paid four dividends
amounting to $7,425,000 during 1913.
Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company
The separate reports of the general manager, S. W.
French; the superintendent, Gerald Sherman; smelter
superintendent, Forest Rutherford ; and G. D. Van
Arsdale in the experimental plant, contain the follow-
ing information : Development in the Limestone and
Sacramento Hill mines covered 92,780 and 7362 ft.,
respectively, while churn-drilling amounted to 10.830
ft. In the Copper King group work totaled 5141 ft.
Two important orebodies have been discovered, one at
the Lowell, the other in the Sacramento division. But
the most interesting development, in its favorable bear-
ing on the future of the district, has been the exposure
of ore on the Wade Hampton and White Tail Deer.
two claims long neglected, but members of large groups
owned by the Copper Queen to the west of Bisbee. The
policy of increasing reserves and carrying development
work well in advance of mining has been continued,
with gratifying results. The estimate of ore reserves
shows a total of 2,567,928 tons of average grade and
211,199 tons of lean sulphide in the Limestone mine.
Four methods of stoping are practised, the choice
depending on local conditions. The comparative costs
are:
-• Cost
""* Tonnage, per ton.
Square-setting 612,299 $2,113
Top-slicing 20,582 1.300
Cut and fill 58.239 1.400
Shrinkage 3>822
694,942 $2,028
Electric haulage track aggregates 9.6 miles of main
line.
A compound, geared man-hoist at the Sacramento
shaft has been added to the hoisting equipment. A
fifth compartment is being raised at the shaft, which
will be used for air mains, electric cables, etc. There
will be room for pump columns when needed. The
quantity of water pumped was less than usual.
The additions of two boilers and a 7000-ft. com-
pressor to the plant at the power-house were completed
as quickly as delivery of the machinery permitted, but
not before they were needed.
A part of the Lowell fire country was opened a short
time ago, and it was found that the 12-3-34 raise had
been burned out since it was closed. Gas is not now
♦Abstract from annual report.
coming from the bulk-headed area. Work about the
fire has been confined to repairing the air course to
the surface. The filled and abandoned 450-50 stopes
of the llolbrook have been hot for more than a year. In
July there was an appearance of gas on the 600-level
in which one man wyas overcome. The fire threatened
to be serious, and would have been so but for the efforts
to control it by Mr. Hodgson and his miners, who
fought it heroically at the risk of their lives. Three
men were saved only by artificial respiration and tfie
use of the pulmotor. Another fire in the Czar was due
to breach of rules. The eagerness with which all em-
ployees respond to the call of rescue-work and fire-
righting lias been most gratifying.
Positive ventilation was introduced at the Gardner
division, with great improvement in the working con-
ditions. Both temperature and humidity have been re-
duced. It is believed that economy has already re-
sulted, which will be more clearly shown in the future.
Change rooms have been built at the West Atlanta and
Sacramento shafts of the same type as the Uncle Sam
change room. A 'Safety First' organization was insti-
tuted among the employees of the mine department.
who meet regularly to discuss means for the preven-
tion of accidents. Frequent bulletins are posted and
otherwise distributed, describing accidents and
recommending means of avoiding them. This depart-
ment is under the energetic and intelligent leadership
of W. E. McKeehan, as safety inspector for the mine
and smelter, and instructor in rescue work and the use
of rescue apparatus and helmets.
Bisbee Production
During the year the following tonnages of ore and
slag were extracted from the mines and from old Bis-
bee dumps :
Shipped to Douglas: Tons.
Ore 712,444
Precipitates 603
Old dump slag 93,578
Old dump slag by lease 634
Ore from lessees 21,524
Flue dust from lessees 44
Ore for experimental leaching plant 4,765
Shipped to El Paso:
Ore mined by Company 14,800
Ore mined by lessees 773
Shipped to Globe;
Sulphide ore 18,316
Total 867,481
The ore shipped to El Paso contained 5.701.628 lb. of
lead, and that to Douglas and Globe a total of 16.213
oz. gold, 919.138 oz. silver, and 97,181.725 lb. copper
On the basis of raw ore. Moetezuma concentrates,
and secondaries, there was delivered during 1913 to
the cupolas and reverberatory furnaces. 1.193.726 tons.
Of this total 835.093 tons was ores to blast-furnaces.
April 11, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
617
161.707 tons to reverberatories, 37,556 tons to convert-
ers, and the balance, or 179.815 tons were secondaries,
retreated by the various departments. The shrinkage
at roasters was 20,445 tons.
The bullion produced was 13-4.513. 330 lb., which con-
tained : copper. 133.410.582 lb.; silver. 1.870.162 oz. ;
and gold. 31,141 ounces.
During the month of September, further experiments
on dust losses from the large steel stack, were made,
with the view to proving whether the present conditions
of operation as compared with those of the year 1909
showed any difference. It was found that the copper
loss had been reduced from an average per day of 14.-
310 to 2286 lb., with practically the same number of
furnaces and converters in operation.
Flue dust from the blast-furnace department was
39,748 tons or 3.92% of the charge, against 5.90^ in
1912, and 7.59% in 1911. An average of 8.08 furnaces
were operated, smelting 343.5 tons per charge per day.
usiny: 12.4^ coke per ton of charge. The matte-fall
was 18.79%. against 2(1.97', in 1912. An average of
5.97 roasting furnaces were at work, averaging 56.5
tons per furnace day. Flue dust equalled 5.2% of the
charge. Three new McDougall furnaces were added.
An average of 1.71 reverberatory furnaces was operat-
ed, smelting 289.6 tons per furnace day. A third fur-
nace was completed during the year. Part of the lining
is of ma<rnesite instead of silica brick. Oil consumed
was 0.9 bbl. per ton of charge. An average of 6.5 basic-
lined converters was operated treating 206,493 tons of
matte.
During the year 12.378 samples were made and 318.-
507 tons of ore handled by the sample mill forces. There
were 101.455 determinations made in the laboratory, of
which 95.435 were for the Company and 6020 for the
mines at Bisbee.
In the power-plant one 12.000-cu. ft. Xordberg com-
pressor for use tl onverters was installed. There
was 86.191 bbl. of California oil used at the main
boiler-plant and 161.536 bbl. at the reverberatory fur-
naces and roasters. The cost of a horse-power for the
year was .+54.844. or slightly better than last year, and
the average daily horse-power developed was 4595.8.
Improvements Contemplated
For 1914 both known and prospective changes are as
follows: (1) unloading and spreading device at roast-
er plant: (2) one large converter stand: (3) seven
more roasters, building to cover bins and conveyors, for
treatment of excess sulphide ores from Bisbee : (4)
skull-cracker for breaking converter slag shells: (5)
protection of tracks at ore beds; (6) the erection of a
copper casting furnace is under consideration ; and (7)
tower to remove crane trolleys.
The average number of men per day employed was
1039.
During the year an experimental plant was com-
pleted, and experiments were conducted principally
with the view of determining the best method of leach-
ing low-prade ores and the tailing from the concen-
trators. A Wedge furnace, of the muffle type, was
erected, which produced calcines containing a high pro-
portion of their copper soluble in water, and practi-
cally all of the remainder soluble in dilute acid, but,
with a high fuel consumption. The recovery of the
dissolved copper was effected by electrolysis, using
graphite anodes, and reducing the resistance and in-
creasing the yield of sulphuric acid, by injecting sul-
phur dioxide into the electrolyte. The results were
favorable, but several problems which presented them-
selves, as the experiments progressed, remain to be
solved, as well as a reduction of the high fuel con-
sumption, before definite conclusions can be reached.
Dividends paid by the Company in 1913 totaled $5.-
700.000, net earnings being $6,916,900.
Detroit Copper Mining Company of Arizona
The reports of A. T. Thompson, general manager:
M. II. McLean, mine superintendent: and V. P. Hast-
ings, smelter superintendent of this Company, contain
the following notes: Development in the Ryerson,
Yankie, Copper Mountain, and Arizona Central mines
covered 6197 ft., and in outside mines 18,492 ft. Ore
mined per foot of development was 28.583 tons. A
total of 533.563 tons of ore of all classes, averaging
2.89^ copper was mined from all mines. Of this, 518,-
718 was concentrating ore. A Xordberg compressor was
installed to operate a larger number of drills, and new
change-houses and other improvements were built. On
the outside mines development work was continued on
the Esperan/.a. Santa Rosa. Wattle. Fairbanks, and Sum-
mit claims, while exploration was started at the Gem,
Summit Xo. 2. Colorado, and Antietam properties. The
installation of new hoisting plants at practically all of
these properties, and the enlargement of plants at
properties under development, meant very high outlays
during the year. Power lines were built to some of
these outlying camps.
The concentrating plaid treated 517.518 tons of ore
averaging 2.785%, yielding 66.928 tons of concentrate
containing 15.834% copper. The saving was 73.52%
on the ore and concentrate, 75.18% on the ore and tail-
ing, 74.76% on the concentrate and tailing, and 75.27%
by assay only. Water used per ton of ore milled was
554.98 gallons.
The blast-furnace treated 141,094 tons of mixed pro-
ducts, using 16,099 tons of coke. The bullion produced
was 22.255.130 pounds. For some years past the ad-
visability of changing the method of smelting from
cupola to reverberatory practice, has been under dis-
cussion, and the old smelting and power plant was not
kept up to the standard of perfect repairs and effi-
ciency. On determining to retain the old system, a
thorough overhauling of the smelters, including the re-
placement of silicious by basic converter lining, has
been carried on. In re-designing the smelter plant and
improving smelting operations the officials were greatly
assisted by George B. Lee.
A total of 1510 men were employed. 946 working at
the mines. NTet earnings for 1913 were $1,112,870,
618
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
while during this period $780,000 was paid in divi-
dends to the shareholders.
Moctezuma Copper Company
This Company operates at Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico.
and the general manager, J. S. Williams. Jr.. reported
as follows :
The total mining done during the year amounted to
31,292 ft. Of this 8582 ft. was for stoping purposes and
Ihc remainder of 22.710 ft. for development work. This
is an increase of 40% over corresponding figures during
1912. Thirty-nine per cent of this development work
was done in ore. Beside developing ore below the
Porvenir adit large stopes of good ore have been opened
on two levels in ground that had been abandoned as
barren. During the year 1028 ft. of exploratory work
was done outside of the Oval, but no success in find-
ing ore rewarded us. The cost of delivering ore to
the railroad bins was decreased during the year, al-
though the total cost of mining was slightly increased.
This increase was' caused partly by higher hoisting costs
due to handling heavier tonnage from below the 700-
ft. level, bid principally to increased activity in ex-
ploration and development made possible by the more
general use of machine drills.
The concentrating plant treated 603.654 tons of ore
assaying 3.557%. and yielded 135.057 tons of concen-
trate containing 13.376% copper. The tailing averaged
0.67%, and the saving, by four methods of reckoning.
was S')°/( . Fresh water used per ton of ore milled was
1020.72 gallons. Concentrate is sent to the Douglas
smelter of the Copper Queen company.
Apart from unavoidable delays, work was suspended
for 58 hours on account of a battle between the federals
and the state forces, and for 153 hours by a strike of
the concentrator men. A series of smokers for the
bosses at the mine were held during the year, at which
safety measures were discussed. The results have been
good. The present power line between Nacozari and
l'ilares is too small to carry the necessary load. A new
transmission line, using heavier wires and steel poles.
is in course of construction. It was considered advisa-
ble during the year to reduce the working hours of
mechanics and laborers from ten to nine hours without
any change in wages. Net earnings of the Company
were $2,402,447. of which $1,950,000 was paid in divi-
dends.
Burro Mountain Copper Company.
This Company's mine is at Tyrone, New .Mexico, and
the superintendent. E. M. Sawyer, reports that the
Niagara haulage adit to deliver the ore from the Burro
.Mountain claims at the railroad terminus and to explore
the intermediate ground, was driven continuously
throughout the year and was the most important piece
of work. This adit was advanced 3753 ft., making the
total length to date 42S6 ft. Connections will soon In-
made with the fourth and fifth levels of the Sampson
mine at Leopold for the purposes of ventilation and
drainage'and for drawing ore from the east orebody
when stoping is recommenced. The bulk of the east
orebody lies between the adit level and 180 ft. above.
For 2500 ft. from its mouth, the adit passed through
solid, firm ground which stands well : beyond this point
the ground was somewhat heavier.
Toward the end of the year a prospect drift was
driven from the main tunnel at a point about 1200 ft.
from tlie portal and revealed a body of low-grade sul-
phide ore. A series of cross-cuts and raises in this ore
has shown it to be of considerable importance and so
far about 50.000 tons averaging 2.35% copper has been
added to the known reserve. No other prospect work
was done at the Chenung or Sampson mines.
A favorable site for the concentrator designed for
1000 tons daily capacity has been chosen about three
miles east from Tyrone. The ample space which this
site provided for storage of tailing was one of the ele-
ments which determined its selection. A central power-
plant. equip]x><l with two 1000-hp. Diesel engines will
be built at Tyrone, near the collar of No. 2 shaft.
Stag Canon Fuel Company
The coal mines are at Dawson. New Mexico, and the
genera] manager. T. II. O'Brien, states that the pro-
duction was 1,322.813 tons, a decrease of 60,749 tons
from 1912. Development totaled 30.226 ft. Concrete
portals have been erected at several of the main entries
and manways; fire-proof overcasts were also erected,
and every provision that could be foreseen was made
against accidents. The explosion in No. 2 mine on
October 22 resulted in the death of 256 men. The
coroner's jury, which exonerated the Company from
blame, was satisfied that the ignition of dust occurred
during working hours through a badly directed shot,
fired against the most rigid rules. The explosion was
propagated exclusively by coal dust, and was of such
violence that only 29 men in No. 2 mine escaped. Most
of those who met their death were killed instantly. To
guard against such calamities shot firing was effected
by electricity only after every man was known to be
out of the mine. Tn this ease a miner connected up his
charge by a long copper wire with the current of the
trolley system. The coke production was 293.090 tons
from 47S.473 tons of coal, equal to 61.32%. Net earn-
ings were $362,564. and $180,000 was paid in dividends.
Phelps, Dodge Mercantile Company
The general manager. W. II. Brophy, reported that
the gross sales and transfers in 1913 were $6,772,289,
showing a net profit of 9.28%. The stores are at Bisbee
and branches. Douglas. Morenei, Dawson. Nacozari. and
Pilares, and the increase of sales over 1912 was $628,-
933. The furnishing of supplies to troops along the
border and at Fort Iluachuca has also added to the
volume of our business at the Bisbee store and branches.
There was an average of 490 people employed at the
various stores and general office.
Net earnings were $649,518. of which $500,000 was
naid in dividends.
April 11, 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 619
Cost of Erecting Treatment Plants automat;c tr"™7-v fro™ ■** ^Jr* e^?? *"
& were estimated to cost $310,000. divided as follows:
_ ~T mill complete, $239,100; power-plant, $3."). 900; and
By M. \\ . vox Bernewitz shf)ft and mine equipment $35,000. The daily capacity
In view of the articles* on 'Under-Estimating the was estimated at 350 tons
Cost of Milling Plants,' by A. Sydney Additon, the fol- In several instances, notably concrete work and elee-
lowing cost of erecting two different types of mills trical wiring equipment, the estimates have been eon-
should be of interest. The Commonwealth stamp-mill siderably exceeded. Nevertheless, the installation as a
and cyanide plant, with mine plant, consisting of a whole will closely approximate the above estimate, as
crushing plant with No. <> and No. 4 Gates crushers shown by the table of costs below, taken from the an-
and revolving screen, etc.: a mill with an 18-in. belt nual report of the Commonwealth Mining & Milling
conveyor 300 ft. long 20° incline to mill bins; thirty Company:
a b c D E F
Crusher Stamp' Power Mine Surface Railway Undergrd. D Shaft Equlpmt.
Plant Mill Refinery Plant Plant Siding Plant and Timbering
Excavation $1,156.16 $ 7,358.57 $ 653.71 $ 712.64 * 155.39 $114.00 J 10.180 .47
SBBS^-Si"::::::::::-- *8J:8 %»S uiSS |§| fcSS a*™ «■« $ |
I3uildin£ Covering 656.81 5.333.21 314.08 549.64 81.o« 6.938.30
Doors and Windows 172.61 1,592.07 84.10 236.90 64.06 - .149. 74
Tramming and Erection ... . 538.10 6,723.47 59.90 276.16 385.45 J'rfiloi
Steel Tanks In Place 1,630.56 8.932.48 o'tss'tq
Wood Tank.-. In place 9,788.79 399413
Upfn^r0" '" P'aCe'- 29S0° 15 • 19°" 3.844.43 M"-M 1.159.52 l&SKft
piling E?ect.on-:::::::::::: TnS 2.055.75 w.00 8,044.97
Electrical Wiring Cost 6.076.70 581.7* o',??6?
Electrical Wiring Erection.. 2,014.11 303.50 ?,}li\
, Belting Cost 165.58 1,902.96 46.,.4 2'J«??
Launders Cost of Lumher. . . 775.15 iJ««
Launders Cost of Erection.. 197.45 1,378.78 ,,,.„„ s?oo'ac
Engineering Office 1.119.99 1.679.99 560.00 1.«?.99 Hl»?» HSSm
Engineering Field 737.87 1.106.80 368.92 .737.87 834.23 3,785.69
OVBrhnanntS a"d RepairinC 2,436.43 2,436.43
?Sji,.nBBI?"" ^ FenCe •■■ "7 " 887.02
819.6S3.51 $-03,784.16 $17,633.14 $54,250.42 $18,180.49 $144.00 $12,871 02 $8,754.69 $335,271.43
1500-1 b. stamps, arranged for coarse crushing; three The actual work of erecting this plant was done l>y
8 ft. by 30- in. Hardinge conical pebble mills: two 22 by contract, b.\ the Concrete ('(instruction Co. of Tucson.
5-ft. Allis-Chalmers tube-mills; one 20 by 4-ft. old style Arizona, and Campbell & Kelly. Inc.. of Tonopah, N'e-
tube mill (on hand i ; three Caldecott cones: three Dorr vada. The time occupied was about one year. Reek-
classifiers, latest types : two 38-ft. Dorr thickeners : nine oning on a stamp basis, the cost of this mill was ap-
12 by 36-ft. agitating vats (two on hand): four 42-ft. proximately $11,170 per stamp. The ore. according to
Dorr thickeners; four 11 by 18-ft. Oliver filters; two the annual report, will average about $5.35 per ton.
.Merrill clarifying presses; two -Merrill precipitation At Kalgoorlie. Western Australia, the Associated
presses : and two Donaldson melting furnaces: a power- Northern Blocks Co.. in 1!ll)3. erected a new plant of
plant with one 22 by 42 by 42 cross-compound Allis- 120-ton capacity. The estimate was about $170,000.
Chalmers heavy duty Corliss condensing engine direct The equipment consisted of the following: head-frame,
connected to one 750-kva., 3-phase. 480-volt generator 90 ft. high: two 1 bibcock & Wilcox boilers, feed pump.
with exciter, one C. II. Wheeler horizontal surface con- one Robey 250- h p. tandem-compound engine, one 25-kw.
densor. one 12 by 24 Pratt patent rotary vacuum pump, vertical engine direct connected to a dynamo, feed-
one 7-in. double suction centrifugal circulation water water heater, Pearn surface condenser, grease separ-
pump. one 8 by 8 vertical enclosed steam engine, direct ator, main drive shaft and pulleys, and friction-clutch
connected to pump, one 5% by '&x/-> by 5 horizontal pulley ; 400-ton orebin. No. 5 Gates crusher, and Robins
steam driven duplex pump, one 1200-hp. Stillwell open belt-conveyor: three Xo. 5 Krupp ball-mills, Krupp
type feed-water heater, two 10 by (> by 12 duplex screw conveyor, dust house and connections; belt and
plunger feed pumps, one 8-in. vertical steam separator, bucket elevator, orebin for fine crushed material, push
one 10-in. automatic exhaust valve, and one 4-panel conveyor, live Merton roasting furnaces. Hue and stack
switchboard complete with instruments; new D' shaft foundation. 100ft. steel stack and hot-ore conveyor;
and surface equipment : 47-ft. steel head-frame. 100-hp. six Forwood-Down grinding pans, and Krupp chain
double-drum electric hoist, two 3-ton skips; two 2-deck and bucket elevator: one set of settlers; five 22 by (i -ft.
man cages, one 1600-cu. ft. Ingersoll-Kand cross-corn- agitators and gear, and two vertical three-throw 10
pound Imperial type X3 compressor: air-drills and by 12-in. Pearn pumps: a vortex mixer and pump;
cars, telephones, etc.: new blacksmith shop, fitted with three Dehne 5-ton filter-presses, and fourteen side -tip
No. 5 Leyner drill, sharpening machine, etc.: Hunt cars; zinc-boxes, tilting furnace, amalgamating barrel
•Mining and Scientific Press. July 16. 26, August 16, 23, and clarifying press, clean-up press, etc., and solution tanks
October IS, 1913. and Sulzer pumps.
620
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
The actual cost was as follows:
Mill-buildings $20,640 Roasting furnaces .. . 38,900
Head-frame 8,150 Grinding pans $9,700
Power-plant : Settling boxes 2,880
Boilers 12,960 Agitators S.640
Engine 7,440 Mixer and pump 1,400
Dynamo set 2,880 Pumps for presses... 6.250
Heater 1,290 Filter-presses 1 5,840
Condenser and cool- Percolation plant (dis-
ing plant 12.820 carded) 7.200
Main shaft and pul- Clean-up department. 4,900
leys 2,40.1 Solution tanks 4.950
Crusher station and Sundries 3,980
orebin 11,700 General charges 5,800
Ball-mills 12,900
Total $203,620
This plant was erected by day labor under ■). II.
Dagger in about 150 days. Including some rich sulpho-
telluride ore shipped prior to 1903, the plant has treated
365,555 tons of ore. and a large tonnage of old tailing,
yielding gold worth $8,300,000. and $3.48.3.000 in divi-
dends.
Mastic Lining for Acid Tanks
Mineral Production of Broken Hill
The year 1913 proved much better than was antici-
pated. The industrial trouble expected at the end of
the year has not yet occurred. It looks as if the 18
months' extension of the agreement between the min-
ing companies and unions will be accepted without
further demur. If the miners and the small portion
of them that cause all the trouble are satisfied not to
make worry, the prospects for 1914 appear good. Dur-
ing last year there were two strikes which affected
work generally, metals averaged a lower rate, and a
water trouble caused sundry stoppages, yet the official
figures show an export record in the history of Broken
Hill, according to a correspondent in the Australian
Mining Standard.
Since 1907 the mineral exports of Broken Hill have
been as follows:
1907 £3,081,031
1908 2,015,647
1909 2,076,574
1910 2,432,935
1911 3,100.109
1912 4.1S6.200
1913 4,327,217
One marked feature of mining operations in 1913
v/as that exploration at depth opened new ore, and the
South, North, British, and South Blocks (Zinc Corpora-
tion) have all shown highly satisfactory results. Only
a few years ago the North and South were regarded
as almost worked-out mines; today they are in the
forefront. The British, also, was never before in such
a strong position. A comparison of the past two years'
results is as follows:
1912. 1913.
Tons. Value. Tons. Value.
Crude silver-lead ore.. 29,605 £89,140 24,754 £58,209
Silver-lead concentrate. 279,915 2,769,170 327,431 3,171,433
Zinc concentrate 433,054 1,320,666 405,740 1,088,313
Silver-lead slime 4.503 7,218 10,036 6,940
Zinc slime !.606 2-222
In connection with the operations of the Chile Ex-
ploration Co. in Chuquicamata, Chile, there has been
developed a new method of lining concrete tanks which
are subject to the action of sulphuric acid. The Com-
pany's copper ores in Chile are handled by the com-
bined sulphuric acid and electrolytic method. After
the ore is crushed it is put into large tanks or vats and
then leached with a 10$ sulphuric acid solution for 24
hours. The solution containing the copper is led
through another process for extracting chloride and
then passes to the electrolytic tanks. There the copper
is extracted and the remaining solution, which is now
increased in sulphuric acid, owing to the copper being
separated from its chemical connection with sulphur, is
then returned to the leaching vats ready for extracting
the copper from a new batch of ore.
It can readily be seen that the large tanks required
must be such as will withstand sulphuric acid, which.
of course, concrete would not do unless provided with
a protective lining. Experiments with tanks of va-
rious types were made, but in most instances proved
failures. It was then suggested that an especially pre-
pared acid-proof asphalt mastic lining might be used
to overcome the difficulties encountered. In coopera-
tion with E. A. Cappelen Smith, consulting metal-
lurgical engineer for the Chile Exploration Co., experi-
mental tanks, among them one 15 ft. high, lined with
Trinidad asphalt mastic were built at the research
laboratory of the A. S. & R. Co., at Maurer. New Jersey.
With these tanks there was duplicated as nearly as
possible the operation of extracting copper as it is car-
ried out in Chuquicamata.
Under the direction of Mr. Smith, various other ma-
terials were also experimented with at Maurer, but
they all proved unsuitable, with the exception of the
asphalt mastic. It was on the strength of this material
having shown no defects or deterioration after a year's
test that the Chile Exploration Co. has placed the con-
tract for lining with asphalt mastic some 150 concrete j
tanks or vats from 15 to 16 ft. in depth and from 120
to 150 ft. in exterior dimensions. The lining of these
tanks in Chile will require from 1250 to 2000 tons of
asphalt mastic, which is being prepared here and
shipped to Chile. The first cargo of 500 tons was
shipped in February, and as soon as it arrives, which
will take about three months, as the ship has to go
around the Horn, an experienced superintendent and
nine mastic workers will be sent to Chile to do the
lining of the tanks. The experimental work at Maurer,
the preparation of the asphalt mastic, and its applica-
tion to the concrete tanks was conducted by Henry
Wiederhold. manager of the Vulcanite Paving Com-
pany.
The Aramayo Francke mines, Bolivia, produced in
January 313 tons of black tin. 23 tons of copper, and
24 tons of silver ore.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
621
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
and other matters pertaining to mining and metallurgy.
The Editor welcomes the expression of views contrary
to his own. believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to the readers
of this journal.
The Rand Banket
The Editor :
Sir— Permit me to congratulate you on the publica-
tion of this excellent series of articles, together consti-
tuting a treatise on a subject of immediate interest.
Even to those having no first-hand knowledge of the
mining geology of the Witwatersrand it has been evi-
dent that in the ascertainment of the real structure of
the pyrite 'pebbles' would be found the key to the
origin of the gold in the conglomerate. Becker
recognized this in his able summary of the knowledge
extant at the time of his visit to the Hand. I)c Laimay
also was 'bunkered' by the "rolled pyrite" and the
"pebbles of pyrite."1 Even after two decades of
active mining, punctuated by the scientific investiga-
tions of sundry distinguished geologists, the origin of
these remarkable deposits remained hardly less obscure.
In 1907, J. AV. Gregory, in his valuable paper on the
subject, happens to quote from an editorial article by
myself in the Ena'tum iny ami Minimi Journal of October
17. 1903, in which I stated that "the origin of the
banket still remains the great riddle of modern econo-
mic geology." 11 is true, by that time the placer and
the precipitation theories had lost support while the
infiltration or lode tl ry had gained ground, but so
long as the 'pebbles' of pyrite remained unexplained,
one theory was as doubtful as the other. Despite the
early advocacy of the lode theory by J. S. Curtis, fol-
lowed by a number of mining engineers then resident
in South Africa, the riddle remained unsolved. Gre-
gory endeavored vainly to prove that "the placer
theory best explains the facts." To explain those facts
he had to trespass on the scientific credulity of his
hearers. The effect was unconvincing. He also ran
against the 'pebbles' of pyrite. only to reject the notion
that they we're of "concretionary origin." On the con-
trary he concluded that they were of alluvial character,
despite the suggestions, already published, both of
Hatch and of Horwood, that they were among the
things that "are not what they seem." To the discus-
sion that followed Beck contributed a comment that
was brief, but intensely effective; and Maclaren rebut-
ted an argumenl of Becker's that previously had been
a real obstacle to any ordinary lode theory. Becker
argued that a conglomerate was less porous than a sand-
stone, because the interstices of the former would be
filled with fine sand, but Maclaren suggested that this
involved the assumption, not warranted, that the inter-
iA8 mentioned in t tie article to which Mr. Horwood refers
and which I translated for the Engineering and Mining Jour-
nal, while editor.
stitial sand of the conglomerate was identical in charac-
ter with the mass of the sandstone, and that the intersti-
tial spaces within the sandstone had not themselves
been filled with finer silt.2 The filling- between the peb-
bles of the banket consists of fairly large grains of
quartz with heavy minerals, while the sand of the en-
closing quartzite was deposited with mud and felspathic
material, the latter appearing now as kaolinite and
sericite. Thus the sand, by pressure, became impervi-
ous, while the matrix of the conglomerate "protected
largely from pressure by the bridging of the larger peb-
bles"—as Maclaren aptly phrased it— remained porous
and percolable. This helps to explain why the gold-
bearing solutions enriched the conglomerate and avoid-
ed the intermediate layers of sandstone. It also gives
a clue to the reason why the richest ore is now asso-
ciated with large pebbles. Kuntz drew attention to the
fact that not only is the gold restricted to the cement
between the pebbles, but that the banket is barren
where the interstices between pebbles are filled with
sand. The fact that the gold is not concentrated along
the former bedrock— now the foot-wall— and that the
narrow seams of banket are richer than the wide ones
is suggestively against an alluvial origin. Moreover,
the effects of dikes and faults in modifying the distri-
bution of the gold and the pyrite associated with it are
dead against the 'fossil placer' theory or its ingenious
modifications.
One reason why the ordinary lode theory, of infiltra-
tion by gold-bearing solutions circulating along the
porous beds of conglomerate found so little favor was
because it was deemed desirable to mark the Rand de-
posits as unlike anything else of the kind, as an occur-
rence beyond the ordinary experience of mining. Either
the placer or the precipitation theory, with that hybrid
born of an unnatural union between the two of them,
namely. Gregory's idea of solution with re-deposition,
was regarded in a kindly way because it labelled the
Rand as 'extra-ordinary.' Thus Gregory argued that.
according to the placer theory, no impoverishment in
depth need be anticipated, while if the banket were a
lode of infiltration it would necessarily decrease in rich-
ness as great depth was attained. If the mining-
engineers and geologists of the Hand had been frank-
even at that time they might have spoiled the profes-
sor's argument, but they did not care to commit them-
selves to a statement unpalatable to their employers.
In the same way the discission as to whether the distri-
bution of the gold was in 'patches' or 'shoots' was a
mere 'sparring for wind' hiding the disinclination to
acknowledge that the gold was distributed in a manner
involving uncertainty as to the future of individual
mines. The denials that 'ore-shoots' in (he ordinary
sense are discernible on the Rand are now no longer of
any consequence, for ample proof to Hie contrary
exists. Indeed, much of the writing and talking on this
subject has to be discounted, from a technical point of
view, by the fact, as T have discovered, that the ante-
"Trans. Inst. Min. Met.. Vol. XVII. p. :,1
622
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
chambers of the financial houses are ill adapted for the
scientific treatment of such a subject as the distribution
of gold in lodes. Even Mr. Horwood, with so much
more information at hand, treats the subject in a very
delicate way ; indeed, he drags a palpable herring
across the trail by quoting the statistics of gold pro-
duction, which, of course, in themselves, afford one of
the least trustworthy pieces of evidence on the matter.
He mentions the Jupiter, the deepest mine on the Rand
(.-)(>40 ft. vertical) as being "worked at a profit." The
Jupiter has now been shut-down for sundry reasons, of
which the only one that counts is the relative poverty
of the ore. For the same reason, the Cinderella Consoli-
dated (4627 ft. deep) is also idle. However, it is fair
to recall the fact that Mr. Horwood controverted Gre-
gory's argument in regard to persistence of richness be-
ing allied to an alluvial theory, by quoting De Launay's
suggestion that if the banket were a placer deposit
then a diminution in richness would be inevitable as
distance from the former shore-line was reached. .Mr.
Horwood argues that if the banket be a 'lode forma-
tion,' then far greater persistence of ore can lie ex-
pected; he adduces the fact that the depth of the deep-
est existing workings is less than one-fiftieth of the
length of the lode as measured along its strike, and thai
owing to the walls being kept apart by the intervening
pebble-beds, the extent of profitable ore on the dip is
likely to lie equal to that ascertained along the strike.
This, of course, is a geological inference running counter
to established facts. Even on theoretical grounds it is
not convincing, for the downward continuity of ore is
not determined by structural conditions only. In-
crease of heat and of pressure are hindrances to thai
precipitation of metals on which ore deposition de-
pends. The further remarks anent the Rand "develop-
ing, more and more, into an enormous, well managed,
low-grade goldfield" are not at all to the point. Geolo-
gically the persistence of the banket is an interesting
fact : economically the obvious impoverishment of it is
n depressing factor. In this part of his treatise. Mr.
Horwood speaks with the voice of the geologist, saying
smooth things in the house of finance, although his
hands are those of an engineer. This is, to criticize
frankly, the one weak spot in his treatment of the sub-
ject, but I emphasize it more in a spirit of good humor
than to detract from the great value of his research.
As regards the placer origin of the banket, it is in-
teresting to turn to an undoubted fossil placer, in order
to see in what respects any resemblance exists. Among
several buried deposits of gold-bearing alluvium. 1 shall
refer to. the beaches of Nome, which I examined in 1908.
Three such deposits have been traced, besides inter-
mediate patches of minor extent. The First Beach is
on the present shore-line: it was discovered in 1899. and
has yielded $2,000,000 in gold. This deposit is still be-
ing re-formed by tidal action, but as first discovered it
represented the cumulative effect of a continued con-
centration of gold, garnet, and magnetite in the form
.if a fringe of heavy sediment at the tidal limit of Ber-
ing Sea. The garnetiferous sand containing the gold
is 6 in. to 2 ft. thick, and from 3 to 5 ft. wide, dipping
seaward at an angle of 5°. It has been formed by the
erosive action of the waves upon the edge of the coastal
plain, which terminates in an escarpment 10 to 20 ft.
high. The coastal plain is an alluvial delta having a
sea-front of 30 miles and a central width, to the foot-
hills, of 4 miles. It represents the detritus brought from
the hinterland by a number of streams that deposited
the products of erosion upon a bottom that formerly
was subsiding but now is undergoing slow elevation.
After the present beach had been successfully ex-
ploited, the others were found, partly by accident,
partlv by aid of geological inference. These other de-
posits are raised beaches, the Second being 37 ft. above
mean tide, and the Third 31 ft. higher or 68 ft. above
sea-level. Both of them extend in a sweeping curve so
as to form a fiat arc of which the present sea-shore is
the chord. The Second is half a mile inland, while the
Third is 3 miles, as measured northward from the beach
at Nome. Both were indicated by mounds of terraces
representing the line of former escarpments. The Sec-
ond is capped by pebbles and gravel containing water-
worn fragments of sea-shells. The gold lies on bedrock,
which is schist. Fully $2.f>00.000 has been won from
this marine placer.
The Third Beach is much the richest, having yielded
$10,000,000 in 7 years. It does not always lie on bedrock.
The section (Fig. 1) that I sketched in the Happy New
.'. »
<^3^^0sis0
Fin. 1.
SECTION OK THIRD BEACH NEAR No. 2 S1IAKT
OF Tllh: HAPPY NEW YEAH MINE.
A — B Two tn three feet of gray quicksand.
B — C Iron-stained pebbles.
C — 1> Gray micaceous sand.
D — K Sand, with pebbles of white quartz.
K — F The ruby sand, containing gold.
K — G Boulders of schist and limestone.
G — H Two feet of line grav quicksand.
Below H Schist bedrock.
Year mine showed about 2 ft. of gray quicksand lying
upon the schist, then 3 to 4 ft. of boulders with small
gravel, underlying the 8 or 10 in. of 'ruby sand' con-
taining the gold, which was readily visible when I ex-
amined a handful of this natural concentrate. Above
the deposit came sand with pebbles of white quartz,
gray micaceous sand, and iron-stained pebbles, making
April 11, 1914
VilMNC AND SCirNllH' PRF.co
623
7 or 8 ft. altogether, these being capped by the roots of
the moss that once covered this alluvial deposit, and
above that came the coarse gravel of the present coastal
plain, all of it frozen solid from surface to bedrock. The
gold-bearing layer elsewhere lies on a false bottom of
clay or on the bedrock itself. It has an irregular width ;
25 ft. in the richest parts, but reaching to 75 to 80 ft. for
considerable lengths. For instance, in the May Fraction
$330,000 was taken from a length of 110 ft.. 25 ft. at its
maximum width, tapering to 5 ft., and 3 ft. deep. The
depth or thickness of the gold-bearing layer is usually
3 ft. The productive portions of the deposit yielded
gold at the rate of 15 dwt. per cubic yard. The gold is
found to have imbedded itself amid the cavities and
folia of the soft schist, so that an inch or two of bed-
rock is always removed with the overlying sediment.
Space will not permit me to go into further details.
Such as I have given suffice to show a great unlikeness
to the features of the Main Reef series. The concentra-
tion of the gold to a narrow band, at most 100 ft. wide,
corresponding to 100 ft. on the dip of the banket, may
be imputed simply to the scale of the precedent geolo-
gical activities, but it appears to me to be more prop-
erly assigned to the essential limitations of such a pro-
cess of mechanical concentration along the sea-front.
Another ore deposit that provokes analogy is the
copper-bearing conglomerate of the Lake Superior re-
gion. One of the most persistent orebodies ever uncov-
ered by the miner is the copper banket of the Calumet
& Hecla mine, with its deep level, the Tamarack. This
banket is not the only one exploited for copper: indeed
the united thickness of the conglomerate beds in this
district exceeds 5000 feet. The pebbles are mainly
water-worn fragments of quartz-porphyry and allied
rocks, cemented by calcite, quartz, epidote. chlorite,
prehnite, and copper itself. While copper has been won
on a large scale from layers of conglomerate in the
Calumet, Hecla. Tamarack. Franklin, and Allouez
mines, at least one lied of sandstone was rich enough in
copper to be exploited, in the Nonesuch mine. How-
ever, the more numerous mine workings of the region
are in beds of cupriferous amygdaloid, such as have
given fame to the Qnincy, Atlantic. Baltic, and Wolver-
ine mines. Among the minerals associated with the cop-
per in the matrix of the conglomerate are at least three
that are prominent in the banket of the Rand, namely,
quartz, calcite. and chlorite. Xo effort has been made
by any American geologist to establish an alluvial
origin for the copper. On the contrary, it was early
recognized, by I'umpelly. that an intimate relation
existed between the distribution of the copper and the
peroxidation of the ferrous oxide in the encasing rock,
indicating the precipitation of copper from solution by
ferrous oxide, a reaction familiar in the wet metallurgy
of copper. As to the source of the solutions, there is
less agreement, but it is a recognized fact that the basic
lavas of the region generally contain native copper,
some of them lieing rich enough locally to invite min-
ing operations.
Besides the copper in the beds of conglomerate, and
in the amygdaloidal rocks, there exist veins formed
along lines of fracture. Some of these have proved ex-
tremely productive and contained masses of native cop-
per, the largest weighing no less than -120 tons."
The Calumet & Hecla conglomerate is from 10 to 25 ft.
thick, and dips from 36° to 39° northwest, the profit-
able portion having the form of an ore-shoot that
pitches north. It resembles closely the Allouez con-
glomerate, exploited in the Franklin Junior mine,
where I sketched it as shown in Fig. 2.
(gj^je««G1.0M£RAT£ (^^j COPPER [v^vj S A NO JTONt (^vUTK*P
Fig. 2. copf-kr banket in tiik franklin jcmok mink, mm iiican.
The conglomerate has a chocolate tinge owing to the
reddish-brown felspars of the porphyrite pebbles. These
range in size from a pigeon's <.-^^ to that of a turkey.
No copper is found in the foot-wall sandstone, but in
the deeper workings of the mine, where the sandstone
has thinned to disappearance, the copper is found ex-
tending into the amygdaloidal diabase underneath the
conglomerate. It is significant that a copper banket has
been formed by infiltration of solutions from which the
metal in its native state has been generously deposited.
in accordance with reactions suggested by the minerals
present. O. Fernekes and II. X. Stokes have made con-
firmatory experiments.1 It is not necessary to accen-
tuate the suggest iveness of these copper-banket deposits
in their analogy to the lodes of the Rand.
T. A. RlCKARl).
London. March 9.
The Editor:
Sir— In the part of C. B. Horwood's paper on 'The
Rand Banket' appearing in the Mining and Srientifir
Press, November 1. the author proceeds at some length,
on page 67(>. to show that volume changes in the re-
placement of quartz by pyrite in the formation of the
so-called pyrite 'pebbles', did not take place accord-
ing to the general statement by C. R. Van Hi.se.* name-
3'The Copper Mines of Lake Superior.' By T. A. Rickard,
1905. Page 103.
'Economiv Geology. Vol. II, pp. 580-584, and Vol. 1. p. fi4s.
•'A Treatise on Metamorphism,' U. S. fieol. Surv., Mon. 47
(1904). p. 209.
624
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11, 1914
ly. that "the volume of the original compound is to
the volume of the compound produced directly as their
molecular weights and indirectly as their specific gravi-
ties."
However, in attempting to prove his contention, the
correctness of which is not called into question, he
wrongly interprets the meaning of the above quotation.
This is indicated when he says "the latter part of this
statement means that the weight of the compound pro-
duced is the same as that of the material that has
undergone dissolution," and when further on he con-
siders somewhat in detail, the results to be expected
by using each part of the statement as a separate and
distinct proposition. The values for the pyrite vol-
umes which he thus obtains are obviously too great
in one instance and too small in the other.
The two factors, molecular weight and specific grav-
ity, cannot be considered independently. By definition
r = m/g where
v = molecular volume,
m = molecular weight,
and g = specific gravity.
The following operations are evident :
1) vg/m = \
2) vg/m = v'g'/m'
3) v/v' = grn'/mg'.
These equations hold true in comparing any two
solid substances. Substituting the proper values for
quartz and pyrite, we have that
the vol. of the pyrite 2.7 X 120
60.4 X 5
= 1.07
the vol. of the quartz
If. therefore, the replacing pyrite were deposited 'mole-
cule for molecule' its volume would be but 7% greater
than the volume of the original quartz.
Having concluded that the principle stated by Van
Hise is incorrect. Mr. Horwood says "possibly the
molecular volumes of the two substances * * * affect
the question. The molecular volumes of quartz and
pyrite are 22.8 and 24 ; there is so slight a difference
between them that, judging from the particular occur-
rences under consideration, it might easily be that the
volume of the pyrite is to that of the replaced material
either inversely, or directly, as their molecular volumes.
If so, the evidence indicates that the changes in vol-
umes are inversely as their molecular volumes."
Now. inasmuch as the molecular volumes vary di-
rectly as the molecular weights and indirectly as the
specific gravities, the author's statement amounts to
precisely the same thing as the quotation from Van
Hise. and Mr. Horwood is, in reality, indicating that
a possible relation exists, which relation he has just
attempted to disprove.
J. S. Hook.
Ithaca. New York, March 14.
Minimi and Scientific Press the account of the presen-
tation function of the Mining and Metallurgical Society
medal to Mr. Hoover, in which the sole credit is given
to me for the souvenir program. This is entirely wron<;,
as the credit should be given to James F. Kemp, my
part in the work being that of carrying out Mr. Kemp's
clever suggestions. Will you please have this matter
corrected in your journal, as I do not care to be sail-
ing under false colors.
E. Gybbox Spilsbury.
New York. March 28.
A Correction
The Editor:
Sir — I have just noticed in the last number of the
Agitation at the Nevada Hills
The Editor:
Sir — Mr. Eames has earned our gratitude by his let-
ter in your issue of February 28, in which he comments
on the figure of costs which I quoted from Mr. Megraw's
valuable article in the Engineering and Mining Journal
of March 29. 1913. Had Mr. Eames given the detailed
figures on which the costs were based when this arti-
cle first appeared, I would have with pleasure referred
to his statement in my 'Annual Review.' As it was, I
wiis anxious to have some such statement as that which
Mr. Eames has now given us. as it was difficult to con-
ceive how it could be that the costs of practically the
same method at two different mines — I did not refer
to the still cheaper agitation cost by a different method
at the Goldfield Consolidated or elsewhere — could dif-
fer so greatly.
To all of us who have to conduct tests on the treat-
ment of refractory silver ores a scheme of interrupted
agitation is apt to commend itself, and we may perhaps
have gone so far as to design equipment based on this,
but the Nevada Hills figures tended to blight our hopes.
the more so as immediately prior to the statement of
operating costs was the statement of chemical eon-
sumption in detail with no reference to the fact that
the costs for this were included under Settling and
Agitating. But we are glad to have .Mi-. Eames' figures,
even though the cost of $0,167 for power and labor for
48 hours agitation seems heavy when contrasted with,
say. the costs of prolonged agitation at the Hacienda.
San Francisco, or San Rafael installations.
In pioneering new practice one may not at the out-
set attain the results readily accomplished when greater
experience has been gained, and it is just such new
practice as has been carried out by the Nevada Hills
company which we anxiously watch in the hope that it
may prove a step toward the solution of our difficulties
in the treatment of certain ores. But Mr. Eames is
silent as to my point that even in spite of the inter-
rupted agitation and the heavy cost of this, the cost for
filtration is still abnormal : it has been suggested that
interrupted agitation combined with the counter cur-
rent decantation of the rich solutions should result in
rendering possible, if not the entire displacement of
filtration, the relegation of this to a secondary place.
Alfred James.
London. March 18. 1914.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
625
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with the practice of mining, milling,
and smeltng.
tion. and estimating the C'aO remaining in solution after
the precipitation of the magnesium salts, by titration
with acid. The CaO required to precipitate the mag-
nesium salts is about 0.8 lb. per ton of solution.
Carbon costs, in diamond-drilling at the Goldfield
Consolidated mine last year, were 71 cents per foot
drilled.
Sinking the new 18-ft. diameter circular shaft of the
Crown Mines, Ltd.. on the Rand, covered 187 ft. in
January, against 217 ft. in November. It is now 1202
ft. deep.
Bodlanger suggests that the following reactions take
place when gold is dissolved in cyanide solution:
2Au— 4K( :N+2H,0+02= 2AuK( !N,+2KOH-f-2HA
IIA+4KCX^2Au==2KAuOX.,+2KOII
Ore broken in the Mt. Morgan mine. Queensland,
amounted to 2.5 tons per 8-hour shift during the past
half-year. The ore handled per underground employee
was 1.32 tons. Miners on contract averaged $4.17. and
shovelers $3.28 per shift.
Coal resources of Queensland. Australia, are estimat-
ed by the government geologist, Benjamin Dunstan, as
409,700,000 tons actual, and 2.201.300.000 tons probable
reserves, in the total area of 070.500 sq. mi. Seams
not less than 12 in. thick, down to 1000 ft. are included.
The new tube-mill plant at the Knight's mill, on the
Rand, consists of five 16.5 ft. by 6 ft. diameter mills
fitted with Schmidt feeders and Osborne liners, and
driven by motors. The drive end is the discharge end.
In December, according to The South African Minimi
Journal, four mills and 22(1 stamps crushed 38.830 tons
of ore. equal to 6.6 tons per stamp day. The full
equipment has a capacity of 45.000 tons per month. In
September last, before the tube-mills were installed,
the residue contained 0.487 dwt. per ton, but this has
now been reduced to 0,262 dwt. per ton, at a cost of
12 cents per ton.
Testing cyanide solutions at the Lake View mill. Kal-
goorlie. is done as follows, according to .]. I\ Caddy:
Cyanide: Take 20 c.c. of solution, add 2 to 4 drops
of neutral 107t Kl solution and titrate with AgXO.,
solution (lc.c. = 0.01'; KCN) to yellow color.
Protective Alkali: Take 20 c.c. of solution, add
double the amount of AgX03 solution required for the
cyanide test, and titrate with X/100 KOII or IIC1 with
phenolphthalein indicator. By this test the solution ap-
pears slightly acid, requiring about 1 c.c. X 100 KOII
to neutralize. (The addition of excess K4Fe('\„ before
adding AgXO.., makes a slight difference to the titra-
tion, but no protective alkali is indicated.)
As an indication of the amount of magnesium salts
in solution, a daily test is made by adding 100 c.c. of
saturated lime water to 100 c.c. of the cyanide solu-
Gold is used only in a very limited degree to color
glass. It may be used according to circumstances to
impart either a ruby, carmine, or pink color. It is
used in the form of oxide and purple of cassius (a
mixture of tin and gold) and sometimes in the form of
gold leaf. The metal is added while the glass is in the
molten state and on the first cooling the glass is still
colorless, and it is only when re-heated that the light
red color appears, and it increases in intensity until
it finally will turn black. This colored glass can
again be rendered colorless by fusion and slow cool-
ing; its color is again produced by a repetition of the
heating process. If however, it is suddenly cooled, it
cannot again be made to resume its ruby color. This
should prove that no chemical change takes place, and
that all the phenomena are due to molecular structure
alteration. The Bohemian ruby glass is made by melt-
ing fulminating gold with oil of turpentine and other
ingredients and it has been estimated that about one-
twentieth of a grain of gold is combined with about 150
parts of glass ingredients. Copper is more generally
employed to color glass red. and the use of this metal
for this purpose dates far back into antiquity and all
through the Middle Ages it was employed to produce
the reds which we see in the fine old windows left by
our ancestors for our admiration.
Compounds in cyanide solutions have interfered with
the assay of the latter by the lead acetate method, ac-
cording to (i. Simpson, of the Ketahocn mine. Sumatra.
J. C. Clennell. when asked to explain this, said that in
the ease of a solution from Central America, containing
copper. feiTocyanide. and molybdenum as the chief im-
purities, a finely divided blackish brown turbidity oc-
curred on adding zinc dust and lead acetate, and acid-
ulating. This would Not settle in a dense form and
was extremely tedious to filter, though the precipita-
tion of gold and silver was apparently complete, as re-
treatment of the filtrate with fresh zinc dust, etc., gave
practically no further amount of precious metal. In
using this method. -Mr. Clennell never relies on the col-
lection of the lead precipitate by pressing with a glass
rod as described in text-books, but always filters off
all the insoluble matter, allowing to drain, and scori-
fying before cupelling. It would be interesting to know
who was the originator of this process. It was de-
scribed to Mr. Clennell in its essential points by II. T.
Durant in 1900. long before it became generally known
as the 'Chiddey method.' The brown precipitate re-
ferred to might be any of the numerous substances pre-
cipitable by zinc dust in acid solution under the con-
ditions of the test. If the Ketahocn ore is anything
similar to that of Redjang Lebong. also in Sumatra,
with which he is familiar, selenium, copper, and per-
haps manganese might be looked for.
626
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
Gold Production in January. — Relative Proportions of the
Various Districts and Other Provinces. — Diamond Pro-
duction in 1913.
Statistics issued by the mines department for January show
that, despite the strike, the total value of the mineral out-
put of the Union of South Africa showed an increase of
£19,745 over that of December. The total value, excluding
diamonds, was £3,136,256, made up as follows: gold £2,774,721;
base minerals, £178,417; coal, £174,971; and silver, £8147. It
will be noticed how largely gold enters into the value of
the mineral production of South Africa,, the bulk of which
comes from the Witwatersrand fields, as the following figures
will show:
Tube- Output,
District. Mines. Stamps. mills. oz.
Witwatersrand 52 9030 277 622,095
Heidelberg 3 105 2 7,337
Klerksdorp 3 69 2 3,257
T°tal 58 9204 281 632,689
The Heidelberg and Klerksdorp fields, although mentioned
separately, are part of the Witwatersrand gold basin, and
really ought to be treated as part of the Rand. The insig-
nificance of the other Transvaal goldfields outside of the Rand
is shown in the following statement:
Tube- Output,
District. Mines. Stamps. mills. oz.
Barberton 12 202 3 6,795
Pilgrim's Rest 14 151 4 13,557
Pietersburg 2 10 — 1 74
Total 2S 363 7 20,526
Seeing how much the gold production of South Africa is
dependent on the Rand, no surprise need be expressed at
the unsettled feeling the Chamber of Mines' report, with
regard to the life of the Rand and submitted to the Govern-
ment Economic Commission, has produced both here and in
Europe. Some attempts, it is true, have been made in sev-
eral quarters to minimize the value of this evidence, but
in its broad aspect the attempt to gauge the life of the
Rand is probably as correct as it is possible to make it,
always bearing in mind that the estimate is based on todays
conditions, which may or may not change considerably in
the immediate future. How unimportant is the gold pro-
duction of the Transvaal outside the Rand is shown by the
fact that it does not represent more than what several single
Rand companies are producing. The value of the Cape and
Natal provinces as gold producers is shown by the fact that,
while the latter did not produce any gold in January, the
former only produced 2 oz., which adds still more to the
importance of the Witwatersrand goldfields when compared
with the few others in the Union of South Africa. Another
interesting feature of the figures issued by the Mines De-
partment of South Africa for January is the inclusion of
the fig-ires relating to the 1913 production of diamonds in
the Union. The total production of diamonds produced last
year throughout South Africa is given as 5,163,546 carats by
weight, valued at £11,389,897, as compared with 5,071,SS2
carats, valued at £10,061,489 in 1912, an increase of 91.664
carats, valued at £1,328,318 for last year, due entirely to the
better demand and higher prices paid for diamonds in 1913.
There were no new diamond discoveries of note during the
year, although every effort was made in that direction. The
Cape province, including the Kimberley, is above the other
provinces as a diamond producer, the total output being 2,461,-
892 carats, valued at £6,995,438, which practically all came
from Kimberley. Next comes the Transvaal with 2,156,897
carats, valued at £2,726,663, nearly all of which again came
from the Premier mine near Pretoria. The Orange Free State
only produced 544,756 carats, valued at £1,667,706.
BUTTE, MONTANA
'Safety First' Movement at Butte. — Tin; City of Butte. — New
Leaching Plant at Helena Nearly Completed.
The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has organized a 'Safety
First' department with a view to systematizing its efforts
for the protection of its employees. The organization of
this department has been placed in charge of Charles W.
Goodale, who is now visiting various Eastern mines and works
with a view to getting ideas for the campaign in Montana.
A circular for the guidance of miners, and another with in-
structions to mine bosses, has been issued. It is thought that
many accidents can be averted by carefully instructing em-
ployees, and by laying down more definite rules.
Butte refuses to act as a mining camp. In place of the
temporary structures which usually satisfy the needs of min-
ing towns, Butte demands, and gets, permanent buildings of
both a public and private nature. The railroads are usually
slow to build costly depots for mining camps, but not so
in Butte. The Northern Pacific and the Oregon Short Line
have had for some time a large expensive depot at Butte.
PART OF BUTTE.
The Great Northern railway has just completed a commodious
and artistic depot which would be a credit to any city.
Now the Milwaukee is preparing to spend $250,000 in the
erection of another depot for Butte. If the confidence of
the railroads couuts for anything, the future of Butte seems
pretty well assured.
The stockholders and others interested in the Northwest-
ern Metals Co. are now to find out whether their dreams
will come true. The reduction plant of 1000 tons daily capac-
ity, erected near Helena, Montana, is nearly ready to start.
There has been a lot of adverse criticism of this enterprise,
whether justified or not I am not prepared to say. Crit-
icism of new metallurgical methods, in these days of rapid
advance, is dangerous for any but the most skilled and ex-
perienced chemists. The process is one of leaching and is
devised to treat complex sulphide ores. The bases of the
ores are all chloridized with chlorine gas, and are then pre-
cipitated in groups. The iron and manganese are precipi-
tated first by zinc carbonate and sodium hyperchlorite. Then
the lead, copper, silver, and gold are precipitated by zinc
shaving. Finally the zinc is precipitated by sodium car-
bonate. The chemicals are practically all made at the plant.
The Butte & Pensacola company has acquired six claims ad-
joining its property in the Carbonite district. The claims now
total 500 acres, all of which can be developed by one main adit.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
627
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Mining Legislation Before Congress. — Bill for Leasing Cer-
tain Mineral Lands. — Actios by California Mining Men.
— Revision of the General Mining Law. — The Radium
Bill.
In spite of the fact that the action of Congress on the
Panama canal tolls question has put everything else in the
background, last week was one of busy progress in the pro-
posed legislation concerning the mining industry. Most at-
tention has been attracted by the public hearings before the
House Committee on Public Lands in connection with the bill
providing a general leasing law for petroleum, gas, phosphate
deposits, and coal lands, which was introduced by Scott Ferris,
representative from Oklahoma, who is chairman of the com-
mittee. The bill has the strong backing of the Department of
the Interior, and is pretty sure to pass, though it will probably
first be amended somewhat. A good deal of the time of the
committee was taken up by the attorneys for California min-
ers, whose efforts to oppose the bill reminded the hearers of
the story of the jury that acquitted the accused out of sym-
pathy for him because he had such a poor lawyer. One of the
attorneys could not tell how many companies he represented,
what their names were, or how many acres of land they held.
and when the statement was elicited that companies holding
thousands of acres had not attempted to secure patents for
more than one claim at most, the situation looked dubious
for the oil operators. Later, Clay Talman, commissioner of
the General Land Office, was put on the stand and testified
that over 300 applications for patents have been pending in
his office, some of them since 1910, without being cleared up,
and that if more applications had been filed, even less pro-
gress would have been made, and the Californians began to
cheer up. The testimony of George Otis Smith, director of the
U. S. Geological Survey, also helped the California independ-
ent operators more than they seemed to be able to help them-
selves. It is fairly clear that some parts of the original bill
will need to be amended. One of the difficulties is what to
do with the operators who are on withdrawn lands. While
prior rights are bound in the end to be protected, it would
simplify matters if some compromise could be effected and
avoid litigation. An agreement has about been reached to
the effect that such locators shall have preference rights to
lease the grounds they occupy and that pending final de-
cision they be permitted to sell oil, a reasonable portion of
the returns being Impounded to secure the royalties in case
any prove collectible.
The limits outside which the prospecting for the dis-
covery of new fields is to be stimulated, by the grant of a
larger area, also calls for much discussion, since it depends
upon the geological structure, and in some areas wells a few-
miles away would be as clearly in a new field as though they
were 50 miles distant. It is urged that the zones that are
50 miles from any producing well are comparatively few, and
of exceedingly dubious value to the prospector; but on the
other hand, it is pointed out that the present situation in
California does not call for increased production and there
is no great desirability for stimulating new discoveries except
in remote districts. The riuestion as to what disposition is
to be made of the improvements which a locator has made,
in case the land is leased to some one else, is also a burn-
ing one. It has been suggested that he should be given a
patent to part of the ground and required to lease the rest:
but as the result of this would be that he would put all his
wells and pumps on the patented ground, such an arrange-
ment would not cover the case. Another suggestion is that
he be compensated for his improvements, and a third that
the Navy Department take these lands for its naval reserve,
paying him for his improvements. Some of the more impor-
tant Californians are quite reconciled to the idea of a leas-
ing law, since the present arrangement is entirely unwork-
able. Strong opposition to the leasing of coal lands is mani-
fested by E. T. Taylor, representative from Colorado, who
insists that it makes the cost of coal greater to the con-
sumer and retards the development of the western states.
When one reflects that coal sells at many mines for about
$1 per ton at the pit mouth, and for several times that to
the consumer, a small royalty does not seem so serious a
matter to the general public as does the question of freight.
rates and selling costs. The hearings on this bill will be
resumed toward the end of next week.
Some time ago a bill was introduced into the Senate pro-
viding for the appointment of a commission of three to con-
sider the general mining law. and draw up a proposed new
code for submission to Congress. Unfortunately, the bill pro-
vided that these three men should all be mining lawyers.
Representatives of the American Institute of Mining Engineers
and the American Mining Congress presented their ideas on
the subject before the House Committee on Mines and Mining,
and E. T. Taylor has introduced, at their instance and with
the approval of the Bureau heads concerned. House bill 15288,
which provides for a commission of five who shall be chosen
for their experience in or knowledge of mining and mining
law, and who shall serve without compensation. The provi-
sion that the commissioners shall receive no compensation
ensures that only high-grade mining men who would look upon
the duty as a public service will wish to serve upon the com-
mission. The bill appropriates $25,000 for the expenses of the
commission and the salary of its secretary, and requires that
hearings shall be held in Alaska and the western states, and
a report made within one year after the passage of the act.
The hearings on the radium bill have been concluded, and
in all probability the bill will eventually pass essentially in
its present form, as ample opportunity has been afforded to file
locations in all the likely ground in Colorado. The bill in-
troduced last December providing for the establishment of
10 mining experiment stations has been lying idle ever since,
but will probably soon be taken up again.
NEW YORK
Feeling Regarding Copper. — B hades Shakes. — Goldkield Dis-
tru r Sharks, and Other Stocks in New York. — Another
Low-Gradf. Property. — Ahmeek Costs. — Cah'.mkt & Hecla
Subsidiaries. — Mason Valley. — Stewart Affairs. — Bing-
ham Mines Company.
The remaining 'bullish' spirit In New York centres around
the copper situation. Arguments for and against a betterment
in copper prices have been worn somewhat threadbare. As
a matter of fact, the general business situation is much more
of a controlling factor than any phase of production, consump-
tion, or export demand. The copper producers themselves
appear to be more confident of the future than anyone inter-
ested, and are predicting higher prices, and a market that is
to be more and more in the hands of the producers.
The chief speculative issue for the time being is the Braden
Copper Co., in connect ion with which there are many over-
worked market rumors, the latest being that all idea of fur-
ther financing has been abandoned, that the present mill is
to be made to serve by some changes and additions which
Will give it 35'.« added capacity. If there was any general
market, with enough trend in a given direction to make head-
way, Braden would undoubtedly be a favorite market counter.
As it is, it has been advancing slowly, the shares apparently
being picked up by investors.
There has been a little recent effort to revive interest in
the Goldfield issues, but what little market traders could make
remained so wholly professional in character that quotations
meant little. The activity in Goldfields centred around At-
lanta. It is said that some months ago a Philadelphia house
<;•_>*
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 1,1. 1!)14
bought 100,000 shares of Atlanta from t he Company, and thai
the recent activity was due to a campaign undertaken by the
house mentioned for the purpose of distributing this stock.
The rut t remain* that whether one considers copper shares,
assured or long life and present or early dividends, <>r the
wholly speculative Issues of (loldllcid or Tonopah, there in no
'swing' or 'snap' i<> the market movement, though this Ik no
more true of mlnliiK Ihkiick Hum It Is of railroad or indus-
trial shares. Except for a very few exceptional mining enter-
prises, there are no new things going forward In which the
public Id asked to take a part, Alaska Gold Mines has met
wltii an apparent degree of success, though It Ik stated now
Hint li will require a considerable length of time to get to
the initial dividend, from which cautious statement lower
prices should be quite safely predicted. The public likes the
promise ol curly and substantial dividends, better Indeed than
It does ii present dividend of more modest proportions. While
It W true that there are few new mining organizations In which
the public Ik asked to share, there Ik some work being quietly
prosecuted, John O. Worth, representing u syndicate of New
York people, i . examining a property at Kl into, New Mexico,
mild to lie one of the largest low-grade gold deposits ever
exploited, The present work is confined to experimental treat
uiciii or the ores, on the solution of which Ik khIiI to depend
wholly the measure of success to be attained. The New York
people Interested are financially hi rung, and If II Ik eventually
proved that the ore can be profitably treated, Aluskn Gold
will have n rival, II Ik said, In the way of Immense tonnages
and large profits from very low grade ores.
A rorclble Illustration ol' the cost of the strike In the Mich-
igan copper country Ik hIiowii by the recent report of the
Ahuieek company, Comparison Ik made In copper costs be
Iwcen the first half of the year when Hie cost wiih Itl.OIr per
pound, and the latter half Of the year when It rime to 33.&C.
per pound. Net earnings for the year were |2i)7,4l!t n» against
$l,4(>S,ntih In 1912. Aluneek paid dividends ol $17 per share
In IIU'J. hill wiih obliged lo cut Into it m surplus to the extent
of $i;?::. onii to do mo. The property Ik one of the most prom-
ising of the newer iiiIiick of the Lake Superior region, and ll
will he recalled that HiIh Interest Ik one which nilidc Hllch a
bitter flghi against the proposed Calumet a llecla merger
about two years or ho ago, and which consolidation was aban
dotted, largely on account of the unwillingness of the Ahmeek
lo he Included with older properties nen ring the point of
exhaustion. The Lake Copper mine, which had miicIi a sen-
sational career, helng at one time hailed iih Hie long-sought
successor to the original Calumet & Hecla, Iiiih been wholly
hIhii down since the labor troubles became acute. Itegardlng
the Calumet & Hecla Mining Co., It Is somewhat Hiirprlslng
lo learn that the present Company's control over iih sub-
sidiaries permits a considerable degree of Independent action.
Km Instance, In the hiiIch of copper each subsidiary iicIh for
Itself Independently. Naturally, It would be supposed thai
concentrating the wiling of the entire output of metal In
one agency would be a great advantage, and result In beltel
prices, Evidently experience does not Justify HiIh conclusion,
The roiirtli iiiiiiiial report Of the Mason Valley Mines Co.
bus Juki been mailed lo shareholders. It covers operations
for the year ended December 31, 1918, and shows n produc
Hon ot 17. mil ions of copper matte, containing 14.6111,250 lb.
copper, !•!»!!.'! oz, gold, and I2l,x3fi oz. sliver. The report coy
cik the second year of the operation of the Company's plant.
ihe ipiantlty smelted during the year being a27,«r..r, ions, of
which approximately hall whk from the Company's mines
anil half custom ore. The smelter has proved satisfactory,
mid Ik now converting Hk own matte,
The market position of Stewart Block Is being carefully
watched by io Western Interests, which have been Incline. I
lo take a 'short' position on the Iheorj Hint the stock Is sell
lllg for more than the net value of Its known ore reserves
Tin- Assets |{i-h I l/.ii I Inn Co, Iiiik been known as a beavj
holder of United Copper collateral. Including a large block
of Stewart, having had a share In the large loan made to
the United some two years ago. The disposition of this hold-
ing has been Hie controlling Influence In Stewart for some
lime, bni apparently it has not been possible to get up
sufficient public interest at any time to permit of distribution.
The Bingham Mines Co., which controls the old Kagle &
Mine Hell at Tlntic, Utah, Is making some good financial prog-
ress. On the first of the month the Company paid off 1260,000
first-mortgage bonds of the old Bingham Consolidated Mining
& Smelting Co. This completes the retirement of the orig-
inal Issue of (903,000, In addition to which there have also
been retired $577,7X!t second-mortgage convertible bonds, the
latter Issue having been refunded by the Issue of $600,000
first-mortgage convertible bonds. Bingham Mines receives 20c.
per share annually upon 894,999 shares of Kagle & Hlue Hell,
which It holds.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
At KTKAI.IAN (Join YiKi.it. Qkmkbai. Decmxem. — Waste Of Tim-
IIKU Ukmoi lit kh. — VlCTOMIA DbKIMI1.NO. — LtOARIi's ADVUUME Kk-
I'oiii- -Qii;k\si.ami Com. Akkak. — BROKE* Hill,: Somk
I \ TKIIKH'I I Ml FlOUBEM,
The gold yields of the various states are gradually lielng
published, though In most cases the figures are only approx-
imation .. The New South Wales yield was 149,657 oz.. as
compared with 166,295 oss, In HiU', a decline of more than
'.)'/,. About the same proportional drop Is shown In the case
of Victoria, the decline amounting to as much as 45.1!t.s oz.,
to a total of 434,932 oz. Queensland's fall Is much heavier,
amounting to 83,047 oz., or nearly 24'/,, the year's output
being only 263,343 oz., as compared with 345,390 oz. In 1912.
Tasmania's yield Is over 36,000 oz., a decline of more than
7' ; on Ihe previous year's figures; and South Australia's. 6600
oz... a drop of 16%. The only state where output shows an
Increase Is Western Australia, and even there It Is only a
little over 2'/,. The decrease In Victoria alone Is more than
halt as much again as the Increase In Western Australia,
so that the total Australian figures for the year are certain
lo be on the wrong side. The Dominion of New Zealand, on
Hie other band, has done better In 191.1 than In 1912, export-
ing 343,627 fine oz., as compared with 316,671 oz. exported
In 1912, an Increase of over »'-.. per cent.
An editorial In Hie Australian Mining Standard makes a
strong statement In regard to the waste of good marketable
limber that Is going on In Australia. According to the writer,
in one portion of Hie stale of Queensland, the Atherton
scrub, there was. and presumably still Is, lying on Hie ground,
going lo waste, cedar worth about $6,000,000. It seems an
excessive estimate, yet It Is probably no great exaggeration.
Timber Ik cut down or burnt down to clear land for cul-
tivation, although there are large cultivable areas free of
timber absolutely untouched. One of the country's largest
assets bah been absolutely wasted III HiIh way. New Soulb
Wales lias recognized her folly In tills respect and has taken
steps to prevent any extension of Ihe evil, and Hie sisiner
the oilier states follow suit Hie better it will be for them.
The report of Hie commission appointed by Hie Victoria
Government to Inquire into the damage. If any. wrought by
dredging operations In the state Is an altogether adverse
,,iic ir the report be acted on. Hie Industry, which Is not
altogether to be Ignored, will be wiped out. The report was i
published III tills Journal or March II. 1914,
The Queensland Government geologist has Issued a review
of (he coal resources or the state. He estimates the area j
of the geologically surveyed coal measure at 73,000 square
miles, ol' which 20. mm are recognized coalfields. Hie remainder
consisting of IhIiiIk known to contain coal, but not yet found
lo he valuable for coal milling purposes. He draws special
n I tent Ion to the basin of the Dawson and Mackenzie rivers.
Apr?, 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
629
which contains far more probable resources than all the
other parts of the state put together. Conspicuous among
the large number of known seams in this basin is the 20-ft.
seam in the Mackenzie River area and the 66-ft. seam in
the Clermont area, both coals being of good quality. Other
noticeable occurrences are 20 ft. of fine coal in the nine seams
of the Biirrum area, 20 ft. of coal in the Callide area, and
a 60 ft. seam at Waterpark Creek. The table given, which
has been built upon an estimation of seams not less than
12 in. thick, and not more than 1000 ft. below the surface,
the estimation of quantities below this depth being found
to be impracticable at the present time, shows an actual re-
serve tonnage of 109,700,000 and a probable reserve of 2,201,-
300.000 tons.
The following interesting facts regarding the great New
South Wales field, the Barrier, or Broken Hill, were included
in a report presented by E. R. Bowring to the Dominions
Trade Commission, which recently visited Australia, and has
recently been published. It states: (1) that the Broken Hill
field is the largest mining district in Australia: (2) that
it produces practically all the. zinc, and about 85% of the
silver-lead obtained from mines in the Commonwealth of
Australia: (3) that the value of the metals produced from
the mines up to the end of 1912 was over $300,000,000: (4)
Knob for the manufacture of steel. The ore appears to be
suitable for the manufacture of high-grade steel, containing
a low percentage of phosphorus— namely, from 0.03 to 0.05%,
and about 65% of iron."
MOLDING MARKET I, KM). BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY REFINERY,
PORT PIRIE. SOI 111 AISTKAI.IA.
that the dividends and bonuses paid by the various Broken
Hill mining companies, with an authorized capital of be-
tween $2,000,000 and $25,000,000, up to the end of 1912, were
over $75,000,000; (51 that the Port Pirie works are said to
be the largest lead-smelting works in the world, and produce
an output of lead which has exceeded and now approximates
10% of the world's total supply of that metal: (6) that the
Broken Hill mines produce about 20% of the world's pro-
duction of lead and zinc: (71 that the iron ore deposits at
the Iron Knob constitute the most extensive known deposit
of any metal ore in Australia, and comprise one of the larg-
est. If not the largest, known iron ore deposits in the world.
Mr. Bowring further gave the total output of the smelters
at Port Pirie and Broken Hill, up to May 21, 1913, as: lead,
1,354.034 tons: silver, 158,408,072 oz.; gold, 98,303 oz.; anti-
monial Had. 11,869 tons: spelter, 6584 tons: lead concentrates,
1,261.980 tons: and zinc concentrates. 573.000. With respect
to the Iron Knob and its proposed development, Mr. Bowring
says: "The extent of the deposits has for some time been
known to be considerable, and although the full area of the
lode has not been tested, It extends for at least a mile in
length, and the reserves have been estimated to comprise as
much as 150,000,000 tons. The existence of this immense
lode led the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. to decide some time
ago on the establishment of steel works at Newcastle, In
New South Wales, and to utilize the iron ore at the Iron
TORONTO, CANADA
Nipissing Dividend. — McKinley-Dabbagh in 1913— Hahgkate
and Right ok Way Mines.— Bonis for Radum Ores.
As was anticipated, the Nipissing company has reduced its
returns to shareholders by abandoning the bonus of 2'/j%,
which has been paid for some years along with the regular
quarterly dividend of 5%. The yearly statement of the Mc-
Kinley-Darragh-Savage Mining Co. shows a considerable fall-
ing off in profits and a decrease in the ore reserves. The
output was 2,214,383 oz. as compared with 2,717,383 oz. in
1912. The net profits were $771,487, a decrease of $382,361;
and the ore reserves have fallen from 5,368,500 oz. to 3,210,-
000 oz. At the Right of Way, where work has been resumed,
a vein on the 1 20-ft. level, 2 to 2% in. wide, which has been
driven on for 50 ft., is yielding 3000-oz. ore. The annual
meeting of the Temiskaming on March 9 resulted in an
entire change of the directorate, following a vigorous cam-
paign to oust the old board. The new directors represent
the interests controlling the Beaver mine. The Ontario Gov-
ernment has introduced in the provincial legislature a bill
providing for a reward of $25,000 to the first person who
discovers radium ores in commercial quantities. The bill
also authorizes the Government to reserve all radium in
crown lands, and work the deposits, and to purchase private
lands containing radium. Similar legislation has been in-
troduced in British Columbia. The action of the Government
has been influenced by the proposals before the United States
Congress for the acquisition of all radium-bearing ores for
the public benefit. Another legislative measure under con-
sideration deals with the fixing of the boundaries of mining
claims, giving to the prospector the area actually staked out.
Owing to topographical difficulties, it has often been found
difficult to describe the claim accurately by measurements,
which has frequently resulted in confusion and litigation
as to titles. In case of a deliberate intention to include more
than the area allowed for a claim, the department is author-
ized to cut It down to the correct size.
CALGARY, ALBERTA
Cow. Mining in the Province: Companies Operating, Oit-
pri, ami Prospects ok the Industry.
The rapid development of coal mining in the province of
Alberta Is evidenced by the statistics given in the annual
report of the Mines Branch of the provincial Public Works
Department for 1913. There were in that year 289 companies
operating in the province. Thirty-nine of these have a total
capitalization of $107,450,000, without including the Canadian
Pacific mines at Lethbridge and Bankhead, the capitaliza-
tion of which is not given. The total amount of capital
invested in the coal-mining industry is estimated at over
$150,000,000. The amount of coal produced during last year
was 4,306,340 tons, of which 2,374,401 tons was bituminous.
1.763,225 tons lignite, and 168,720 tons anthracite. Coke was
produced to the amount of 65,167 tons, requiring 104.012 tons
of coal. Tb" exports of coal from Alberta were about 1,000,-
000 tons. 'I'll'' output has grown rapidly year by year since
the creation of tin- province. In 1905 it was 811,228 tons, so
that the increase during eight years has been approximately
50iy;. With tin- growth of population and the opening of
the country by railways, affording access to a steadily in-
creasing market, and the introduction of new capital for
the opening of additional mines equipped with modern ma-
chinery, the industry may be expected to show still greater
advances in the near future.
630
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
General Mining News
ALASKA
Chisana
At the Revenue claim, sinking is under way, this being the
only shaft on Skookum, except that of Doyle on No. 2 Creek
claim, where this work is being done. The latter is down
25 ft. in good gravel, under 18 ft. of muck. Smith and
Badden, at the Jumbo, are down 100 ft. in thawed ground,
dry and solid, but have found nothing. There is more activ-
ity in prospecting now. On the Wilson side everybody seems
disappointed. Gold Run is the most favored creek. Pros-
pecting so far has been scattered over a big area of unlikely
ground, and only two shafts are down to bedrock, according
to L. Lake, of the Revenue claim. E. J. Ives, who is in-
terested in the James claims, has left Cordova for Chisana.
Juneau
The report of the Governor of Alaska, J. F. A. Strong, to
the Secretary of the Interior, for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1913, has recently been published at Washington, D. C.
It covers a great deal of interesting matter dealing with
mining, fishing, commerce, and game, etc., in the territory.
Several pages are devoted to a complete list of domestic and
foreign companies of all kinds operating in the country.
The Sheep Creek tunnel of the Alaska Gastineau company
made connection on April 1. The tunnel is S by 10 ft. in
section and 10,497 ft. long.
Ketchikan
(Special Correspondence.) — There is going to be consider-
able activity in mining here this year on account of the fine
results at Juneau, this being a similar belt of country. At
Smugglers Cove a number of men are employed, and a large
stamp mill is to be erected. The Goldstream, across the bay,
has been bonded to an English company. The Gold Standard,
at Helm bay, is under bond. King and Elliot have bonded
their mines at Helm bay, and at Dolomi several mines will
be started in the spring. More men are to be employed at
the Valparaiso mine at Dolomi, according to B. A. Eardly,
the manager.
Ketchikan, March 20.
Nelchina
There are about 200 men in this district at present. On
40 creeks about 450 claims have been staked. The ground
is wet, and sinking to bedrock is difficult. One hole on
Eureka creek showed the ground to be 25 ft. deep. Three
drills are going in from Chitina and several boilers from
Knik. The Nelchina country is about 3400 ft. above sea-
level.
ARIZONA
Cochise County
There is considerable activity at Bisbee at present. Seven
new McDougall furnaces are to be added to the Copper Queen
plant, making a total of 16. Electric hoists are being in-
stalled at the Czar and Uncle Sam shafts of the Copper
Queen group, while a new head-frame will be erected at
the latter shaft. Forms for concrete for the test mill below
the Sacramento shaft are being put up. It is said that the
Calumet & Arizona company may buy the Wolverine mine.
Gila County
(Special Correspondence.) — Erection of steel at the Inspira-
tion Consolidated concentrator building was started on March
31, and the total weight for this structure will be about
3000 tons. The American Bridge Co. is now on the last half
of its contract. Foundations for the machine tools at the
shops are practically complete. There are to be 18 power-
driven tools and five large machines in the forge shop. There
will also be woodworking machines installed. To handle
heavy gear, etc., there will be gib cranes and a 40-ton over-
head traveling crane. An excellent system of transferring
machine parts from and to the concentrator and machine-
shops has been devised. MacArthur Bros, have nearly fin-
ished excavating for the power-plant and cooling basin near
the smelter site. The plant will have a capacity of 18,000
kilowatts. Concrete is being poured for the 58-ft. diameter
foundation for the 20 by 300-ft. steel stack for the smelter.
At the Southwestern Miami, churn-drilling is still under way.
Miami, April 2.
Carnotite ore has been opened in fair quantities in the
Vanadnite group of claims, three miles north of Globe. They
are owned by the C. W. Patterson company. Samples have
returned 40% lead, 10 oz. silver, 81 oz. gold, 3.33% of van-
adium, and 0.7% uranium.*
It is announced that the Cottrell process of electrical pre-
cipitation is to be used for fume precipitation at the new
smelter of the International Smelting & Refining Co. being
built to treat the Inspiration concentrate. While the process
will be applied at first only to the fume from the dryers and
roasting furnace, rights for the entire plant have been pur-
chased for a lump sum said to be $45,000. The particular
point in the adoption of the process here is to prevent any
loss of fine dust which may, in this case contain consider-
able copper. It is also announced that Wedge furnaces are
to be used, and other points are being rapidly decided.
Yavapai County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Ora Bella and Oro Bonita
mines, which have been idle for some time, are to be oper-
ated again. The two properties are contiguous, and lie in
the Bradshaw mountains, a few miles northwest of Cherry
Creek district. A long lease has been secured from the
owner, Richard S. Barnes, of New York, by Dan A. Bessler
and John O'Dell, both practical miners. The two properties
were operated a few years ago by the latter, with John Seiss,
and gave satisfactory returns. The mines are situated to
the west on parallel veins of the Gray Eagle, and have had
some work done on them by the Tiger Gold Mining Co. The
ore is to be treated at the Company's mill, and work will
begin the latter part of April. A new hoist is in operation
at the Poorman mine at Walker. Sinking the main shaft
is to be resumed as soon as the water is lowered, and from
the 200-ft. level a cross-cut will be driven to cut a parallel
vein. The Gold Note mine, in the Black Rock district, has
been sold by M. H. Ryan to H. W. Flentke and W. H. Temme
of Evansville, Indiana. Mr. Ryan has owned and operated
the property for some years, and has carried out a practical
scheme of development at depth, and the property is well
thought of. A large dump has been made, and with the
favorable situation of the mine, there being on the ground
plenty of timber and water, work can proceed uninterrupted.
Black Rock, March 26.
Under the editorship of Aaron H. Powers, the first number
of Yavapai has made its appearance. It is a monthly maga-
zine devoted to work done in this county, especially at mines.
The Verde Tunnel & Smelter railroad. 7 miles long, has been
completed and handed over to the United Verde Mining Co.
At the Fortune Mining Co.'s property the adit is in 900 ft.,
and has opened a good shoot about that length.
Yuma County
(Special Correspondence.) — Henry K. Preston and other
Philadelphia people have acquired an interest in a placer
property in a basin in the Dome Rock mountains near Quartz-
ite and known as the Middle Camp ground. Extensive tests
have been made, and it has been decided to work the gravel
by a dry process, using steam-shovels, Quenner disintegrators,
and Stebbins dry concentrators.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 28.
April 11, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
631
CALIFORNIA
Hugh Wolflin, one of the most experienced mining engi-
neers in the U. S. Bureau of Mines, has been engaged by
the State Industrial Accident Commission to assist in its
work of safeguarding the life and limb of the mine workers
of California. He is at present engaged in a tour of inves-
tigation of conditions in the mines of San Bernardino, Kern.
San Diego, and Inyo counties for the purpose of conferring
with the mine operators regarding ventilation, first-aid to
the injured, and safety appliances. Mr. Wolflin's services
have been secured with the consent of the federal government,
and he will visit every mining district of the state for the
above purposes. Proper ventilation and measures to prevent
accidents will be thoroughly explained to the employers and
employees, and first-aid to the injured, which has never been
given much consideration in many of the larger mines of
California, will also be dealt with. One of the seven exhibit
cars, which the U. S. Bureau of Mines keeps moving about
the country to teach 'Safety First' to both employers and
workmen, will probably be brought to California and sent
into each mining district.
Amador County
The property of the Clinton Consolidated Quartz Mining
Co., estimated to be worth $25,000, and on which no taxes
have been paid to the state for 21 years, will be sold by an
order of the state controller, John S. Chambers. The amount
due to the state is about $7000. Forty of the eighty stamps
at the South Eureka are hung up on account of repairs to
the main shaft. An employee at the Kennedy mill fell into
No. 18 ore-chute, which delivers ore to a battery feeder, last
week, and was suffocated by the ore.
BlTTE COUNTY
\V. C. Pershbaker, of Oakland, has started suit for $50,000
against the P. B. Steifer Mining Co.. which owns the Steifer
mine near Coutolenc. The Dix or Strauss mine, 23 miles
above Chlco, has been bonded to G. Henderson and Z. T.
Corbett.
Eldorado County
Eight men have been sampling the Blue Gauge quartz mine
at Ely Park. It is said that the United States Smelting, Re-
fining & Mining Co. had this work done.
Inyo County
Apparatus for the Wilshire Bishop Creek cyanide plant is
ready for shipment from Denver, Colorado. On the road near
the mine there is 10 ft. of snow at present. A Tetrault 2-
stamp mill is to be erected at the Chuckwalla mine by J.
B. Evans and associates. The mine has been opened by an
adit to 400-ft. depth, and a small vein yields about $55 per
ton in gold, silver, and lead.
Los Anoki.es County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Western Precipitation Co.
has completed arrangements whereby it has obtained com-
plete management of the Slater process for extracting copper
ores. A short description of this process was published in this
journal of January 24. The reconstruction of the laboratories
is under way to accommodate this department of the work, and
it is expected to make the equipment sufficiently large to en-
able all necessary research work to be done at the Los An-
geles headquarters. The main work, of course, will be con-
ducted in the field.
Los Angeles, April 1.
Nevada County
The report of the North Star Mines Co., operating at Grass
Valley, for the year ended December 31, 191:;, has just been
published, and contains the following data: Mainly from
stopes above the .'1400, 3700, and 4000-ft. levels, the North Star
mine produced in*;. 090 net tons of ore yielding $11,312 per
ton. or $1,049 per ton over that of 1912. Development work
on and above tin" lowest level consisted of extending the
5000 and 5300-ft. drifts, and the connection of various levels
by raises. What appeared to be the eastern limits of the
shoots was reached, and work was stopped. The raises have
further developed ore of about average value on and above
5300 ft., and estimated to last for several years. In Septem-
ber, sinking of the main shaft was resumed, and was down
5850 ft. on the incline, equal to about 2200 ft. vertical, at
the end of the year. Sinking costs were $31 per ton.' It
followed a good-sized but barren vein. A level is to be opened
at 5600 ft. Total development covered 3158 ft. against 4601
ft. in 1912, at a cost of 48c. per ton milled. The mill pro-
duced a total of $1,200,096, of which $938,262 was by amal-
gamation, $71,090 from 1629 tons of concentrate, and $190,744
from the tailing. This is equal to 78.18% by amalgamation
and 21.82% by cyanidation. The large tube-mill at the Cen-
tral cyanide plant, which had been used for grinding concen-
trate, was in December made into two smaller mills, each
being installed in the North Star and Central mills. In future
the yield from concentrate will not be shown separately. The
residue from the cyanide plants was 28c. per ton.
In April the Company completed payment of $217,823 on
CHAMPION Milt.. OKASS VALLEY.
its purchase of the Champion mines, and did 5901 ft. of de-
velopment. Work on the bottom levels of the Ural and Mer-
rifield veins was rather disappointing. A raise from the
1000-ft. level of the Ural mine to connect with old workings,
opened a promising shoot: and a drift at 1350-ft. in the
Merrifield has also disclosed encouraging prospects. The
Champion 40-stamp mill treated 26,850 tons of ore yielding
$124,179, but the costs of operating the mine and mill were
$241,338. Added to the payment, the outlay on this property
last year was $4X7, 14X, and $858,101 to date, against an out-
put of $154,529. Better results are expected in 1914.
In accordance with the new income tax, a depreciation of
the property amounting to $60,005, or 5% of the yield of
$1,200,096, has been written off for 1913, while depreciation
on equipment was at the rate of 71{..%. The year's results
are as follows:
North Star production $1,200,096
Champion 124,179
Interest and dividends 35,757
Balance from 1912 907,305
Total revenue $2,267,337
Operating the North Star mine and mill $ 551.99S
Improvements, etc 13,301
Champion mines account 486,507
Dividends paid 300,051
Balance (cash. $213,149; investments, $5X1.975, etc.) 915,480
Total expenditure $2,267,337
Costs at the North Star in 1913 were as follows: develop-
ment, 48c: mining, $2,895; milling, 47.6c: concentrating,
11.5c; eyaniding, 54.2c: bullion, 3.1c; miscellaneous, 25.3c;
New York office, 15.4c: taxes, 26.7c; and accident and benefit.
632
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. l'JM
NEVADA
E.SMEBALDA COUNTY
During February the Jumbo Extension produced 1279 tons
of ore yielding $10,659. The mill in 20 days treated 765 tons
at a cost of $2.01 per ton, and 517 tons was sold to the
Western Ore Purchasing Co. Net earnings were $9080 against
$11,553 in January. Development totaled 309 ft. at a cost
of $5.83 per foot. In March, 14 cars of ore was sold and the
gross value of this and the ore milled was $32,900, and net
profits $24,400. The estimated March production of the Gold-
field Consolidated is as follows: Ore mined, 30,351 tons;
gross value recovered $337,000; operating expenses, $175,000;
and net realization, $162,000. So far, the quartz vein opened
at 500 ft. in the Silver Pick has been cross-cut for 90 ft., with
no walls showing.
Mineral County
On April 2 the new leaching plant of the Wagner Azurite
company, at Luning, was started. The mill has a capacity of
200 tons per day, and will treat ore containing 2 to 6% copper
and $20 per ton gold and silver. The plant is the first one in
the state to use this process, and cost $60,000. Michigan cap
ital is interested in the property. Frank Everett is manager.
After being shut down for 22 years, the Holmes silver mine
is to be reopened, under the management of G. E. Hirefall.
Nye County
The agreed time for not mining ore in the disputed ground
between the West End and Jim Butler mines having expired,
the former Company has resumed breaking ore. Suit has
been started by the Jim Butler company against the West
End company for $250,000 for alleged wrongful extraction of
ore from the former's vein. The Belmont company will pay
an extra dividend of 10c. per share or $150,000 on May 1.
The total for 1914 so far is $900,000. On No. 15 level of the
Belmont mine, a pump with 300,000 gal. capacity per day
is to be installed. The North Star produced 928 and treated
at the MacNamara mill 847 tons of ore averaging $21.91 per
ton with a profit of about $6000. A heavy earthquake shook
Tonopah April 6, but no damage was reported.
Washoe County
The Copper Lode Mining Co. has acquired the Copper Queen
group of claims four miles from Reno. California people
are interested in the deal. There is an orebody 10 ft. wide,
and some rich ore was extracted last year by lessees. W. J.
Thomson is manager.
A meeting of the Nevada Industrial Safety Association has
been called at the University of Nevada, Reno, for April 18,
by the Governor, T. L. Oddie. The purpose is to effect a
permanent organization. Co-operation of the U. S. Bureau of
Mines has been secured and good results are expected.
White Pine County
Development is being steadily done on the sulphide ores in
the Emma Nevada and Watson claims, next to the Liberty
pit of the, Nevada Consolidated, by the Consolidated Copper
Mines Co. Five churn-drills are working two shifts, drilling
up to 50 ft. each per day. The holes are from 500 to 700 ft.
deep. Native copper ore was recently found in the Ora
claim.
NEW MEXICO
Socokko County
(Special Correspondence.) — Twenty men are employed by
the Alberta Development Co. The vein is from 4 to 5 ft.
wide. The property includes 200 acres. At the Socorro, 1200
tons of ore is treated per week. During the first half of
March IVi tons of gold and silver bullion was sent to the
mint, also to the smelters several tons of high-grade concen-
trate. In the Lincoln the vein is 4 ft. wide. Rich ore is
still coming from the Pacific. From the Little Charlie the
daily output to custom mills is 20 tons of ore. Both the
east and west breasts of drifts at bottom of winze from adit
C of the Oaks mine show good ore. The shaft has been
started near the portal of adit 'B.'
Mogollon, March 23.
OREGON
Bakeb County
Rich ore has been developed by a raise in the North Pole
mine, near Sumpter. Tests are being made at the Ben Har-
rison to see whether a cyanide plant would be beneficial to
ore treatment. Prospecting is under way at the Helen B.,
Gold Nugget, and Red Boy mines. The latter's mill is crush-
ing ore for lessees.
UTAH
Salt Lake County
Foundations for the new crushing plant at the Lark mill
of the Ohio Copper Co. are being prepared. Three 24 by
60-in. rolls have been ordered. On March 27 the mill treated
2860 tons of ore which was softer than usual. Three feet
of ore assaying from 40 to 50% lead has been opened at 800
THE MOGOLLON DISTBICT, NEW MEXICO.
ft. in the Yosemite mine of the Bingham Mines Co. The
manager, Imer Pett, has miners prospecting at 500, 800, and
1100 feet.
Summit County
In 28% days, of two shifts each, in March, the Snake
Creek tunnel at Park City was advanced 298 ft. It is fitted
with electric light and telephone. The Daly-Judge company
did 1100 ft. of development in March, with satisfactory re-
sults.
WASHINGTON
Spokane County
Transactions on the Spokane Stock Exchange in March
totaled 737,221 shares, worth $67,820. These covered mining
companies in this state, Idaho, and British Celumbia.
CANADA
British Columbia
The Standard Silver-Lead Mining Co., a Spokane concern
operating near Silverton, has paid a dividend of 21X.c. per
share, or $50,000. This makes the current year's total $200,000.
Ontario
The Keely mine, at South Lorrain, now owned by the
Hnronian Belt Mining Co., is being unwatered. The balance
of the purchase price, about $200,000, of the Burnside claims
at Kirkland Lake, has been paid by the Kirkland Lake Pro-
prietary. At 400 ft. in the Mclntyre mine there is 200 ft.
of $23 ore. the width being 6 ft. The cross-cut under Pearl
lake has been driven 900 ft. The mill is treating 125 tons of
ore per day.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
633
10.4c; less sundry receipts, 2.4c; making a total cost of
$5,203 per ton milled. The output since May 1884 is 1,141,284
tons, yielding $15,245,189, and $4,087,040 in dividends.
Placer County
It is said that an English company has taken an option on
the Orofina gravel mine, south of Shingle Springs. Floods in
the American river have enriched the gravel bars and miners
near Idaho Hill are recovering from $2 to $5 per day by-
rockers and sluicing.
Plumas County
New equipment is being added to the Antlered Crest drift-
gravel mine, where a lower adit is being driven to cut the
lower portion of the Mooreville channel. Gravel yielding good
gold content was recently opened in the Bastillon claim, ad-
joining the Antlered Crest.
Sacramento County
The real estate and personal property, including a 9-cu. ft.
dredge, of the Union Dredging Co. will be sold at public
auction April 28 at 11 a.m. on the premises near Folsom,
California.
Shasta County
t The Balaklala Copper Co. is being sued for $25,000 dam-
ages by E. Laudawick. who alleges he was struck by a
projecting rock in the transportation tunnel, when he was
employed as a motorman on an electric locomotive.
Sierra County
Some ore containing gold and arsenical pyrite has been
extracted from the Wyoming mine's long adit, near Alle-
ghany. This property is west of the Sixteen-to-One, and is
on the serpentine contact. At' the El Dorado, a pocket of
rich ore, worth $10,000, was opened last week. The concen-
trate, weighing 156 lb., returned $3200 from the Selby smel-
ter. The Mt. Alta gravel mine, on Oregon creek, continues
to be a good gold producer. Gravel worth $1.75 per ton has
been opened in the lower adit. Pike City men are interested
in the mine. C. N. Chatfield is manager. The Dreadnaught.
owned by Owen T. Owens, near Forest City, is opening in
a promising manner.
Siskiyou County
(Special Correspondence.) — John B. Farish, of New York,
has been unable to arrange for another year's extension upon
the extensive copper group of Davis and Howard at Clear
Creek, near Happy Camp, and has therefore dropped his
option upon this property, although his full time has not
quite expired. Davis and Howard have begun patent pro-
ceedings upon their extensive group of copper claims near
Happy Cam]), in this county.
Happy Camp, March 28.
COLORADO
The San Juan
The Denver & Rio Grande railroad has issued an interest-
ing map of this mining area, which includes Mineral, Hins-
dale, La Plata. San Juan. Ouray, Montezuma, Dolores, and
San Miguel counties. It also gives the value of the gold, sil-
ver, copper, lead, and zinc production from 1880 to 1912, in-
clusive, as published by the U. S. Geological Survey. The
respective totals are as follows: $37,121,074: $9,004,680; $3,722,-
250; $53,205,787: $64,570,309; $68,581; $11,880,144; and $66,369,-
471. Ore shipments from Ouray during the past three months
totaled 7608 tons, of which 1287 tons was from the Camp Bird,
4500 tons from the Wananah, and 667 tons from the Atlas.
Prospects for lessees during the coming season appear to be
good.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
Rumors are again afloat in Colorado Springs that a con-
solidation of several mines at Cripple Creek is being made
In Paris. The deal will involve the Golden Cycle, El Paso,
Vindicator, Granite, and others. The output of the district
for March was estimated as follows:
Plauts- Tons. Average. Total val.
Smelters 3>965 $55.00 $ 218,075
Golden Cycle 30,000 20.00 600,000
Portland 9,520 20.00 190,000
Portland 16,800 2.67 44,856
Stratton's Independence. .. .10,990 2.96 32 530
A:ax 4,000 6.80 27,200
Wild Horse 1,300 3.40 4,420
Jo Dandy 2,000 1.40 2^806
Isabella 750 2.00 1,500
TotaI "9,325 $1,121,381
Rich ore, supposed to be the Victor ore-shoot, has been
opened by lessees in the Isabella property, at a depth of
about 500 ft., and is considered to be an important find. The
first part of the Free Coinage aerial tramway is in operation.
Suspicions being entertained that high-graders were in the
Vindicator mine, all exits were guarded on April 2 for their
capture. It is said that about $100,000 will be spent in en-
larging the Colburn-Ajax mill. The Golden Cycle main shaft
is now 80 ft. below the 1650-ft. level. It will be continued
to 1850 feet.
IDAHO
Lemhi County
The Gilmore mine has been shipping 20 cars of ore per
month during the past two months, but in April this may
be increased to 30 cars. A rich pocket was opened last week
assaying $900 per ton.
Shoshone County
The Federal Mining & Smelting Co. reports an income of
$1,096,662 from its lead, silver, and zinc during the last four
months of 1913. The cost was $953,413. There were charges
of $317,237 against the income of $315,051, leaving a deficit
of $27S6.
MISSOURI
Jasper County
During the week ended April 5, production of the Joplin dis-.
trict was as follows: blende, 8,680,670 lb.; calamine. 677,100
lb.: and lead. 1,311,430 lb.; averaging $37.09. $21.37, and $44.68
per ton respectively. For the past 14 weeks the output totaled:
blende, 137,917,510 lb.; calamine, 9,085,120 lb.; and lead, 25,-
553,160 lb.: having a total value of $3,369,026.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
The report of the Ahmeek Mining Co. for 1913 shows that
at No. 1 shaft all openings north and south show ground of
average quality, save No. 17 level south, which is poor. The
same may be said of No. 2 shaft. Mules are used for tram-
ming on No. 12 and 14 levels. Work is proceeding on the
additional four stamps, also six boilers and a 2000-kw. low-
pressure steam turbine. Rock' crushed was 283,749 tons, as
against 652,260 in 1912, yielding 9,220,874 lb. of copper. Of
this, 9,044,166 lb. was sold for $1,394,876. The profit was
$176,919, and dividends $850,000, this reducing the previous
surplus to $706,128. The cost per pound was 13.30c. During
1913 the Keweenaw Copper Co. drilled 14 holes, with a total
length of 7911 ft., on the Ashbed lode.
MONTANA
Sii.verrow County
Ore shipped from I he Butte-Ballaklava mine's 1400-ft. level
to the Washoe smelter has varied recently from 4 to 6.94%
copper and 7.2 to 8.8 oz. silver per ton. About two cars per
day were shipped in March. The Bullwhacker Copper Co.
has ordered a Kelly filter-press of 460 sq. ft. filtering surface,
to be used in its electrolytic process. Presses are being in-
stalled at the lintte-Duluth leaching plant and the Butte &
Superior flotation plant.
634
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
Personal
EiiMixii Juessen is at Tsnopah.
P. R. Bradley has arrived at Juneau.
C. W. Merrill is at Los Angeles this week.
T. A. Richard will visit New York in May.
Thomas T. Read was at Cincinnati last week.
W. L. Saunders was in Washington last week.
F. B. Weeks is at Park, Eldorado county, California.
E. A. Julias and S. J. Kidder are in San Francisco this week.
Robert Scott has returned from the Sunflower quicksilver
mines in Arizona.
Richard Phillips, of Oroville, has gone to New York for
two or three months.
Donald F. Irvix has returned to El Tigre, Sonora, from a
trip along the western coast.
Courtenay De Kai.b has completed a mine examination near
Nacozari and is returning to Tucson.
W. G. Anderson has gone to Northhrook, Ontario, as mine
manager for the Ore Chimney Mining Company.
H. W. Hardinge has returned to New York from a two
months' trip through the western mining districts.
J. H. Means, who has been in charge of operations at the
Mawchi tin and wolfram mines, Burma, is in London.
T. N. Stanton has recently been appointed superintendent
of mines for the Cananea Consolidated Copper Co., at Nacozari.
Augustus D. Cox has been appointed superintendent of
the Nevada Packard Mines Co. of Rochester, Nevada, of which
he took charge April 1.
H. A. J. Wit.kens, president of the Mines Management Co.,
will be in London until the latter part of April, in connection
with the work of that Company.
Kirby Thomas, of New York, has concluded an extensive
sampling of the old Phoenix gold mine in the Cave Creek dis-
trict, north of Phoenix, Arizona.
E. Hogan Taylor, formerly of Kalgoorlie and recently at
Redjang Lebong. Sumatra, has been appointed general man-
ager at the Great Cobar copper mine, New South Wales.
J. N. Houser, former manager for the American Zinc, Lead
& Smelting Co.'s Joplin property, has been transferred to
Mascot, Tennessee, where he is manager for the American
Zinc Co. of Tennessee.
The U. S. Civil Service Commission, at Washington, D. C,
announces competitive examinations on May 11 for the fol-
lowing positions with the U. S. Bureau of Mines: Coal-mining
engineer, salary from $2400 to $4000; assistant engineer of
mine tests, salary from $1800 to $2400; and mine statistician,
salary from $1800 to $2400 per annum. The subjects include
education, professional experience, and publications or reports.
Utah members of the American Institute of Mining En-
gineers are organizing a local section, headed by R. C. Gem-
mell, of the Utah Copper Co. A petition is to be sent to the
directors in New York City for a charter. This is also to in-
clude members in Nevada, if they join the Utah men, and the
headquarters will be at Salt Lake City. Ernest Gayford. of
Salt Lake City, was made secretary of the meeting, and the
following engineers were present and signed the petition to
the executive board of the national body: R. C. Gemmell. C. H.
Doolittle, Duncan MacVichie, Albert Franck, Ernest Gay-
iord, B. L. Lewis, A. C. Nebeker. Walter Fitch, B. F. Tiuby,
Frank Anderson, Stanley B. Skars, E. R. Zalinski, A. K.
Tiernan, H. Hill, J. C. Dick. R. C. Bradford, W. A. Wilson,
J. C. McChrystal, A. H. Bardwell, and L. S. Austin. George
F. Waddei.l was also present. The formation of this branch
will be of great assistance in entertaining the visiting en-
gineers in August, toward which the mining companies of the
state have contributed $10,000.
APRIL
Name. Date
American Chemical Society g-n
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 10
American Electro-Chemical Society 16-18
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 16
MAY
American Iron and Steel Institute 22
Geological Society of America (Cordilleran Section),
Seattle 21-23
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 21
Mining and Metallurgical Society. . .San Francisco 4
National Fire Protection Association 5-7
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 26
American Society for Testing Materials 23-27
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of June
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 6
Franklin Institute Philadelphia end of June
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July 2
AUGUST
American Inst. Mining Engineers. .Salt Lake City.... 10-14
SEPTEMBER
American Chemical Society 9-12
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixed
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 3
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 9
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-24
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 3
NOVEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver
13
7
DECEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 11
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-8
American Museum of Safety 11-20
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 5 and 19
Geological Society of America, Philadelphia 29-31
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 10
Society of Naval Architects 11-12
SEPTEMBER 1915
American Institute of Mining Engineers, San Francisco 27-30
Engineering Congress, San Francisco 20-25
The Chamber ok Mines and Oil of Los Angeles held a
'Safety First' luncheon during the last quarter, according to
Bulletin No. 21. The guests were members of the Industrial
Accident Commission of California. John R. Brownell, su-
perintendent of safety, addressed members on methods used
for the prevention of accidents in manufacturing establish-
ments, and explained the ideas of the commission concerning
certain portions of the new Workmen's Compensation Act.
Early in March members were invited to hear B. M. Buck,
chief chemist of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Co., deliver a
lecture on the use of copper in steel as a preventative of cor-
rosion. Both lectures were well attended.
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
680
The Metal Markets
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Francisco, April 9.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15% — 15%c
Pig lead 4.05 — 5.00
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 40% — 4 2 c
Spelter 6%— 6»4c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 % to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, April 9. — The market for copper, lead, and zinc
Is quiet and featureless. The first named metal showed a ten-
dency to rise during the week, hut fell back again. In spite
of an Increased production in March, the Copper Producers'
report again shows a decrease in stocks. The Braden output
for March was 1.801.000 lb. Business on the Stock Exchange lias
been extremely dull. Bar silver is 58%e. per ounce. In London
silver is 26.94d. per ounce. Lead and spelter show no change.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotatio
per ounce, of fine sliver,
Date.
Apr.
.58.37
.58.50
.58. 37
Sunday
Feb.
Mch.
ns in
Average week endin
Apr.
1913.
Ian 63.01
Feb 61.25
Mch. 57.87
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
58.37
. . .58.62
. . .58.50
Monthly averages
1914
S
.57.53
.57.72
.58.23
.58.04
.58.06
.58.02
..-.8.4.-,
57.58
57.53
58.01
July
Aug,
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
19
58
59
60
60
58
13.
.70
.32
.53
.88
1914.
November 15,363,047
December 43,509,438
January 1914
February
March
4,142,182
8,924,833
13,762,533
LEAD
Lead is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
Apr. 2 .
3.
4.
5 Sunday
3.80
3.80
3.80
3.80
3. SO
3. SO
Feb
Mch
Apr.
Average week ending
4.
11.
18.
25.
1.
8.
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 4.33
1913.
. 4.28
. 4.33
. 4.32
. 4.36
4.34
Monthly averages.
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
4. on
3. So
3.80
1914.
4.11
4.02
3.94
1913.
July 4.35
Aug 4.6O
Sept 4.70
Oct 4.37
Nov 416
Dec 4.02
1914
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco Call
fornia being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
• pen market, and, as quoted weekly in this column is that a
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and moi.thly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb.
are given below:
Week ending
12.
19.
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
.38.50
.39.50
Mch.
Apr.
.39.00
.39.00
.39.00
Monthly averages
1914
39.25
39.00
39.00
July 41.00
Aug 40.50
£,ePt 39.70
Oct 39.37
^°v 39.40
Dec 40.00
1914
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published In this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Apr. 2 11.10
3 14.45
4 14.60
5 Sunday
6 1 1.50
7 14.40
8 1 t.4ii
Feb.
Average week ending
.31
Mch. 4 14.22
" 11 14.04
" IS 14.01
" 25 14.18
Apr. 1 14.2S
8 14.46
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1913.
16.54
14.93
H.7:;
. 15.22
.15.42
Monthly averages
1914. !
1 1.21
14.46
11.11 I Sept
. . ! Oct.
1913.
July 14.21
\ug 15.42
16.23
16.31
Nov 15.08
Doc 14.25
June 1 (.71
COPPER PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION REPORT
The Copper Producers' Association statement for April shows
an increase in production ami decrease in stocks on hand. The
details are as follows:
Pounds.
Stocks of marketable copper of all kinds on hand at
all points in the United States, March 9. 1914.... 78.371,852
Production of marketable copper in the United States
from all domestic and foreign sources during
March 145,651,982
Deliveries for consumption, .March 69,852,349
Deliveries for export, March 89,562,166
Stock of marketable copper of all kinds on hand and
at all points in tin- I". S.. April 2 64,609.319
Recent changes in surplus have been as follows, in pounds:
Increase
March 1913
April
May
June
July
August . . .
September
October . . .
690.:
Decrease.
18.032,928
28,720.162
S.074.S83
14,569.619
15.280,908
8.531.043
ZINC
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands. St.
delivery, in cents per pound.
Louis
Date.
Apr. 2
5 Sunday
6
7
..10
.10
.10
Feb
Mel
Average week endi
5.10
5.10
:..n>
4 .
11.
is.
Apr. 1...
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apt-
May
June
1913.
6.8,8
6.13
5.91
Monthly averages.
1914.
5.14
5.22
5.12
-.23
.00
July
A u ir.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1913.
5.11
5.51
ng
. . 5.20
.. 5.15
. . 5.13
. . 5.10
. . 5.10
.. 5.13
. . 5.10
1914
5.0 9
5.07
New York prices control in the American market for tin. since
the metal is almost entirely Imported San Francis. -o quotation*
average about r.c. per lb. higher Below are given averagf
monthly New York quotations. In cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1913.
. 50.4 5
.49.07
. 16.95
.49.00
.49.10
1914.
37.85
3!). 76
::s.io
1913.
July 40.70
Aug 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
June 45.10
The production of Netherlands Indies Government Ban. a tin
during 1913 i united to 253,538 piculs (34.481,1 lis lb.), against
183.790 piculs (24,995,440 lb.) in 1912.
According to L. Vogelsteln & Co., New York, the March tin
statistics show the following: monthly supplies from all sources
to England. Europe, anil the L'nited States, 10.333 tons; monthly
deliveries to all points, 10,586 tons; and visible supplies (stocks
at points, afloat, and landing), IS, 190 tons. The respective
figures in February were 8766, 7493, and is. 113 tons; and in
March i:H3, S932, 11.030, and 12.312 tons. Average prices in
London and New York in March and February 1914 and March
1913 were as follows: £173.25. £180.5. and £216.5 per ton; and
38.11, 39.8S5, ami 16.835c. per pound respectively.
fi36
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1914
The Stock Markets
SA\ FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
April 8.
BONDS
Listed
Associated Oil 5s $
Unlisted.
\ss. Oil 6s
General Petroleum fts...
Listed.
Amaleaniated Oil
Associated oil
Giant
Pac. Ost Borax, com ...
Pacific Crude oil
sterling O. A D
Bid
97
394
Bid
77
391
Ask
98}
81
41
Unlisted.
Natoraas Consol. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s...
Santa Cruz Cement 6b..
Union Oil
Bid
ICO
43}
STOCKS
Ask
41}
86
571
30c
1.25
Unlisted Bid
General Petroleum 1J
Noble Electric Steel 85c
Natomas Consol 50c
Pac. Port. Cement 90
Riverside Cement —
Santa Cruz Cement 43
Stand. Port. Cement 19
ABk
26
88
Ask
94
63
451
NEVADA
(By courtesy of San Fra
Apr
t .31
.32
8.00
Atlanta
Belcher
Belmont
Con. Virginia -21
Florence -60
GoldfleldCon 1 4'2
GoldfieldOro
Halifax
Jim Butler
Jumbo Extension..
MacNamara
Mexican
Midway
Mlzpah Extension
.80
.95
.33
.08
1.10
.34
.45
STOCKS
ncisco Stock Exchange.)
il 9.
Montana-Tonopah ' » *
Nevada Hills ;w
North Star 34
Ophlr 40
Pittsburg Silver Peak 32
Round Mountain 28
Sierra Nevada 16
Tonopah Extension 1-90
Tonopah Merger -60
Tonopah of Nevada 7.00
Union "
Victor -3'2
West End -8t
Yellow Jacket i:>
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask.
Argonaut
Brunswick Con.
Bunker Hill ....
.$2.75
. 1.90
$1.05
Central Euieka
Mountain King
Soutli Eureka .
Bid. Ask.
.$0.60 $0.69
. ... 0.35
. ... 1.50
COPPER
(By courtesy of J
Bid
Allouez 8 41i
Ariz. Commercial *i
Butte & Superior 3»J
Calumet & Arizona 68
Calumet & Hecla 416
Copper Range 37}
Daly West 21
East Butte >M
Franklin 6S
Granby 87J
Greene Cananea 37
Isle-Royale 1»
Mass Copper 3J
SHARES — BOSTON
C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
April 9.
Ask
42
4J
35J
b8j
418
38
21
Hi
6i
88
371
191
Mohawk
Nevada Con
North Butte
Old Dominion
Osceola
Qulncy
Shannon
Superior & Boston
Tamarack
U. S. Smelting, com..
Utah Con...
Winona
Wolverine
Bid
i 43
151
27
50}
78
61
53
2*
351
38}
11
31
45
Ask
131
158
27}
51
79
62
6
23
36
39
111
33
45}
(By courtesy
Braden Copper. .
Braden 6s
B. C. Copper. . . .
Con. Cop. Mines.
Davis-Daly
NEW YORK CURB UUOTATIONS
of E. F. Hutton & Co.. Kohl Building.
Bid.
8%
.165
. 1%
. 2V4
%
April
Ask.
l7s
li
Ely Con 4
First National.
Giroux
Hollinger
Iron Blossom . .
Kerr Lake . . . .
2
%
15%
1.29
4%
l'/s
6
- ?i
1
16 <4
1.32
4 >.,
La Rose
Mason Valley.
McKlnley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am.
Nipisslng 6%
Ohio Copper . .
Stand. Oil of Cal.313
Tri Bullion %
Tuolumne 1%
United Cop. com. %
Yukon Gold 2
Bid.
Ask
4%
1 •"',
1%
- ''4
76c.
79c.
%
%
6%
6l,£
y*
%
13
311
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
April 9.
Bid ABk
Bid Ask
Amalgamated 8 753
Anaconda 313
A. S. & R.. com 68}
Calif. Pet., com 24}
Chino <1|
Guggenheim Ex 5'}
Inspiration 17}
Mexican Pet., com 65)
76
35
69
25
«J
553
17)
«5J
Miami t 23}
Nevada Con 15)
Quicksilver, com lj
Ray Con 21)
Tenn. Copper 34j
U. S. Steel, pfd 110)
U. S. Steel, com 92
Utah Copper 66}
24
15J
2}
22
34}
110}
62)
56}
I.O
(By cable, through
NOON QUOTATIONS
the courtesy of Catlln & Powell Co..
New York.)
April 9.
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell
Alaska United
Arizona .
Camp Bird
Cobalt Townslte
El Oro
EBperanza
Hranvllle
Kern Kiver Oilfields.
0 12
2 2
n 15
0 17
0 10
0 8 9
AUSTRALASIAN
April 9.
£ s. d.
Mexican Eagle, com
Mexico Mines 6 5
Messina 1 11
OrovUle 0 13
Pacific Oilfields 0 2
RloTlnto 73 0
s. A
1 3
Santa Gertrudls 0 15
Tanganyika 2
Tomboy _ I
b. d
British Broken Hill ..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shoe...
Great Boulder Prop..
Ivanhoe
Kalgurll
Mount Boppy
1 18
2 11
0 15
2 13
1 17
0 12
Mount Elliott 3 13
Mount Lyell 1
Mount Morgan 3
Walhl 2
Walhl Grand June... 1
Zinc Corporation, Ord 1
6 3
3 9
Aluminum Ore Production
The production of aluminum ore in 1913, according to final
figures of the- U. S. Geological Survey, was 210,241 long tons,
valued at $997,698, an increase of 50,376 long tons, or 31.5%
and $228,766 or 29.8%, respectively, over the figures for 1912.
The states which produced bauxite were, as usual, Alabama.
Arkansas, Georgia, and Tennessee: Arkansas led in 1913, its
output exceeding that of the previous year. The average
price of bauxite per long ton at the mine for 1913 was $4.75.
which differed by only a few cents from the prices recorded
for the three previous years. There was more aluminum con-
sumed in the United States in 1913 than in 1912, but the
figures showing this consumption cannot be published at the
present time, as the import figures are not yet available.
Australian Gold Production
Following are the January returns, in fine ounces, as offi-
cially published:
State. 1914. 1913.
New South Wales 15,769 17,083
New Zealand 29,640 29,404
Queensland 14,914 20,591
Victoria 23,140 25,066
Western Australia 112,023 104,706
New Zealand produced gold worth £1,459,499 in 1913, and
the average for 57 years is £1,439,623. The mints at Sydney,
New South Wales; Melbourne, Victoria; and Perth, Western
Australia, received 56,680, 45,372, and 125,542 fine oz. respec-
tively in January.
The United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co. reports
as follows for 1913:
1913. 1912.
Earnings $4,555,122 $5,497,965
P,.0fit 3,585,586 4,232,965
Surplus after dividends 830,121 1,418,083
Surplus at end of 1913 4,478,843 3,648,722
April 11. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ti.'Ji
MT. BISCHOFF TIN MINING COMPANY
This Tasmanian property is one of the most noted in the
world, and has paid to the end of 1913, $12,307,200 in div-
idends, $172,800 of which was paid during the second half
of 1913. Ore reserves are estimated at 2,176,000 tons of tin-
bearing ore. During the last period, 122,601 tons was stamped
and concentrated, yielding 600 tons of tin oxide. The smelt-
ing works at Launceston treated 619 tons of Company product
and 1567 tons of custom product, yielding 399 and 1093 tons
of 99.88% tin, respectively. Costs of mining, aerial ropeway,
milling, power, and administration, etc., totaled $1.15 per
ton of ore treated. The revenue for the half-year was $330,000;
net profit, $111,000; dividend, $172,800; carried forward,
$432,000; and surplus over liabilities, $153,000.
NUNDYDROOG COMPANY. LIMITED
This is one of the Indian mining companies, operating at
Kolar, in the state of Mysore. The superintendent, Charles H.
Richards, reports as follows for 1913: A total of 3564 males
and 444 females was employed at the mine, 3770 of whom were
natives. An average of 33.39 machine-drills' was used under-
ground. Water amounting to 152,840,000 gal. was pumped from
the mine. Development to 3200 ft. totaled 12,524 ft., 3396
cubic fathoms of stoping, and 240 cubic fathoms of other work.
Ore reserves are 150,650 tons, an increase of 12,210 tons. An
average of 76.42 stamps was in operation, crushing 3.25 tons
per head per day through wire screening. The tonnage milled
was 90,650 tons, yielding 73,046 oz. bullion. The cyanide
plant treated 94,665 tons, yielding 7332 oz. bullion. The total
recovery was $17.64 per ton. Costs were $7.28 per ton. The
revenue was $1,584,000. Dividends last year were $475,200,
and $9,610,000 to date from an output of 1.526,554 tons yield-
ing $25,297,000.
HEDLEY GOLD MINING COMPANY
This Company operates a mine and mill in British Colum-
bia, and the report covers the year 1913. A total of 70,796
tons of ore was treated, yielding $656,541 by concentration
and $145,789 by cyanidation. a total of $802,330. The recov-
ery was 94%. The tonnage was 341 more than in 1912, worth
$12.03 against $11.19 per ton. The superintendent, Ganer P.
Jones, states that the Dickson incline, 8 by 16 ft. in the
clear, is down 700 ft., where drill-holes have cut $20 ore. but
another hole from the bottom of No. 5 incline gave only $7
per ton. Four drill-holes proved a large shoot of $8 to $9
ore northeast of No. 5 incline. In the stopes are 10,000 tons
of broken ore. Reserves are estimated at 413,000 tons, aver-
aging $10 per ton. Since the report was prepared, another
hole west of the 600-ft. level has passed through 32 ft. of
good ore, checking the holes drilled in 1912. An all-the-year-
round water-power plant is being constructed at a cost of
$200,000. Dividends totaled $360,000. and the undivided
profits amount to $272,096.
SOl'TH AFRICAN GOLD TRUST, LIMITED
This is a large holding company, having shares in 57 dif-
ferent mining companies operating in South Africa, West
Africa, Rhodesia, Brazil. Yukon, California (including Oro-
ville, Natomas, and Yuba dredging), and Mexico. The hold-
ings are not limited to gold mines, but include tin, oil, elec-
tric power, and cyanide production. The Company's ordinary
share capital stands at £500.000, and the preference share
capital at £500,000. During 1913 the sixteenth drawing of
£10,000 debentures for redemption, in terms of the issue, has
taken place, leaving £90,000 outstanding. The realized net
profits on the year's operations, almost entirely derived from
dividends on investments and interest on loans, after deduct-
ing debenture interest and all charges, amounts to £99,123.
from which the dividend on the preference shares and French
Government taxes has been deducted, leaving £68,397, which,
with the amount brought forward from last year, namely.
£63,444, makes a total of £131,841. subject, however, to de-
preciation. The directors regret to have to report that the
total depreciation amounts for the year to £286,396. This
amount has been provided for by charging £150,000 against
the wasting assets account, £30,000 against a credit reserved
in previous years for unforeseen contingencies, and the bal-
ance of £106,396 against the profit and loss account, leaving
the sum of £25,445 to be carried forward. The directors re-
gret, under these circumstances, that they are unable to
recommend the distribution of a dividend on the ordinary
shares. As was the case last year, the depreciation exceeds
the declared profit, and the Consolidated Gold Fields of South
Africa, Ltd., is, therefore, not entitled to any percentage
on the declared profits, and as the directors undertook to be
governed by what applied in this respect to the Consolidated
Gold Fields of South Africa, Ltd., neither do they get any
benefit by way of commission.
AMERICAN SMELTING & REFINING COMPANY
In view of the very unfortunate condition of affairs in
Mexico, by reason of which so large a part of the Com-
pany's property is at present unproductive, according to the
president, Daniel Guggenheim, the directors feel that the
shareholders have reason to congratulate themselves on the
fact that the earnings of the common stock for 1913 equal
7.479r. The earnings of the Company from mines and from
smelting and refining are $3,570,532 less than during the
previous year. Assets at the end of last year amounted to
$189,843,782, made up as follows: Property account, $140,-
906.799; investments, $1,183,653; net value of stocks of ore.
bullion, and factory products on hand and in transit, $26,4X1.-
002: working assets, $3,587,433; current assets, $16,601,092:
and cash and securities in funds, etc., $1,083,803. Apart from
the capital stock and bonds, the current liabilities include:
accounts, drafts, and wages payable, $6,427,880; deferred pay-
ments on mining properties, $330,000; interest on bonds.
$380,100; dividends payable and unclaimed, $2,045,897: accrued
taxes not due. $321,674; creditor accounts, $1,307,788; and
profit and loss surplus, $18,495,943. At the end of 1912 the
last item was $16,759,402. Results of the past two years are
as follows:
Income: 1913 1912.
Net earnings of smelting and refin-
ing plants $10,926,254 $12,568,835
Net earnings from mines 1.185.153 3,113,105
From interest, rents, dividends, etc. 1,318,525 1,077,559
Total gross income $13,429,933 $16,759,499
Expenditure:
Administration $ 896,639 $ 758,176
Taxes, including income tax 210.698 123,917
Interest on bonds 824.961 872,926
Depreciation 1,525.518 3.013,543
Other charges 215.576 236.692
Total expenditure $ 3,673.392 $ 5,679,824
Net income 9,756,540 11.079,675
Surplus at beginning of 1913 16,759.402 13.699,726
Gross surplus $26,515,942 $24,779,402
Dividends:
On preferred stock 6,020.000 6.020,000
On common stock 2.000.000 2.000,000
Total dividends $ 8,020,000 $ 8.020,000
Surplus $18,495,942 $16,759,402
638
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11, 1914
Places Claim — Survey fob Patent
When a placer entry of part of a regular shaped lot com-
posed of legal subdivisions is described in terms of the public
surveys as a legal subdivision and may be readily identified
by that description, a special mineral survey thereof will not
be required.
Archibald McNabb, 42 Land Decisions, 413. September 13,
1913.
Places Claims — Rule of Approximation
The rule of approximation permitted in entries under the
homestead and other public land laws, permitting an entry-
man to take and pay for a legal subdivision of surveyed
ground although the precise area of said subdivision may
be found to vary to a small extent from the standard area
because of unavoidable variations in the public survey lines,
applies also to placer claims but in dealing with placers the
rule should be applied on the basis of ten-acre subdivisions.
Ventura Coast Oil Company, 42 Land Decisions, 453. Oct-
ober 3, 1913.
MlLLSITE — PBOOF OF NON-MlNERAL CHARACTER
A millsite claim may be patented where it adjoins the end
of a lode claim, provided it be clearly shown that the lode or
vein along which (he mining location is laid either terminates
before the end abutting upon the millsite claim would other-
wise be reached, or that it departs from the side-line of the
mining claim, and that the ground embraced in the millsite
claim is non-mineral in character. A higher degree of proof
may be required where the millsite adjoins the lode claim on
the end than where it adjoins it on the side.
Montana-Illinois Copper Mining Co. 42 Land Decisions,
434. September 27, 1913.
Tunnel Site — Not Basis fob Patent
Section 2323 Revised Statutes, confers upon tunnel site
claimants merely the preference right as against a subse-
quent lode claimant, to appropriate in the manner provided
by other provisions of the mining laws, any vein or lode,
not appearing on the surface, which may be discovered in a
tunnel projected under the provisions of said section within
3000 ft. from the portal thereof, provided the work thereon
be prosecuted with reasonable diligence: but said section does
not authorize the sale or patenting of any ground on the ex-
clusive basis of the tunnel location, whether the tunnel be
run for the development of veins or lodes already located or
is projected for the discovery of 'blind' veins or lodes.
Letter, 1st Asst. Secretary Jones. 42 Land Decisions. 456.
October 9. 1913.
Placer Mining Claim — Common Improvement
Where a deep quarry has been excavated upon one of a
group of placer mining claims held in common for the pur-
pose of developing a deposit of marble existing within the
group, and has been projected to within a few feet of an-
other claim of the group, and the topographic conditions are
such that the marble within such claim can be more eco-
nomically removed through the existing excavation than
through an independent plant of development, a proportion-
ate share of the cost of such improvement is applicable to
such claim in satisfaction of the statutory requirement con-
cerning expenditure as a basis for patent. However, the
excavation was not allowed as common improvements for
other claims situated from 600 to 1200 ft. distant.
American Onyx & Marble Co., 42 Land Decisions. 417. Sep-
tember 17, 1913.
1,079,786. — Process of Hardening Copper. James A. Mc-
Larty, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He proposes coating the copper with a material including a
compound containing both hydrogen and carbon, and there-
after heating said copper to a temperature of about 1600° F.
and then allowing to remain out of contact with air until cold.
1,080,747. — Metal Container. Thomas J. Buckley, New
Brunswick, N. J.
A device of the character described, comprising a hollow
contained proper, a hollow neck, a plug, or stopper extending
therefrom and a weak portion connecting the stopper and the
neck and disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the
stopper.
1,081,164. — Smelting or Refining of Metals and the Like in
Crucibles. Henry G. Solomon, London, England.
An induction furnace comprising a transformer the second-
dary of which is formed by an annular crucible, a casing sur-
rounding the transformer, a movable device adapted to close
said casing and a bridge-piece for the transformer connected
to and movable with said movable device.
1,079,787. — Process of Treating Metals. James A. McLarty,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
This consists of subjecting metals in a heated state to the
action of gases and vapors produced by heating a mixture in-
cluding a carbohydrate and a fat to a temperature below that
necessary to produce material amounts of carbon monoxide,
said mixture being out of contact with said metal.
1,080,912. — Method of Electrically Smelting Volatile
Metals. Woolsey McA. Johnson, Hartford, Conn.
The method of smelting ores yielding a volatile metal which
consists in electrically heating a charge proportioned to yield
a fusible slag, conducting the volatile reaction products into
contact with carbon heated to its temperature of maximum
reductivity, continuously replacing the carbon and condensing
the metal, substantially as described.
1,081.116. — Smoke Separator. Clayton Floyd Holmes, Beau-
mont. Tex., assignor of one-half to Joseph Friebis, Beaumont,
Tex.
A smoke separator for smelter furnaces and like apparatus,
comprising a cooling flume connected at one end with the
apparatus, a suction fan eonnectea with the other end of the
said cooling flume, a series of connected and vertically extend-
ing cooling coils arranged transversely within the said flume
to retard the passage of the smoke and gases through the
flume and to cool the said smoke and gases, and a precipitatii
tank charged with a cooling medium and into which discharge
the said suction fan.
1,080,862. — Electric Zinc Fubnace With Integral Cox
denser. John Thomson, New York, N. Y.
An electric furnace having a horizontal carbon resistor, tv
sets of terminals each comprising a plurality of carbon ter
minal members the inner ends of said terminal members
being on contact with the resistor and located within the
walls of the furnace, the outer ends of said terminal members
being located in the walls of said furnace, and two sets of
metallic strips which protrude from the walls to the exterior
of the furnace, one set of said metallic strips connecting the
outer ends of carbon members constituting one set of terminals
and the other set of metallic strips connecting the outer ends
of carbon members in the other set of said terminals.
April 11, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
639
Recent Publications
Mining Laws. United States and California. Bulletin 66.
California State Mining Bureau. P. 89. Sacramento, 1914.
Cabnotite, the Principal Source of Radium. By Thomas
F. V. Curran. P. 28. 111. Curran & Hudson, New York, 1913.
A Legislative Pbogram to Restore Business Freedom and
Confidence. An address at Chicago by Samuel TJntermyer
of New York. P. 40.
Origin of the Bighorn Dolomite ok Wyoming. By Eliot
Blackwelder. Reprint from the Bulletin of the Geological
Society of America. P. 19. 111.
Upward Secondary Sulphide Enrichment and Chalcocite
Formation at Butte, Montana. By Austin F. Rogers. Re-
print from Economic Geology. P. 14. 111.
The Darwin Silver-Lead Mining District, California. By
Adolph Knopf. U. S. Geological Survey, Bulletin 580-A. Con-
tributions to Economic Geology. 1913, Part I-A. P. 18. 111.
Washington, 1914. An abstract of this paper was published
in this journal of April 4.
Mining and Mining Methods in the Southeast Missouri
Disseminated-Lead District. By H. A. Guess. Reprint from
Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.
P. 19. Maps. From 1869 to 1912, inclusive, this district has
produced lead worth $118,783,614, and the work done is de-
scribed.
On Inclusions of Antiiraxolite (Anthracite) in Igneous
Rocks of Crimea. By W. W. Arschinow. P. 15. Petrograph-
ical Institute, Moscow, Russia, 1914.
On Lowigite and Other Minerals from Near Mt. Kin.ial
in the District of the Piatigorsk Mineral Springs in the
Caucasus. By W. W. Arschinow. P. 11. Moscow, Russia,
1913.
Metal Statistics. Compiled by B. E. V. Luty and C. S. J.
Trench. P. 287. Published by The American Metal Market
and Daily Iron and Steel Report. This is the seventh annual
edition of a useful pocket-size publication covering the pro-
duction of metals during 1913, compared with former years,
and their prices. There are also railroad data and duties on
ores and metals.
Proceedings of the Lake Superior Mining Institute, 18th an-
nual meeting, at the Mesabi Range, Minnesota, August 1913,
P. 245, with an appendix of 63 pages. 111., plans, maps. Ish-
peming, Michigan, 1913. When published in pamphlet form,
abstracts were made in this journal from time to time. The
papers and general compilation are full of interest, covering
this great mining district.
University of California publications, Berkeley, 1914:
Note on the Faunai. Zonks ok the Te.io.n Group. By Roy
E. Dickerson. P. 9. III.
Pleistocene Beds at Manix in the Eastern Mohave Desert
Region. By John P. Buwalda. P. 22, with 25 plates.
The Problem of Aquatic Adaptation in the Carnivora, as
Illustrated in the Osteology and Evolution of the Sea-Otter.
By Walter P. Taylor. P. 30. 111.
Preliminaby Concentration Tests on Mesabi Ores. By Wil-
liam R. Appleby and Edmund Newton. Bulletin No. 2. Minne-
sota School of Mines Experiment Station. P. 126. 111., plans,
tables. Minneapolis. 1913. The iron ranges contain a large
quantity of low-grade non-merchantable ore which can be
made of commercial value by concentration. This is shown
by large plants now at work. The School of Mines has in-
vestigated the problem, and this volume contains a great
deal of interesting reading.
University of Illinois publications, Urbana, 1913 and 1914:
The Mortar-Making Qualities of Illinois Sands. By C. C
Wiley. Bulletin 70. P. 38. 111., and 11 plates. This bulletin
discusses the effect of the characteristics of the sand upon
the quality of mortar.
Illinois Miners" and Mechanics' Institutes. R. Y. Wil-
liams, director. Bulletin 2. Outline of proposed methods.
P. 27.
Missouri Bureau of Geology and Mines publications, Jeffer-
son City, 1914:
Biennial Report ok the State Geologist. H. A. Buehler.
P. 54. Maps.
Geology ok the Roi.la Quadrangle. By Wallace Lee. P. 111.
111., maps, charts, index.
Geology ok the Titanium and Apatite Deposits of Virginia.
By Thomas Leonard Watson and Stephen Taber. Bulletin
111-A. Virginia Geological Survey. P. 30S. 111., maps, index.
Charlottesville, 1913.
Canadian publications:
The Canadian Oyster. Its development, environment and
culture. By Jos. Stafford. Commission on Conservation.
Canada, bulletin. P. 159. 111., maps, index. Ottawa, 1913.
Department of Mines, Mines Branch, Ottawa, 1913 and 1914:
Production of Cement, Lime. Clay Products. Stone, and
Other Structural Materials. 1912. P. 64.
Mineral Production of Canada. 1913. Preliminary report.
Prepared by John McLeish. P. 21. Estimates of the output
were published in this journal of March 21.
Minebal Production of Quebec, 1913. Preliminary state-
ment. Compiled by Theo. C. Denis. P. 7. Department of
Mines, Quebec, 1914.
Mineral Production ok British Columbia, 1913. Preliminary
review and estimate. Bulletin No. 1, 1914. By Wm. Fleet
Robertson. P. 35. Victoria, 1914.
Magnetite Occurrenc es Along the Central Ontario Rail-
way. By Einar Lindeman. No. 184. P. 23. III., 18 maps.
Austin Brook Iron-Bearing District. New Brunswick. By
Einar Lindeman. No. 105. P. 15. III., maps, plans.
United States Bureau of Mines publications, Washington.
1913 and 1914:
The Use and Misuse ok Explosives in Coal Mining. By J.
J. Rutledge, with a preface by Joseph A. Holmes. Miners'
Circular 7. P. 52. 111.
Errors in Gas Analysis, due to assuming that the molecu-
lar volumes of all gases are alike. By George A. Burrell and
Frank M. Seibert. Technical Paper 54. P. 16. 111.
The Action of Acid Mink Water on the Insulation of Elec-
tric Conductors. A preliminary report by H. H. Clark and
L. C. Ilsley. Technical Paper 58. P. 26.
Mud-Laden Fluid Applied to Well Drilling. By J. A. Pol-
lard and A. G. Heggem. Technical Paper 66. Petroleum Tech-
nology 14. P. 21. 111.
Production of Explosives in the United States, 1912. Com-
piled by Albert H. Fay. P. 7.
Fuel-Brtquktti.ng Investigations. By C. L. Wright. Bul-
letin 58. P. 277. 111., plan, index. This covers the work done
from July 1904 to July 1912. The amount of lignite coal in
the United States, easily mined and suitable for briquetting,
is estimated at 389,534,000,000 short tons, while the total
easily mined and briquetted with difficulty is 1,087,514,400.000
tons. Briquetting has been done with great success in Europe
for 30 years. Tests by the Bureau of Mines were made on
lignite and other coals from several states. The machinery
used, weathering tests, the fuel value of the products, and
considerable other information, comprise a valuable record
of the work clone on this subject.
640
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 11. 1014
The Meridiograph
By Louis Ross
Nearly ail surveys of mines or claims require the determina-
tion of an accurate north line for reference, one that is more
reliable than that given by the magnetic needle. The method
of obtaining such a true meridian has been shrouded in a
haze of technical mathematics and astronomy, requiring the
services of a skilled surveyor; and to him this determination
meant an evening's work in observing the North Star, or
the solution of complex problems in spherical trigonometry.
The costly solar attachment made for this purpose encumbers
the transit and is none too accurate; therefore, engineers
usually prefer to undergo the labors of star observations
rather than trust to the attachment.
THE MERIDIOGRAPH.
I have devised an instrument which obviates all the diffi-
culties mentioned, and have named it the 'Meridiograph.'
With its aid a true meridian may be determined in a few
minutes, at any convenient hour of the day. no computations,
knowledge of astronomy, or the use of any tables or books
being required. It is only necessary to measure the sun's
altitude. Its declination is taken from the Ephemeris which
accompanies the Meridiograph, and the latitude of the place
is obtained from a map. The Meridiograph will then give
directly the true bearing of the sun to an accuracy of about
1 to 2 minutes of arc, varying according to the time of
day. In shape and operation the Meridiograph is like a
circular protractor, seven inches in diameter. It consists of
two discs rotating with respect to each other, and a reading
arm. The data are set off on the proper scales by means
of the reading arm. just like setting off angles on an arm
protractor, and the true bearing of the sun is read directly.
There are no mechanisms to get out of order. The general
instructions provided will enable anyone who can read an
angle on the transit to determine an astronomically true
reference line at any time of the day. The skilled engineer
will find in the Meridiograph a computing instrument which
will accomplish in two minutes what would otherwise occupy
an evening's work, or require the solution of a laborious
problem in spherical trigonometry.
American-Ball Four-Cyclinder Triple-
Expansion Engine
A new high-speed engine for driving centrifugal pumps,
built by the American Engine & Electric Co., is of the triple-
expansion type with four cylinders. A 1000-hp. engine using
250 lb. steam and 25-in. vacuum, of the double angle type,
was recently built. In it the high-pressure cylinder and in-
termediate pressure cylinder are horizontal, and the low-
pressure cylinders are vertical. This construction is claimed
to give large ratio of expansion and therefore high economy,
and to eliminate an enormous low-pressure cylinder with
massive reciprocating parts. With a single large low-pressure
cylinder, the speed would have to be materially reduced, and
this would increase the size, weight, and space required by
the engine. The increase in weight would, in turn, neces-
sitate decrease in speed, so that if a three-cylinder triple-
expansion engine is to be operated at high speeds usually
desired for driving pumps, the size of the low-pressure cylin-
der must be reduced, with corresponding reduction in expan-
sion ratio and economy. The difference in economy amounts
to several pounds of steam per horse-power hour.
According to the manufacturer, the higher speeds may be
used with the four-cylinder construction, because of the
smaller size of the two low-pressure pistons and rods and
because the inertia forces of the vertical reciprocating masses
are opposed and balanced by equal and opposite forces from
the horizontal cylinders. This advantage of the angle con-
struction is now very well known, from the wide use of the
American-Ball angle compound engine for driving high-speed
electric generators, also the double-angle type of engine, espe-
cially adapted for direct drive of paper machines at high
speeds. The four-cylinder triple-expansion engine is another
application of the same design.
The speeds at which these engines are operated are con-
siderably higher than those of three-cylinder engines in which
economy is sacrificed to reduce the size of the low-pressure
cylinder. Vibration and pounding are eliminated even at
very high speeds, so that the foundations may be light and
inexpensive. When this engine is installed on a dredge-boat,
for instance, no special stiffening of the dredge is necessary,
the engine being simply supported on a cradle of I-beams.
For stationary plants, a simple block of concrete is all that
is necessary, and this is far less expensive than the foun-
dations needed for a compound Corliss engine of equivalent
power. It is estimated that a 1000-hp. four-cylinder triple-
expansion American-Ball engine would require about 25 cu.
yd. of concrete for its foundation, while a compound Corliss
engine of equal power would require 125 yd. of concrete, a
difference of 100 yd., which at $10 per yard would represent
a saving in favor of the American-Ball angle-type four-cylinder
triple of $1000. The design of valves, pistons, cross-heads,
rods, etc.. of these engines is similar to that of the American-
Ball angle compound engines.
The L. C. Trent Enii. Co., Inc., has issued Catalogue No. 2
containing complete descriptions of the cyaniding machinery
made by this firm. Especially interesting data are given
regarding the L. C. Trent underfeed agitator, which is to be
known hereafter as the Carpenter type,' being named for
J. A. Carpenter, superintendent for the Nevada Milling Co..
who perfected the machine.
The Webster Method for March is devoted to coal-handling
equipment, but this includes many devices that could be
used to advantage around any large mine, mill, or smelter:
picking belts, conveyors, bucket elevators, dust jackets for
screens, cooling belts, unloading machines, and chain eleva-
tors especially.
and Scientific
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant."
Whole Ho. 2804
VOLUME 108
NUMBER 16
San Francisco, April 18, 1914
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Entered at San Francisco Postofflce as Second-Class Matter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EUITORIM Pi
Notts
Progress of Flotation Litigation
ARTICLES i
Levee Building with Bucket Elevator Dredge Equipped
witli Stern Delivery Stacker C. G. Leeson
Accidents and Personal Injuries
Electrical Driving of Winding Engines
('. Antony Ablett and II. M. Lyons
Properties of the Russian .Mining Corporation
Pumping at the Hold Hill Mines on the Comstock
Discovery of Zinc in America Charles R. Keyes
Tonnages through Ship Canals
The Mineral Resources of the Harney Peak Pegma-
tites— II Victor Ziegler
Ore Treatment at the Champion Reef .Mine. India
Slime Treatment at Broken Hill
Production of Explosives In 1H1 - Albert H. Fay
Geologv of the f'hlsana District. Alaska
Filling Ore Sacks T. R. Arohbold
discussion ■
A Puzzle in Sulphide Enrichment. .. .Geo. S. Nlshlhara
Relative Emclencv of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide.
C. M. Eye
What is the Matter with Prospecting? J. C. Stutz,
W S Keith. Algernon Del Mar. N. E. Guyot,
Donald C. Catlin. S. F. Shaw
CONCENTRATES
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
i.i:m:ii \L MINING NEWS
DEPARTMENTS!
Personal
The Metal Markets
The Stock Markets .
Company Reports
ige.
641
644
616
647
sr.1
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Monthly Copper Production
Book Reviews
Industrial Progress
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EDITORIAL
T 17 AGES iu Australia still appear to be on the up-
» " ward move. During 1013 there were 319 changes
in all classes of trade, affecting 163,132 employees, who
secured an average increase of $1.08 per week per per-
son. During the past 10 years or so, wages have been
increased 15 per cent ; but the cost of living has moved
up about 25 per cent in the same time.
<V/T OTHER' JONES is reported as having recently
^"A smuggled out a message to 'General' Villa from
the Walsenburg jail, where she is being held incom-
municado. Whether this was an appeal for help in the
settlement of the Trinidad affair or regrets for being
unable to be present and take part in the Torreon cam-
paign is not stated. However, this secret message to
Francisco is undoubtedly like that to Garcia, of great
import, and the public will watch the Constitutionalist
leader's movements with added interest.
A N automobile whip is being successfully operated
-**• in northern Nevada. The whip is arranged just
as it would be for a horse. However, this 'whip,' or
'whipsy' as the device is sometimes called, is for hoist-
ing rather than for increasing acceleration. It consis
of the usual overhead and ground pulleys throuj
which the rope runs from shaft to roadway. When tL_
hoisting signal is given, the car runs straight away
from the shaft: when lowering, it backs until the rear
wheels strike a bumper near the collar. Incidentally,
the car is used for transportation to and from the mine.
UNION M1NEKA Dl' IIAUT-KATANZA is again re-
ported as about to embark upon elaborate im-
provements for increasing the smelter capacity and
conducting o'>erations on a greatly increased scale.
Plans for lour additional furnaces are being considered
and with the general increase in scope of operation it
is expected that the annual output will be over 30,000
metric tons of copper, which will place the property
among the big copper producers. The holdings of the
Company include one of the most extensive mineralized
tracts which the industry knows, and. according to a
recent report, ten mines have been sufficiently de-
veloped to prove 10.000,000 tons of 10 per cent copper
ore. The concession comprises a district which is about
200 miles lone and contains upward of 100 mineralized
outcrops. Tin. gold, and platinum are also reported
642
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
in the district in profitable quantities. The difficulties
encountered in the development of this tract were nu-
merous, due chiefly to its remoteness from all bases of
supply, but with the advent of railway transportation,
development of fuel supplies, installation of coke-
making equipment, and reduction plant the outlook
is brighter. While there is no doubt but that the hold-
ings of the Katanza company include main- valuable
mineral deposits, there have been many reports circu-
lated regarding the status of the Company, some of
which have been exaggerated and unduly auspicious.
It will, therefore, be a relief to record the large pro-
duction which is now anticipated.
"|I1"IX1XG is considered a public use in various states,
■*■*■*■ as a consequence of statute enactment. As a
result, mining companies have the right to exercise
the right of eminent domain and to condemn and pur-
chase property for specific purposes as granted. The
matter recently came up in Nevada in connection with
the desire of the Goldfield Consolidated company to
condemn land belonging to the Old Sandstorm Annex
Gold Mining Company, for storage of tailing. In
Utah, the case of Strickley versus Highland Boy Gold
Mining Company was taken up to the United States
Supreme Court and decided favorably to the right.
Progress of Flotation Litigation
Litigation has marked every step of progress in con-
nection with notation. Considering the complexities
and uncertainties of the patent laws of this and British
countries, and keeping in mind the probable value of
monopoly patents for the next ten years, this is not
surprising. Great inventions are not usually the re-
sult of one man's activity, nor are they accomplished
by a single step. They mark the culmination of much
experimental work on the part of many men. and in a
sense they express the Zeitgeist of the moment. Just as
a great occasion has always, historically, seemed to
find a fit man at hand, so a great metallurgical or
mechanical need seems at the right time and place to
call out the primitive spirit of invention that has
brought man out from the stone age. There is always
a final step, but under such conditions it requires nice
judgment to apportion the credit, and the courts have
a difficult task in determining the equities involved.
The ancients appreciated the affinity of oil for metal-
lic minerals, though no serious effort to make use of
this property in ore-dressing in a large way was made
until well on in the nineteenth century. In 1860, the
Haynes patent described a definite process for separ-
ating gangue from mineral by means of fatty or
oleaginous material, but apparently the process was
never applied. Tn 1886. Miss Bverson proposed to make
use of acid to intensify the differences in affinities of
mineral and gangue for oil and water. It was not, how-
ever, until late in the nineties that serious and success-
ful efforts to use flotation became general. Then there
was a lartre crop of processes and patents, and in Aus-
tralia, especially, the competition between processes
became keen. Fights, judgments, and compromises have
succeeded, until now the situatiou is beginning to clear.
A decision recently given by the Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council, noted in our issues of March
14 and 28, establishes certain important boundary lines,
and another decision, probably to be handed down next
month at San Francisco by the Circuit Court of Ap-
peals, is expected to set up other important guide posts.
Unfortunately, owing to the fact that decision by a
Circuit Court is not absolutely final, the American
judgment may not end matters. In view of the im-
portance of the case, the defeated party will naturally
use every effort to bring the matter before the United
States Supreme Court, and, while in patent cases that
is not often accomplished, there is a possibility of such
review. This is a less'probable cause of trouble than
the fact that another infringer, in another district,
could precipitate another fight practically de novo.
Speaking in general terms, there are three classes of
flotation processes now before the public; (1) film
flotation; (2) bulk-oil rafting; (3) agitation-froth
flotation. There are cross-divisions based upon heat-
ing or not heating the solutions, use or non-use of acid,
the method of introducing air or generating gas in the
mixture, and other minor points. There are also other
processes, such as the Cattermole and the Potter, that
apparently are applicable in special cases. There is,
too, the ingenious Murex process which, while it uses
some of the methods of flotation, introduces a wholly
different principle and stands by itself. The Murex,
by the way, is about to be introduced in North America
by Mr. James M. Hyde, the designer and builder of
the Butte & Superior mill, and one of the notable figures
in the flotation litigation now under way.
Film flotation is simple in principle but difficult in
practice. It depends upon delivering the finely ground
gangue and metallic minerals upon the surface of the
pulp by such a method that the valuable mineral does
not break through the thin surface film, while the
gangue does. It is in successful use in the Morning
mill of the Federal Mining & Smelting Company in the
Coeur d'Alene. where the Macquisten tubes are the
particular apparatus adopted. There is little contro-
versy about this process. Its failure so far to achieve
wide use is due to the limited capacity of the necessary
machinery and its limitations in treating slime. A
slowly moving, little disturbed current of water is
necessary, which seems incompatible with high capacity.
The oil-rafting processes are best exemplified by the
Elmore, which was used in several countries and has
found a number of applications. The Elmore vacuum
process now in use involves different principles. In
the oil-rafting process the metallic minerals are en-
trapped in a body of oil and are supported by it. The
low specific gravity of the oil offsets the weight of the
mineral, and the whole mass floats over a lip or other
device to an outlet. Tt is the patent on this that has
just been held valid by the highest British court upon
appeal from New South Wales. As the question arose
April 18, 1*114
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
64:)
over claimed infringement by .Minerals Separation,
operating the 'agitation-froth' process, it is interesting
to note that the decision sustained the contention of
the respondents that the expression in the patent at
issue "the selective action of oil" was referable only to
conditions in which the oil is present "in sufficient
quantities to entrap or coat or absorb the metallic par-
ticles, and is of sufficient tenacity to carry these par-
ticles in the process of separation, whether by buoy-
ancy or in the form of oil globules." This was held to
be true whether the process be carried out in any of
three sets of apparatus described. The importance of
the latter lies in the fact that one apparatus described.
provided for removal of the floated material by means
of an oiled belt, and distinctly called attention to the
fact that separation in this instance does not depend
upon the buoyancy of the oil. The judgment of the
British court apparently leaves the Hlmores and Min-
erals Separation each free from the other, though it is
to be noted that the Elmore vacuum process was not
before the court. The processes adjudicated are held
to be independent and. by inference, mutually non-
infringing, so that competition must be upon the merits
of each to meet particular situations that arise.
The agitation-froth process depends upon the lifting
power of air bubbles whose walls are composed of
particles of the mineral to be recovered, bound together
by an extremely thin envelope of oil. Its utility rests
upon the fact that large quantities of material can be
rapidly and cheaply handled by simple machinery and
that it is applicable to the fine slime that is lost in all
forms of water concentration. .Minerals Separation
claims that its patents on this process are basic, and
this, and the claim of infringement as against Mr.
James M. Hyde and his associates at the Butte &
Superior mill, were upheld by the District Court at
Butte last fall, as we noted at the time. It was this
case that was recently heard on appeal at San Fran-
cisco and decision of which is anticipated next month.
In the hearing, Mr. Hyde and his associates held
that they were but using the knowledge of the prior art
with skill and metallurgical knowledge. They cited
particularly the Froment, Everson, and Kirby patents,
and made demonstrations before the court, using
amounts of oil varying from a fraction of one per cent
to 25 per cent in treatment of Butte & Superior ores
and producing in each case a froth. It was claimed
that these demonstrations were under the terms of the
Minerals Separation, Froment. Cattermole, and Kirby
patents. and it was pointed out that the amounts of
oil used were too small to cause bulk-oil rafting. To
this, objection was entered on behalf of the Minerals
Separation that the demonstration did not in fact re-
produce the conditions defined by the patents cited,
and furthermore that the froth produced, where the
conditions departed from those of the Minerals Sep-
aration process, was not a true 'agitation-froth' but a
different phenomena. Tt was conceded by all that the
affinity of oil and oily substances for sulphides had
been loner known, and there seemed no disposition to
question the fact that Miss Everson discovered the use-
fulness of acid in intensifying the selective action of
the oil. Theie was also no controversy over any form
id' film flotation or bulk-oil rafting. In the lower court
much had been made of the Everson and Froment pat-
ents by Mr. Hyde and his associates. At the San Fran-
cisco hearing the Kirby patent was strongly urged as
anticipating the Minerals Separation patent. This was
taken out by .Mr. Edmund Kirby shortly before the
patent in litigation, and was based upon work done by
him in British Columbia. The essential novel features
were that he proposed to use a light nil. that it should
be heated, and at one stage of the process he bubbled
air into the mixture. He also specified violent agita-
tion, and it is contended that this could not have been
done without producing a froth, which is admitted to
be the peculiar and distinctive characteristic of Min-
erals Separation flotation. It was also brought out
that an excess of oil. in certain eases at least, did not
prevent formation of a froth. They, therefore, eon-
tended that in the work at the Butte & Superior mill
at Butte the metallurgists were merely using the com-
mon knowledge of the prior art with due effort to de-
crease consumption of oil. It was urged that in de-
creasing the amount of oil. Minerals Separation had
not produced a new result, but had merely striven for
economic efficiency, hence could not claim invention.
In reply, .Minerals Separation presented an excellent
and instructive history of the art. It was urged that
the froth of 'armored bubbles' first produced by .Mr.
A. M. Iliggins was a wholly new thing and not to be
confused with the incomplete formation of bubbles in
an excess mass of oil that was the best that could re-
sult from the Kirby process. The Froment process
was illustrated, but held to be worthless, ami the
rious bulk-oil processes were held to be uneconon
and proved by experience to be worthless in ac
practice. As to the possible formation of a froth with
larger quantities of oil. it was urged that the so-called
froth was not a true 'agitation-froth': that it was a
mass of oil in which bubbles were entrained and en-
trapped rather than a mass of air bubbles of which the
walls were formed by sulphide particles and in which
the oil was so small an element as not to be determined
except by analysis. Strong emphasis was also placed
upon the fact that prior art had not in fact resulted
in the treatment of ore in quantity, while the Minerals
Separation process went at once into actual use and
had resulted in establishment of a new industry. In-
cidentally, it was brought out that the earlier processes
made no attempt to treat slime.
Tt will be extremely interesting to see how the Court
of Appeals rules upon this case. While minor points
have been raised as to the validity of the patent, ap-
parently the decision must rest in the main upon the
court's determination whether as a matter of fact the
'agitation-froth' of the Minerals Separation process is
different from the oil 'magma' of the Froment or the
aerated oily mass of the Kirby and similar processes.
644
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
BUIIJHNG THE PONTOON.
SWIFT CURRENT.
Levee Building With Bucket Elevator Dredge Equipped With
Stern Delivery Stacker
I5v C. 6. Leesox
The Oro Water. Light & Power Co.'s 5-ft. gold
dredge Hunter lias just completed a strip of tailing
bank 1700 ft. lonjr on the Feather river about five miles
below Oroville. The Feather at this point makes a
long bend and the erosion of the south bank, due to
very swift water, has encroached upon the Marysville
and Oroville county road to such an extent that it had
been necessary to rebuild the road close in and skirt-
ing the high bluff which borders the river. A bulk-
head made of piling and three-inch plank, 20 ft. high
by 800 ft. long had been built by Butte county in an
attempt to turn the current away from the road. Dur-
ing the high water of this year this bulkhead was
washed away and the bank had caved to the edge of
the roadway. Another high water period would have
destroyed the road and necessitated a new road on
top of the bluff with consequent heavy grades.
The Oro company was moving the dredge Hunter to
a property lower down on the river and by an agree-
ment between Butte county, the Anti-Debris Associa-
tion and the Company, an arrangement was made to
dredge the bed of the river, with the understanding
that all gravel recovered was to be piled upon or close
to the road side of the river. It was expected that the
gold recovery would pay for the operations so that
the work could be done without expense to the county.
Incidentally the gold failed to materialize in paying
quantity. The work was, however, done free of all
charge to the county.
The original plans were made so that this work in
llie current would be done during low-water time,
since at the point where the river approaches and
parallels the county road the current becomes in flood
times very swift and very dangerous. During the
•January flood of this year, just prior to commencing
the work, the river rose 20 ft. The dredge was delayed
in its progress and did not enter the river until Febru-
ary 1.
Due to the probability of extreme current and to
the fact that the flotation of the dredge had decreased
due to age and concrete repairs to the hull, so that in
certain conditions of operation the free board at the
stern was entirely lacking, it was decided to build ft
pontoon to increase the stern flotation and to decrease
the current resistance of the stern. The figure below
i» iov-
- «■■■#• --
;■:■ i.... i.. i i I
- '20*6'-
SKCTION THROrOH PONTOON.
DREDGE IN DANGER FROM
CURRENT.
WOODEN BULKHEAD BUILT
T6 PROTECT ROAD.
shows this pontoon as constructed. It contained 12.000
ft. of lumber and figured net 54 tons flotation. When
placed and the water pumped out it raised the stern of
the boat 2 ft. above its previous position. The design is
such that the battered back, when the current pressed,
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
645
LEVEE AS nill.T ALONG COUNTRY ROAD.
tended to elevate rather than to depress the stern. The
portion which went under the hull was of such capacity
as to balance the upright portion around the stern bot-
tom corner of the hull. The width of the portion going:
ander the hull was 7 ft. greater than the upright por-
tion. This shelf was utilized in sinking the pontoon
under the dredge. Ten tons of sand in sacks was load-
ed on each of these projections. The whole structure
was then pumped full of water and floated under the
dredge and when in place the sand was dumped and
the pontoon then hugged closely the bottom of the
hull. It was leashed with cables as safety precaution.
During the high water of February 17 and 18, the
river came up V.W-i ft. in 24 hours. The dredge was
caught at that time in a most disadvantageous posi-
tion. The current was such that the water piled up
TAILING PILE I.KVKE AS COMPLETKI).
G46
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
BUCKETS AND DREMJK HOW OPERATING I.N SWIFT CURRENT.
behind the pontoon approximately 2 ft. Had it not
been for the protection and the additional flotation
provided by the pontoon, it is believed by the opera-
tors, the dredge would have been swamped. A view
herewith, showing the very precarious position of one
of the Guggenheim dredges when moving in the current
of the river and when the current rushed over the
deck, is shown as of interest in this particular point.
The method of operating the dredge to build the
levee or protection bank is new. The work done proves
that a side delivery stacker is not necessary for work
of this character. Advantage was taken of the fact
that the water was of such depth on the bank side
1hat it was unnecessary to dig flotation clearances
on that side. The dredge was operated on the single-
cut side-step principle. Spuds were used. The out-
swing was made to a position at right angles to the
bank; the in-swing to a position parallel to the bank.
Bedrock was reached at varying depths from 22 to 37
ft. Under ordinary river conditions the depth of
water before digging varied from a sand bar showing
above water to 15 ft. deep. The dredge was 40 days
in making the passage. This time included, however,
seven days 'shut-down ' while the boat was tied up. stern
up stream, because the current was so swift that the
side-line winch was unable to swing the boat against
it. During the 40 days the dredge handled 135.000 cu.
yd. Figures herewith show the character of the bank
before dredging commenced; the pontoon, the swift
current encountered, and the very effective protection
levee built.
A new mining law has been discussed by the New
Zealand Government, which includes regulations on
the following: ventilation: strength of ropes used in
hoisting; safety cages; the use of explosives: supply
of water for laying dust made by drilling or blasting:
change houses with hot and cold water, baths to be
installed when demanded by a certain percentage of
men; additional powers to be given to employees' in-
spectors employed by any miners' union at the expense
of the union, such as reporting on the dangerous parts
of mines: men must be immediatelv withdrawn from
workings containing gases; miners who have contract-
ed fibrosis or lung troubles from dust shall be entitled
to benefit from the miners' relief fund equally with
men who have suffered injuries from accident; hoist-
ing engineers must be examined annually by a medi-
cal man ; and the Minister of Finance in the govern-
ment is empowered to obtain not over $96,000 per year
and advance this money to mining companies for de-
velopment work.
Accidents and Personal Injuries"1
1. In case of accident, however trivial, or of personal
injury, however slight, received or sustained in the
course of duty, an injured employee must give imme-
diate notice, or cause immediate notice to be given.
to the Company. Such notice may be given by an
employee to his foreman, or to the Company's surgeon,
and must be given at the time of or immediately after
the happening of the accident, to enable the Com-
pany to investigate the causes and circumstances of
the injury, to determine whether it is accidentally in-
flicted, and that it renders the employee unable to
perform his duties in the service of the Company.
2. All employees injured in the service of the Com-
pany must obey the surgeon's instructions in report-
ing for examination, using the remedies and following
1 he treatment prescribed, and going to the hospital if
directed.
3. All employees who are disabled but not confined
to the house, must report in person at the surgeon's
office, from time to time, as reasonably requested.
4. Failure on part of an employee to give immediate
notice, as above directed, or refusal to obey the sur-
geon's instructions, will be deemed sufficient cause for
dismissal.
Copper production of Peru in 1913 was 27.940 metric
tons, ma^e up as follows: bars, 20,340; matte. 4462;
and shipping ores, 3138 tons. This is an increase of
100 long tons on the previous year.
♦From the book of 'Rules and Regulations' of the Nevada
Consolidated Copper Company.
April 18. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
647
Electrical Driving of Winding Engines
Bv C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons
•The use of electrical machinery for driving hoist-
ing engines in mines and reversing rolling mill plants
in steel works is comparatively recent, the first wind-
ers of importance having been introduced in 1902.
The earlier winding engines were extravagant in
power and had the disadvantage of drawing very
heavily upon the source of electrical supply at the
moment of starting. It was, therefore, impossible to
use them on systems where the supply of current was
limited, and even on comparatively large plants their
use resulted in serious interference with other ma-
chinery. These disadvantages were, however, prac-
tically done away with when the Ward Leonard sys-
tem and Ilgner's adoption of the flywheel to this
system were introduced, but the past few years have
seen greater improvements in the Ward Leonard and
the Ugner system. The present paper will deal chiefly
with the developments of these systems by the various
Siemens companies, who have installed about half the
total plants in existence, and with whom the authors
have the honor to be associated.
Ward Leonard System
In this system, Fig. 1, a direct current motor is used
to drive the winding engine or rolling mill, the motor
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being supplied with power from a direct-current dyna-
mo, and the essential feature of this system is that
the voltage supplied to the motor, and consequently
the speed of the motor, is controlled by controlling
the field current of the generator, instead of by vary-
ing the resistance in the armature circuit of the motor.
Thus, as the field current of the generator is increased
from nothing to a maximum, the motor speeds up from
standstill to full speed, and if the field current of the
generator is reversed, the motor reverses its direction
of rotation.
This system enables a very exact control of the
♦From a paper on 'Kleetrical Driving of Winding Engines
and Rolling Mills.' read before the Canadian Society of Civil
Engineers and the Canadian Mining Institute.
speed to be obtained, because the speed of the motor
is practically proportional to the strength of the gen-
erator field, whatever the load on the motor may be,
while with any control system where resistances art-
inserted into the armature circuit of the motor, the
speed would vary within very wide limits with a
change of load, rendering the exact speed control quite
impossible. The control of the dynamo field involves
scarcely any waste of electrical power, but where re-
sistances are inserted into the armature circuit the
loss of power may be. and usually is. very great. The
field currents of the generator are small, so that the
control mechanism is small, compact, and very easy to
handle, the armature currents are perhaps fifty times
as great, so that any control mechanism which varies
the resistance of the armature circuits is large, clumsy,
and difficult to handle, in fact a complicated relay
system is often necessary to enable it to be handled
at all.
The dynamo used to supply the motor in the Ward
Leonard system is usually driven by a motor supplied
from the available power circuit, forming a motor gen-
erator.set. and this motor may be either direct current
or three-phase, according to the power available. The
dynamo may be and sometimes is driven by an engine,
water turbine, or other prime mover, it' this
happens to be more convenient.
The main control lever for operating the
winding engine is coupled to the regulat'""
resistance in the field circuit of the generi
so that when this lever is in the mid-posi.,
there is no current in the generator field. As
the lever is moved in one direction the genera-
tor field current increases, and as it is moved
in the other direction the generator field cur-
rent is also increased, but in the opposite sense.
From what has been said in the introductory
remarks it will be seen that when the lever is
in the mid-position the winding engine is at
a standstill, and that it starls and speeds up as the
lever is moved from the mid-position in one direc-
tion, while if the level- is moved from the mid-position
the other way the winding engine increases in speed
in the other direction, and that the speed of the wind-
ing engine is practically proportional to the displace-
ment of the lever from the mid-position, and is not
affected by the weight, of material being hoisted.
The driver docs not have absolute control over the
speed, for two cams are provided on the depth indi-
cator, one for each cage, which operate levers coupled
to the control lever in such a way as to prevent the
cages being accelerated at too rapid a rate, and to
slow up the winding engine at the proper point so
that the toj) is approached at a crawling speed. Pro-
648
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
vided that these limits set by the cams are not ex-
ceeded, the speed of the wind is entirely within the
driver's control. To slow up the winder and bring
it to a standstill, the control lever is brought back
toward the mid-position, thereby reducing the field
current of the generator, and reducing its voltage
below the voltage of the winding motor, so that the
current between the motor and the generator reverses
and the winding motor gives back power to the gen-
rator, thus producing a strong electric braking effect.
The more rapidly the lever is moved backward toward
the mid-position the stronger the electric braking effect
will be.
The kinetic energy of the moving parts of the winder
is converted to electrical energy and returned to the
system. The lever may be brought toward the mid-
position to produce this electric braking effect, either
by hand or automatically by the cams, as mentioned
above. The depth indicator and the cams are posi-
tively driven from the drum of the winding engine and
the cams are so geared that they make less than one
revolution per wind.
Fig. 2 shows the typical horse-power diagram for a
270 7~a/->J /2s/- f/otsr-
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the maximum is only reached at the end of the time
of acceleration, from 10 to 15 seconds after the start,
because the speed of the winding motor is increased
while it is giving the requisite turning moment "by in-
creasing the field of the generator, and consequently
there is no loss of power in starting. Since this ac-
celeration peak is of short duration and only comes on
gradually, it is possible to supply Ward Leonard wind-
ers from power stations of comparatively small total
output, provided that the machines in the power sta-
tion have a sufficient overload capacity to maintain
their speed during peak loads, as is usually the case
with steam turbo-generators where the generators are
provided with modern voltage regulators.
Where, however, this is not the case, and the accel-
eration peaks of the winding engine are large compar-
ed with the average demand on the power station, or
where the winder is supplied through a long transmis-
sion line from a distant power station, it is sometimes
necessary to couple a flywheel to the motor generator
set. In this case provision must be made so that during
a peak load the motor generator falls in speed, en-
abling part of the stored energy of the flywheel to be
used to supply the heavy demand, and when the load
is small the motor generator set is speeded up again,
the surplus power being taken to restore the energy
of the flywheel, so that the demand from the power
house or supply system is maintained at about the
average. This is the Ilgner system, so-called after the
engineer who first used it in practice.
Fig. 3 illustrates the effect of the flywheel in equal-
rt-npere^
+ /bo6
t/200
/ 800
+ 400
t O
-■40O
- SOO
- /200
- /6cc
1 [
1
\
\
A
■ 1
:
'1 1
} \
, 1
^
I
1 ' ^
' J
L
J
11'
1
1
1
-2ooO
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
winding engine. The inertia of the drums, cages, head
sheaves, material wound, and the ropes, which alto-
gether weigh about 60 tons in this particular case,
necessitate a horse-power at the end of the accelera-
tion period of each wind of 1865, which is about three
and a half times the average power demand of the
winding engine, in this case 524 hp., and it is found
that the maximum acceleration peak is usually be-
tween three and four times greater than the average
demand.
The consumption of energy for this Ward Leonard
control rises gradually during the starting period, and
i/.ing the load taken by the winder, where it will be
seen that the current taken by the winding motor
varies between + 1900 and - 1000 amperes, while the
current taken from the supply system is maintained
practically constant at 400 amperes, the maximum
voltage supplied to the winding engine and the supply
voltage being the same.
Three-phase motors are usually used to drive the
motor generator sets supplying winding engines, and
their speed can only be conveniently varied by insert-
ing resistance into the rotor circuits, which causes a
loss of power. In addition to this a certain power is
April IS, 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 640
required to drive the Bywheel to overcome the friction slip regulator usually consists of liquid resistance in
and windage loss, so that while the use of the Ilgner which are immersed plates connected to the slip-rings,
system prevents peak loads being taken from the sup- and it is operated by means of motor relay supplied by
ply system or power house, it entails a certain loss of current from a series transformer connected in the
power. In many cases the cost of this loss of power. circuit of the main three-phase supply, so that when
which is justified by the benefit of the steady load to the speed is to he reduced, the immersion of the plates
the supply system, winch improves the economy and is decreased, increasing the resistance between them,
voltage regulation of the power house, may avoid the and when the speed is again allowed to rise, immersion
installation of extra plant in the power house, or where of the plates is increased.
the winding engine is being supplied through a long The series transformer is usually supplied with tap-
transmission line, will enable a cheaper transmission pings connected to a dial switch so that the average
line to be used than would otherwise be the case, and load maintained by the slip regulator can be adjusted
will improve the voltage regulation of this transmission to the work which is being done by the winding engine,
line. Flywheels are usually designed to equalize the load
The Ilgner System by falling in speed from 15 to 20%. and it is found
that this entails a loss of power in the slip regulator of
The following example will give an idea of the power abou(. 71 , f() 1(K/, Th(1 flywheel is ,lsll;l|lv coupled to
taken by the Ilgner system under practical working th(. ]not((1. generator set by means of flexible coupling,
conditions with a winding engine arranged to wind though in some verv recent Ilgner motor generator sets.
240 tons per hour from a depth of 1060 ft., making as yfhen thpre happens t() 1)(, no advantage in running
a maximum 44'i- winds per hour, where the flywheel wkh „,„ flvwhee] unCoupled. the electrical machines
is used whenever the full output is being wound at the al)(, t,](l flvwhee] „,.,. arranged t() be carrie(1 bv two
full speed, but where a lesser output is being wound at bearing8 onIv_ reducing the first cost and the friction
reduced speed, so that the acceleration peaks l>ecomc josses
less serious, the flywheel is uncoupled to save power. . .. . .
These results are conveniently expressed in terms of
the kilowatts taken by the electric winding engine of recent year8 tlu. capita, CQst ((f Ilgner plants has
plant per shaft horse-power. b(1(M1 greatlv rednced, owing to the adoption of higher
Output in Kw. per shaft spee(] for t}le motor generator sets and to the improve-
tons per hour. horse-powrr. ,, „ „ , ,, , , . . ,
„.,.. a . . „.„ , .„ ments m the manufacture ot such tlvwheels, winch en-
With flywheel 240 1.49 '
160 1.60 able them to run at very high peripheral speeds com-
los 1.77 pared with those used in the earlier winding engines.
Without flywheel 160 1.35 For example, the provision of flywheel capacity to
10s *-48 equalize peak loads of 60,000 hp. seconds, in the es
It will thus be seen that when working the winding days of Ilgner winding, where peripheral speeds
engine on the Ilgner system then- is an increased loss 15.000 ft. per minute were used, would require two
of power of from 16 to ll'/i . as compared with the wheels of a total weight of about 80 tons, the friction
Ward Leonard system, and naturally with the latter, and windage loss of which would be about 150 hp.
where the flywheel is uncoupled, the resistances are cut Under modern conditions where the regular peripheral
out of the rotor circuit of the three-phase motor to speeds are 27.000 and :i0.000 ft. per minute a single
avoid loss of power. flywheel of 22 tons weight would be used, instead of
To avoid misunderstanding of the above results, it the two flywheels having a total weight of 80 tons, and
should be specially pointed out that shaft horse-power the friction and windage losses would not exc I 100
is taken to mean the actual work done in raising the horse-power.
load, that is. if the actual weight of coal or ore, ex- A sheet metal casing is usually placed outside the
pressed in pounds, which is raised per minute is multi- rims of the flywheel to reduce the windage loss nf the
plied by the depth of the shaft in feet, and divided by flywheel to a minimum, and this is found to be sufficient
33.000. the shaft horse-power is obtained. The shaft for the purpose, because practically all the windage
horse-power thus dors not include the mechanical loss is caused by the outside surface of the rim. the
friction of the winding engine, the sheaves, the guides, web producing very little windage. This can be shown
or the rope losses, and the figure of the kilowatts di- in a striking manner by holding a handkerchief against
vided by the shaft horse-power brings in the mechan- the web near the inner surface of the rim while the
ical efficiency, as well as the electrical. flywheel is running, there being scarcely enough wind
To enable the speed of the motor generator set to be to blow the handkerchief out.
automatically reduced so that the flywheel may give up The Ilgner system was used on practically all the
part of its stored energy, the three-phase motor of this early European winding engines, but as at the present
motor generator set must be of the slip-ring type. The day power stations are being installed of much greater
slip-rings are connected to the automatic or inter- capacity than those of a few years ago, and high-speed
mittent slip regulator which inserts resistance into the turbo generators of large overload capacity are being
rotor circuit when the speed is to be reduced. This adopted, the Ward Leonard system at the present time
650
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18. I!tl4
is being used to a much greater extent than the Ilgner
system for winding engine work. Generally speaking,
the Ilgner system of winding may be preferable to the
Ward Leonard system in the following eases: (1) when
the time occupied by the wind is short: (2) for vertical
shafts: (3) for large outputs; (4) where the winding
speed is very high.
Comparisons
The above conclusions may be considerably modified
by the nature of the electrical supply. Where the
power station is small or the winder is supplied through
a transmission line of considerable length, the Ilgner
system will be more suitable, but where the power sta-
tion is large and near the winder, the Ward Leonard
system is the better. Where power is being purchased
from a supply company the choice of system would be
very greatly influenced by the method of charging
adopted by the supply company and by their regula-
tions as to the permissible overloads and the amount
of disturbances which they will permit to the regula-
tion of their system. It is always advisable to con-
sider each case on its own merits. Where there are a
number of winding engines supplied from the same
power station the Ward Leonard system would prove
very suitable, because the combined effect of these
winding engines working together will be to reduce
the percentage of fluctuations on the power station
load.
The mechanical brake is so arranged that when it is
required to bring it into action it is actuated by a
weight at the end of a lever, but it is normally held off
the drum b,y an air cylinder. Vnder normal conditions
the cams on the depth indicator actuate the control
lever, so that the cages approach the top at a very
slow speed. When they reach the top the driver
brings them to rest by means of his control lever, and
then puts on the mechanical brake to hold the cages in
position by means of the brake lever. The brake lever
is interlocked with the control lever, so that the driver
cannot put on the brake by means of the brake lever
until the control lever is at about the middle position,
that is, unless the cages are moving at a comparatively
slow speed.
To enable the driver to stop the winder in case of
any emergency arising, a third lever, the emergency
lever, is placed on the driver's platform and if this is
operated it puts on the mechanical brake through the
emergency gear and at the same time cuts off the ex-
citation from the dynamo of the motor generator set.
A throttle valve is fitted to the air cylinder to prevent
the air from escaping too rapidly, so that if the me-
chanical brake is put on through the emergency gear
it lakes a second or two to apply it with full force,
a ud damage would not be caused by the winding en-
gine being pulled up too rapidly.
From what has been said above, it will be seen that
the brake is applied by the positive action of the
weighted lever, and if the air pressure should fail the
brake is promptly put on. The armatures of the wind-
ing motor and the generator an; permanently connected
.by heavy cables, and there are no cut-outs or switches
in this circuit, so that the circuit between the armatures
cannot be interrupted: electrical braking is always
available as well as the mechanical brake, unless the
excitation should fail. To protect the electrical ma-
chinery and the winding engine against undue over-
loads an overload relay is connected in this circuit be-
tween the armatures, which if brought into operation
cuts off the excitation from the dynamo and puts on
the mechanical brake through the emergency gear.
As mentioned above, cams are provided on the depth
indicator which keep the acceleration within safe limits,
and the cage is brought gradually to a slow speed by
the time it reaches the top. An overwind device is pro-
vided, usually both on the depth indicator and in the
shaft, which puts on the mechanical brake through the
emergency gear and cuts off the excitation should the
cage overwind the bank, thereby bringing the winding
engine instantly to a stop. Should the air pressure or
the excitation fail, the mechanical brake is put on by
means of the emergency gear. If the motor generator
set should speed up when a load is being lowered and
energy is being returned to the system by the winding
motor, either owing to the circuit breaker in the sup-
ply system coining out or to the demand for power
from the system being insufficient to absorb the energy
being returned to the system by the winding engine.
then the excitation is cut off and the mechanical brake
is put on through the emergency gear. When men are
being hoisted the throw of the main control lever is
limited by means of a switch on the bank, so that the
winding engine cannot be run above a certain speed.
Safety Devices
Where electrical driving is adopted it is very easy
to provide safety devices, and all those mentioned are
designed to protect the plant against careless handling.
but if the majority of safety devices were dispensed
with, the Ilgner and the Ward Leonard winder would
still be better protected against careless handling than
the steam winder. The fact that it is impossible for an
Ilgner or a Ward Leonard winder to race or run away
makes it inherentlv safer than the steam winder.
Gold output of Indian mines in January was as fol-
lows :
Tons. Value.
Balaghat 3,600 $1,424
Champion Reef 1S.070 11,520
Huttl (Nizam's) 3,100 1.610
.Tibutal (Anantapur) 1.010 245
Mysore 25.850 19.562
Nundydroog "-500 6.715
OoreKiim 12.90S 7.758
North Anantapur 2.000 934
The output of zinc concentrate at Broken Hill. New
South Wales, by flotation processes, was responsible
for nearly 90% of the gain in the world's production
of spelter from 1906 to 1911.
April 18. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
651
Properties of the Russian Mining Corporation
The organization of the above Company was ex-
plained in a London letter in the 'Special Corre-
spondence' portion of this journal of February 14,
1914. and further information has been given out to
the press by the directors, dealing with the properties
to be developed. Among these, the Company has ac-
quired an option on one-half of an anthracite coal mine
in Central Russia, which is now being worked at a
profit. It has also secured from Prince Alexander of
Thurn and Taxis an option to purchase the rights of
two concessions, and is at present directing operations
at the two principal mines. Two engineers are now
on their way to the property to decide on the first
work to be done in the way of unwatering and open-
ing the lower levels, and starting drilling work. Dia-
mond-drills will be sent in after the opening of navi-
gation on the Irtish river in May : and it is anticipated
that valuable information as to the extensions of ore-
bodies can be obtained more quickly by boreholes than
by underground prospecting. The nature of the ore-
deposits lends itself to satisfactory exploration by
drilling, as proved by the excellent results quickly ob-
tained by the Russo-Asiatic Corporation on the Rid-
dersk mine. A full geological examination of the con-
cessions in connection with the ore occurrences will be
started in May.
The Altai concessions were also described, the notes
havinp been compiled partly from official records of
the district, and partly from reports of several mining
engineers, who have examined the various mines from
time to time since 1845. It is stated that the original
grant was of three separate concessions, covering the
Zminogorsk of about 12,292 miles, the Riddersk of
about 3073 square miles, the Zeranovsk concessions of
about 2195 square miles. About two years ago the Rid-
dersk was relinquished by the concessionaires, and has
since been granted by the Russian government to the
Russo-Asiatic Corporation, so that the property now
under consideration consists of the Zminogorsk and
Zeranovsk concessions.
There are three principal mines of the country which
give their names to the three original concessions,
namely, the Zminogorsk, the Riddersk and the
Zeranovsk. These, though a long distance apart, are
in one general line of occurrence, northwest and south-
east, and seem to exist under nearly identical geolo-
gical conditions. A great number of smaller mines and
prospects occur on the same general line of country.
There are a number of abandoned copper mines in
another parallel line nearer the Irtish river and on
the Zminogorsk concession. The ores of the mines
mentioned are similar in general character and geolo-
gical occurrence, but with local variations in the form
of orebodies.
Zminogorsk Mines.— This property is probably the
oldest, and was the most important in the country; and
it is at present being worked as a gold mine. Full
descriptions of this, and of some of the other mines to
be mentioned, are to be found in a report made in 1869
by Von Cotta, the well recognized authority on the
occurrence and origin of ore deposits. Von Cotta draws
favorable conclusions as to persistence in depth of the
ore-bearing vein from the fact of its proved length of
over 5'. j miles. One barite body was 300 ft. long,
varying from 50 to 250 ft. in thickness and worked on
to over 600 ft. in depth. More recent development has
shown that the underlying hornstone carries finely
divided galena, zincblende. and iron and copper
pyrite. with yrold in profitable amount. At one tim~
more than 1000 miners were working in one large open
cut. The portion of the ore treated for gold is report
ed to have yielded $8 to $10 gold per ton of ore by a
simple process. With depth, difficulty in treatment
arose: and at present a 15-stamp mill is in operation,
with an experimental cyanide plant, to improve ex-
traction, which was of late unsatisfactory, although
giving returns above actual working cost. Reports of
late results are encouraging. On the Zminogorsk vein
about 25 mines have been worked at different times,
and it seems evident from the records that on the
dumps and developed underground there must be large
quantities of ore. which, with an economical mining
plant and modern metallurgical methods, would yield
profitable returns. Recently some engineers have con-
sidered that the important ore-shoots have direct re-
lation to certain anticlinals in the folded strata.
Zeranovsk Mines. 'Phis group is about 150 miles
south-east of Zminogorsk. It was opened in 1791, and
in fifty-eight years had produced about 400 tons of sil-
ver and 10.000 tons of lead. After 1850 the production
increased largely for some years. This was a very im-
portant mining centre, and had an established School
of Mines at one time. The principal mine is developed
quite extensively underground, where complex ores are
found in depth. Estimates made in 1904 for the Rus-
652
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18. 1914
sian government show about 150,000 tons developed
and 50,000 tons on the dump. The ores were reported
to contain about 22% zinc, 12% lead, 2% copper, 15
oz. silver and $5 gold, equal to a total gross metal value
of about $48 per long ton. All the richer oxidized
ore had been worked out to a depth of about 300 ft.
but developments extend to 700 ft. in depth. The
occurrence of the ore in the upper workings seems to
have been in large lenses; but it is reported that at
the bottom of the mine there are two well-defined veins
of the base ore, each about 7 ft. thick, and proved over
a length of fully 2000 ft,, with ore at both ends. Oc-
casional branches of rich gold-bearing quartz run off
from these veins. The country rock is reported to be
crystalline schist. Ore-bearing hornstone also occurs.
In the neighborhood of the Zeranovsk mine there are a
number of others, some carrying silver and gold, oth-
ers producing more copper. There are occurrences of
copper in porphyries, which may be of great value as
concentrating propositions. There are more than ten
abandoned copper mines in the Zminogorsk concession
running in a general line northwest from the Irtish
river. They were worked irregularly during a great
many years, and the ores had to be transported by horse
conveyance to Barnaul, a distance of about 250 miles,
in order to be smelted. All the evidence available
seems to show that changes in conditions and cost of
working led to stoppage of these mines, so that their
reopening and development would be very advisable if
smelting works are established on the Irtish river, as
is possible now that coal and coke supply is being
provided for by new railway transport. Reports re-
cently received from Zeranovsk state that the Putinzeff
and Buchtarminsk mines can, with little development,
be made to yield sufficient rich copper ore to justify
some smelting operations with the base ores of the
Zeranovsk mine.
Ore Treatment — There seems to be no doubt as to the
various mines of the two concessions being capable of
yielding a large tonnage of base-metal ores containing
gold and silver and, of hornstone gold particularly,
while there is evidence for the future profitable work-
ing of some of the copper mines. The point of imme-
diate importance for the starting of profitable mining
is that of the treatment of the ores, since it is clear
that the present idleness of the mines is due to the ab-
sence of successful reduction works and not to lack of
ore. The problem of treatment requires investigation
and the consideration of all local conditions. Mr. Yon
Gernet, who is at present acting for the Russian Min-
ing Corporation, was employed by the Imperial Cabi-
net in 1910 to examine the original three concessions,
with a view to reporting on the possibility of working
the complex ores. Several hundred tons of ore were
taken from the dumps of the Riddersk and Zeranovsk
mines, and average samples of these were sent to Ger-
many. France. England, and the T'nited States for test-
ing by various processes. The results were such as to
satisfy Mr. Yon Gernet that modern metallurgical pro-
cesses would he equal to profitably working the ores
from both mines when properly situated central works
were established. His conclusion as to the ore of the
Zeranovsk mine was, that a working profit of about
$14 per ton would be obtainable by well-known pro-
cesses, while a better system would doubtless be
elaborated before long to utilize more fully the various
metal contents, and so increase the profit per ton. A
chlorination plant was at one time put up, but was
unsuccessful. The hornstone gold ores should be
susceptible of an early solution of the treatment ques-
tion and should permit of extensive operations.
A cable issued at the end of last week by the Russo-
Asiatic Corporation gave the assay of bore-hole C at
the Ridder mine, showing an average for the 112 ft. of
solid sulphide in the hole of 33.4% zinc. 17.9% lead.
1.3% copper. 12.5 oz. silver, and 9 dwt. gold per lonjr
ton, representing a gross value in Russia of nearly £16
per ton. J. P. Hutching and E. D. McDermott are now
at the Altai concessions.
Pumping at the Gold Hill Mines on the
Comstock
The equipment at the C. & C. shaft of the United
Comstock Pumping Association was described in this
journal of August 23, 1913, by A. M. Walsh. At the
Gold Hill portion of the lode, the Sturges group of
mines, namely, the Crown Point, Belcher, and Yellow
Jacket, are working jointly. The following description
of the pumps is from the report of George S. Sturges :
The two sinking pumps above referred to are of the
direct connected electrically driven type and were
made by the Byron Jackson Iron Works. Each pump
and motor is mounted on a one-piece cast iron base
supported on a 24-in. gage track by two trucks having
four wheels each and connected to base by king bolts.
The complete pumps proper are made of solid acid
resisting bronze and shafts are bronze covered where
they come in contact with the water. Pump cases are
made in two parts, the upper half can be removed with-
out disturbing the lower part or connections. Main
centre bearing between each pump and motor is srrease
packed and water cooled by circulating jacket. The
thrust bearing on pumps, also on motors, is oil lubricat-
ed, and metallic packing is employed on upper pump
bearing. Hess-Bright bearings are used on motors and
are lubricated by circulating oil system. These bear-
ings also have metallic packing. Motors are each 200
hp. and are of the squirrel cage, induction, constant
speed type, requiring 440 volts, made by the Westinsr-
house company, while the Byron Jackson company fur-
nished the 'heads' and bearings.
Each pump has a rated capacity of 1500 gal. under
head of 315 ft., allowing for pipe friction, and makes
1200 revolutions per minute. On account of delay in
getting part of the equipment, it was impossible to test
installation until December 20. when one pump was run
a few minutes and it was demonstrated that it could
pump water considerably faster than it ran in at that
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
653
particular point, and do it while sucking the water 12
ft. along the incline. The length of suction has been
doubled. The plant was not fully ready to start until
December 30. A severe storm the next day interrupted
the electric service to such an extent that an actual
start could not be made until the year 1913 had expired.
Two 10-in. wire-wound wooden pipes are used be-
tween pumps and 14-in. wooden pipe-line which starts
at the 1400-ft. station and makes connection with the
old steel pipe in Crown Point drift to Sutro tunnel.
Commencing at east end of this steel pipe, which is 1200
ft. long, there is 1000 ft. more of the H-in. wooden pipe
connecting with box in Sutro tunnel. There is approxi-
mately 3000 ft. of pipe between 1400-ft. station and
joint incline and box in Sutro tunnel. Most of this is
run through new drifts and cross-cuts or through those
which were reopened and repaired.
Pumps are handled by an electric winch to which
an auxiliary power may be attached for use in emer-
gency. A hoist placed in the incline at 1300-ft. level
permits handling both waste and ore through this level
from the lower levels of the property.
Discovery ioi Zinc in America
By Charles R. Keyks
Notwithstanding the facts that zinc is the last of the
common metals to come under the complete control of
mankind and that as a chemical element the date of its
recognition is scarcely 200 years back, some form or
other of it, as an earth of peculiar yet distinctive com-
position, is known to have been in use in the arts for
a period of more than forty centuries. The circum-
stance that Greek coinage dating 1000 to 1500 years.
B. C, contains a definite proportion of zinc, so large as
25% in some instances, indicates clearly that it was at
this remote time utilized in alloy.
In this country the zinc industry is of so recent origin
that its beginnings are still well within the memory of
men living. Yet the existence of the metal appears to
have been very early known. .Mention of the ore for
the first time seems to be almost, if not quite, as soon
as that of lead. I'nlike the ease of the last mentioned
metal zinc never had that great advantage of being
sought for ammunition, the provision of which was so
vital a problem to trapper and pioneer in the New
World. The earliest record of the ore or metal is
usually regarded as that of John Bradbury, an officer.
who investigating the resources of this country in the
interests of England, traveled in 1810. through the
Louisiana Purchase country, as the region west of the
Mississippi river was then called. In the same year
zinc was described and analysed from the Franklin
furnace.
There appears, however, to be a distinct reference
to an American occurrence of zinc very much earlier
than any other heretofore specifically noted. In 1655
a French adventurer in the service of England. Pierre
Radisson by name, and his brother-in-law. Medard
Grosielliers, visited the Indian tribes dwelling in the
neighborhood of what is now Dubuque, Iowa, and spent
the season in hunting and exploring mainly on Iowa
soil.
Although Radisson 's descriptions are very quaint they
are at the same time entirely lucid. In the course
of his account of the resources of the region he says
that "In their country are mines of copper, pewter,
and lead. There are mountains covered with a kind of
stone that is transparent and tender and like that of
Venice." The special mention of pewter without ques-
tion refers to no other metal than zinc. It will be re-
membered that this term is the old English title for
spelter (German and Dutch spiauter, Dutch piauter,
English pewter), and that the name was applied in
those days to both the metal and its ore.
That Radisson 's reference does not allude to any
mineral but zinc is conclusively shown by a number of
circumstances. Drybone is a common associate of the
galena ores of the district ; and it would be easily recog-
nized as the 'pewter ore' of England with which the
explorer must have been well acquainted. In Colonial
days, also, pewter plate was an important possession
of every pretentious household ; and the finding of the
substance at these mines naturally made a profound
impression on an active mind, an excitement second
only to that of a gold discovery.
At the time of Radisson 's sojourn at the Dubuque
locality lead mining had already begun. The mineral
had indeed at this time been taken out during a period
of more than two decades — ever since the famous visit
of .Jean Nicollet, in 1634, who in the interests of the
fur trade had introduced fire arms among the India""
and with them created an active demand for amm
tion. A main reason for Nicollet's turning back at
point rather than going on in his great quest of the
South Sea and a short route to Cathay as he had set
out to do. may have been this very discovery of lead
deposits affording an unlimited supply for bullets.
Of the three widely separated localities in which lead
was mined in this country previous to 1650, the
Dubuque field is the only one so far as is now known
in which zinc ore occurs. That zinc should be thus
earlv recognized so long before it was actually used
on a large scale elsewhere is a fact of some interest.
Tonnages Through Ship Canals
The following table shows the relative business of
the principal ship canals of the world in 1912:
Tons.
Sault Ste. Marie ( Soo I 8 months 79,718,344
Suez 20,125,120
Kaiser Wilhelm I Kiel ) 7,580,000
Manchester 5,339,884
New York State ( Erie) 8 months 2,606,116
The two American canals are frozen during four
months of the year. Suez is a sea-level canal. The
Kaiser Wilhelm locks have a larger capacity than
those at Panama.
654
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18. 1914
The Mineral Resources of the Harney Peak Pegmatites— II
By Victor Ziegler
The general facts as to the distribution and mode of muscovite, both well crystallized and sericitic mate-
of occurrence of the rare minerals of the Black Hills rial; occasional blades of albite ; and small tourmaline
have already been given,* as also special descriptions needles along the contacts with the schists. Graphite
of the mica* and tin deposits. It remains to describe occurs in minute flakes and often becomes quite abun-
the tungsten, lithia, columbite, and minor miscellaneous dant. The veins strike about north parallel to the
minerals sehistosity of the rocks. In dip they also agree with
Tungsten Deposits the schistosity; varying from 50° to vertical. Some
veins are quite persistent, and several have been traced
The first attempt to utilize tungsten ore was made jqqq feet
in 1906, when the Reinbold Metallurgical Co. shipped Wolframite occurs in well crystallized bladed crys-
three carloads of ore (mostly huebnerite) from its mine tals exhibiting a strong metallic lustre and a blue-
on Sunday gulch, southwest of Custer. The American ,)lack eolor The blades are often eoarse) i/2 to 1 in.
Tungsten Co., organized in 1907, erected a small mill thick and 6 to 8 in wide They are frequently grouped
on claims about three and a half miles east of Hill City. in aggregates, and some groups 12 to 15 inches in diam-
The Company had practically no chance to produce ore, eter were noted jn some eases the distribution of the
as it was almost immediately involved in lawsuits, the Wolframite seems to be fairly uniform, in others it is
mill and buildings were attached by laborers' liens, and spasmo<jie and pockety. The value of tungsten ore,
it went into the hands of a receiver. The mill was never however, and its ease of concentration should entitle
used, and the ore broken down in 1908, much of it of these deposits to a careful sampling, which will un-
good quality, is still stored in the bins. In 1913 doubtedly proVe that several others are of economic
there was organized the Black Hills Tungsten Mining value. Cassiterite occurs in the wolframite veins north
& Milling Co., which erected a small plant on its claims of jjjjj citV; but apparently is absent in those east of
about three miles east of Hill City, and started con- Hm City If concentrating tests should prove it to
centrating ore in September 1913. During the first ue present jt cou](] readily be eliminated by an electro-
month of production the Company produced $3000 magnetic separation of the concentrates,
worth of tungsten concentrate. The Company has X() timgsten ore has been produced in the Southern
erected shaft-houses, a power-plant, and other improve- mUi. with the exception noted, except about 100 tons
ments, and its activities will be watched with much whieh wag shipped to Germany in 1906. What has
interest by those interested in the development of Black been gaid ag to the future 0f the tin deposits also ap-
Hills mineral resources. plies here. A custom mill would undoubtedly be a
All tungsten deposits of any promise occur in well ^reat stimulus to tungsten mining. Careful sampling
defined quartz veins, similar in character to the tin would probably show that several of the deposits could
veins. They are all situated north or east of Hill City. support an independent plant of small capacity.
with the exception of the claim of the Reinbold Metal-
lurgical Co. on Sunday gulch, which is situated about Lithia Deposits
five miles southeast of Hill City. The more prominent .
' The lithia deposits have been mined somewhat mter-
claims carrv wolframite as the chief tungsten mineral. . *
- „ , . , , ., mittentlv since 1900, and for the last five or six years
Scheelite, yellow, green, or brown in color, occurs both ' . J .
° ' 3 , j i • + ■ have been the chief source of lithia in North America,
as a primary and secondary mineral m most veins.
1 / , , . „ . . ,, t> • v u i • They have been described lately in some detail.4 and
Huebnerite is the chief mineral on the Reinbold chum. • J _
. ^, t, ... , . 1/ „-i t t no elaborate description will be attempted here. The
Ferbente occurs in the Petit claim, y2 mile east of . '
. deposits occur in pegmatites, the more promising occur-
Hill City. Here the deposit is a typical pegmatite. . . ,, f6,r „, . . , ,..,.
'' ,,,,„, T , W i* i n * ring in the vicimtv of Keystone. The important lithia
The Black Metal, Good Luck, Wolfram, and Great . " •'. J lL+;„„, ,;+u:
. ., . , m, minerals with their composition and theoreticaf lithia
Wonder claims are similar in character. They are on '
... « ._ c »„ ib ;„ n,;»i,\ content, are as tollows:
quartz veins which are narrow (from b to 18 in. thick) Percent
and which usually occur in parallel sets. Thus the Amblygonite, Li(AlF)P04 10.1
Wolfram claim shows four distinct veins of about par- Lithiophylite-Triphylite, Li(FeMn)PO« 9.5
allel strike and about 10 to 12 inches in average thick- Spodumene, LiAi(Si03)2 8.4
ness. They exhibit strong pinching and swelling along Lepidolite,(LiKNa)2[Al(OH.F)]Si30,. 4.2 to 4.4
the strike, often showing swells from 18 to 36 in. Spodumene was the first lithia mineral mined, and
through. This is also true of the veins on the other a total of about 1400 tons was produced. This mineral
prospects. The quartz, which is the chief mineral, is js present in a great number of pegmatites, and often
of a gray pellucid character. It carries notable amounts - —~ ,
^ J ' *Ziegler, Victor, The Lithia Deposits of the Black Hills.'
•Mining and Scientific Press, April 11, 1914. Eng. and Min. Jour.. Dec. 6, 1913.
Apr* 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
655
" *^^T5
M\.
f^Wff ,
- -
* ' _L \-i aakL
ti'M
*'i*j&&£m
■WJ
l^^^ffl
II
JMI_.II
^HHMI^^K-V-*^
WOI.KBAM TUNGSTEN' MINE, NEAR HILL CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA.
in abundance. When presenl it is not sporadic in
occurrence, but is usually evenly distributed through
the pegmatites, although it favors the central zones.
The crystals are often of enormous size. In the Etta
mine, where they are best exposed both in the open-
cut and in the tunnel, they frequently attain a diam-
eter of three to four feet and a length of 30. The larg-
est 'log' so far found was 42 ft. long and of 5 ft. 4 in.
maximum diameter. This one lo<r alone would yield
90 tons of spodumene. The crystals are not definitely
oriented, but lie like a huge pile of logs penetrating
the pegmatite in all directions. The Hugo, Wood Tin.
Dyke Lode. Bull Con, and Swanzy claims, near Key-
stone, show spodumene in as great abundance and in
as large logs on the surface as the Etta. On weather-
ing, the spodumene loses lithia and decomposes into
a slivery or fibrous mass of a dull to silky lustre, which
finally disintegrates into a loose mass of minute fibres
and needles. Xo spodumene is mined at present.
The amblygonite occurs in nodules often of great
size, but restricted in occurrence to shoots and pockets
in the pegmatites. Individual nodules 1000 lb. in
weight are common. The masses are white in color,
fairly heavy (sp. gr. 3.2), have poor cleavage and a
vitreous lustre. The Hugo. Peerless, and Bob Ingersoll
mines near Keystone have been the most active produc-
ers, while the Beecher (Bond) mine near Custer, the
Tin Queen near Oreville. and the Nichols mine, near
Hay ward, have produced smaller amounts. The Hugo
mine is actively worked at present by open-cut meth-
ods.
Lithiophylite occurs in disseminated nodules much
like amblygonite. but the nodules are of smaller size
and are more regidar in occurrence and distribution.
They are brown to brownish black in color, posr~'
poor cleavage, are fairly hard and heavy. They
frequently coated with a deep purple-red altera'
OPEN CUT. Ml (li MINE. EVEBYTHIKO BETWEEN THE WALLS OF THE
CUT AMI THE TWO < 'BOSSES IS A MIILYISONITE.
CBOSS-SECTION OK SI'OOUMENK LOO, ETTA MINK.
656
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
product — purpurite, a phosphate of iron and mangan-
ese. A number of pegmatites carry this mineral, in
fact it is almost universally present. The Lost Bonanza
(now Mica King) and the Dyke Lode have produced
about 100 tons at various times. It will probably take
the place of amblygonite when these deposits are ex-
hausted.
Lepidolite is quite widely distributed, but important
only at the Peerless and Bob Ingersoll mines. It is
green, lavender, purple, colorless, or brown in color.
A mass of purple lepidolite 5 by 6 by 2y2 ft. is ex-
posed in the Bob Ingersoll mine. The lepidolite at the
Peerless mine is green in color. Micaceous aggregates
two to three feet in diameter are common in both mines.
None has been produced as a source of lithia. The
total production of lithia minerals up to September
1913 and the approximate value are as follows :
Tons. Value.
Spodumene 1400 $ 30,000
Amblygonite 2800 110,000
Lithiophylite 100 3,000
Total $143,000
Columbite-Tantalite
The tantalate and niobate of iron arc only of im-
portance in pegmatite about Keystone. Here they
occur in the Etta, Bob Ingersoll, Peerless, Hugo, and
in lesser amounts in a number of other claims. These
minerals usually occur in irregular shoots or pockets
consisting of aggregates of muscovite, lamellar albite.
and quartz. The columbite is in small tabular crystals
of iron-black color, and a dull metallic lustre, usually
enclosed in the albite. The crystals average less than
an inch in diameter, but occasional rich streaks are
found showing crystals 6 to 8 in. wide. The crystals
are usually deeply striated.
Aggregates weighing several hundred pounds have
been found at several claims such as the Hugo, Peer-
less, and Etta, while a mass over '2000 lb. in weight
was found at the Bob Ingersoll claim."' The niobium
constant in 25 specimens analyzed, varied from 3.57
to 57.32%, while the tantalum varied from 10.93 to
82.237c." These minerals are mined only incidentally
as by-products. Probably two tons of picked colum-
bite are at present held by several miners near Key-
stone.
Miscellaneous
Uranium minerals, such as uraninite, torbernitc and
antunite, occur in a number of pegmatites, but appar-
ently nowhere in abundance. Bismuth minerals, as
native bismuth, bismuthinite, and tetradymite. occur.
Especially interesting is the occurrence of such miner-
als in ladder veins in a pegmatite on the Cobalt claim
near Bismuth. There- is not enough ore to be of im-
portance. Beryl is quite common in large-sized masses
•-■Blake, W. P., Am. Jour. Set., 3d series, XXVIII, pp. 340-341
(1884).
cHeadden, W. P., Am. Jour. Sri.. 3d series, XLI, pp. S9-102
(1891).
in a number of pegmatites near Keystone, and could
be produced quite cheaply should a market arise.
That this is likely is shown by the increasing interest
in methods for the cheap extraction of beryllium. Feld-
spar could also be produced at low cost from a great
number of pegmatites. So far the markets are in the
East and the demand is readily met by producers in
Pennsylvania, Maine, and New Hampshire. Apatite,
together with other phosphates, might be incidentally
recovered and would probably find a ready market for
use as a fertilizer. Rose quartz of fine depth of color
occurs in several pegmatites. It has been mined to
some extent, and found of use as a semi-precious stone.
The only important producer has been Scott's claim,
near Custer. Appreciable percentages of monazite are
reported from placers near Harney Peak.
Ore Treatment at the Champion Reef
Mine, India
The following notes are from the annual report of
the superintendent, Henry J. Gifford, and cover the
general work done during the period ended September
30. 1913:
Rock' extracted from the mine, tons 277,336
Waste sorted out, tons 56,825
Ore milled, tons 220,511
Stamps working, average 140.3
Gold by amalgamation, fine ounces 95,756
Recovery by amalgamation, per cent 78.8
The pulp leaving the batteries assayed $2.32 per
ton. It has .been decided to install a classifying plant
and two tube-mills, in order to separate and grind
the coarse portion of the pulp. This will increase
the work for the filter plant, which is of sufficient
capacity to handle the extra quantity.
No. 1 cyanide plant, with the addition of a Butters
vacuum-niter, has treated nearly all of the sand and
slime produced by the stamp-mill, in addition to
23.843 tons of accumulated slime. The filter-plant has
done excellent work, and the average residue from
40,715 tons of slime treated was 16e. per ton. Results
at the two plants were as follows :
Sand. Slime.
Material treated, tons 197,685 40,715
Before treatment, per ton $2.40 $1.52
After treatment, per ton $0.88 $0.16
Recovery, per cent 62.6 S8.9
Cyanide consumption, pounds per ton 0.661 0.730
Zinc consumption, pounds per ton 0.092 0.092
No. 2 cyanide plant treated 101,187 tons of old sand
and slime, averaging $2.76 per ton, with a recovery
of 49.4%. The chemical consumption was 0.614 lb.
of cyanide and 0.084 lb. of zinc per ton treated. Re-
serves of old tailing amount to 275.280 tons. Total
returns from the mill and cyanide works was worth
$2,528,000.
Copper concentrate produced in December by the
Elmore vacuum plant at the Sulitjelma mine. Norway,
amounted to 620 tons.
April 18. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
657
Slime Treatment at Broken Hill
* Among Broken Hill's metallurgical achievements
of the past year is the successful establishment of the
'Horwood' process for the separation of the constitu-
ent metals contained in slime (the invention of E. J.
Horwood), and this was accomplished at the works
of the Zinc Corporation at Broken Hill, where a plant
having a capacity of about 500 tons per week has
been in regular operation for about six months, treat-
ing current and accumulated dump slimes.
The slime is derived from the material being treated
in the main flotation plant, being the finest portion
of the floated sulphides — too fine for separation by
ordinary concentration. This material was formerly
sold for shipment to Europe, but being a mixture of
both zinc and lead sulphides, is too rich in lead and
poor in zinc to command a satisfactory price from
the buyers of zinc concentrate, much of the combined
lead and silver being lost in the course of roasting
and distilling, and owing to the high zinc content the
material is not acceptable to buyers of lead concentrate
by reason of the high cost of smelting such refractory
material, apart from the question of the sacrifice of
the zinc such a sale would involve.
The importance of separating this material into two
products, one suitable for zinc distillation, and an-
other for sale to lead smelters — was recognized by the
Zinc Corporation: and as the Horwood process had
given satisfactory results on a small scale, it was de-
cided to exploit the process on a larger scale, and
this was done, first by sending 100 tons of slime to
be roasted at Ballarat. and subsequently separating
the material in the Corporation's experimental flota-
tion plant at Broken Hill, and secondly, by erecting
at the Zinc Corporation works a full-sized unit, includ-
ing the requisite roaster as an adjunct of the treat-
ment plant.
This plant comprises, first, the requisite receiving
tanks for the slime (which is pumped in a 4-in. pipe
from the dump or gravitates from the treatment plant),
and a 7-ton filter-press in which the slime is dewat-
ered and washed for the removal of soluble salts, which
latter operation has a most important bearing on the
subsequent treatment, enabling, as it docs, the separa-
tion to be effected with a much lighter roast, and at
the same time causing the silver content to follow the
lead. The value of this feature is recognized when
it is remembered that under the ordinary lead smelt-
ing contract the silver is paid for in full, whereas the
silver in the zinc concentrate is subject to heavy de-
ductions.
After the washing, compressed air is turned on for
a short time to drive off further water before open-
ing the press, and this permits the cakes to be dis-
charged sufficiently dry to crumble to a large extent
on dropping through the grizzly bars set under the
•Abstract from Australian Mining Standard.
press. Belt conveyors deliver the material to an ele-
vated storage bin. at the bottom of which is a triple-
screw automatic feeder regulating the feed to the
roaster.
The roaster is of the Edwards duplex type, with VI
panels and 48 rabbles, measuring 102 ft. long by 14
ft. wide. Three small fireboxes on each side furnish
the necessary extraneous heat, but as the ore gen-
erates heat while being roasted, the fuel consumption
is very small, as will be understood when it is stated
that the operation does not require the material to
even glow, so low can the temperature be kept. The
requisite draft is afforded by a small fan which gives
absolute control under every possible condition of the
atmosphere.
The roasted ore is automatically conveyed to the
receiving tank constituting the main storage for the
solution used in the subsequent flotation process. This
tank is built at such a level that any leakage from
the flotation plant will gravitate to the storage tank,
where the slime is kept in suspension by slowly revolv-
ing arms.
A centrifugal pump takes the pulp from this tank
and delivers it to the flotation plant, where the zinc
content is floated and recovered as a high-grade zinc
concentrate, low in silver and lead, while the lead
and most of the silver, having been deadened to nota-
tion by the roasting, remain unfloated and are recov-
ered as a lead smelting product rich in silver.
Typical actual plant results of the process are -"
follows :
Zinc. Lead. Silv
% r'. oz.
Feed to roaster 40.-1 14.»; 21.4
is divided into —
Zinc concentrate assaying 4S.7 5.2 11.6
and —
Lead residue containing 10.2 44.2 54.6
The grade of the lead is dependent on the amount of
gaiigue present in the original feed.
The separate products gravitate to tanks connected
with the tilter-presses which promptly remove the solu-
tion and enable the products to be despatched to the
seaboard without further handling or delay.
The advantage of this process, more especially in
regard to material derived wholly or partly from
dumps, lies in the fact that the zinc is selectively
floated and not the lead. When slime is dumped, the
lead content rapidly oxidizes, though the zinc is very
slightly affected, and while only a very incomplete
selective dotation of the lead can be effected in the
case of dump slime, much more of the lead can be
floated if this he done simultaneously with the easily
flotable zinc: owing to the clots assisting in the flota-
tion of the feebly flotable lead.
A further inherent advantage in preferential float-
in" of the zinc is that the surfaces of the particles of
658
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18. 1914
zinc sulphide which have been tarnished by oxidation
are instantly brightened on immersion in acid solu-
tions, whereas the acid has no effect on the oxidized
coating of the leady particles — the importance of this
feature as emphasizing the advantages of preferen-
tially floating the zinc will be realized when it is re-
membered that bright surfaces are essential to a suc-
cessful Hotation.
It follows that higher recoveries of the lead and sil-
ver can be obtained from material containing dump
slime by first floating both the sulphides, when the maxi-
mum possible flotation of semi-oxidized lead and silver
can also be obtained, and afterward submitting the
mixed concentrate to a preferential zinc flotation pro-
cess, than is possible if the material be first submitted
to a lead selective process. In addition, the grade of
the zinc concentrate will be much higher in the former
case than in the latter, owing to the fact that after
applying the lead selective process to the material a
considerable quantity of the feebly flotable leady par-
ticles will be floated when the subsequent flotation of
the zinc is being effected, the readily floated bright
zinc particles mopping up much of the tarnished feebly
floatable leady particles, and reducing the grade and
consequent value of the zinc concentrate, while sacri-
ficing lead and silver for which very small payments
are made when accompanying a zinc.
This process having been successfully tried out and
established on a large scale on Broken Hill slime, there
is every reason to expect still greater success on such
complex pyritic sulphides as occur so abundantly in
Tasmania, as both the laboratory tests and the tests
made in the experimental plant in Victoria, where the
Horwood process was first tried on a working scale,
showed the Tasmanian ores to be more easily treated
than Broken Hill slimes.
Tests made on Tasmanian ores show that 85 to 90'/<
of the zinc can be recovered as a high-grade zinc con-
centrate, assaying 57 to 58% zinc, while the same per-
centage of the lead contents can be recovered in a
separate product along with the iron contents of the
ore, in a form which makes the material practically
self-fluxing.
Production of Explosives in 1912
By At.bekt II. Fay
•The total output in the United States was 489,393.-
131 lb., equal to 244.696' short tons. The quantity used
may be classified as follows:
Coal Railway con- Other
mining, struction, etc., purposes,
pounds. pounds. pounds.
Black blasting powder 187,090,995 18,533,000 24,669.374
High explosives 20,903,430 89,703,081 123,S62,9S1
Permissible explosives .... 18,150,618 4,668,399 1,811,253
There was 534,466.580 short tons of coal mined in
1912, consuming 226,142,043 lb. of explosives, or 2.36
♦Abstract from Technical Paper 69, Bureau of Mines, Wash-
ington.
tons per pound used. The fatalities due to explosives
were 133. or 0.59 per 1,000,000 lb. used.
The following table shows the amount of explosives,
excluding exports, manufactured and used in the vari-
ous states in 1912 :
Black blast-
ing powder,
pounds.
Alabama 5,277,375
Alaska *
Arizona *
Arkansas 2,776,800
California *
Colorado 2,668.300
Connecticut 921,325
Delaware *
District of Columbia. .
Florida 91,950
Georgia 694,925
Idaho 296,200
Illinois 36,674,290
Indiana 12,503,525
Iowa 8,683,375
Kansas 11,262,555
Kentucky 6,435,150
Louisiana *
Maine 157,225
Maryland 651,200
Massachusetts 126,650
Michigan 544,225
Minnesota 5,549,725
Mississippi 13,050
Missouri 4,334,750
Montana 3,306,050
Nebraska 152,475
Nevada *
New Hampshire 51,162
New Jersey *
New Mexico 1,178,250
New York 926,125
North Carolina 628,325
North Dakota 329,000
Ohio 7,565,700
Oklahoma 5,192,225
Oregon *
Pennsylvania 72,199,900
Rhode Island *
South Carolina *
South Dakota 104,500
Tennessee 4,656,700
Texas 2,025,775
Utah 1,551,825
Vermont 340,062
Virginia 3,904,725
Washington *
West Virginia 12,648,150
Wisconsin 250,300
Wyoming 3.078,275
Not segregated 10,541,250
High explosives
other than
permissible,
pounds.
4,542,192
1,169,946
*
7,268,790
677,759
79,426
*
1,770,182
1,238,907
3,749,470
5,879,767
2,634,435
1,439,367
2,417,112
2,629,495
877,813
666,305
1,248,727
1,579,630
23,694,970
10,647,442
521,245
17,262,890
*
217,310
266,503
1,976,054
*
1,798,225
*
14,474,767
196,375
1,358,762
•
197,275
*
6,639,698
36,550
1,687,862
350,200
4,070,160
32,059,187
8,108,612
197,350
*
340,327
1,756,515
3,824,012
198,790
1,750,382
27,131
4,385,460
*
270,250
3,012,704
134,900
7,117,330
*
4,323,135
3,072,095
5,303,415
143,150
199,275
95,700
45,247,664
6.631.352
Total 230,293,369 234,469,492 24.630,270
•Represents the product of only one or two manufacturers,
and is included in item 'not segregated.'
Forty milligrams of radium bromide was sold in
December by the Radium Hill Co., whose laboratory
is at Sydney, New South Wales. The mine is in South
Australia.
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
659
Geology of the Chisana District, Alaska
The bedrock of the district is shale and slate witli
some intrusives. It has long been known that this
region was mineralized (see Bulletin 417 of the U. S.
Geological Survey), and both copper and gold-bearing
lodes have been long known to occur in this gen-
eral region. The shallow gravels are without doubt
of post-Glacial age, but some of the deeper and bench
nV~^ 'i-.,.,.i:.w _
| k« /,j..'..«
TKA1I.S TO CHISANA (AFTEB CAIKNKs).
gravels may be older. It appears that the best hope
for extensive gravel deposits lies in the finding of
pre-Glacial gravels. The northern limit of glaciation
lies about 20 miles to the north of this district, near
where the Chisana emerges from the mountains. The
southern boundary of an area of schists and intrusive
granites lies about 30 miles north of Johnson creek.
These rocks are known to be locally mineralized, and
are of the same types as those found in most of the
Yukon camps. There has been but little prospecting
in this region. largely because of its inaccessibility.
It is certainly worthy of careful attention on the
part of the prospector. An excellent report upon the
district, by I). Cairnes of the Canadian Geological
Survey was published and noted some weeks ago.
A subsidiary company, called the Nechi Mines (Co-
lombia). Limited, is to be formed by the Oroville
Dredging Co. to take over 400 acres of ground re-
cently acquired in Colombia. It is proposed to con-
struct a 9-ft. dredge of 40.000 cu. yd. weekly capacity,
at a cost of £36.000. The new Company is to have a
capital of £140.000. divided into 140.000 25% prefer-
ence shares of 10s. each, and 14,000 ordinary shares of
10s. each.
Mill work at the Ashanti Goldfields mines. West
Africa, in the year ended June 30, 1913, was as fol-
lows: central plant of seven ball-mills, roasting fur-
naces and cyaniding. treated 93.674 tons of ore worth
$17.70 per ton. The Cote d'Or reduction works of
50 stamps and six filter-presses, including wet and dry
crushing, roasting, cyaniding, and filter-pressing, treat-
ed 54.773 tons of ore worth $9.04 per ton.
Musi fit
Filling Ore Sacks
By T. R. Arciibolu
•Filling ore sacks by hand, when a considerable num-
ber have to be done, is a slow process, and expensive
in labor, and the machine described and illustrated was
designed with a view to reducing the number of men
employed and making the work as nearly automatic as
possible.
It consist of two parts. A drum (1) divided into six
compartments, each com-
partment holding exactly
a sack of ore. revolves in
a hopper (2) which is di-
vided in the middle, allow-
ing three compartments to
empty out of each side in-
to the sacks. The diagram
will make the principle of
operation clear. The ma-
chine as made will fill two
sacks at a time, but, of
course, the drum could be made longer, and three or
more filled. The ore passes from the ore-bin through a
chute which must fit snugly on the circumference of the
drum. Each compartment of the drum is half closed,
and the edge of the portion closing it is reinforced wi '
a knife-edge (n) of hard steel. A lever for turning
barrel is fixed on a ratchet. As the lever is depress
the full compartment empties into the sacks ami the
next two compartments fill. The bottoms of the sacks
rest on a small car, running on a slightly inclined track.
The sacks are slipped off the hopper and the car is re-
leased by pulling the catch in the middle, when it runs
a few feet to where the sacks are being sewn.
The machine has given every satisfaction, and I think
that 360 sacks per hour can be filled with three mem, a
task which used to take 15 men when working with
shovels. It is an advantage to know that all sacks con-
tain exactly the same epiantity of ore. The only dis-
advantages I have found are: (1) if the ore has been
some time in the bin during wet weather, it packs and
delays the work, but this, after all, is the case with all
bins: and (2) it will not take large stones, as they
jamb between the chute and the drum. The knife-
edge obviates this to a great extent, but I found it
necessary to put a 'grizzly' above the bin, with bars
1.3 in. apart, and have had no trouble since. In any
case, it is not advisable to put large stones in the sacks,
because they are almost sure to tear them in transit.
•Abstract from Bulletin 113 of the Institution of Mining
and Metallurgy.
660
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Press are invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
S.. t^i1.e.r matt,ers Pertaining to mining and metallurgy.
1 he Editor welcomes the expression of views contrary
to his own, believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to the readers
of this journal.
A Puzzle in Sulphide Enrichment
The Editor :
Sir — By the oxidation of pyrite and chalcopyrite, sul-
phuric acid and ferric and cupric sulphate are formed.
Pyrrhotite, alabandite, and sphalerite when brought in
contact with acids generate hydrogen sulphide gas,
which lias been supposed to precipitate secondary sul-
phides. Since the acidity of descending solutions de-
creases with depth, the generation of hydrogen sul-
phide gas may reasonably be supposed to be confined
to the zone of oxidation where sulphuric acid, ferric
and cupric sulphate are generally present. It is in-
teresting to note, however, the fact pointed out by F.
F. Grout in Economic Geology (Vol. 8. .p. 415) that in
a mixed solution of cupric and ferric sulphates, pyr-
rhotite and sphalerite cease to be active generators
of hydrogen sulphide gas, while alabandite does not.
In an experiment, ferric and cupric sulphate solu-
tions were put in three test-tubes, and in tube A pyr-
rhotite, in tube B sphalerite, and in tube C alabandite
were placed and set aside for a week. No change was
observed in tubes A and B. In tube C, in which ala-
bandite was placed, it was noticed that copper sul-
phide was precipitated and that the pyrite and chal-
copyrite were coated with chalcoeite and bornite re-
spectively.
Although alabandite has recently been found to be
intimately associated with galena, yet it is known to
be rather of rare occurrence in sulphide ore deposits,
and does not seem to play an important part in the
role of secondary sulphide enrichment. The experi-
mental fact appears to show that the presence of cupric
sulphate inhibits the generation of hydrogen sulphide
gas. and it is difficult to see why hydrogen sulphide gas
causes precipitation of secondary sulphide in the zone
of oxidation, unless alabandite is present.
Geo. S. Xisn i ii \ k a .
Pniversity of Minnesota, April 8.
Relative Efficiency of Sodium and Potassium Cyanide
The Editor:
Sir — In studying .Mi'. Butlers' valuable figures on
relative efficiency of the two cyanides, published in
the Minimi and Scientific Frews, March 28, I am not able
to reconcile the figures with his conclusions as to rela-
tive difference of cost. In order to derive the addi-
tional cost due to using sodium cyanide, he evidently
intends to get the additional cost of an equal amount
used, on the relative costs per pound of 22c. and 17c..
respectively, and add to this the cost of half a pound
of sodium cyanide (presumably the 'excess shown by
the figures, though this is really 0.47 lb.). He therefore
multiplies 30% by 17 and obtains 5c. Should this not
also be multipled by 2.17, the amount of potassium
cyanide being compared, making lie. instead of 5c,
and making the loss per ton of ore, due to using sodium
cyanide, equal between 21 and 22c. instead of 16c. as
given by him '! Perhaps I am mistaken. I hesitate to
question figures by such an eminent authority, and if
mistaken, should like to have the matter explained for
my benefit, it seems to me, however, that my conten-
tion is borne out by simply comparing the totals of the
amounts used per ton each multiplied by the prices
given per pound, namely, 2.64 lb. at 22c. = 58.3c. ;
2.17 lb. at 17c. = 37c. ; the difference being 21c. per ton
in favor of potassium cyanide. If this is correct, what
is the need of the complex method used of getting this
comparison ? Indeed, in using sodium cyanide, I always
treat it as 1307c potassium cyanide for practical pur-
poses, using 0.77 lb. of it in place of 1 lb. of potas-
sium cyanide called for in regular tests, the standard-
izing being done with pure potassium cyanide and de-
riving the loss in terms of 100% potassium cyanide.
This is the unit on which the price is based, and forms
a convenient unit throughout. It is like the relative
merits of the gold and silver monetary standard.
There must be some standard, but it matters little
which is made the standard.
Regarding relative merits of the two. my experience
has been that the sodium salt should never be adopted
until the ore has been tested in a run with each salt,
other conditions being kept the same. I never have
seen a ease where it gave better results. I have alter-
nated in certain cases from one to the other with no
apparent difference in extractions, and in one notable
ease, where the mistake was made of ordering a car-
load of the sodium cyanide in starting a new plant, it
was impossible to reach, as I remember, within 10%
of the extractions indicated in the experimental mill.
where potassium cyanide was used, until a supply of
the potassium salt was obtained on a rush order. The
extractions immediately responded by jumping up to
where they belonged. This was at the plant of the
Rossland Power Co. at Trail. B. C. working on tailing
from concentration of Rossland ore. The physical con-
ditions governing settling had to be observed very
closely, owing to the presence of much hydrated slime,
settling action prior to agitation having had to be care-
fully avoided. No lime could be added to the ore be-
fore extraction was obtained, without reducing it by
20% or more. In laboratory tests with the two salts
there seemed to be a slightly greater settling with the
sodium cyanide, but it was so slight that it hardly war-
ranted us in assuming that as the cause of non-extrac-
tion. Is it not a fact generally recognized among
chemists that the potassium salts are as a rule more
active chemically than the sodium? In nearly all
chemical works where reference is made to the use of
one or the other, in a given case the potassium salt is.
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
6G1
I think, generally given the preference. This may ac-
count for the greater extraction in most eases when
potassium cyanide is used. The evidence is complicated
by the fact that much of what we in the United States
have used as potassium cyanide is only the sodium salt.
diluted, so if the metallurgist switched one to the
other in this ease, there would be no apparent differ-
ence in extraction, as the sodium salt would be used
in each case. It may be that eases where a difference
between the extractions have been observed are those
where a real comparison of the salts obtained through
the potassium cyanide being the real thing. It may be
that the foisting of diluted sodium cyanide on the
operators in America has been the cause of a consid-
erable financial and national loss through imperfect
extractions. This in part is to be blamed on the
tinkered up tariff schedule that charged a higher duty
on the sodium salt, making it an object to perpetrate
the fraud, not only on the Government, but on the
public.
It is not likely to he continued now that the duty
is removed from both, but it behooves operators every-
where to look carefully into this question, beginning
the investigation with a determination of the metal
radical of their salt if supposedly potassium cyanide is
used, and if the sodium salt is used to try out the
other salt in comparison. I believe that in a majority
of cases the conclusions will agree with Mr. Butters'
Divisadero results : that the potassium salt will give
a greater extraction at a less cost. In his case, taking
the last foui- years, two with one and two with the
other, the sodium cyanide shows 1.85 lb. against 2.05
lb. of potassium cyanide, which, at the prices given.
shows a financial advantage of 6c. per ton in direct
saving, and over 3% better saving in sold.
C. M. Eye.
Los Angeles. April 2.
What Is the Matter With Prospecting?
The Editor :
Sir — I have followed prospecting for a great many
years; finding prospects and earning grubstakes to
develop them. The fact that "there is plenty of
money" to develop prospects is undoubtedly true, but
those prospects must be sufficiently developed to show
an amount of ore in excess of the price offered, and
then the prospector must wait from one to two years
for the cash. The old custom of people with money
'taking a chance' to develop a good iron-cap or other
promising lode is past : we prospectors must show
the 'goods' or there is no trade. The time when we
could sell a reasonably fair prospect for a few hundred
dollars, and then move on to find another, is gone.
Now we have to find the prospect, then go and earn
our own grubstake by wages, and develop our claim.
Hence it takes years, where before it took months.
The money available seems to be in the hands of the
big mining companies, and they buy on a 'sure thing'
margin. This condition of 'sure thing' buying is
caused by the mining engineers employed by the com-
panies. Their jobs depend on their ability to pick
paying properties, and they therefore turn down many
otherwise good claims. There is plenty of interest, but
it seems to be centred around the big concerns.
Personally I would not care to be placed on the
government payroll. I would rather sell a claim once
in a while. The Government might extend the serv-
ice of the Geological Survey by producing reports
sooner and by examining and reporting on mineral
claims for prospectors, should they so desire. As a
rule, prospectors are too poor to hire mining engi-
neers, and a report from the Geological Survey would
aid greatly in selling, or perhaps satisfy the prospec-
tor that the claim is no good and that therefore he
need waste no more time on it. The apex law as it
now stands looks good to me. though I think it well
to enlarge the claims to 1500 ft. scpiare. which would
do away with a great many cross-claims, from which
much litigation arises, and also provide more timber
for mining. Government aid in building trails and
roads would be greatly appreciated, also assay offices
where assays could be procured at cost, if not free.
Of course, the ' wild-eatter ' is largely responsible for
the falling off in prospecting, and. too. I have been
told that "there are more failures in mining from mis-
management than from lack of mineral." which has a
large bearing on selling prospects — perhaps larger
than any other cause.
J. C. STl'TZ.
Danville. Washington. Februarv IS.
The Editor:
Sir — One of the writers on this subject says: "Tl
nomadic prospector, with his shovel, pick, pan, ai
a sack of grub, on a burro, is largely of the past,''
and it is not worth while trying to revive him: yet
an item in a Portland paper of January 21 says:
"The usual winter influx of argonauts, prospectors
of the good old golden days of placer mining, is scat-
tered along the Rogue river with pick and pan, striv-
ing for a grubstake, and still looking forward to
striking it rich." There are still Klondikes, Iditarods.
and Chisanas to be discovered: other Tonopahs and
Goldfields will be opened up; as also more High Grades
and Buffalo Humps will put temporary dampers on
the enthusiasm of nomadic prospectors. In the United
States, notwithstanding statements to the contrary.
there are still vast areas of virgin ground, immense
territories practically unscratched ; northern California.
Oregon, southern Idaho, northern Nevada, and much
of the southeastern states is still open to the search.
Northern Canada, the Labrador country, and north-
ern British Columbia are practically unknown : Siberia.
China, and Tibet have never been prospected, and
millions of square miles of Africa have scarcely been
entered. "Who is to be the pioneer in tin1 great task
of opening up these districts to exploitation and im-
provement but the man who takes bis life in his hands,
GG2
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
eats as he tramps, and sleeps wherever night over-
takes him as he forges deeper and deeper into the
wilds 1
Portland, Oregon, February 20.
W. S. Keith.
The Editor :
Sir — I have waited patiently in this discussion to
read what I consider the most potent factor in the
decline of prospecting and small-scale mining, but none
has hit the mark. It is not because all available area
has been gone over, for many veins are to be dis-
covered in areas already prospected ; it is not because
of government regulations, although no doubt these
have discouraged the prospector; it is not because cap-
ital is scarce: but it is because automobiles in the
minds of the mass of people are more interesting than
mining stock. The man with $100. $200, $500. or $1000
who formerly would take a nip at stock, now has
his all in an automobile and his savings go to keep
it running. Figure the amount of money put into
machines by the near wealthy or near poor, and one
can readily see what an important factor this industry
has become in the distribution of savings. Just as
the moving-picture theatre has taken coin from the
saloons, so have automobiles taken money away from
mining investments. We need go no further for our
answer: a man who has his house mortgaged for a
machine is not going to 'take a flyer' on a mining
venture — the upkeep of the machine is more important.
At.gekxon" Del Mar.
South Pasadena. California, March 10.
The Editor:
Sir — As to the prospector, he is mortal and dies.
With the inevitable discovery of some new bonanza
gold camp a legion of young prospectors will arise as
from the earth. As to the asserted exhaustion of virgin
territory containing potential bonanzas, I do not agree.
In northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, and
southeastern Oregon there remain 25,000 square miles
of territory spotted with porphyry districts wherein
may be seen today ocular proof of mineral in veins of
gold, silver, lead, and copper ores; not forgetting the
coal formation in Modoc county. This entire domain
is truly a howling wilderness awaiting the battalions
of prospectors not yet organized and drilled, but in
existence and ready to enlist in the noblest occupation
of earth — mining. The mining industry is at a low
ebb and is constantly being discredited not only by the
jackals who hang on the flanks of the business, but is
continually afflicted with a fire from the rear from
Newspapers and magazines that tout every commercial
scheme, no matter how unscrupulous. And until the
public domain is fully restored to the prospector, the
obstacles which constantly multiply to dishearten the
remnants of the old time prospectors who have accom-
plished so much will operate to prevent the enlisting
of vounsrer men in the ranks of those who have sub-
dued the deserts and the mountains. I am bound to
write the foregoing for the reason that they are facts
not sufficiently emphasized, since the prospector as a
class has no journal for his spokesman.
High Grade, California, February 5.
X. E. Guvot.
The Editor :
Sir — I have been much interested in the discussion in
the Mining and Scientific Press on the subject of how
to encourage prospectors. I note that one of the ques-
tions which you have asked representative mining men,
relates to government aid. It occurs to me that some-
thing might be done along this line in the way of
broadening the reports which come out of the Geo-
logical Survey. My experience has been that one reason
why prospectors, and particularly why the owners of
partly developed mining properties, find it difficult to
interest capital is. that they are seldom able to make a
proper presentation of the facts with reference to the
properties for whose development they ask money. If
the Government would extend the work done through
the Geological Survey to the examination of prospects
and partly developed properties, including a sampling
thereof, and make the results of these examinations
public, mining people would have something depend-
able to go by, and prospectors, or the owners of partly
developed mining properties, would be substantially
served. I submit this suggestion as a practical one with
relation to the kind of aid that might be extended by
the national Government to western miners.
Dox.u.n C. Cati.in.
New York, January 21.
The Editor:
Sir — From my own observations. I would say that
the tendency is for the one-time prospector to seek
work with the operating companies, rather than to go
into the hills; that the large development and oper-
ating companies are more exacting in their require-
ments, at least as regards accuracy in the reports that
are submitted to them. Lacking the earmarks of ac-
curacy, the reports of many properties that might
otherwise have commanded some attention are con-
signed to the waste-basket.
It appears to me that there is a greater success at-
tendant upon sending an engineer into a field that
has been somewhat exploited for the purpose of gath-
ering all available data on the mines that have been
and are being operated, and then if results are encour-
aging to secure option or bond on properties in that
district, rather than in going into new fields where
results are exceedingly problematical. This, however,
eliminates the prospector to a large extent, and it
may be to a certain extent the reason why old-time
methods of prospecting are less in vogue.
S. F. Suvw.
Frisco. I'tah. March 9.
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
663
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with the practice of mining, milling,
and smeltng.
Asbestos production of Quebec in 1913 was 136.195
tons, worth $28.10 per ton.
Water used by 11 mines at Kalgoorlie amounted to
33.414.000 tons in December last.
Black blasting powder used in coal mines is usually
made of 73 parts of Chile saltpeter (sodium nitrate),
16 parts of charcoal, and 11 parts of sulphur.
Miners sometimes open metal powder kegs with the
point of a pick, causing a spark and resulting in an
explosion. Partly on this account, kegs are often
made of cardboard.
Leaching sand at the Oroya-Black Range mill. West-
ern Australia, takes 134 hours for an 85-ton charge,
which is percolated by 125 tons of various solution
washes. The gold recovery is 85.34% at a cost of
47c. per ton. according to W. B. Chomley in the Monthly
Journal of the Chamber of Mines.
Davison's formula. .< = (/ . where .« equals the r.p.m.
and d the diameter of the tube in inches, still holds
good for the rate of revolution of tube-mills. The same
authority gave the charge of flints as 0.44/1, where n
equals the internal capacity, but subsequent practice
has demonstrated the advisability of filling tube-mills
more than half full.
Mill capacity in the Flat River lead district. Mis-
souri, is as follows: Federal Lead Co.. 4500; St. Joseph
Lead Co., and Doe Run Lead Co., now consolidated.
6200; St. Louis Smelting & Refining Co.. 2500; and
Desloge Consolidated Lead Co.. 1800 tons per 24 hours.
In 1912. according to II. A. Guess. 4.064.366 tons of
crude ore was milled, yielding 218.803 tons of concen-
trate, containing 146.913 tons of lead, worth $13,222,-
170.
Moisture and acid are foes of electric insulation and
are especially active when combined in mines. Ac-
cording to II. II. Clark and L. C. Ilsey, of the Bureau
of Mines, the average amount of free sulphuric acid
in 16 different mine waters was 23.68 grains per gal-
lon. Samples of wire, covered with different insulat-
ing compounds were treated with these waters for
certain periods, and showed marked decreases in the
insulation resistances. The rubber insulation stood
better than other preparations.
A simple method of raising the boom mi ;i revolv-
ing steam-shovel is as follows, according to the
Ejrravatino Etif/infi-r: Set the dipper firmly against a
Mock on the ground diagonally forward from under
the shipper shaft. Lock thrusting gears with a bar
or wedge. Propel forward slowly, thus raising the
boom. This is much safer and much more accurate than
using the boom engines. The boom may be lowered
in the same manner.
Standard silver or gold is not of uniform composi-
tion, but its base metal content is controlled by local
regulation. The American standard for both gold and
silver admits of an addition of 10% of other metals.
Standard gold carries 1% silver and 9% copper, and
standard silver 10% copper. British standard gold
contains 22 parts of gold per 24, which is locally des-
ignated 22 carat. With standard silver the carat pro-
portions are also used in calculating base content, al-
though the term 'carat' is not used in designating the
silver fineness. Standard silver contains 22.2 parts of
silver and 1.8 parts of base. Bullion is often sold in
England and the colonies at so much per ounce stand-
ard gold, the price including the proportion of silver
found in standard gold. Any additional silver content
is paid for at the ruling market price of the metal.
A useful type of apparatus for cleaning-up mill ac-
cumulations and for amalgamating the gold in cyanide
slag is the berden pan. The standard si/.e is 5 ft. in
diameter. The pan consists of a revolving circular
trough, in one easting, driven by a shaft set at an
angle of about 45°, which is fixed through the centre
of the trough and terminates in a footstep bearing.
The pan runs at a speed of from 12 to 15 r.p.m. by
bevel gearing, the pinion being loose on the driving
shaft so that the pan can be stopped in disengaging
the gears by means of a suitable strike. The grind-
ing is done by means of a cast iron ball, which revolv
in a pool of mercury in the concavity of the troug
and which weighs about 120 lb. The material to be
amalgamated is thus brought in close contract with
the 'quick.' A continuous stream of water may be
added to the pan so that the fine material can escape
as soon as ground, to be subsequently caught in a set-
tler; or the pan may be run with intermittent charges.
The former method is preferred by some niillmen. as
it allows for the thorough cleansing of the mercury
by stopping all feed to the pan for a few hours pre-
vious to cleaning-up. while others are certain that a
letter recovery is made by the intermittent system.
The ball used for grinding is particularly well adapt-
ed for the purpose, and its use results in a minimum
of wear. "When anything in the nature of a drag or
shoe is used the iron invariably found in mill accu-
mulations is held by it. This results in scouring and
severe wear of the pan body. Liners are unsuitable
for this type of pan on account of the amalgam work-
ing through and lodging between the liner and the
pan. although they have been used without much
bother from this source. The pan body is in the form
of one simple casting and even with continuous use
will last for a number of years if a ball is used for
grinding.
664
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN
Conditions and Pricks in March. — District Production. —
Mines Contributing to the Output. — Ore Buyers. —
Prices for Certain Grades.
Producers of zinc ore in this region had a distressing and
discouraging time in March; yet in spite of all the drawbacks,
it proved the best month so far of this year. Inclement
weather prevailed most of the month, wagon roads were for
the most part impassable and outlying mines were almost
entirely isolated and market conditions were at a dead stand-
still, metal ruling for the month at $5.15 per cwt, East St.
Louis quotations, with scarcely any deviation from this figure
at any time. Zinc ore showed a wide latitude between high
and low-grade ores, ranging from $36 to $40 per ton, for
standard grades. Low-grade ore was in good demand, and
some competition led to prices being paid of from $1 to $2
per ton above average base, on low and medium grade zinc
ore production.
While soft ground militated against the free movement of
drilling machines and material to new mining sites, some re-
moved by a considerable distance from established roads, there
was nevertheless a good increase of action along these lines
during the period. Scores of Keystone drills were in opera-
tion, while machinery and building material was provided for
a .number of new power, mining, and concentrating equip-
ments. Ore production showed strong gains, and shipments
were above the reports issued for February. The following
figures include deliveries made on March 28. Lead ore ship-
ments were almost too insignificant to deserve mention, the
demand and prices offered furnishing no incentive for pro-
ducers to 'let go.' Production of iron pyrite held up well, but
deliveries were lighter, due to bad roads. At the close of the
month, fully 5000 tons of zinc ore carried over.
Zinc
Districts. lb.
Benton 4,310,000
Galena 4,292,000
Cuba 3,094,000
Platteville 2,396,000
Livingston 2,280,000
Hazel Green 1,970,000
Linden 1,736,000
Shullsburg 1,704,000
Harker 1,372,000
Montfort 226,000
Highland 60,000
Mineral Point 20,000
New Jersey Zinc Co 2,806,600
Co., Cuba, 2265 tons; Grasselli Chemical Co., Cleveland, 1279
tons; Empire roasters, 819 tons; Linden Zinc Separating Co.,
652 tons; M. & H. Zinc Co., LaSalle, Illinois; 667 tons; Illinois
Zinc Co., Peru, Illinois, 643 tons, and American Zinc Co., 352
tons.
The gross production of concentrates aggregated 20,000,000
II)., and net refined ores from separating plants and concen-
trates direct to smelter, 13,000,000 lb. More attention is be-
ing given to ore separation and the shipments .of high-grade
separator finished product is gradually increasing all over the
field, and no doubt will eventually be confined to shipments of
high-grade ore out of the field to smelter direct altogether.
Prices paid for the different grades submitted by one of the
most prominent buyers in the field show the following figures:
for 30% zinc content, the average low-grade ore of this field,
$14.50: 35'/,, $17; 40%, $20; 45%, $23 to $24: 50%, $28 to $30;
55%, $32 to $34; and 60%, $37 to $40 per ton. The Linden Ore
Separating Co. produced 62% ore and carried off field honors
with the top price of $42 per ton.
KALGOORLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wage Demands. — Associated Northern Blocks' Affairs. —
Development in the Chaffers. — Bullfinch Returns. —
Great Boulder Company's Option in Victoria.
The miners' unions of Bullfinch, Golden Ridge, and Leonora
have all applied for a higher schedule of rates on the expir-
ing of the current agreement, which is about to fall due.
With regard to Bullfinch, the Chamber of Mines offered an
increase of 12c. per shift for hand labor in raises, and 12c.
per shift extra for all surface work. The miners turned down
this offer, and all three cases will now go to the Arbitration
Court. The Golden Ridge case appears foolish, as there is
only one mine concerned, and it is nearly worked out. and
will be closed down and abandoned in the course of the cur-
rent year. For over a year the Company has been looking
Lead
Pvrite
lb.
lb.
2,658,000
79,600
991,840
50,000
119,560
492.500
64,000
Total 26,342,600 313,160 4,142.340
The mines responsible for this production are given by
districts, namely: Benton — Frontier. Fox, Fields, Indian
Mound. Wilkinson, and Martin: Galena— Black-Jack, Vinegar
Hill, Northwestern, Federal and Great Western Lead Mfg. Co.
(new); Cuba— Masbruch mine and National Sep. Co.:
Platteville — East End mine and Empire roasters; Livingston—
Coker, Ellsworth, and Rundell; Hazel Green— Kennett and
Cleveland; Linden— Ross Bros., Glanville, Saxe-Pollard,
Optimos No. 1. and 2, and Linden Sep. Co.; Shullsburg—
Winskill mine only; Harker— Peacock, B. M. & B. Mining Co.,
Lucky Six: Montfort— O. O. David, Dodgeville, Lucky Five.
Mineral Point local, and Section Four out of Highland.
Among buying concerns the tonnage was distiibuled as fol-
lows: Minernl Point Zinc Co., 4712 tons; National Separating
ASSOCIATED NORTHERN MILL. KALCiOORLIE, WHICH HAS FINISHED A
10 years' run. and is now reino dismantled.
for a new mine, and. at present has an option on the Idaho,
east of the Hannan's Star, Kalgoorlie: but this option is
shortly to be abandoned, as the lode is too patchy for profit-
able operation by this Company.
The Associated Northern Blocks has closed down both the
Iron Duke mill at Boulder, and the Victorious mill at Ora
Banda, and will earn no revenue until the sulphide plant on
the latter is installed. The Iron Duke mill has closed down
permanently, and the public has been notified that no more ore
will be treated for prospectors in future. In the meantime
development is being pushed on in the Victorious at No. 6
and the shaft is well on its way to No. 7 level. The bricks
April 18. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
663
for the foundations of the furnaces are being made on
the mine, and it is probable that the Merton furnaces and
Krupp ball-mills from the Kalgoorlie property will be removed
to Ora Banda. The ore-shoot on the No. 6 level of the
Victorious appears to have split into three parts, and shows
40 ft. of ore assaying $14.76 per ton, then 77 ft. of waste,
followed by 30 ft. assaying $19.20 per ton. Another blank
of 43 ft. is followed by 20 ft. of ore assaying $10.56, and 50
ft. assaying $5.04 per ton. The drift is 6 ft. wide in the
hanging wall of the lode, and there may be better gold con-
tent in the foot-wall, as at 70 to 100 ft., where it is barren
in the drift, the foot-wall side assays $10.08 per ton. The
mine may therefore eventually develop satisfactorily.
The management of the Chaffers is still continuing develop-
ment at No. 15 and 17 levels. At the former, the main west
cross-cat cut No. 1 lode at 66 ft., where it was 6 ft. wide,
assaying $6.18 per ton. At 117 ft. No. 2 lode was met with,
6 ft. wide, assaying $4.46 per ton; at 367 ft. No. 3 lode, 10
ft. wide, assaying $6.12 per ton, and at 503 ft. No. 4 lode,
6 ft. wide, assaying $6.72 per ton. At No. 17 level the west
cross-cut cut No. 1 lode at 176 ft., where it is 10 ft. wide,
assaying $9.48 per ton, and No. 2 lode at 207 ft., where it
is 5 ft. wide, assaying $6.72 per ton. No development has
been done on these lodes so far. The new treatment plant,
consisting of rock-crushers, furnaces, agitation vats, filter-
presses, etc., have been ordered from the West Australian Ma-
chinery Co., together with a 400-hp. National gas-engine and
generator, and four No. 8 Krupp ball-mills have been ordered
from Germany. The plant is not expected to be ready for
six to eight months, but in the meantime the lodes at No.
15 and 17 levels will be opened, and both levels connected
with No. 16. A large fan is used for ventilation purposes,
otherwise it would be impossible to drive the levels so far
from the shaft with no natural ventilation.
The return of the Bullfinch for January fell to $8.80, and
the profit to $4.12 per ton against $13.14 and $8.62 per ton
for the previous ten months since the mill started. As the
rich ore is practically exhausted, returns in future will be
normal and profits probably will not exceed $24,000 per month.
The creep in the mine is not likely to affect returns at pres-
ent, but should rain fall, a further subsidence may be looked
for. The shaft is quite safe, as the northern lode series is
450 ft. on one side, and the southern 300 ft. on the other side.
A. L. Hay, the manager, is confident of the future of the mine.
Richard Hamilton, of the Great Boulder Proprietary, in
an interview regarding the Company's acquisition of the
Magdala-Moonlight group of mines at Stawell. in Victoria,
stated that he had taken an option of 6 to 12 months, and
intended testing the lode by diamond-drilling. If satisfactory,
he would install a s.ulphide plant similar to the Great Boul-
der plant, and capable of treating 15,000 tons per month and
of giving employment to 600 men. The probable reserve of
sulphide ore in the mine was 100,000 tons, worth $7 to $8
per ton.
Gold returns from Western Australia in January 1914 were
$2,379,200, and from the principal mines as follows:
Name. Tonnage.
Great Boulder 17,017
Ivanhoe 20.238
Kalgurli 10.S45
Bullfinch 6.316
Fenian 3,040
Lake View & Star 18,118
Edna May 1 .235
Queen of the Hills 4.344
Yuanmi 10,400
Menzies Consols 2,588
Sand Queen 1.650
Oroya Links 12,400
Kyarra 890
Sons of Gwalia 13.589 105,300
Mararoa 2,670 24,000
Ingliston Consols 1,950 20,000
Mountain Queen 4,055 1S.S00
Associated 10,802 62,700
Ingliston Extended 450 S.000
Ida H 1,470 21,700
Black Range 3,017 30,700
Boulder No. 1 2,111 6,500
Golden Ridge 2,639 19,000
South Kalgurli Consols... 9,861 50,000
Lake View Consols 8,526 6,500
Commodore 860 6,600
Great Fingall Consols 2,390 35,000
Golden Horse-Shoe 25,500 142,300
Perseverance 20,463 90,400
Burbank's Main Lode 1,256 12,600
Victorious 5,507 31,300
Marvel Loch 442 4.500
Associated Northern 61S 13,400
Marmont 289 6,400
7,300
6.600
5,500
4,900
3,500
3,500
3,400
3,400
3,100
2,700
1,500
800
200
Loss.
13,000
12,500
5,700
5,600
5,300
300
Value.
Profit.
Dividend.
$236,650
$130,000
165,600
50,000
$175,000
107,000
46,200
120,000
57,900
26,800
47,500
24,400
22,500
107,200
17,500
25,200
15,900
20,600
32,200
13,200
79,600
13,100
33,000
12,800
30,000
12,500
11,250
63,500
8,500
19,500
8,400
LONDON
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy Affairs. — Royal
School of Mines. — Russian Minim; Corporation Con-
cessions.
The annual general meeting of the Institution of Mining
and Metallurgy held recently was a great success in many
ways. The council's report for the year 1913 was presented,
and it contained much matter for congratulation. I have
already referred to the acquisition by the Institution of a
house for itself. The financial position has been greatly im-
proved by gifts of £10,000 from the Wernher estate, and by
subscriptions of £3879 from 544 members toward the twenty-
first anniversary fund. An appeal is now being made for a
further £3000 toward this fund, in order that all indebtedness
in connection with the new home may be discharged. The
petition for a Royal Charter is now before the Privy Council.
The Institution has a serious source of anxiety, owing to the
proposals of the British Government authorities on edur
to amalgamate the Imperial College of Science and
nology, of which the Royal School of Mines forms a ..^n.,
with the proposed glorified University of London. The Insti-
tution shares the feelings of those interested in special ad-
vanced technical training against any affiliation with a general
educational university. The idea of an independent technical
college, untrammeled with connections with classes on
Hebrew, music, and surgery, is apparently too revolutionary
for the powers that be, who go by precedent and custom more
than by unbiased judgment on each case on its merits. Sir
Thomas Holland, lately of the Indian Geological Survey, and
now professor of geology at Manchester, has pointed out that
the constitution of the older universities is not due to the
ingenious design of intellectually callable men, but merely
the legacy of a gouty past. Everybody connected with science
intends to strenuously, but courteously, resist any proposal of
the Government to place the Imperial College under the
domination of unsympathetic educationalists. Let us hope
that the Government will not propose to use the army for
enforcing the proposed amendment of the law and constitu-
tion. On leaving the presidential chair, Bedford McNeill re-
ceived unusually kind treatment at the hands of his friends
and colleagues. By his continuous attention to the business
of the Institution, his invariable suavity and kindliness, his
erudition, and bis ability as a speaker and presiding officer,
Mr. McNeill made himself a tremendous success, greatly to
the benefit of the Institution. On his retiring, P. H. Hatch
took the presidential chair. His inaugural address touched
on the advantages accruing from the association of geologists
666
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
with mining operations, and also on the history of the de-
velopment of the theory of ore deposits.
A tew weeks ago I gave some particulars of the Russo-
Asiatic Corporation, which has acquired a huge ore deposit,
the Ridder, in the Altai district of western Siberia. This
property formed part of the Thurn and Taxis concessions;
but was acquired direct from the Russian Government, on the
prince abandoning this part of the concession. The Russian
Mining Corporation, controlled by F. W. Baker and Lord
Harris, and responsible for the flotation of the Lena Gold-
fields, has more recently acquired the remaining part of the
concession from the prince himself. The property contains
many thousands of square miles and is divided into two parts
by the Ridder. The northern part is the Zminogorsk and the
southern the Zeranovsk. During the winter, communication
is maintained with the Trans-Siberian railway at Novo-
Nikolaevsk by means of sleighs, and the journey from
Zminogorsk takes seven days. During the summer, steamers
ply on the Irtish river, from Omsk to all the concessions. A
new line, called the Altai railway, is in course of construction
from Novo-Nikolaevsk and Barnaul to Semipalatinsk. It will
pass within 75 miles from the Zminogorsk concession. The
Kalchugina coal mines are on this route, and the railway will
greatly facilitate the delivery of coal and coke to the mines. .
Water-power suitable for the generation of electric current is
available at several places. One installation of 1500 hp. has
already been erected in the Zeranovsk concession, but has been
allowed to get into poor condition. Details of the concessions
will be found on page 651 of this issue.
NEW YORK
Copper Situation. — Anaconda and Amalgamated Copper Com-
panies.— United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co.
— Utah Consolidated. — Miami. — Butte Mines. — Stewart's
Troubles.
Following its usual contradictory tendency, the market in
coppers slumped immediately upon the appearance of a favor-
able monthly report of the Copper Producers' Association as
"iven in this journal last week. Undoubtedly the weakness
fhich developed was due to the fact that production for the
nonth broke all previous records, the previous high mark
for production having been made in August 1912, when total
output was 145,628,521 lb. Since the first of the year, domes-
tic deliveries have been abnormally light, in fact, including
December last, the average for four months is only about
41,500,000 lb., hardly more than 50% of normal domestic con-
sumption. This fact, taken in connection with the record
shipments abroad and the somewhat discouraging business
outlook at home, has not made for confidence in the stability
of metal prices. The exports of copper metal have come in
for the usual amount of criticism, and, despite assertions
that European buyers are clamoring for early deliveries, users
of metal on this side are outspoken in their belief that large
amounts of copper are being held speculatively on the other
side. Apparently the feeling is growing that there is more
manipulation in copper than is healthy. This feeling is, in
all probability, due more to the fact that the power to manip-
ulate exists, rather than to any actual flagrant examples
that can be pointed out. Another element that has never
received as much consideration as it deserves from the con-
sumer, though the producers seem to have grasped it to
better advantage, is the growing appetite which the world
has for copper. Production must he larger if it is to keep
up with the demand, and in tracing the ascending line across
the chart, temporary slumps can be disregarded. Econom-
ically speaking, it is a good thing that there is a concen-
trated strength behind the copper situation that can prevent
temporary demoralization, and an unnecessary waste of a great
natural resource.
Considerable interest attaches to the forthcoming reports
of the Anaconda and Amalgamated companies. The former
had some extraordinary expenses during the past year, and
production was about 20,000,000 lb. less than in 1912. Costs
have increased unavoidably, in higher wages and in necessary
new construction; while, on the other hand, it will probably be
shown that the average price of copper sold was slightly be-
low that received in the preceding year. It will not be a
matter of surprise, therefore, if the annual report of the Ana-
conda should show a deficit. Amalgamated's dividend dis-
bursements approximate the amount which it receives from
Anaconda; but as both companies have substantial surplus
accounts, and as Amalgamated has some other sources of in-
come, no great importance will be attached to the showing
beyond iis indication as to future copper costs. It is to be
recognized that Amalgamated's costs can be kept down only
by increased expenditure, which is a Hibernian way of put-
ting it, but electric haulage and the many other items of
new construction and reconstruction that are chargeable to
capital account are, in final analysis, additions to copper costs.
It is estimated that a showing of 10%c. for Anaconda will
be creditable for the past year.
The United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co. makes
an exceedingly good showing in its report for 1913, when
it is considered that the Company now derives almost half
of its revenue from its silver properties, and only about
207o from its copper mines, especially as its silver produc-
tion comes from the Real del Monte and neighboring proper-
ties at Pachuca. One of the most interesting features of
the report is that which refers to its efforts to acquire new
properties. During 1913 there were 614 properties submitted,
out of which three were purchased and three taken under
option, of which options one had been allowed to lapse at
the close of the year covered by the report. Commenting
upon the small percentage of properties that could stand the
test of examination, the Boston News Bureau says editorially:
"It is, of course, true that mining engineers have been proved
not infallible. Some of the largest contributors, present and
assured, to the copper outputs of the Southwest and South
America were first rejected on expert advice and long hawked
about. But most of these instances, it is also to be observed,
were of the low-grade manufacturing' type, involving not
only fine calculation, but a great deal of pioneering courage
and also of subsequent ingenuity in devising and adjusting.
This sort of industrial mining is a very recently developed
art.'' It is to be added to the comment of the News Bureau
that in many of the instances mentioned the low-grade prop-
erties alluded to were obliged to wait until the present proc-
esses were developed and perfected to that point which made
possible the profitable extraction of ores, which theretofore
could have been handled only at great loss. In these cases
the engineers who have turned down camps, which afterward
developed into great profit earners, have been absolutely right
all the time. Perhaps there would not be so many various
things the matter with prospecting' if the present-day pros-
pector could feel it incumbent upon him to prove something
more than the mere existence of metals in ores, and could
realize that minerals could exist and yet at the end of a
year's operation would show in the balance-sheet rather as a
liability than an asset.
The report of the Utah Consolidated shows earnings equiva-
lent to $2.12 per share, a greater profit than has been earned
at any time during the past five years.
Miami failed to earn its dividend in 1913, so that in order
to make the distribution to shareholders, the existing sur-
plus was drawn upon to the extent of $186,592. Miami's cop-
per costs were 10.686c. per pound, which must be cut down
somewhat if the property is to keep place among the porphy-
ries. Production was 33,134,334 lb., which was sold for an
average price of 15.24c. per pound.
The Davis-Daly company is to levy an assessment and
become one of the deep-level properties of Butte. The smaller
Butte mines seem to have a hard time to get to a satisfac-
April IS. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
667
tory producing basis. Tuolumne. Pilot-Butte, Butte-Ballaklava,
and Davis-Daly have each been struggling for some years
without bringing much but anxiety to the outside sharehold-
ers. Butte, on the whole, has evidently come back as a min-
ing camp, and outside operations are more numerous than
for some years past. It would be a great source of gratifica-
tion in the East if there could be made some genuine spec-
tacular successes, such as North Butte or some of the earlier
mines of the camp, to bring back the attention of the public
to mining possibilities. The present mining market of the
East, except for some investment buying in the porphyries,
and the regular grind of trading in Amalgamated, is not worth
mentioning.
The troubles of the Stewart Mining Co. seem inclined to
multiply. The payment of a dividend declared to be paid
April 25 has been enjoined. Apparently it is a Heinze fight,
and. as usual, shrouded in much entanglement arising from
certain loans made by the Company to Heinze, upon which
action was to be taken by the present board. The election
of the present directors, who are insisting upon the payment
of a dividend, is attacked as illegal, the conclusion being
that the real question at issue is the disposition of the Com-
pany's earnings, by way of loans or by way of dividends.
DULUTH, MINNESOTA
Work Being Done by the Steel Corporation in the District.
— Revolving Shovels i or Cleaning-up Ore at the Mines.
— The CtJTUNA Range.
The twelfth annual report of the United States Steel Cor-
poration for 1913 has recently been issued and shows that
Us iron ore production from the Mesabi range was 21,634,206
tons, compared with 20.001,953 tons in 1912. Capital expend-
iture was made at the iron ore properties of the range for
an additional pumping engine at the Trout Lake concen-
trating plant at Coleraine; a concrete-mixing plant at Hib-
bing: a revolving shovel at the Genoa mine; a change-house,
capacity for 150 men, at the Spruce mine; a general super-
intendent's residence for the Virginia district; and equip-
ment for underground operations in the following mines:
Judd. Duncan. Philbin. Graham shafts No. 1 and 2, and Sul-
livan. During the year a new steel ore-dock was under
construction at Duluth with 384 pockets, and a drying plant
•was installed at the Whiteside mine. At the Hull-Rust mine,
pumping and lighting equipment was installed; and at the
Fayal mine the engine and boiler house was enlarged and
other equipment installed. Construction work on the new
steel plant at Duluth. and the connecting railroad to serve
the same, proceeded during the year, $5,912,027 being spent.
It is expected that this plant will be completed for operation
in the spring of 1915. The plant will comprise two blast-
furnaces. 10 open-hearth furnaces, one 40-in. blooming mill,
one combination 28-in. and 18-in. rail and shape mill, one
combination 16. 12, and Sin. merchant mill, and a by-product
coke plant of 90 ovens, together with the necessary comple-
ment of auxiliary departments, such as power-plants, pump-
ing stations, machine and other shops. There has been laid
out. adjacent to the plant, a subdivision, on which work has
been commenced In building the first allotment of 170 houses
for use by employees. The total expenditure to the end of
1913, for acquirement of the land, site of the steel plant
and subdivision, construction of plant, development of the
subdivision, and building of the railroad, is $13,445,648. Work
was commenced during the year on a cement plant situated
adjacent to the new steel plant. This plant is being con-
structed by the Universal Cement Co., a subsidiary Company,
and will have a capacity of 1.400,000 bbl. per year. It will
utilize blast-furnace slag in the manufacture of the cement,
and will probably be completed for operation in 1915.
An interesting feature of the work being done in the pit
at the Genoa mine is the use of a Marion revolving steam-
shovel for loading ore, which is hauled to the pocket at
the shaft in standard cars by locomotives, dumped, and
hoisted to the surface by skips, and dumped on the stock-
pile. The work is carried on at a depth in the pit which
will not permit of its being hauled out by locomotives. The
revolving shovel is useful in this connection, as it works
ahead in the corners, swings around, and deposits the ore
in the car behind. The locomotive also hauls ore from
the 'scrams,' which are places worked by underground
methods around the edge of the pit. These places are
the thin parts of the orebody which were not uncovered
by the stripping operations, and the ore is mined very
cheaply by this method, contracts for this sort of work
having been let at different mines on the range for as low
as 20c. per ton delivered on cars in the pit. The tendency,
some years ago, was to use the heaviest shovels obtainable
for all classes of work; but at present lighter shovels are
being used for cleaning-up work: that is. removing the last
cut from the surface of the ore. The success attending the
use of this revolving shovel will probably result in their
more general adoption, especially for the class of work in
which it is now engaged, and probably also for cleaning-up,
where a shallow cut necessitates much delay. The idle time
of the large shovels is expensive, and their unwieldiness
makes them particularly unsuited for the work. The heavy
shovels are at a disadvantage on a deposit whose surface
has pot-holes. The revolving shovels should be able to clean-
up completely as they go along and eliminate entirely the
use of teams and scrapers in final cleaning.
The Oliver Iron Mining Co. has changed its plan of attack
for the orebody under Carson lake, near Hibbing. and will
not pump the lake out as first proposed. Stripping from one
of the adjoining mines is being dumped in the lake, and
the water displaced is forced out into the drainage ditch.
In this way they are killing two birds with one stone, as
the problem of securing suitable dumping ground is a seri-
ous one in many instances. The underground operations, of
course, will require more pumping by this method.
The Madrid mine is to be operated by the Eureka Ore Co.,
recently incorporated, and the balance of the ore removed
as soon as possible. This mine is under the city of Virginia.
The caves made by the mining operations are to be fill.
with stripping from an adjoining property as soon a;- pos-
sible so as to restore the surface to its original condition.
Developments are promising on the Cuyuna range. , Many
drills are at work and results are said to be showing up new
orebodies in widely separated localities. The Pennington
mine at Ironton and the Thompson mine at Crosby have
shovels at work, and will ship ore from their pits this year.
The Thompson mine was worked last year as an underground
proposition. A steam-shovel is working at the Rowe pit mine
at Riverton, and preparations are being made for resuming
work with the hydraulic plant as soon as weather conditions
permit. The Adams mine, at Oreland. has about 1500 tons of
ore stocked and is pumping about 250 gal. of water per min-
ute. The Barrowa mine of the M. A. Hanna Co., at Barrows,
is hoisting about 200 tons per day and has a stockpile of
about 20,000 tons. The Wilcox mine near Brainerd is to oper-
ate its pumps and compressors by electric power. The hoist
and some of the pumps are to be steam driven. The new
1200-gal. pump for the Rogers Brown Ore Co.'s Armour No. 2
mine will also be electrically driven. Both the Armour No. 2
and the Kennedy mines of this Company now use electric
power for surface and underground haulage.
Several of the larger independent companies operating on
the Mesabi Range are now acquiring interests on the Cuyuna
Range and are taking steps toward developing their interests.
Steps have been taken by the engineers of Virginia and
vicinity to organize an engineer's society which will prob-
ably extend an invitation to the engineers of the range to
jo'".
668
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
ARIZONA
Gila County
(Special Correspondence.) — During March, 10,330 ft. of de-
velopment at the Inspiration again surpassed all previous
records, but, unlike most other records in underground opera-
tion, this one was accomplished without noticeably increas-
ing the underground payroll. Since the greater proportion
of the work in this mine consists of driving the sub-level
drifts and the incline raises connecting these drifts, it is pos-
sible to work a large number of faces, and, the method em-
ployed being such as practically to eliminate any handling
whatever of the broken ground, the conditions are very favor-
able for making excellent advances. The haulage drift on
the 600-ft. level is now within 200 ft. of connection, and is
expected to be holed through about April 20.
At the test mill the 12-compartment flotation machine is
now nearly ready for operation, and the 6 by 20-ft. tube-mill
will be installed as soon as it is received. An interesting test
is to be made between this mill and the Hardinge mill, as
both are to be run on identical feeds and under similar con-
ditions, to obtain a result that will be an impartial test of the
two types of mills as fine grinders. This test will be exhaust-
ive and of interest to the metallurgical world.
Machinery for the hoist and compressor plant will begin
to arrive on about April 20. Among the shipments recently
made were 18 cars (328 tons) of Nordberg hoisting equip-
ment and auxiliaries, and 6 cars of compressor machinery
of Ingersoll-Rand manufacture.
Several men have been engaged for the past week making
the necessary excavations for installation of a 150-ton set
of Fairbanks railroad track scales. These scales will be placed
near the rock-crushing plant. The scales are built in four
parts, having a total length of 50 ft., and are equipped with
tomatic registering beam. Foundations for the rever-
>ry furnaces are soon to be started at the smelter site.
furnaces, which will be 120 ft. long and 20 ft. wide,
aic lO rest on slag bases. The slag will be obtained at
the Old Dominion smelter at Globe, whence it will be brought
in slag pots, and while still molten will be poured into the
foundation pits so that upon solidifying it will adapt itself
to all the minor irregularities and form a massive block
of material universally regarded by smeltermen as the most
desirable for this class of work. The American Bridge Co.
has sub-let its contract for the smelter plant to the Oscar
Daniels Co. of New York City. Axel Peterson will be in
charge of the erection work for this firm. The Miami under-
ground work covered 3656 ft. in March, and the ore milled
was 111,098 tons. The Miami company has started to re-
model the mill so that it will have a daily capacity of
4000 tons, with higher extraction than at present.
Miami, April 9.
Maricopa County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Copper Belt Mining Co.
owns 300 acres of property near the Monte Cristo silver
mines, near Wickenburg. A 15-hp. gasoline engine and hoist
have been installed, while a head-frame and machine-drills
are to be added. A shipment of ore to the El Paso smelter
averaged $21 per ton in copper, gold, and silver. A rever-
beratory furnace will probably be erected.
Phoenix, April 2.
Mohave County
(Special Correspondence.) — The main shaft of the South-
western Mining Co. is to be sunk another 200 ft., and a large
tonnage of copper ore is expected to be found. Mining is
being done in sulphide ore at present.
Copperville, April 2.
During March the Tom Reed mine yielded gold worth
$105,000. The winze from the 900 to the 1100-ft. level is
nearly through, and is in high-grade ore. The Gold Road
mill is treating 300 tons of ore per day, yielding about $24,000
per week. A good orebody is being opened at 1000 ft. in
the Tennessee mine at Chloride. A 40-hp. engine has been
installed at the Gold Reed mine for the air-compressor. The
Midnight mine has been examined by officials of the Amer-
ican Smelting & Refining Co. At the Telluride property, the
shaft is down 200 ft., and good ore is being developed. A
fi-drill compressor is to be installed. The mine adjoins the
Tom Reed on the south, and is managed by J. E. Rose.
CALIFORNIA
Amador County
There is said to be a good deal of activity in the Plymouth
district, apart from that at the Plymouth Consolidated. The
old Rhetta claims have been acquired by Thomas Lane and
associates, and work is to be started. The Myers ranch has
been optioned to these people also. Good ore has been opened
in the Alpine.
Calaveras County
Miners in this county are prospecting for gravel channels.
At the Emerson mine, on Stockton hill, a good deal of
driving has been done to connect with an old shaft. The
old Magee and Megaw adit is in 2000 ft., and small quanti-
ties of 'pay' gravel have been opened. The Stockton Ridge
Consolidated gravel claim is being actively worked under
Stephen Hughes. Dredging people are sampling ground in
Chili gulch.
Eldorado County
In the Mountain Democrat of April 11 and 18, the Mother
Lode in this county is described in an interesting manner
by Harold Macdonald.
Nevada County
Very rich ore is being extracted from the Pennsylvania mine
at Grass Valley.
Shasta County
(Special Correspondence.) — Ore will be sent to the Mam-
moth smelter early in May from the Shasta Belmont mine.
PART OF SHASTA COUNTY.
which is developing satisfactorily. Considerable prospecting
is going on in the vicinity of Heroult and Copper City, and
several encouraging discoveries have been reported recently.
The ore contains a good deal of zinc in addition to copper,
also silver and gold. Good progress is being made with the
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
669
erection of buildings at the camp of the Mountain Copper Co.
near Minnesota station, a short distance from Keswick. The
site for the concentrating plant is being graded, and it is
expected to have the 250-ton plant in commission before the
end of summer. It is estimated that shipments of high-grade
ore from the Iron Mountain mine to the smelter at Bay Point
averages about 12,000 tons per month.
Redding, April 6.
Sierra County
Work has been resumed at the Little Bear Creek mine
above Alleghany, and the Balsam Flat mines, on Lafayette
ridge. At the former the 3-stamp mill may be replaced by
10 stamps. J. W. Evans is superintendent. At the latter
mine, development is to include driving under a gravel deposit.
COLORADO
It is expected that by May 1 there will be 29 mining coun-
ties of the state, with a total membership of 5000, that will
have joined the Colorado Metal Mining Association, while by
the end of the year there will be 12,000 members. The aims of
the society are to benefit the mining industry generally.
Clear Cheek County
(Special Correspondence.) — The ore production of the dis-
trict for March 1914 was 27% above that of 1913, $32,000
having been paid out at the local sampler. Four to five feet
of $30 gold-silver-lead ore has been opened by the adit on
the Avalanche vein at Freeland. Ore returning a settlement
of 250 oz. silver and 40% lead was opened in the Young
America mine. Three cars of $35 to $55 gold-silver ore are
being shipped weekly from the New Era at Freeland.
Idaho Springs, April 6.
Gilpin County
At the Carr mine, lessees are meeting with good results,
and shipments down to 800 ft. have yielded good returns in
gold, silver, and copper. The shaft has been repaired to
below 1100 ft. The Bates Leasing Co., of Chase gulch, Black
Hawk, is making fair shipments. Ten tons from the 400-ft.
level returned 1.69 oz. gold, 17.2 oz. silver, and 2.2% copper.
Three lots from the Pittsburg yielded the following: 3.22,
4.45, 11.5 oz. gold; 4.8, 5.75, 10.5 oz silver; and 6.75, 6.75,
19.3% copper respectively.
Montrose County
There is considerable activity in the carnotite mining dis-
trict in spite of bad weather. There are reported to be 40
cars of ore between Placerville in San Miguel county and
Paradox in Montrose county.
Park County
A number of claims have been located in the new district
containing rich uranium ores, near Hartsell, about 45 miles
from Cripple Creek.
San Miguel County
The Tomboy mill treated 12,515 tons of ore in March, yield-
ing bullion and concentrate worth $81,500, with a profit of
$26,000.
Teller County (Cripple Creek)
The cross-cut at 1750 ft. in the Portland has been driven
40 ft., and has opened t! ft. of good ore. Eleven feet of rich
ore is being opened at 350 ft. in the El Oro, and a car of
ore per day is being shipped. Lessees at 600 ft. in the Gold
Dollar are driving on 4 ft. of good ore.
IDAHO
The proposal to abolish the federal assay offices in the
Western states is meeting with vigorous opposition from
the mining interests, and the Boise chapter of the Idaho
Mining Association is endeavoring to get Congress to block
the move to close the Boise office. Net earnings of this office
during the past nine months were over $31,000.
Shoshone County
Shipments of ore and concentrate from 15 mines in the
Coeur d'Alene district in March totaled approximately 40,880
tons, containing lead, silver, zinc, and copper. A large ton-
nage of zinc ore has been developed in the Interstate-Calla-
han mine on East Nine Mile. An ore-shoot has been opened
for 1100 ft. Seventy men are employed in the mine. Devel-
opments in the Hypotheek, down to 700 ft. are highly en-
couraging. The Snowstorm Mining Co., which recently pur-
chased the Missoula copper mine for $600,000, has 15 men
employed at present. A writer in The Wallace Miner reports
that the Butte Creek district at Murray contains promising
mines. The new mill for the National copper mine at Mul-
lan is working.
MICHIGAN
Houghton County
Reports covering operations of several of the copper com-
panies during 1913 are as follows:
On March 9, 1914, the Allouez Mining Co. had 339 men
employed against 308 in July 1913, when the strike started.
Early last year No. 2 mill started with four Hardinge
mills, which are doing good work. Rock' stamped was
236,663 tons, compared with 333,618 tons in 1912. The cop-
per output was 4,091,129 lb., of which 3,S19,324 lb. was sold
for $598,558. The profit was $155,728. and balance of assets
are $249,292. The total cost per pound was 12.09 cents.
On March 9, 1914, the Centennial Copper Co. was employ-
ing 164 men compared with US at the time of the strike
in July 1913. During the past year the stamps crushed 85,443
tons of 'rock.' No. 2 mill with four Hardinge mills were
started early in the year. The output of copper was 1,612,262
lb., of which 1,355,496 lb. was sold for $208,174. The net
profit was $31,397, and surplus is $27,847. The cost of pro-
duction was 13.38c. per pound of refined copper.
Results of the Isle Royale Copper Co. were as follows:
There was 314,679 tons of 'rock' stamped, yielding 4,158,548
lb. of copper, of which 3,870,974 lb. was sold at 15.29c. per
pound. Receipts were $591,933, and the year's work left a
deficit of $128,313. The previous surplus was $557,743, but
this was reduced to $175,441. The cost per pound of copper
was 18.81c. Development during the first six months of the
year, and prior to the strike, covered 11.972 feet.
The Quincy Mining Co. is one of the mo;
Michigan copper companies, and during 1913 sufl
reduction in its output and profit. Copper pro
12,184,128 lb. against 20.634,800 lb. in 1912; receipts were
$1,921,198 against $3,381,587; profit, $257,S40 against $1,089,-
674; balance for dividends, $76,160 against $960,779; divid-
ends, $412,500 against $550,000; and a surplus of $896,938
compared with $1,393,278.
The annual report of the Superior Copper Co. shows the
following: 'Rock' stamped, 130,826 tons; copper output, 2,992,-
765 lb.; copper sold, 2,538,057 lb.; revenue, $458,449; profit,
$93,912; balance of assets, $193,697; cost per pound of refined
copper, 12.86c. Good ore was opened on No. 17, 18, 19, and
20 levels south of the shaft on the West lode.
There was nothing special to note regarding the Tamarack
Mining Co.'s work in 1913. Over half the 'rock' mined came
from the Osceola amygdaloid lode. Water pumped from No.
1 and bailed from No. 5 shaft averaged 12,800,000 and 2,760,-
000 gal. per month, respectively. Plans are under way for
a crushing mill to treat 1500 tons per day of sand from
Torch lake. A baching process being tried at the Calumet
& Hecla mills may suit a portion of the product from the
proposed plant. Results in 1913 were as follows:
'Rock' stamped, tons 227.563
Refined copper, pounds 4,108,743
Cost per pound, cents 16.60
Price received for 3,852,040 lb., cents 15.45
Total income, all sources $013,566
Loss on operation 48.373
Balance of assets 1.070,938
670
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
MONTANA
Blaine County
The Ruby Gulch Mining Co., at Whitcomb, will add to its
electric plant equipment a 250-kva. alternating-current gen-
erator with 9%-kw. exciter, and has purchased the apparatus
from the General Electric Company.
Silverbow County
The report of the East Butte Copper Mining Co. for 1913
contains the following data: The Company, since April 8,
1909, has operated the Pittsmont property as well as its own.
The main shaft was sunk 310 ft. in heavy ground, from 1275
to 1585 ft. Mine development consisted of driving a total
of 2400 ft. on No. 6, 8, 10, and 12 levels; cutting out a sta-
tion, and skip-loading pockets, and driving 1250 ft. on No. 15
level. A large tonnage of high-grade ore was opened on the
600-ft. level. Work in the upper levels was very satisfactory.
At No. 15, sufficient work has not been done to reach any of
the ore-shoots from No. 12 level. On account of a number
of causes, mining was $4.75 per ton, much higher than usual.
It was intended to enlarge the furnace plant and equip it
with mechanical chargers; but this will be done about the
middle of 1914. Results were as follows:
Ore treated, Company and custom, tons 180,815
Copper, pounds 14,401,108
Silver, ounces 506, S97
Gold, ounces 8,803
Gross income $2,471,551
Total expenses 1,881.112
Net income 764,455
Surplus after paying interest, development, equip-
ment, etc 531,772
The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has ordered a 150-hp. and
two 100-hp. induction motors, with compensators and switch-
board, from the General Electric Company.
The orebody recently cut at No. 14 "level of the Butte & Su-
perior is said to be 35 ft. wide, assaying 20% zinc and 7 to 8
oz. silver per ton.
During March the Butte & Superior mill treated 33,170 tons
ore yielding 10,561 tons of concentrate, averaging 51.5%
ic, ■with 90.05% recovery. Figures for March of last year
•e 20,140 tons, 7073 tons, 45.88% and 76.79% respectively.
NEVADA
Nye County
A restraining order has been issued by the court stopping
the West End company from mining ore in the disputed ter-
ritory claimed by the Jim Butler company. Full details of the
dispute are given in The Tonopah Miner of April 11.
Storey County
The United Comstock Pumping Association has decided to
install two Lakenan type hydraulic pumps for the 2500-ft.
station in the C. & C. shaft. Each will have a capacity of
2200 gal. per minute to the Sutro tunnel, and will take the
place of the Riedler and centrifugal pumps now at work.
From the 2350 and 2400-ft. levels of the Ophir mine, 127
tons of $11.03 ore was mined last week. The Mexican mill
treated 365 tons of Mexican ore worth $6.29 and 281 tons of
Monte Cristo ore worth $7.57 per ton. The Pumping Asso-
ciation has completed its work at the 2500-ft. north drift.
White Pine County
According to the March Safety First of the Nevada Consol-
idated Copper Co., there is a continued improvement in the
casualty record at the mine, concentrator, and smelter. At
Copper Flat there was only one serious injury; none at the
Veteran mine; three minor accidents at the mill out of 23,000
shifts (750 men) worked; while at the smelter there were
nine disabling accidents of no great importance. The Com-
pany's officials were instructed in first-aid, etc., during the
month by the hospital doctors.
NEW MEXICO
Socorro County
(Special Correspondence.) — In The Oaks mine, at a depth
of 15 ft. below adit 'B', the vein is 4% ft. wide, worth from
$15 to $20 per ton. The Alberta Development Co. is to start
shipping ore extracted during development. The Pacific mine
is producing from 20 to 30 tons of ore per day. The Dead-
wood mill treated 350 tons of ore during the first week in
April, yielding 4200 oz. gold and silver bullion, and IV, tons,
of concentrate.
Mogollon, April 6.
OREGON
Benton County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Oregon Bureau of Mines
and Geology, under the direction of H. M. Parks, is now pre-
paring to place its field men at work. An attempt will be
made to cover practically the entire state during the months,
of good weather. The wide area and many mineral indus-
tries of the state make this a large task, but the Bureau is-
now well organized and will be able to follow its work along
more systematic lines than last year. Special attention will
•£R*s. -Vi> ' :!\ fuTf ' ; *»
'IFOR'ZZ'NIA /!/• «' /a- ire' TrP.
:'CAL "'/FOR -NIA
MAP OF OREGON.
be given to gold-dredging in eastern and southern Oregon,
to coal deposits in southwestern Oregon, and to building
stone in northern Oregon. The deep mineral deposits of
Baker and Josephine counties, carrying gold and copper,
will also be investigated. From 6 to 20 men will be kept
in the field during the summer and fall, and the reports.
will be prepared monthly.
Corvallis, April 3.
Jackson County
(Special Correspondence. ) — The old Braden mine, near Gold!
Hill, is one of the first properties in Oregon to take up the
'sliding-scale lease system' in its operation, by which a num-
ber of its operatives and employees derive a share of the
returns. There are about 40 on the payroll, and some receive-
as high as $200 to $350 per month. This property is well
equipped. O. A. Jackson, of Fort Worth. Texas, has pur-
chased the old Opp mine, near Jacksonville, for $200,000. It
will be further developed and ore treatment changed consid-
erably. A 20-stamp mill is on the property.
Gold Hill, April 8.
TENNESSEE
Polk County
The annual report of the Tennessee Copper Co. for 191?
includes the following information: The physical condition
of the Tennessee mine is said to be good. Ore reserves were
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
671
increased (luring the year and stood at 5,534,983 tons on
December 31 as against 5,071,000 at the close of the preced-
ing year. Certain changes are now being brought about,
which, when completed, will place the Company in position
to mine and handle an additional 1000 tons of ore per day.
It has been demonstrated that it is more profitable for the
Company to smelt its own ores than to do a custom-smelting
business, and the the additional equipment installed, it will
be possible for Tennessee to maintain its maximum produc-
tion of copper without ores from other properties.
1913. 1912.
Ore mined, tons 483,926 443,038
Copper from Tennessee ore, pounds. . .13,493,140 13,252,634
Copper from custom ore, pounds 4,257,822 4,427,583
Cost per ton of Tennessee ore $2.93 $2.87
Cost per pound of copper 0.1134 0.11
Acid manufactured, tons 197,713
UTAH
Juab County
The May Day Mining & Milling Co. reports as follows for
the year ended April 1, 1914: On account of the low price
of spelter, shipments of zinc ore were stopped about the
middle of the year. Parts of the mine to the 1000-ft. level
were leased, and this plan has proved to be a good way of
developing the property, and at the upper adit and 700-ft.
levels orebodies were opened in new ground, according to C.
C. Griggs, the superintendent, in his report to the manager,
J. C. Dick. The ore from the adit averages 50% lead and 20
to 30 oz. silver per ton. The mine generally looks promising.
Ore shipments were: lead, 1881 tons returning $30,673, and
zinc, 1474 tons returning $12,815. With cash on hand of
$13,370, and other receipts, the revenue was $58,117. Mine
labor cost $15,777, and payments to lessees $13,430, while
the cash on hand is $14,777.
On the 200-ft. level of the Yankee Consolidated, 80 ft. of
ore, supposed to be the Beck ore-shoot, has been opened. De-
velopment at 1700 ft. has cut a vein of good ore. In March
the Gemini mine, operated by lessees, produced 2600 tons of
ore averaging $26.82 per ton. About 150 men are employed.
John H. McChrystal is superintendent. The Iron Blossom
company is paying 10c. per share, or $100,000, on April 25.
Salt Lake County
The Utah Consolidated Mining Co.'s report for 1913 shows
the following: Copper ore reserves are estimated at 287,038
tons averaging 1.9% copper, 0.05 oz. gold, and 0.70 oz. silver;
and lead ore reserves total 51.409 tons averaging 15.3% lead,
0.054 oz. gold, 3.27 oz. silver, and 0.98% copper. During the
year 20,510 ft. of development and 2814 ft. of diamond-drilling
was done. The metal output was 7,710,66S lb. copper, 19,208,-
063 lb. lead, 378,960 oz. silver, and 14,172 oz. gold from 181,077
tons of copper and 70.889 tons of lead ores, treated at the
International Smelting & Refining Co.'s smelter. The total
revenue was $2,424,576: dividends, $450,000; and surplus at
end of 1913. $772,096.
WASHINGTON
Stevens County
The United Copper company will erect 12 five-room cottages
and a hall for its married employees at Chewelah. The single
men will also receive attention. The raise from the 1000-ft.
level, to connect with a winze being sunk from the 600-ft.
level in the ore recently cut, is up 30 ft. in ore.
CANADA
BmrisH Columbia
During the week ended April 7 the Granby smelter treated
23,048 tons of ore and shipped 370,000 lb. of blister copper.
Ontario
At 550 ft. In the Hollinger mine, the vein has been cut,
showing 10 ft. of ore. Foundations are finished for the new
power-plant on Gillies lake. The building is to be of concrete,
55 by 140 ft. in area. It will contain 4500-cu. ft. compres-
sors and other equipment. In connection with this, a shaft is
being sunk 230 ft. below the level of the lake, and pipes
will be run down the shaft from the compressors to connect
with an air-chamber, wnere the air will be stored and regu-
lated by the pressure of 200 ft. of water from the lake.
This plant will supply air for 110 drills for the Hollinger,
Acme, and Miller-Middleton properties. The present Hollin-
ger plant can supply 50 machines, although only 37 are in
use, and 12 at the Acme or Dixon claims. The Canadian
Mining & Finance Co., which controls these properties, is
erecting the plant. Development in the Acme mine is pro-
ducing good results. The Little Pet claim, near the Dome
mine, has been sold for $100,000 to Buffalo people, headed
by C. L. Suerill. At 90 ft. in the Tough-Oakes there is 12
in. of ore averaging $500 per ton. During March the Nipis-
sing high and low-grade mills treated 184 and 6802 tons re-
spectively, and the refinery shipped 696,737 oz. silver. A
small rich vein was opened on No. 4 level.
COSTA RICA
The Abangarez Gold Fields company treated 6635 tons of
ore in January, yielding $36,561 at a cost of $54,632.
KOREA
The Seoul Mining Co., operating the Suan Concession, in
Whang Hai province, reports the following results for March
1914:
Stamps working 40
Time, days 28.75
Ore crushed, tons 6,340
Total recovery $47,832
Operating expenses 22,500
Net earnings 25,332
The Oriental Consolidated Mining Co. reports that in Janu-
ary the Kuk San Dong 40-stamp mill worked only 15 days,
and the Tabowie 80-stamp mill 25 days, on account of ore
and water shortage, respectively. The 240 stamps worked
24.7 days, crushing 24,705 tons, yielding $143,757. The net
profit was $47,292. In February the tonnage of 21,954
$149,084. There was a further shortage of water.
are working at the Kuk San Dong mine. It is inte
lease the Candlestick mine, and large numbers of Koreans
came to the property to be on hand to get a portion. The
Taracol cyanide plant treated 1797 tons of concentrate, yield-
ing $45,576, with S3'/( recovery. The results are gratifying.
MEXICO
Guanajuato
At the El Durazno y Anexas property, in the Santa Rosa
district, owned by Fernando Rubio Rocha, considerable work
is under way. The San Nicolas del Monte vein is being de-
veloped. Thi^ orebody is also in La Asuncion ground. A
2.5 by 2.5-metre adit has been driven 425 metres into the
former property. Small shipments have returned 17 kg. sil-
ver and 900 em. gold per ton.
Jalisco
The Mutual Mining & Milling Co., of Mexico City, owning
the Zapote group of copper mines in the Ameca district,
probably will have its 25-ton concentrating plant ready for
operation during the coming month. Some high-grade ore
will be sent to the Aguascalientes smelter. The Magistral-
Ameca Copper Co., owning the Magistral copper mines in
the Ameca district, has started to take down the concentrat-
ing plant which was erected at the mines several years ago,
and this will be rebuilt along new lines. The plant was
originally designed for the treatment of ores by a flotation
process. Shipments of high-grade ore to the Aguascalientes
smelter will shortly be increased to 10 carloads per month.
672
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 191
Personal
B. H. Dunshee is in Oakland for the month.
Chari.es A. Chase was in San Francisco recently.
W. H. Blackburn has been in Los Angeles recently.
G. W. Metcalfe was in San Francisco last Saturday.
J. Parke Channixg was expected at Payson, Arizona, last
week.
D. W. Bbuntok was examining property in Mariposa county
last week.
Wilbur H. Grant has opened an office in the Holnrook
building, San Francisco.
H. Foster Bain is visiting the Searles Lake deposits of the
American Trona Company.
H. V. Wincheix and Walter H. Wiley are at Tonopah in
connection with the West End v. Jim Butler litigation.
A. D. Brokaw has been appointed assistant professor of
mineralogy and economic geology in the University of Chicago.
George M. Taylor, general manager of the milling depart-
ment of the Portland Gold Mining Co., was in San Francisco
this week.
C. R. Ford, formerly with the National Mines Co., of Na-
tional, Nevada, is now with the Alkalai Mines Co., of Eureka-
Nevada, under the same management.
George H. Garrey. formerly chief geologist for the American
Smelting & Refining Co., has opened an office as consulting
mining geologist at 115 Broadway, New York City.
The American Electrochemical Society's twenty-fifth gen-
eral meeting is to be held in New York City on April 16, 17,
and 18, at the Chemists' Club. Among the excursions are visits
to plants of the American Smelting & Refining Co. and the
ted Lead Co. The papers to be presented number over 30,
those of interest to mining men are as follows: 'Progress
. Leaching and Electrolytic Treatment of Copper Ores in
''nuth America,' by E. A. Smith (this is really a lecture) ;
ivydro-electrometallurgy of Copper,' by Robert R. Goodrich;
'Leaching of Copper Tailings,' by Rudolph Gahl; 'Metal In-
ventory in an Electrolytic Copper Refinery,' by Ralph W.
Deacon; 'Electrolytic Zinc,' by Joseph W. Richards; and 'Sane
Economics in the Use of Energy in Electric Furnaces,' by
F. A. J. Fitzgerald.
The Institute ok Metals held its annual general meeting in
London during the third week in March. The president, vice-
admiral Sir Henry Oram, gave an address on modern warship
machinery. Regarding condenser tubes, he said that the worst
trouble was caused by their splitting while at work, in fact,
they became a menace to the efficiency of the fleet. In 1908,
out of 2,500,000 tubes there were 90 failures; but in 1912 and
1913 there were only 131 failures out of 3,800,000 tubes at
work.
The Illinois Mixers' and Mechanics' Institutes, under the
direction of R. Y. Williams, have authority to promote the
technical efficiency of persons working in and about mines
of the state, and to assist them to better overcome the in-
creasing difficulties of mining. There are 79,411 men em-
ployed at the coal mines. Bulletin No. 2 outlines the meth-
ods to be used in this work, and the subjects of instruction.
Bullion received at the San Francisco Mint in March was
as follows: gold, 163,008.984 fine oz.: and silver, 15,432.84 fine
oz., with total value of $3,379,577.48. The coinage executed
was $2,154,000, and P43.000 for the Philippines.
Society Meetings
APRIL
Name. Dati
American Electro-Chemical Society 16-1
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 1
MAY
American Iron and Steel Institute 2
Geological Society of America (Cordilleran Section),
Seattle 21-2
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy London 2
Mining and Metallurgical Society. . .San Francisco....
National Fire Protection Association 5-
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 2
American Society for Testing Materials 23-2
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of Jun
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver
Franklin Institute Philadelphia. .. .end of Juu
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July
AUGUST
American Inst. Mining Engineers. .Salt Lake City.... 10-1
SEPTEMBER
American Chemical Society 9-1
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixe
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-2
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver
NOVEMBER
American Institute c . Electrical Engineers ]
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver
DECEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 1
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-
American Museum of Safety 11-2
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 5 and i
Geological Society of America, Philadelphia 29-3
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 1
Society of Naval Architects 11-1
SEPTEMBER 1915
American Institute of Mining Engineers, San Francisco 27-3
Engineering Congress, San Francisco 20-2
Schools and Societies
The Chicago section of the Illuminating Engineering Soc
ety met on April 10, when papers on railway signals wei
discussed.
Efficiency systems and their effect on industrial relation
were considered by the United States Commission on Indu
trial Relations at public hearings held in Washington, D. C
on April 13, 14. and 15.
Lehigh University students, on March 28, visited the Con
wall Ore Banks Co.'s mine at Cornwall, Pennsylvania, an
on April 4 inspected the mine of the Empire Steel & Iro
Co. at Mt. Hope, New Jersey.
The Forest Products Exposition, to be held at Chicago i
the Coliseum, April 30 to May 9, and at New York in the Gran
Central Palace, May 21 to 30, inclusive, gives every assu
ance of being one of the most representative and compn
hensive industrial expositions of this kind which has bee
held in the history of the industry.
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
673
The Metal Markets
LOCAL METAL PRICES
San Krancisco, April 16.
Antimony 9 — 9f*c
Electrolytic copper 15% Id^c
Pig lead 4-05— 500
Quicksilver (flask) $39.00
Tin 40^-42 c
Spelter 6*-«*c
Zinc dust, 100 kg. zinc-lined cases. 7 Vj to 8c. per pound.
EASTERN METAl. MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW YORK, April 16. — There is not much to note about the
market, copper being practically stationary, with little business
being done; lead is quiet, and spelter is weak. Bar silver is
58V<c. per ounce. Tin is weak at 35.85 to 36.15c. Antimony is
dull. Cookson's being quoted at 7. 25c. Trading on the Stock
Exchange is improving, but uneasiness prevails in financial
circles. In London, lead is £18; spelter. £21 10s.; copper, £64
15s.; and tin, £164 15s. per ton, respectively; and bar silver
steady at 26.8UI. per ounce.
SILVER
Below are given the average New York quotations in cents
per ounce, of fine silver.
Date.
Apr.
10 Good Friday
" 11 58.25
12 Sunday
•• 13 58.25
" 14 58.25
" 15 58.25
1913
Jan 63.01 57.58
Feb 61.25 57.53
Men 57.87 58.01
Apr 59.26
May 60.21
June 59.03
Average week ending
Men. 4 57.72
" 11 58.23
" 18 68.01
Apr.
•■ ir
Monthly averages
1914
58.02
.58.45
.58.30
1913.
July r -.70
Aug 59.32
Sept 60.53
Oct 60.88
Nov 58.76
XT- V 57.73
1914.
In spite of the small movements In prices during the week
ended March 26. business lias been more brisk, according to
Pixley and Abell. of London. Most of the buying has come
from the Indian bazaars, some of it for shipment by this week's
steamer, which takes approximately £200.000. and some in an-
ticipation of their requirements later on. The Continent also
has bought moderately. Trade in China is very quiet, and,
although a few selling orders have been in evidence, the
amounts were insufficient to depress rates. Owing to some
liquidation of the bull account, the cash position has for the
time being become easier, and casli and forward have been
quoted at the same level since April 20, but as most of this
silver was bought for consumption, and supplies will be re-
stricted for some months, future cash demand will not be
easily met, especially as the bull account is now a negligible
quantity. It is possible, however, that, as the bazaars have
bought freely just lately, there may be a period of quietness
and therefore the effect of small stocks may take a little time
to influence rates. The decline in the production of Mexico
during 1913 Is important, and it is probable that since Janu-
ary 1 of this year the rate of production lias been still further
decreased.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published In this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to l-4c. per lb. more. Prices are In cents per pound.
Date
Apr.
.14.
10. u::"
11 ...14.25
12 Sunday ^ ^
ii .14 h
15 14.25
Average week ending
Mch. 4 14.22
" 11 14.04
" 18 14.01
" 25 14.18
Apr. 1 14.28
8 14.46
" 15 14.27
1912 little progress was made. This is due to a considerable
reduction in the quantity of copper produced in the Urals min-
ing district. In the other copper-producing areas good progress
has been made. The quantity produced last year made 2,095,000
poods (1 pood weighs 36 lb.), against 2,047,000 in 1912 and
1,564,000 in 1911. The tendency of Russian copper production
is not toward a decline, but on the contrary it is still making
for greater progress than ever. Several of the large Urals
smelters are being transformed and have therefore been laid
idle for this particular purpose. Obviously, therefore, while
the period of transformation necessitated a setback in the
production, it indicates a more intensive production than ever
in the near future.
German copper consumption during January and February
was 34,433 tons, against 30,875 tons in 1913. Of the 1914 con-
sumption, 30.902 tons was imported from the United States,
according to L. Vogelstein & Company.
LEAD
Lead is quoted in cents per pound or dollars per hundred
pounds. New York delivery.
Date.
Apr. 9
" 10
" 11
" 12
•• 13
" 14
" 15
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
June
1913.
. i e.r.4
. 1 1.93
.11.72
. K..22
.15.42
.1 1.71
Monthly averages
1914
1 4.21
11.10
14.11
1913.
July 1 4.21
Aug 15.42
Sept IB. 23
Oct 16.31
Nov 15.08
Dec 14.25
1914.
Figures showing the production of metallic copper last year
in Russia are now published and show that between 1913 and
3. SO
3.80
3.80
Sunday
3.80
:;.su
;:. s i)
15
Monthly averages.
Average week ending
Mch. 4 4.00
" 11 4.00
" 18 4.00
" 25 4.00
Apr. 1 3.80
S .' 3.80
3.80
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June 4.33
1913.
. 4.28
. 4.33
. 4.32
. 4.36
4.34
1914.
4.11
4.02
3.94
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
1913.
. 4.35
4.60
. 4.70
4.37
Nov 4.16
Dec 4.02
QUICKSILVER
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco, Cali-
fornia being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and, as quoted weekly in this column. Is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 lb„
are given below:
Apr. 2
Week ending
Mch. 19 39.50
" 26 39.0"
10
39.00
39.00
39.00
Monthly averages.
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
1914.
39.25
39.00
39.00
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec 40.00
19
.41
.40
.39
.39.37
.39.40
zinc
Zinc is quoted as spelter, standard Western brands, St. Louis
delivery, In cents per pound.
Date.
Apr. 9.
10
11
12 Sunday
13
14
15
5.00
5.00
.-.mi
.mi
,.iiii
i.OO
Average week ending
Mch. 4 |
" 11
" IS
Apr.
•' 15
Monthly averages.
5.15
5.13
5.10
5.10
5.13
5.10
5.00
1913. 1914.
Jan 6.88 5.14
Feb 6.13 5.22
Mch 5.94 5.12
Apr 5.52
May 5.23
June 5.00
1913.
July 5.11
Aug 5.51
Sept 5.55
Oct 5.22
Nov 5.09
Dec 5.07
1914.
TIN
New York prices control in the American market for tin, since
the metal is almost entirely imported. San Francisco quotations
average about 5c. per lb. higher. Below are given average
monthly New York quotations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
Jan.
Feb
Mch
Apr 49.00
May 49.10
June 45.10
1913.
1914.
50.45
37.85
49.07
39.76
46.95
38.10
1913.
July 40.70
Aug.' 41.75
Sept 42.45
Oct 40.61
Nov 39.77
Dec 37.57
1914
674
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18. 191-t
SAN FBAXCI
(San Francisco
Listed. Bid
Associated Oil 5s 8 —
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil 6s —
SCO SI
Stock
Apri
BOI
Ask
98
81
41
STO
Ask
39}
86
57}
30c
1.25
rOCKS AND BONDS
and Bond Exchange.)
1 15.
4DS
Unlisted.
Natomas Consol. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s
Santa Cruz Cement 6s...
Union Oil
Bid
ICO
43}
General Petroleum 6s... 39}
Listed. Bid
Amalgamated Oil 76}
Associated Oil 38}
CKS
Unlisted.
General Petroleum . .
Noble Electric Steel
Bid
2|
85c
H
Pac. Cst Borax, com .... —
Pacific Crude OH —
Pac. Port. Cement
Riverside Cement
Santa Cruz Cement ...
Stand. Port. Cement . ...
90
Sterling O. & D —
43
19
Ask
26
94
63
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
April
16.
Atlanta • •-"
Belcher -40
Belmont. "•1)0
Con. Virginia 21
Florence •&'
GoldfleldCon 1-42
Goldfleld Oro -11
Halifax -80
Jim Butler 95
Jumbo Extension 27
MacNamara 07
Mexican 110
Midway 36
Mlzpah Extension .44
Montana-Tonopah
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophir
Pittsburg Sliver Peak
Kound Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada
Union
Victor
West End ■„
Yellow Jacket
.37
.32
.26
.14
1.95
.59
i.70
.10
.33
.83
.29
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask.
:onaut $2.75
_nswick Con
Bunker Hill 1.90
$1.05
Central Eureka
Mountain King .
South Eureka .
Bid. Ask.
$0.55
0.30
1.50
(By
COPPER
courtesy of J
SHARES — BOSTON
. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
Apr
Bid Ask
Allouez 8 401 i]
Ariz. Commercial 4} 4|
Butte & Superior 35J 35}
Calumet & Arizona 66} 663
Calumet & Hecla 416 420
Copper Range 37} 3i}
Daly West 2 2}
East Butte 108 H
Franklin 5} 5}
Granby 81( 82
Greene Cananea 8*8 3>
Isle-Royale 18} 19
Mass Copper 33 4
il 16
Bid
Mohawk 8 43}
Nevada Con 14?
North Butte 26
Old Dominion 49J
Osceola 77
Qulncy 58
Shannon 5}
Superior & Boston 2
Tamarack 42}
U. S. Smelting, com 37
Utah Con 10}
Winona 3|
Wolverine 43
Ask
44
16
26}
50
79
59
53
24
43
37}
II
33
45
NEW YORK CURB QUOTATIONS
(By courtesy of E.
Bid.
Braden Copper. . . 8
Braden 6s 160
B. C. Copper 1%
Con. Cop. Mines. . 2%
Davis-Daly Vi
Ely Con 4
First National. . . 1%.
Giroux %
Hollinger 16%
Iron Blossom .... 1.25
Kerr Lake 4%
SVs
165
1%
F. Hutton & Co.. Kohl Bu
April 16
Ask
La Rose
Mason Valley
McKinley-Dar.
Mines Co. Am. .
Nipissing
6 Ohio Copper
1\ Stand. Oil of C
1 Trl Bullion
17 % Tuolumne
1.30 United Cop. com
4% Yukon Gold
ilding.)
Bid.
1%
3
73c.
2%
6%
%
Ask.
lr's
75 c.
o jv,
6%
308
2%
2%
NEW YORK STOCK BXCHANCE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson. Mills Building.)
April 16.
Bid Ask
Amalgamated 8 73}
Anaconda 34
A. S. & R., com 66|
Calif. Pet., com 23}
Chino 40}
Guggenheim Ex 53
Inspiration 17}
Mexican Pet., com 64}
74
34|
66}
23|
103
53}
17J
65
Bid Ask
Miami S 23}
Nevada Con 14}
Quicksilver, com 1}
Ray Con 21
Tenn. Copper 33}
U.S. Steel, pfd 109
U. S. Steel, com 58}
Utah Copper 55
23|
15
2}
21*
34
109}
58|
55}
IOM)(>\ QUOTATIONS
(By cable, through the courtesy of Catlin & Powell Co..
New York.)
April 16.
d.
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell
Alaska United
Arizona
Camp Bird
Cobalt Townslte
El Oro
Esperanza
Granville
Kern River Oilfields. .
7
5
2
18
12
3
13
15
10
3
1
0
2
0
0
0
0 8 9
AUSTRALASIAN
April 16.
t s. d.
Mexican Eagle, com 1
Mexico Mines _ 5
Messina 1
Orovllle 0
Pacific Oilfields 0
RioTlnto 71
Santa Gertrudis 0
Tanganyika 2
Tomboy 1
British Broken Hill ..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shoe...
Great Boulder Prop..
Ivanhoe
Kalgurli..
Mount Boppy
Mount Elliott 3
Mount Lyell 1
Mount Morgan... 3
Walhl 2
Walhl Grand June 1
Zinc Corporation, Ord 1
s.
.1.
6
0
7
s
2
t
5
0
6
3
1
1
Copper and Spelter Production
The following table shows the production of these metals,
in metric tons, (luring the past 10 years, and how one has
kept pace with the other:
Copper: Spelter:
Produc- Consump- Produc- Consump-
tion, tion. tion. tion.
1913 (estimated). .. 1,000,716 1,020,000 1,001,100 1,046,000
1912 1,019,800 1,040,200 977,900 987,500
1911 893,400 953,700 902,100 903,200
1910 887,900 913,700 816,600 827,000
1909 849,200 787,500 783,200 798,900
1908 757,800 706,500 722,100 730,500
1907 712,000 663,600 738,400 743,200
1906 720,600 722,600 702,000 705,200
1905 693,900 727,400 658,700 663,800
1904 647,900 662,500 625,400 629,300
The value of the 1913 output is approximately $330,000,000
and $113,000,000, respectively. The United States produces
56% of the world's output of copper and 32% of the spelter.
Portland Cement Production
Final figures for the portland cement industry in 1913, as
obtained by the U. S. Geological Survey on March 16, show a
production of 92,097,131 bbl., shipments of 88,689,377 bbl.,
and stocks on hand 11,220,328 bbl. It is somewhat interesting
to compare these figures with the estimates made by the
Survey on January 15. These estimates were as follows:
production, 92,406,000 bbl.; shipments, 88,853,000 bbl.; and
stocks on hand, 11,375,000 bbl., the percentage of error ranging
from only 0.003 in production to about 0.01 in stocks on hand.
Iron ore at Lake Erie docks or. April 1 amounted to 6,925,678
tons, against 6,728,035 on the same date of last year. Ship-
ments from docks to furnaces were 820,741 tons, the lightest
for three years.
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
bio
Company Reports
Revenue from all sources
Profit 13,057,107
Dividends . '/ " 1.043,793
Surplus at end of 1913 810,000
1.193.247
DREDGING COMPANIES IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
During the three months ended February 28, 30 dredges
in the Bright district produced 8138 oz. of gold, valued at
$154,000. During the term the following companies paid
dividends: Reliance, $11,520; Confidence, $5280; Owens Val-
ley, $3510: Wandiligong, $10,080; Porepunkah, $2400; Buck-
land Star, $1920; Buckland River, $1680; Phoenix Syndicate,
$1680; Excelsior, $1440; Maori Queen, $2010; Kia Ora, $1100;
and Harrietville Star, $1200; a total of $43,850.
TEWKSBURY AMALGAMATED GOLD DREDGING CO.,
VICTORIA
During the half-year ended December 31. 1913, only three
dredges out of five were in commission. They handled 447,792
cu. yd. of gravel, yielding 6.3c. per yard. The average cost
was 5.57c. per yard. Only two boats worked at a profit, while
the profit was only $3400. The managing director, P. W.
Tewksbury, does not hold out much encouragement for further
work.
WANDILIGONG GOLD DREDGING CO., VICTORIA
During the' half-year ended on January 31, 1914, this Com-
pany, with two boats at work, treated 265,893 cu. yd., yield-
ing 1536 oz., valued at $30,250. The total output to date
is 19,007 oz., worth $370,000. The paid-up capital of the Com-
pany is only $25,920, but it has paid $103,250 in dividends, or
$17.20 on each $5 share. The Company's claims are approach-
ing exhaustion, particularly that area allotted to No. 2 dredge,
which has only a few months' work left, while No. 1 plant
has about 12 months' work before it. The Company has
$6480 on fixed deposit and a cash balance of $9120.
TOLIMA MINING COMPANY, LIMITED
This Company owns the Frias silver mines, a property of
3000 acres in Tolima, Colombia. The report for the year ended
June 30, 1913, gives the total amount of mineral exported
during the year as 896 tons, with an average assay value of
467.9 oz. silver per ton. The price of silver for the year gave
an average of 29% d. per oz., and the profit on revenue account
was $25,000. During the year 17,134 tons of ore was raised
to the surface, which gave 9720 tons of ore for cobbing and
treatment in the mill producing SS4.69 tons of mineral for ex-
port, having an average assay value of 469.92 oz. silver per ton,
giving a total production of 415,740 oz. of fine silver. The lead
content gave an average for the year of 15.791: the value of
the lead contained was $11,500. Reserves were estimated at
1448 tons averaging 400 oz. per ton. The prospects of the mine
are good. A dividend of 12c. per share was paid.
OLD DOMINION COPPER MINING & SMELTING CO.
UNITED GLOBE MINES COMPANY
This Company operates at Globe, Arizona, and the report
covers the year 1913. A total of 169,961 tons of three grades
of ore was mined, averaging 5.88% copper, at a cost of $4.78
per ton. On account of various improvements in the mine, it
was not until December that operations underground were
normal. The new crushing and sampling plant has a capacity
of 100 tons per hour. A geological department was organized
toward the end of the year, and better results from prospect-
ing and development are expected. The new 500-ton concen-
trating plant will hardly be running before next August.
Results were as follows:
Copper, pounds 31.061,645
Silver, ounces 193,845
Gold, ounces 4,254
Of this, 12,110,492 lb. copper, 142,528 oz. silver, and 3835 oz.
gold was obtained fr«m custom ores.
The United Globe Mines Co.
is controlled by the old
Dominion company. Its report for last year shows t
most important development was on the No. 16 level where
from 16 to 30 ft. of 3.5 to 7% copper ore was opened The
flow of water on this level is about 650,000 gal. per dav A
100,000-cu. ft. fan was installed at the Kingdom shaft and' has
improved the ventilation. An electric hoist and new change
house are to be erected at the Grey shaft. A total of 167
917 tons of oxidized, sulphide, concentrating, and silica lining
ores was mined, including 5084 tons of old slag. The revenue
was $1,221,052; expenses, $739,606; and profit, 481445 With
the previous surplus the sum available was $1 062 739 of
which $690,000 was paid in dividends, leaving the present 'sur-
plus of $372,739.
UNITED STATES SMELTING, REFINING & MINING
COMPANY
Operations conducted by this well known Company at its
mines and smelters in the United States, and mines in'Mexico
resulted as follows in 1913:
Metal output. 1913 191,
Copper, pounds 20,239,973 21.152620
Lead, pounds 58,116,504 56!385.'769
Silver, ounces 13,089,708 12,059 829
Gold, ounces 148,372 140.183
The average price received for the metals was copper,
15.433c; and lead, 4.396c. per lb.; and silver. 60.503c. per
ounce.
Income account for the past two years shows the following:
1913. 1912.
Earnings of all companies, less production
cost' etc $4,555,122 $5,497,963
Depreciation, improvements, etc 969.536 1,265,000>
Profit 3,585,586 4.232,965:
Preferred dividends 1,702,144 1,702,120
Common dividends 1,053,322 ^77,76?
SurPlus 830,120 1
Previous surplus . 3,648,722 2
Total surplus 4,478.842 3. . .o.«^:r
The assets include ores and matte, $1,011,112; supplies of
fuel and timber. $1,392,273; metal in ore and on hand. $3,148,-
897. and cash, $3,455,647.
The coal properties in Utah, controlled by a subsidiary com-
pany produced S69.522 tons of coal, 40% over that of 1912. and
the profits were equivalent to 4.35% on the investment, after
providing for certain changes. The Bingham mines produced
78,165 tons of lead and 123.757 tons of copper ores. Work was
started on the Niagara mine. From the Centennial-Eureka
100,442 tons of lead-copper-silver ore was mined. Developments
were fairly satisfactory. The Midvale smelter worked through-
out the year. Further improvements are to be made. The
concentrating mill and Huff electrostatic separating plant did
good work. The lime company produced 109,224 tons of lime-
stone. The Mammoth copper mine in California is opening
well. The lead refinery at Grasselli, Indiana, and the copper
refinery at Chrome, New Jersey, were improved, and worked
steadily, as also did the smelter at Chrome. In Arizona the
Gold Road mine yielded 103,628 tons of ore. The mine is look-
ing fair but the average ore developed was rather low. The
Needles mill worked continuously, but the smelter only a
short time. The Real Del Monte y Pachuca mines in Mexico
worked without interruption. The monthly tonnage has been
increased from 36.000 to 50,000 tons, while additions to the
mills will further increase the output. Ore reserves in the
eight mines being operated are larger than before. Additional
ground has been secured. The Last Chance claims, at Bing-
ham, Utah, were acquired and developments appear promising.
676
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
Monthly Copper Production
AHMBEK COPPER MINING CO., Kearsarge, Michigan. $1,-
250,000 in $25 shares; 24,796 shares owned by Calumet & Hecla;
1800-ton mill at Hubbell; concentrate smelted by Calumet &
Hecla smelter. Total in 1913, 9,100,000 pounds.
MIDI i:/. MINING CO., Allouez, Michigan. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; controlled by the Calumet & Hecla, which owns 43,000
shares and $250,000 in notes of the Company; ore is milled by
the Lake Milling, Smelting & Refining Co., in which the Allouez
owns half. Total in 1913, 4,091,129 pounds.
ANACONDA COPPER MINING CO., Butte, Montana. $108,312,-
500 in $25 shares; controlled through Amalgamated Copper Co.
by Thos. F. Cole, J. D. Ryan, and Standard Oil interests; 10,000-
ton concentrator and smelter at Anaconda; 5000-ton concentra-
tor and smelter at Great Falls, Mont.; also 70-ton electrolytic
refining plant at Great Falls. Production figures include cop-
per from all companies which ship custom ore to Anaconda
smelters.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 24,400,000 March 23,800,000
February 21,300,000
ARIZONA COPPER CO., LTD, Morenci, Arizona. £703,894, of
which £379,974 is in 5s. ordinary shares, £500,000 in 5% deben-
tures; controlled by Edinburgh investors; mill at Morenci is
being enlarged to 3000-ton capacity and a new 1200-ton smelter
near Clifton has just been started.
Month.. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 3,474,000 February 3,063,000
BRADEN COPPER CO., La Junta, Chile. $2,332,030 in $10
shares and $4,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; entire stock held
by Braden Copper Mines Co.; $12,000,000 in $5 shares; $5,000,000
in convertible bonds; controlled by Guggenheim interests; two
mills at La Junta; 3000-ton capacity smelter at Racagua.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 2.426,000 March 1.801,000
February 2,362,000
BRITISH COLUMBIA COPPER CO., LTD.. Greenwood, B. C.
$2,958^545 in $5 shares; controlled by Newman Erb; 600-ton
sampling plant and 2500-ton smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
July 618,379 October 688,000
August 700,000 November 682,383
September 626,761 December (est.) 800,000
CALUMET & ARIZONA MINING CO., Warren Arizona.
285,710 in $10 shares; has absorbed the Superior & Pittsburg
"opper Co. by stock exchange; controlled by Hoatson and other
Lake Superior interests; 3000-ton smelter at Douglas. Total
in 1913, 52,987,383 lb., 880,915 oz. silver, 18,989 oz. gold.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 5,798,464 March 5,870,000
February 5,948,900
CALUMET & HECLA MINING CO., Calumet, Michigan.
$2,500,000 in $25 shares; controls the Ahmeek, Allouez, Centen-
nial, Isle Royale, La Salle, Osceola, Tamarack, and Superior
copper mining companies, as well as a number that are non-
productive; controlled by Agassiz and Shaw interests; 2 mills on
Lake Linden, capacity 15,000 tons; smelter Hubbell, Mich.; elec-
trolytic refinery and smelter at Buffalo, N. Y.; figures include
output of subsidiaries. Total in 1913, 53,420,000 pounds.
CANANEA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO. S. A., Cananea,
Sonora, Mexico. Capital P20.000 in shares of P100; entire stock
owned by Greene Consolidated Copper Co.; $10,000,000 in $10
shares; 945,320 shares are held by Greene Cananea Copper Co.;
$50,000,000 in $100 shares, which is controlled by Thos. F. Cole
and J. D. Ryan; 2 mills and smelter at Cananea, 3000-ton ca-
pacity. Total in 1913, 37,050,574 pounds. Output does not in-
clude copper from custom ores, which amounts to about 600.000
lb. per month, exclusive of Miami.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
February 2,282,000 March 3.310,000
CENTENNIAL COPPER MINING CO., Calumet, Michigan.
52,250,000 in $25 shares; 44.350 shares are held by Calumet &
Hecla Mining Co.; ore milled by Lake Milling, Smelting &
Refining Co. Total in 1913, 1,400,000 pounds.
CERRO de PASCO MIXING CO., Cerro de Pasco, Peru.
$10,000,000; entire stock held by Cerro de Pasco Copper Co.;
$60,000,000 in $1 shares which is owned by Cerro de Pasco In-
vestment Co., which is controlled by J. B. Haggin, and Morgan
estate; 3000-ton smelter at La Fundicion; monthly production
figures not given out; output in 1912 was 45,000,000 lb. copper.
CHINO COPPER CO., Santa Rita, New Mexico. $3,500,000 in
$5 shares; 121,200 shares are held by Guggenheim Exploration
Co.; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M MacNeill; 5000-
ton mill at Hurley, N. M. ; concentrate smelted at El Paso.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 6,138,140 February 5,769,948
CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES CO., Ely, Nev. $8,000-
000 in $5 shares; $3,000,000 in convertible bonds; is a recent
merger of the Giroux, Butte & Ely, Chainman, and Copper-
mines companies, controlled by Thos. F. Cole, Wm. B. Thomp-
son, Charles F. Rand, and Jas. Phillips, Jr.; reduction plant
not yet built; production so far derived solely from Giroux;
ore treated at Nevada Con. smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
August 541,189 November 136,539
September 204,307 December 197,649
October 160,911 January 1914 148,411
COPPER QUEEN CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Bisbee.
Arizona. $2,000,000 in $10 shares; owns 100,000 shares of
Greene Cananea; almost all its stock is held by Phelps, Dodge
& Co., Inc.; $44,995,000 in $100 shares; 4000-ton smelting plant
at Douglas, Ariz. Total in 1913, 85,389,630 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 8,099,847 March 7,122,739
February 6,448,770
COPPER RANGE CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Painedale,
Michigan, $39,369,200, in $100 shares; owns 99,659 shares of
Baltic M. Co., 99,699 shares Copper Range M. Co., 99,345 shares
of Tri-mountain M. Co., half interest in Champion Copper Co.,
16,392 shares of Copper Range R. R. Co., and $870,000 in Copper
Range R. R. bonds; controlled by Wm. A. Paine; production
is derived from the Baltic. Champion, and Tri-mountain com-
panies, each of which mills its ore; concentrate is smelted by
Michigan Smelting Co., Houghton, which is owned by mining
companies. Total in 1913, 24.996,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 3,276,000 March 3,834,000
Febrary 3,518,000
DETROIT COPPER MINING CO., Morenci, Ariz. $1,000,000 in
$25 shares; owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 1300-ton mill and
350-ton smelter. Total in 1913, 22,352,299 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1,590,681 March 1,973,725
February 1,814,214
EAST BUTTE COPPER MINING CO.. Butte Mont. $3,000,000
in $10 shares; owns 83% of the stock and all bonds of the
Plttsmont Copper Co., which holds 90% of the stock and all
bonds of Pittsburgh & Montana Copper Co.; controlled by Wm.
A. Paine; 350-ton mill and 1000-ton custom smelter. Total in
1913, 14,401,108 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1.088,862 Marcli 1,530,717
February 1,182,063
FRANKLIN MINING CO., Demmon, Mich. $4,166,650 in $25 3
shares; controlled by R. M. Edwards and the U. S. S. R. & M. Co.:
1000-ton mill. Total in 1913, 1,040, 000 pounds.
GRANBY CONSOLIDATED MINING, SMELTING * POWER
CO., LTD., Phoenix and Hidden Creek, British Columbia. $14,-
849,565 in $100 shares; controlled by General Chemical Co. in-
terests; 4400-ton smelter at Grand Forks and 2000-ton smelter
at Anyox. Total in 1913, 21,511,747 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1,793.840 February 1,661.212
GREAT COB AR, LIMITED, Cobar, New South Wales. £1,000,-
000 in 200,000 shares of £5 each; also 6%_ first-mortgage deben-
tures. Operates gold, copper, and coal mines, coke works,
flotation concentration plant, blast-furnaces, and a refining
plant. During past fiscal year treated 361,566 tons for 13.016,640
lb. copper, 27,136 oz. gold, and 127.542 oz. silver.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1.137.920 February S9S.240
HAMPDEN CI.OXCl RRY COPPER MINES. LIMITED, Clon-
curry, Queensland. £400,000 in shares of £1 each: 350,000 issued.
During past fiscal year treated 24,744 tons for 5,815,040 lb.
copper, S18 oz. gold, and 24.457 oz. silver.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January ni'9.600 February 1,321,600
April 18, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
677
MASON VALLEY MINES CO., Yerington, Nev. $770,000 in $5
shares; $1,000,000 in 6% convertible bonds; controlled by W. B.
Thompson; 1000-ton smelter at Thompson, Nev., also smelts ore
of Nevada-Douglas Copper Co. and custom ore; smelter pro-
duction. Total in 1913. 14,694,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 944,000 March 992,000
February 1,254,000
MIAMI COPPER CO., Miami, Ariz. 746,935 $5 shares issued;
$22,000 in 6Tr bonds convertible at $17 outstanding; controlled
by General Development Co. (Leuisohn interests), 3000-ton mill
at Miami; concentrate smelted at Cananea. Total in 1913,
33,944,795 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 3,258,950 March 3,361,100
February 3,193.300
MOCTEZUMA COPPER CO., Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. $2,000,-
000; entire stock owned by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 2000-ton
mill; concentrate smelted by Copper Queen. Total in 1913,
36,694,013 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 3,024.556 March 2,882,884
February 2,642,543
MOHAWK MINING CO., Mohawk, Mich. $2,500,000 in $25
shares; controlled by Stanton interests; 3000-ton mill, Traverse
bay; concentrate smelted by Michigan Smelting Co. Total in
1913, 8,016,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds.
March 790,000
MOUNT EI.I.IOTT. LIMITED. Cloncurry. Queensland. £750,000
In 150,000 shares of £5 each. During past fiscal year treated
41.633 tons for 10,373,440 lb. copper, 8757 oz., gold, and 7285 oz.
silver.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 891,520 February 875,840
MOUNT LYELL MINING « RAILWAY CO.. LTD., Queenstown,
Tasmania. 1,300,000 shares of £1 each. Operates an extensive
copper property, two railways, blast-furnaces, converters, and
three superphosphate works in Australia. During past fiscal
half-year treated 142.615 tons for 5,470.080 lb. copper, 187,097
oz. silver, and 4050 oz. gold.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
Dec. 25 to Jan. 21 911.680 Jan. 22 to Feb. 18 1,189,440
MOINT MORGAN GOLD MINING CO., LIMITED. Operates
a large gold and copper mine nr-ar Rockhampton, Queensland,
a pyrite mine. Iron and linn-stone quarries, a coal mine, con-
centrating plant being built, blast-furnace plant, and controls
an electrolytic refinery at Tort Kembla. New South Wales.
During past half-year treated 152.016 tons for 9,741,960 lb.
copper and 54.992 oz. gold.
Month Pounds. Month. Pounds.
Jan. 11 to Feb. 8 1.2X3. 520 Feb. 8 t,. Mar. 8 1.106,560
NEVADA CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ely, Nevada. $10,-
000,000 In $5 shares; has absorbed the Cumberland-Ely Copper
Co.; controlled by American Smelters Securities Co. through the
Utah Copper Co., which owns half of the Nevada Con. stock;
the Nevada company owns the Steptoe Valley Mining & Smelt-
ing Co., $10,000,000; 16,000-ton mill and 1500-ton smelter at
McGill. Nevada. Total in 1913, 64,972,829 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 5.791.122 February 4,588,243
NEVADA DOl'GLAS COPPER CO., Mason, Nev. $4,054,800 in
$5 shares, $276,900 in 6"r convertible bonds; also $158,200 6%
refunding bonds: controlled by A. J. Orem; ore smelted at Mason
Valley smelter.
Month. Pounds. Month.
January 1914 409.733 February
OHIO COPPER CO.. Bingham, Utah. $12,292,700 in $10 shares,
$1,326,000 in 6*", convertible bonds; 3500-ton mill at Lark, Utah;
concentrate smelted at Garfield.
Month. Pounds. Month.
January 1914 722.400 March
February 599.39 I
OLD DOMINION COPPER MINING & SMELTING CO.. Globe.
Ariz. $4.O5O.0'Mi in $25 shares; i:.r,,24r, shares arc owned by the
Old Dominion Co.. which is owneXl by Phelps, Dodge & Co.; 300-
ton mill. 2400-ton smelter. Production figures Include custom
ore smelted. Total in 1913. 31.061.645 pounds.
Month Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January' 1914 2.797.000 March 2,997,000
February 3,066,000
OSCEOLA CONSOLIDATED MINING CO., Osceola, Mich.
$2,403,750 in $25 shares: owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills,
4000-ton capacity, ;it Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 11,325.010
pounds.
Pounds.
.387,287
Pounds.
.616.129
PHELPS. DODGE * CO.. Inc. $44,995,000 in $100 shares; con-
trolled by C. H. Dodge, James Douglas, and others; owns the
Copper Queen, Moctezuma, Detroit, and Burro Mountain copper
companies. Stag Canon Fuel Co.; indirectly controls Old Do-
minion, United Globe, and Commercial Copper Mining Co.; mem-
bers of the firm control the El Paso & Southwestern railway,
and have large interests in the Rock Island and Great Northern
railways. Production figures include .all properties under its
control and copper derived from custom ore, the latter ranging
from 750,000 to 1,000,000 lb. per month. Total in 1913, 154.154.444
pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 13,411,595 March 12.493,651
February 11.444,123
O.UINCY MINING CO., Hancock, Mich. $2,750,000 in $25 shares;
controlled by W. R. Todd; 4500-ton mill at Mason; 340-ton
smelter at Ripley.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1,484,000 February 1,632,000
RAY CONSOLIDATED COPPER CO., Ray, Ariz. $11,975,740 in
$10 shares; controlled by Sherwood Aldrich and C. M. MacNeill:
8000-ton mill at Hayden, Ariz.; concentrate smelted in A. S. &
R. smelter adjoining. Total in 1913, 53,745,934 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 5,705,000 February 5,600,000
SHANNON COPPER CO., Metcalf, Ariz. $3,000,000 in $10
shares; controlled by N. L. Amster; 500-ton mill and 1000-ton
smelter at Clifton. Total in 1913, 13,640,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 938,000 March 1.082,000
February 904,000
SHATTUCK ARIZONA COPPER CO., Bisbee, Ariz. $3,500,000
in $10 shares; controlled by Duluth investors, ore smelted at
Calumet & Arizona smelter. Total In 1913, 13,219,756 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
December 1,050,781 February 1.134.480
January 1914 1,276,636
SOUTH UTAH MINES * SMELTERS, Newhouse. Utah.
$4,300,000 in $5 shares, $1,300,000 in 6% convertible bonds: con-
trolled by Samuel Newhouse: 1000-ton mill: concentrate sme.ted
at Tooele, Utah. Total in 1913, 1,883,129 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. I ids.
January 1914 284,092 March 406.381
February 344.200
TAMARACK MINING CO.. Calumet. Mich. $1,500,000 in $25
shares; owned by Calumet & Hecla; 2 mills, 3500-ton capacity,
at Torch Lake. Total in 1913, 4,142,000 pounds.
TENNESSEE COPPER CO., Copperhill, Tenn. $5,000,000 ■- *""
shares; $1,500,000 In 6^ convertible bonds; controlled b \bt
Phillips. Jr., and Lewisohn Interests. Total in 1913, 13.4 J
pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1.474.890 March 1.262,184
February 1.231'. M::
UNITED STATES SMELTING, REFINING A MINING CO.
$44,871,150 In $50 shares; copper production chiefly derived from
its subsidiary, the Mammoth Copper Mining Co.. Kennett, Cali-
fornia.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 1,572,817 February 1,629,902
UNITED VERDE COPPER CO., Jerome, Ariz. $3,000,000 in
$10 shares; owned by W. A. Clark: 1000 to 1200-ton smelter at
Clarkdale; monthly figures not given out, estimated at about
3,000,000 lb. Total In 1913. 37,750,000 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1911 2.900.000 February 2.600,000
UTAH CONSOLIDATED MINES CO., Bingham, Utah. $1,500,-
000 in $5 shares: owns the Highland Boy Gold Mining Co. and
5000 shares of International Smelting & Refining Co. stock;
ore smelted at Tooele. Total in 1913. 7,710,668 pounds.
UTAH COPPER CO.. Bingham, Utah. $15,625,990 in $10
shares; owns half of Nevada Consolidated; controlled by A. S.
& R. Co., Sherwood Aldrich, C. M. MacNeill, and W. B. Thomp-
son: 2 mills, 20,000-ton capacity, at Garfield: concentrate
smelted at Garfield plant of A. S. & R. Co. Total in 1913,
119,939,809 pounds.
Month. Pounds. Month. Pounds.
January 1914 10,649,000 March (est.) 11.000,000
February 9.492,898
WOLVERINE COPPER MINING CO., Kearsarge. Mich.
$1,500,000 in $25 shares; owns $80,000 interest In Michigan
Smelting Co.; controlled by J. R. Stanton; mill on Traverse
bay treated 388,500 tons during last fiscal year. Total in 1913,
5,700.000 ixinnds.
Month. Pounds.
March 628,000
67S
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 18, 1914
Ei eitro-Thermal Methods of Iron and Steel Production.
By John B. C. Kershaw. P. 233, 111., index. D. Van Nostrand,
New York, 1914. For sale by Mining and Scientific Press.
Price $3.
In this book Mr. Kershaw has amplified and brought up to
date the information given by him in 1907 in his well known
•The Electric Furnace in Iron and Steel Production'. The first
two chapters include a general sketch of the principles involved
in electric heating and the broad lines of designing furnaces for
iron and steel making. The succeeding chapters are mainly
taken up with consideration of various furnaces in actual use.
As Mr. Kershaw is not connected in a business way with any
of the companies or patentees coticerned in selling these
furnaces, his review is especially valuable. The book is an
excellent guide to knowledge of just what is now being done
in this important field.
The Petrology oe the Igneous Rocks. By F. H. Hatch. P.
454, 111., index. George Allen & Co., Ltd., London, 1914. For
sale by Mining and Scientific Press. Price $4.25.
This is volume I, 'The Igneous Rocks,' of the well known
'Text Book of Petrology,' of which the first edition appeared in
1S92. A companion volume on the 'Petrology of the Sedimen-
tary Rocks' forms the second volume of the series. In this the
seventh edition there has been considerable change. New
chapters on 'Pyroclastic Rocks' and 'Metamorphic Derivation
of the Igneous Rocks' have been added, and numerous addi-
tional illustrations have been used. The book is a brief, gen-
eral, but excellent summary of essential facts regarding the
physical characters, constituent minerals, and classification, of
igneous rocks in general with three chapters on the distribu-
tion of igneous rocks in Great Britain.
Oil Production Methods. By Paul M. Paine and B. K.
Stroud. With a chapter on Accounting System,' by W. F. and
. B. Sampson. P. 239, 111., index. Western Engineering Pub.
)., San Francisco, 1913. For sale by Mining and Scientific
- -ess. Price ?3.
There have been few books on the technology of oil pro-
duction and those that have been published have been general
and in the main based upon European practice. Redwood's
three volume work includes a number of chapters upon drill-
ing methods, but even so large a book does not find room for
much that is modern and significant. Many years ago the
Pennsylvania Geological Survey issued an excellent description
of practice in that state, but the book is long since out of date
and methods have greatly changed. Mr. Paine and Mr. Stroud
describe the methods in actual daily use in California, and they
■write from first hand knowledge. Their book accordingly is
up to date, authoritative, and extremely useful to those in-
terested in the oil industry.
The Engineering Index, Annual for 1913. Compiled from
the 'Engineering Index,' published monthly in The Engineer-
ing Magazine during 1913. P. 508. The Engineering Magazine
Co.. New York. 1914. For sale by the Mining and Scientific
Press. Price $2.
This is the thirtieth year that the index has been made and
this is the twelfth of the annual volume reprints. The work
is too well known to require extensive review. It covers all
branches of engineering from Civil to Industrial Economy,
and while some papers escape the vigilant eye of the com-
piler, it can be relied upon to cover most of the important
ones. It is well printed and well arranged and will be espe-
cially helpful to mining engineers and metallurgists who wish
to keep in touch with engineering in its broader aspects.
Industrial Progress
An American Locomobile
The locomobile is a self-contained engine-boiler unit, de-
signed to use superheated steam and increase over-all effi-
ciency by decreasing radiation losses. The name is best
known in the United States from the fact that an engine of
this type was used on one of the pioneer automobiles.
a buckeyemobile power-plant.
Essentially a locomobile consists of a high-class compound
engine mounted upon its boiler, with the cylinders in the
smoke box, the steam passing from the superheater directly
to the high-pressure cylinder, and from this through a re-
heater directly to the low-pressure without ou.side piping.
The condenser and feed pumps are run from the engine itself.
Above is presented a view of such an engine, built by the
Buckeye Engine Co., and marketed under the name Buckeye-
mobile. A number of these are giving excellent results.
The analysis of a test of one such engine, as reported by
F. R. Low in Power, is printed below:
300
100 125 150 175
*~ poji^ Indicated Horsepower
TEST RESULTS OF BUCKEYEMOBtLE.
The engine developed an indicated horse-power on less
than 9.75 lb. steam per hour, and the coal curve is. as will
be noted, particularly flat. This unit delivers a kilowatt
for about 2% lb. of coal per hour, an indicated horse-power
hour for less than 1U2 lb. when condensing, and a little more
than 2 lb. non-condensing. As these engines run at very
high temperature, special oils are necessary for lubrication,
but that difficulty has been successfully met. A wide range
of fuels can be used.
"Science has no enemy save the ignorant.':
Whole No. 2805 *•£&•[•
San Francisco, April 25, 1914
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM
Single Copies, Ten Cents
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
ESTABLISHED MAY 24, 18(10
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T. A. RICKARD Editorial Contributor
EDWARD WALKER Correspondent
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
A. W. Allen. Charles Janin.
Leonard S. Austin. James F. Kemp.
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EDITORIAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I hi vi Page.
Notes 679
Spelter and Lead in 1913 681
End of Copper Miners' Strike 682
ARTICLES l
Mill Building in the Andes Alfred A. Watson 683
Third Beach Line at Nome, Alaska Arthur Gibson 686
Millwork at the Brunswick Consolidated Mine 688
Water Consumption at Kalgoorlie Mines 688
Application of Three-Phase Motors to Winding Engines
and Hoists C. Antony Ablett and H. M. Lyons 689
Natural Resources Survey of New Mexico 693
Razing the Steptoe Valley Stack D. Boyd-Smith, Jr. 694
Mining in the Choco District, Colombia 696
Filter-Press Operation A. W. Allen 697
Hoisting at the Argonaut Mine....M. W. von Berncwltz 697
Ore and Dump Train Service 698
Danger from Kails of Rock 698
DISCISSION:
Geology of the Kalgoorlie Goldfleld. .C. O. G. Larcombe 699
What Is tiie Matter with Prospecting? ('. I'. Greene 701
703
CONCENTRATES
SPECIAL CORRESTO.MJ
GENERAL MININC; XEV
704
708
DEPARTMENTS'
Personal 712
The Metal .Markets 713
Tiie Stork Markets 714
Company Reports 715
Decisions Relating to Mining 716
Recent Publications 717
Industrial Progress il8
A HOLD discovery is reported from Sundance, Wyo-
■**■ miii";. assays as high as $1^60 per ton being
quoted, with the richest of the samples yet untested.
According to the Centennial Post, "a number of nug-
gets have been found near Devil's Tower, and the
theory has been advanced that the tower is the core
of the crater of an ancient volcano and may be tilled
with gold." It is to be regretted that this said vol-
cano is extinct, but no doubt the author of the theory
that it "may be filled with gold" can devise some
method to rejuvenate the volcano and put it in the
producing class again.
'"PIIE fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the
■*- School of Mines of Columbia University will be
fittingly celebrated on Slay 28 and 2f) by a reunion of
the School of .Mines graduates, which will be in the
nature of a congress at which will be discussed some
of the problems of modern mining engineering prac-
tice. Honorary degrees will be given to some of the
distinguished alumni ami the first lecture on the 'Chan-
dler Foundation' will be included in the program. As
the alumni roll of the School of Mines includes many
of those whom the industry lias recognized as leaders
in the profession, and who will be present at this meet-
ing, a most interesting session is assured and a large
attendance is anticipated.
TN a recent address before the Chemical Society of
-*■ the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, -Mi-.
Arthur 1). Little pointed out to the undergraduates of
that institution the importance of clearness and sim-
plicity in engineering reports. The difference in per-
spective of the technologist and layman is a subject
which is often forgotten by the engineer when writing
his report. As a result, the subject matter is so
obscured in technical phraseology, which is meaning-
less to thf non-technical reader, that it is valueless to a
large number of those for whom it was prepared. It
should, therefore, lie the purpose of the engineer to
present the results of his investigation in a manner
which is intelligible to the non-technical mind. The
success of an engineer is influenced in no small degree
by his ability to impart to others his technical knowl-
edge in terms which are understood, and therefore the
cultivation of correct English should be an essential
part of his training.
680
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
OTEAM-SHOVEL work is in high favor at the copper
^ mines and is proving to be adapted to many situa-
tions in which underground mining methods have here-
tofore been supreme. At the Utah Copper Company
all underground work has finally been abandoned. At
the Chino it is possible that all ore will eventually be
mined by steam-shovels and at Ely it is said that plans
for converting the Ruth mine into an open pit have
been worked out and are now under most careful con-
sideration. Experimental work with flotation has
proved that Ely ores are well adapted to the process.
and it is said that announcement that a flotation plant
is to be built may be expected.
QUESTIONS of nomenclature have been at the bot-
tom of many a stubborn controversy among scien-
tific men. Indeed, rather more than others, they attach
deep significance to priority and exactness in defini-
tions. This is excellent in itself, but on more than one
occasion insistance on minor matters has served to re-
tard rather than advance scientific knowledge. At
Kalgoorlie. due mainly to the independent investiga-
tions of Mr. Malcolm Maclaren and Mr. C. 0. G. Lar-
combe. two sets of names have been applied to the
same rocks. The result has been confusion which
might readily have become worse except for the sensi-
ble action of the two geologists mainly concerned. We
called attention to the situation last year at the time
that we printed Mr. Maclaren 's series of informing
articles on the geology of the district, and we print
this week a letter from Mr. Larcombe in which he
proposes a modified system of nomenclature designed
to smooth away the difficulties in the way of further
discussion. Mr. Maclaren, having read the paper and
consulted with Mr. Larcombe. asks us to say that he
agrees to the changes proposed, and there can. there-
fore, be no necessity for further confusion. We are
glad to have had a part in bringing this about, and we
commend to others the spirit of mutual accommodation
exhibited by Messrs. Maclaren and Larcombe. Pos-
sibly because they are mining geologists and so more
concerned with results than theories, they have been
entirely willing to sacrifice personal claims as authors
to prevent possible confusion. We may differ, toler-
antly let us hope, in our interpretations, but let us
agree, as far as may be. in using the same name for
the same thing. This will make for progress in the
industry.
MINING. in Australia is exceedingly dull at present.
This country, which has produced minerals to the
value of approximately $8,985,000,000 to date, needs
another Ballarat, Bendigo. Broken Hill. Charters
Towers, or Kalgoorlie to give it a new lease on life.
The most promising district at present is Broken Hill,
where improved metallurgical methods have put new
life into the industry. Kalgoorlie is busy with geo-
logical problems, and the other onee-important dis-
tricts are steadily declining. Chillagoe, Great Fitzroy.
and Mount Perry, three of Queensland's big copper
mines, have suspended operations recently and several
gold mines in Victoria have also been closed. The
dredging industry of this state is being hampered by
legislation, and what the outcome will be is not known.
Great Cobar has been having trouble and the Junction
mine at Broken Hill, which has been on the decline for
a number of years, is now for sale. Tasmania is prac-
tically holding its own in mineral production, although
the Tasmania gold mine is to be shut down. In Western
Australia, the Victorious, Burbank's Main Lode, and
Associated Northern mines are not operating at pres-
ent, and reduced returns are coming from the Bull-
finch. The Ivanhoe recently had a fire and is laboring
under a handicap. While there is nothing new in
South Australia, it is hoped that trans-Australian rail-
ways will develop new mineral districts, and that the
investigations in the Northern Territory will result in
a new field being opened. With the ever-increasing
wa<res and present prices, metal mines of Australia are
reported as generally depressed, and the optimists of
the industry are in the decided minority.
QIKIZTPiE of Vera Cruz by the American marines
**-* marks the culmination of a long series of insults
to the American flag and American people by the de
farto government of Mexico. The Mexican policy of
President Wilson has been for peace, with the hope that
the time was not far off when Mexico would settle her
internal troubles and set up a government worthy of
recognition. This policy, which has only obtained
through the will of the President, has been the subject
of repeated abuse by the Huerta government; over 150
American lives have been sacrificed through lack of
protection. American industries in Mexico have in
trreat part either dwindled to nothing or suspended
operations completely, the American nation has been
singled out for insult, and the American government
has been antagonized by the officials of the Huerta ad-
ministration to beyond endurance. The unhappy affair
at Tampico placed the President and administration
in the position of either being held up to ridicule by the
American people and nations of the earth for permit-
ting of this further insult, or insisting upon a formal
acknowledgment of the many grievances which the
American people bore against the Huerta administra-
tion. The latter alternative was chosen, and rightly
so. It is to be hoped that this step toward the ulti-
mate fall of the ih farto government in Mexico, will
not mean war and the invasion of Mexican territory
by American troops, but that the seizing of the Mexi-
can ports and the cutting off of military supplies and
revenue will hasten the downfall of Huerta and bring
the Mexican people to realize that a legally constituted
uovernment and the blessings of peace can only be
obtained by active cooperation among themselves.
The present civil war is leading to nothing. The
^Iexieans must put country above party if they expect
others to respect their country.
April 25, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
681
Spelter and Lead in 1913
The world's production of zine for the year 1913, ac-
cording to statistics published by the United States
Geological Survey and various consular reports
amounted to 1,103,359 short tons, which is an increase
of 33,314 tons over the production of the previous year.
Of this output of spelter, the United States was the
largest producer, with a production of 346,676 tons;
Germany was second, with 311,914 tons; and Belgium
third, with 217,941 tons. The imports of zinc into the
United States during the year 1913 were valued at
$722,962, as compared with $1,363,884 for the previous
year. The exports from the United States for 1913
amounted to $1,735,099, while that of the preceding
year was $1,846,301.
In Australia almost the entire spelter production
was practically confined to the Broken Hill dis-
trict of New South Wales, where the zincblende pro-
duction was of minor importance until the advent of
notation methods when the old tailing dumps, together
with the zinc-bearing tailing from the lead concen-
trators, had been made to yield a good profit. The de-
velopment of a treatment for these ores forms one of
the most interesting chapters in the zinc metallurgy,
beginning with the Potter acid flotation experiments
in 1901 and subsequent developments in acid and oil
flotation, until in 1909 the problem passed from the
experimental stage, although several years previous to
this large tonnages of zinc ores were being success-
fully treated by flotation methods. The advance which
has taken place in zinc mining and metallurgy in the
treatment of Australian ores is evidenced by the pro-
duction of zinc concentrates, which has advanced from
97 tons, valued at $4808 in 1889. to 516,378 tons valued
at $6,885,999 in 1911. Practically all of this concen-
trate is smelted in the European smelters of Belgium
and Germany, though some is treated locally at the
Port Pirie smelter of the Broken Hill Proprietary Mines
Company.
The zinc concentrate production of Austria
for 1912 amounted to about 34.674 tons, valued at
$577,451 ; of this amount about one-half was devoted
to government uses, according to a consular report.
The Hungarian production is not significant, amount-
ing in 1912 to only 857 tons valued at $13,961. The
Hungarian government is reported to be endeavoring
to stimulate an interest in zine mining and smelting
and a natural pas smelter is proposed for Transylvania.
During 1912 the zinc imports into Hungary were valued
at $981,919. The German production for the year 1913
was 311.914 tons of spelter, a material increase over
the production of the previous year, which was 298,794
tons. The imports and exports of both zinc oxide and
lithopone showed an increase during 1912, the exports
of oxide amounting to 28.731 long tons, as compared
with 20.994 tons for the previous year. The exports
of lithopone increased from 13,742 tons in 1911 to
15.117 tons in 1912. The Italian mines during 1913 pro-
duced about 100.000 tons of zinc concentrate, which
was shipped to the smelters of France and Belgium.
While zinc ores are found in association with silver
and lead ores in various parts of the Caucasus moun-
tains, the principal production at the present time is
from near Sadon in the Vladikovkaz district of the
Tersky province. The total production of silver, lead,
and zinc ores in the Caucasus in 1912 is reported by the
mining department of the Caucasus to have been 28,495
tons, as compared with 26.060 tons for the preceding
year. In the Olkusz district there was a production of
48,427 tons of zinc carbonate and 18,768 tons of zinc
carbonate carrying some lead. The latest available
statistics from Spain are for the year 1911. during
which period 162.140 long tons of zinc ore valued at
$1,213,649 was mined. Most of the production came
from the provinces of Murcia, Santander, and Cordoba.
The exports of blende and calamine for 1911 amounted
to 127.632 long tons valued at $1,188.83. Zine as bars
and sheets totaling 2336 long tons and valued at $294.-
370 was exported, the finished product going to France,
Great Britain, Argentina, and the Netherlands.
Statistics of the world 's lead production for 1913 are
not yet available, but final figures for the production of
the United States, as compiled by Mr. C. E. Siebenthal
of the United States Geological Survey, have recently
been printed. According to his figures, the total pro-
duction of refined lead made from ore amounted to
462,460 tons of 2000 pounds. This agrees closely with
the preliminary estimate of 466.843 tons that we
printed, through the courtesy of the Geological Survey,
on January 3. In 1912. the primary lead production was
480.894 tons, and there was accordingly a decrease of
18.434 tons, equivalent to 3.8 per cent. The secondary
lead, obtained from skimmings, drosses, old metals,
etc., amounted to 67.168 tons in 1912. and is estimated
at 72,834 tons for 1913. though this is subject to slight
revision. Part of this secondary lead, 39,730 tons, was
recovered in the form of alloys. As we have previously
noted, there are no figures of lead consumption in the
United States. Mr. Siebenthal estimates the primary
lead "available for consumption" in 1913, at 419,485
tons, basing this estimate on the following figures:
stock in bonded warehouses January 1. 10,492; im-
ports for consumption. 11,980; imports for warehouse.
45.165 ; production from domestic ores, 411.878 ; total
supply, 479.515. The amounts withdrawn were as fol-
lows: exports of foreign lead from warehouse, 44,544:
in manufactures with drawbacks. 9757; decrease by
liquidation. 419; stocks in bonded warehouse, Decem-
ber 31, 5310: total withdrawn, 60.030 tons.
Of the total lead production, 301.160 tons is classified
as desilverized, and 131.867 as soft lead. The latter
showed a decrease of about 10,000 tons. There were
also 29.433 tons of desilverized soft lead, and 14,667
tons of antimonial lead. A curious feature is that a
small amount of soft lead from Wisconsin and of de-
silverized from Idaho found its way to Canadian
smelters.
While it is impossible to apportion the product ex-
682
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 19U
actly according to the source of the ore, since the
statistics are based upon returns from smelters and re-
finers who do not, in all cases, know the exact source,
the following fairly accurate distribution of the pro-
duction is made :
Domestic ore: 1912. 1913.
Alaska 45 6
Arizona 3,891 4,901
California 811 3,294
Colorado 37,039 42,840
Idaho 127,780 1 37,802
Illinois 513 019
Kansas 1,937 1,504
Kentucky 91 16
Missouri 162,610 152,430
Montana 2,517 3,256
Nevada 5,699 6,142
New Mexico 2,511 1,821
North Carolina 34 10
Oklahoma 2,500 3,214
Oregon 21 37
South Dakota 12 7
Texas 30 108
Utah 60,664 71,069
Virginia 85 878
Washington 53 9
Wisconsin 3,301 2,639
Undistributed 120 63
Zinc residue 3,131 3,765
Total from domestic ore 415,395 436,430
Foreign ore:
Africa 1,774 5,976
Canada 29 16
Mexico 7,407 4,512
South America 2,332 2,617
Other foreign 30 102
Foreign base bullion:
Mexico 76,805 37,359
Total from foreign ore and base
bullion 88,377 50,582
Grand total, derived from all sources 503,772 4S7.012
In the figures of consumption, lead in ore, base bul-
lion, pigs, bars, and old metal are included. Decrease
by liquidation covers losses in smelting and refining
in bond and other corrections. Warehouse stocks cover
only lead of foreign origin, as it has been found im-
possible to obtain complete figures of domestic stocks.
Of the imports the bulk, amounting to 95.000.000 out
of 114,000.000 pounds, came from Mexico as usual.
The total imports, however, have decreased steadily
since 1908. There has been a growth of imports from
South America, from 469,770 pounds in 1908 to 8.766.-
327 pounds, and an even greater increase in imports
from other countries, but the decline in Mexican im-
ports more than offsets this. Mr. Siebenthal's figures
afford the one measurably complete and accurate in-
sight into the lead industry of the country that it is
possible to obtain each year, and it is a pleasure to
note that they are showing increasing detail. We see
no reason why the lead producers should not cooperate
in collection of monthly statistics as the copper pro-
ducers do, but so far, trade jealousy and the fact that
the American Smelting & Refining Company controls
65 per cent of the production has prevented. We trust
that this may soon be a matter of the past, as complete,
accurate, and prompt statistics are the best of bases
for sane trading and the furthering of industrial de-
velopment.
End of Copper Miners' Strike
Workers in the copper mines of the Lake Superior
district have officially declared the strike to be overr
and the Western Federation of Miners remains un-
recognized by the mining companies of that district.
While the mines of the district have been working at
about normal capacity for the past two months, this,
official acknowledgment on the part of the men of a.
willingness to return to work marks the climax of a
labor struggle which was doomed to failure at the-
outset. It would seem after a strike lasting from Julw
23 of last year until the present, at a cost to the West-
ern Federation of over $1,000,000 in addition to the-
loss in wages and hardships endured, that the men who
have borne the brunt of the battle would realize that.
strike methods which involve riot and bloodshed are-
not the means whereby any good for labor may be
attained. It may be contended that labor in the dis-
trict under the new regime is enjoying better working-
conditions and wages : but these concessions were
granted several months ago and cannot be attributed
to the warlike methods which have since prevailed.
There is little evidence of anything for the good of or-
ganized labor having been accomplished under Mr..
Charles II. Mover's leadership and the Western Fed-
eration of Miners' activities.
The effect upon some of the operating companies of'
the district is shown by the following table of the total
receipts for the past two years of a number of the com-
panies, which furnishes a true barometer of the state
of industry.
Total receipts Total receipts
1913. 1912.
Mass Consolidated 189,557 349,374
Quincy 1,921,198 3,381,587
Ahmeek 1,433,695 2,757,576
La Salle 15.535 10,244
Superior 478,977 673,032
Centennial 247.120 285,075
Isle Royale 649,946 1,395,636
Allouez 650,205 918,435
Winona 419,235 541,128
Tamarack 643,566 1,300,238
Osceola Consolidated 1,774.810 3,071,818
It will be seen what a marked decline has taken
place in bulk of the business of the copper companies.
and to this must be added the greatly increased cost
in production, which at the Ahmeek property was •
almost 100%, the total cost of refined copper in 1913
was 13.30c. per pound, while in 1912 it was 7.85c.
While this figure is exceptional, a general increase in
production costs is to be noted and deficits are by no-
means uncommon.
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
683
FRAMEWORK. COMPLETED MILL, AM) LABOBEBS AT THE LA GRANDE PROPERTY.
Mill Building in the Andes
By Alfred
The Collahuasi mining district is situated in the
province of Tarapaca. Republic of Chile, S. A., a few
miles from the boundary line of Bolivia. The ores
of the district are principally copper, carrying a small
amount of gold ; some silver veins have also been dis-
covered, but are not at present being exploited. The
copper deposits cover a large area, extending over the
top and sides of the Collahuasi mountain and the
neighboring hills. They are principally owned and
worked by two foreign companies, the Poderosa Min-
ing Co.. Ltd.. owned by English interests, and the
Collahuasi-La Grande owned by the Societe Franeaise
des Mines de Cuivre, Collahuasi La Grande, a French
company having its office at 43 Boulevard Ilausmann,
Paris, France. Up to now only the highest grade ore
has been exploited and it is shipped abroad for treat-
ment. Communications with the port of Antofogasta.
Chile, distant 535 kilometres, is by means of the
Ferrocarril de Antofogasta a Bolivia (Antofogasta-
Bolivia R. R.) A branch line of 96 kilometres in
length joins Collahuasi La Grande with the main line
of this railway at Ollague, which is the end of the
Chile division, the road from there being entirely in
Bolivian territory.
Collahuasi La Grande lies in 21° south latitude and
68°40' west longitude and at Punto Alto, where all
A. Watson
the machinery was delivered, the rails are 4820 metres
(15,814 feet) above sea level. A reference to the
Ferrocarril de Antofogasta a Bolivia may be interesting
as it is the only main artery of communication at
present in operation from the Republic of Bolivia to
the Pacific coast. The Ariea-La Paz railroad, belong-
ing to the Chilean government, for some reason has
not been fully opened for traffic. The Bolivian rail-
way does an immense business on a 2 ft. 6 in. gage.
The passenger cars are roomy and comfortable, the
sleeping and dining cars are excellent, while the freight
cars are of 20.000 kg. (20 long tons) capacity each. The
road at kilometres 116 to 170 inclusive runs through
the rich nitrate fields of Antofogasta province and
reaps a rich harvest from the transportation of nitrates
to the coast and from machinery, timber, crude oil. and
other supplies for the return journey.
At Calama, kilometre 239 and 2265 metres above sea
level, the river Soa is crossed for the first time. The
waters of this river are used for irrigation purposes,
consequently an oasis is created, which is the only
green spot encountered during the whole journey.
Calama is the only important town on the Chilean
division. At San Salvador, kilometre 254. a branch
line 8 kilometres long connects with Chuquicamata,
2696 metres (8840 ft.) above sea. A large copper de-
VABETA. METHOD OF HAULING LUMBER, AM) A GBOUP OF LLAMAS.
684
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
posit is there being developed by the Chile Copper
Company, a Guggenheim concern, which is erecting
immense works for the treatment of the ore at the
mines. The river Soa is again crossed by means of a
steel viaduct at kilometre 298, near Cirochi. The rails
are 102.4 metres (336 ft.) above the surface of the
river : the bridge is of six spans of 80 ft. each and
supported by steel towers. A branch line 20 kilometres
runs from Conehi to Conchi Jezo, another important
copper district.
San Pedro, at 312 kilometre and 3223 metres (10,700
ft.) altitude, is on a tributary of the river Soa. There,
at the foot of the volcano San Pedro is the main
reservoir for the storage of potable water which sup-
plies all the requirements of the railroad, the nitrate
plants, and also the city of Antofogasta, 193 miles
distant. It is a good piece of engineering. The high-
est point on the main line of the railway is Ascotan.
360 kilometres (223 miles) from Antofogasta. the height
above sea level being 3955 metres (12,859 ft). From
here the line runs on a slightly lower level right
through into Bolivia, the height at Cebollan, 387 kilo-
metres, being 12,200 feet.
Borax Lake
The run from Ascotan to Cebollar discloses a scene
of matchless interest. The railroad skirts the shores
of the celebrated borax lake of Cebollar. 24 miles long
and several miles wide. The surface of the lake in cer-
tain seasons is pure white, like freshly fallen snow,
varied by turquoise colored water in places. The old
volcanoes on the border of the lake display the most
wonderful colors, one especially showing vivid scarlet,
reds, yellow, grey, and brown ; a truly marvelous sight.
The lake is the property of the Borax Consolidated.
Limited and is said to be one of the largest natural
deposits of borax known. At kilometre 435 and 3696
metres above sea level and two miles from the Bolivian
boundary is situated Ollague, which is the end of the
Chilean division of the railway. It lies at the base of
the isolated and imposing volcano of Allague, 5872
metres (19,266 ft.) high. It is quite a feature of the
landscape and emits constantly a plume of steam from
near the summit. The Collahuasi branch line starts
from Olla sue. and at kilometre 89 reaches Montt. which
is on the Poderosa company's property. Six kilometres
further is Punto Alto, which is one kilometre from
Collahuasi La Grande, the terminus of the line.
Owing to the distance from the coast such heavy
expense was incurred in shipping ores that it was
possible to ship the highest grade of ore only; ac-
cording to reports, ore containing less than 18% cop-
per did not repay the cost of mining and freight. The
La Grande company, however, determined to make an
effort to avail itself of the enormous quantity of so-
called low-grade ore which remained in the mines and
on the dumps. With this object in view a 100-ton unit
of a concentration plant was ordered after careful con-
sideration as to location of the plant and the choosing
of a convenient spot where sufficient water was to be
obtained, and where the ores from the various mines
could be delivered at a reasonable cost by means of
an overhead tramway of moderate length. Such a site
was found at Capella, 14,650 ft. above sea level and
near one of the Company workings, being some 6
kilometres distant from Punto Alto, where all ma-
chinery and material was delivered by the railroad
company and transported from there to the mill site
by mule carts and trollies. Accordingly timber and
all other materials required were ordered from Anto-
fogasta and rushed to the spot with all speed so that
no delay should be caused by the winter snows. Grad-
ing was started on mill site and buildings for admin-
istration, bodega, pulperia, and dwellings for the work-
men and their families were erected.
The country rock upon which the foundations were
built wras very friable in places and filled with
fractures, necessitating heavy concrete retaining walls
for the buildings. All machinery foundations, floors,
and storage-tank were of concrete, the materials for
which were carefully selected, the sand washed, and
the aggregate graded. The best portland cement was
used, and the most careful attention given to variations
in temperature, so as to prevent the concrete from
freezing, a very necessary precaution at that altitude.
In all. some 720 cubic metres of concrete was used.
The concentration plant consisted of the following
machinery, the ore being delivered at the receiving
station by sub-aerial ropeway. One 6 by 10 ft. grizzley ;
one 60 ft. by 14 in: Robins conveyor; one 60 ft. by 36
in. Robins picking-belt conveyor; one 7 by 10 in. Blake
crusher; one shaking tray feeder; two 24 ft. by 12 in.
wet or dry crushing rolls ; one 35 ft. by 8 in. Buckley
elevator: one 84 by 48 in. revolving screen; one set of
four 66 by 36 in. revolving trommels: one 24 by 12 in.
crushing roll for re-crushing; one 40 ft. by 6 in. back-
ed elevator: six 3-com'partment 34 by 20 in. Hartz jigs,
one 4-ft. Callow screen, one set of 3 hydrometric sizers.
three No. 5 "Wilfley tables, one 9-ft. pulp dewatering
cone, and three 6-ft. vanners. The motive power was
furnished by one 125-hp. Babcock & Wilcox water-tube
boiler (another is being added) with water heater,
boiler feed, pumps, etc. One 16 by 36 in. Corliss en-
gine, one Bellis and Morecombe vertical duplex engine
for driving. 50-hp. electrical generator, a general out-
fit for electric lighting, electric pumps, and motors for
cableway. etc. The machinery was furnished by
Fraser & Chalmers, Limited, London.
Mountain Sickness
A serious obstacle to carrying on work at such alti-
tudes is the sickness and danger incurred by mountain
sickness, called locally puna (poona) in Chile and
soroche in Peru. It commences by difficulty in breath-
ing, severe pains in the head, and vomiting, and the
heart's action is terrific in intensity. Persons desiring
to live there must be provided with sound lungs and a
stout heart (in more ways than one) and good circula-
tion of the blood. At first it is exhausting to make the
slightest exertion and it requires from a few days to
April 25, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
685
a month or more to become acclimated. Frequently
people have to be returned to a lower altitude without
delay and some cases have a fatal termination. It is
not to be wondered at that the natives from near the
coast have the greatest dread of Collahuasi, the climate
of which is probably aggravated by the fumes coming
from some volcanoes that are situated at no great dis-
tance.
Climatic Conditions
The temperature is extremely variable. In winter
the thermometer falls to 10CF. each night. During the
daytime it occasionally rises to 45°, but usually only
to 30°F. In any case immediately the sun gets low it
drops below freezing. A sudden gust of wind will
cause a drop of 15° at once. Snow lying on the ground
makes the cold intense. Under such conditions it is
difficult to secure the necessary intelligent workmen.
The seasons in the southern latitudes are of course the
reverse of the northern ones, midwinter down there
being mid-summer north of the equator. In the Andes
in summer it rains, the natives say, but what falls is
hail and very severe storms they are, usually accom-
panied by terrific thunder and lightening. During the
summer these cause little inconvenience but in the win-
ter months heavy winds prevail, blowing sometimes
with hurricane force, the snowstorms being of the regu-
lar western type, and the snow fine and dry. The cold
is intense, the wind drifts the snow, all work has to
be suspended, and all communication from outside is
cut off for days. A curious thing about the snow in
that region is that it srradually disappears without
showing any signs of water around the edges. It sim-
ply seems to become less and less until it finally disap-
pears. Another curiosity is that running water always
freezes up in winter but the ground, which is loose and
spongy, does not freeze below 3 or 4 inches.
Under these conditions the milling plant was erected.
Ordinary labor is performed by Bolivian Indians, of
which the women are the most conscientious workers.
The Bolivians are tractable people, but the Chilenos are
more intelligent, although harder to handle. All of the
workmen are addicted to drink, which has to be guard-
ed against, principally during their national fiestas. A
better class of labor was obtainable at wages from 50
to 75% above the usual ones prevalent nearer the coast.
In fact that was the only inducement for men to re-
main on the work for a limited time. The wages paid
were, boss carpenter 25 pesos.* concrete boss 20 pesos,
boss machinist 20 pesos, boss electrician 16 pesos, boss
blacksmith 16 pesos, carpenters 14 to 17 pesos. Ordi-
nary mechanics and blacksmiths 14 pesos, concrete
mixers 11 pesos, common labor from 6 to 10 pesos per
day. The timber, from Puget Sound, and costing de-
livered at Punto Alto 135 pesos per M., was rough
sawed and framed on the spot by native carpenters,
not one of whom had had any previous experience in
mill construction. When the frames of the building
•The Chilean |i< so fluctuates in value, but may be roughly
taken at 18VL'C.
were raised the workmen refused to go aloft. In fact,
at times the cold was so intense and the wind so strong
that it was impossible to go aloft and finally when the
galvanized iron covering had to be put on it was neces-
sary to put on the sides first and the roof afterwards,
otherwise it would have certainly been carried away
by the wind. Fortunately the entire buildings were
successfully covered in previous to the beginning of
the winter snows. The buildings were built on terraces
on a side hill in the usual manner, which exposed them
to the terrific winds which came up the valley. For
this reason, combined with necessity of providing
against damage from earthquake, a thorough system
of bracing had to be executed, providing against such
emergencies. The erection of machinery under cover
was a simple matter in comparison.
Fuel
The fuel used in that region is yareta (AzoriUa madre-
porica or AzoriUa ijlcbaria) a sort of moss containing
much resin which when dry burns rapidly with good
heat and leaves an abundant white ash. Compared
with steam coal, 2.7 tons of yareta is equal in calorific
power to 1 ton of coal. It is found within a zone be-
tween 12,000 and 15,000 ft. altitudes and is supplied
by contract by Bolivian Indians who bring it to the
mines on llamas. Each of these animals is supposed to
carry a load of 80 lb. They are useful and interesting
beasts and it is said that no one except a Bolivian In-
dian can manage them. Presumably this is so. judging
from the manner in which they stampede when alarmed.
All supplies and material of whatever description at
Collahuasi have to be brought up from the coast, the
surrounding country being bare and absolutely barren
desert, not a single tree or shrub visible. A few tufts
of puna grass are sparsely scattered over the ground: in
the valleys grass is a little more abundant and furnishes
food for the llamas for a short time. The wild animals
are few. A few troops of vicunas roam the lower large
valleys. A fox is occasionally seen, the South Ameri-
can ostriches {rhea) rim in small batches, chinchillas
and vizeachas arc common. The latter is a small rodent
related to the chinchilla, with a head that looks like a
cat's, but a rat-like tail. A small rat and a species of
partridges are the only other animals to be seen. A
curious fact, illustrating that work at high altitudes
has advantages ;is well as disadvantages, is that there
are no vermin to be found outside of stable. There are
no flics, fleas, bugs, or mosquitoes at any time of the
year.
The two headings of the Mount Royal tunnel at
Montreal, met on December 10. It took 15 months and
4 days to drive the 8 by 12 and 10 by 12-ft. headings a
distance of V\ miles through a great variety of rock.
Overburden stripped at the Nevada Consolidated
copper mine, during the last quarter of 1913, totaled
982. 689 cubic yards. The cost was $308,519, or 31.4c.
per yard.
(386
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25. 1914
Third Beach Line at Nome, Alaska
By Arthur Gibson
The auriferous gravel deposit or pay-streak, known
as the 'Third Beach Line', running on a true course
of X. 63° 39' W., with a magnetic variation ranging
from 18 to 20° E.. situated about three miles north
of Nome on Seward Peninsula, Alaska, and extending
for a distance of 5.1 miles, is no doubt one of the
greatest freaks of nature discovered in the present age.
The original discovery of the beach line was made
by Sam Samson, now residing at Stevenson, Washing-
ton, who started to sink a shaft on the Cyrus Noble
placer claim (shown on the map opposite, directly east
of Xo. 4 above Discovery on Bourbon creek) in Xo-
vember 1001. Being a poor man and without the
pay-streak, which was 60 ft. wide, December 24, 1905.
The news of Mr. Samson's discovery did not become
public until in January 1906, after which all avail-
able thawing plants were placed in commission and
the pay-streak of the Third Beach Line was definitely
traced and located for its entire length of five miles,
before the opening of navigation in Bering Sea, five
months later.
The present surface of the ground shows no indi-
cations of water action. It is uneven and the depth
from the surface to the pay-streak varies from 20 to
124 ft. The surface ground consists principally of
glacial silt or 'muck.' averaging six to ten feet in depth.
dO /o Zoo/A i
Vppe-r .
I Gracfe 2f/:
X*X$8&S®W&&&&1
PROFILE OF THE BEDROCK ALONG THE PAY STBEAK.
necessary funds to procure a steam thawing plant
and fuel, he had to adopt the extremely slow process
of thawing the perpetually frozen ground by burning
willows in the bottom of the shaft, reaching bedrock
at a depth of 95 ft. in May 1902, after six months of
hard work. The gold discovered in this shaft was
very fine flour gold in a layer of ruby and black sand
about one and one-half inches thick, eight feet above
bedrock. Being without funds and unable to interest
anyone of means, Mr. Samson had temporarily to
abandon this work about August 1, 1902.
■). C. Brown commenced prospecting his placer
claim. Xo. 1 below Discovery, on Little creek (at the
extreme westerly end of the Third Beach Line and
about 1^4 miles west of the Cyrus Noble claim) in
August 1904. and on September 19, 1904, he discovered
a very rich pay-streak in the northeasterly portion of
his claim, which upon investigation proved to be a
beach formation.
During the spring of 1905 the same rich pay-streak
in similar formation was traced and discovered by
laymen on the adjoining claim toward the east, known
as the 'Portland Bench.'
Mr. Samson by this time succeeded in raising the
necessary funds to secure a steam thawing plant and
fuel to thaw out his old shaft, which had filled with
surface water and frozen solid. He commenced this
work Xovember 1, 1905, and after searching bedrock
he drifted northerly 22 ft., where he tapped the pay-
streak of the Third Beach Line on December 6. 1905.
lie continued driving northward and cross-cut the
Although in a few instances the gravel comes to the
surface, the ground between the glacial deposit and
the pay-streak was as a general rule composed of
gravel and sand: in a few places intersected with
streaks of clay and quicksand.
The Pay-Streak
The heavy line on the map indicates the pay-streak
of the Third Beach Line : where the same line is
fulldrawn the pay-streak was found intact, that is,
had never been disturbed and showed distinctly the
original stratification of the ancient beach dipping
toward the sea. Here the overlying ground was al-
ways found frozen all the way from the surface to
the bedrock, independent of depth. Where the heavy
line is dotted, the original pay-streak had been washed
out of place by the action of water channels. In
such places gold was scattered over a large area in
layers on bedrock too thin to be recovered at a profit.
In addition, the overlying ground was in these eases
thawed and water-logged, requiring heavy timbers
to prevent caving and large pumps to keep the work-
ings dry, thereby increasing the operating expenses
beyond profitable limits. Only one exception to this
rule occurs, that is. so far as the thawed ground
is concerned: on the Four Corner placer claim, where
the old water-channel has ceased running and the
ground from the surface to bedrock has frozen after
washing out and scattering the pay-streak.
The figure above shows a profile of the bedrock along
the pay-streak of the Third Beach Line, which iudi-
April 25, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
687
688
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25. 1914
cates terraces worn down by the action of the waves.
The main pa\--streak is shown at A and B; A shows
the heaviest concentration containing the most gold ;
B the leaner part; and C and D indicate the 'slough-
over' or finer gold carried down by the concentrating
action of the waves. The drop-offs on the terraces
were about 4 ft. high, and the flats, ranging from
80 to 200 ft. in width, had a grade of about 2 ft, in
the entire width.
Bedrock at the lower rim of the main pay-streak,
as indicated on the above sketch, was always 78.6 ft.
above the present mean sea-level in Bering Sea, in-
dependent of what material the bedrock consisted,
whether true rock formation or clay, the latter known
as false bedrock. True bedrock consisted mostly of
schist, intersected with quartz stringers, rarely con-
taining any gold ; limestone and black slate occurred
in a few places. False bedrock consisted of clay or
clay and sand mixed.
The material making up the main pay-streak was
principally composed of well washed and rounded
quartz pebbles in size from sand to pebbles of 2 to
3 in. diameter. The mineral concentrations contained
besides gold a great deal of black sand and pyrite
and various other minerals in smaller quantities.
With very few exceptions all gold extracted had to
be. amalgamated, in order to save the fine gold and
more readily separate it from the heavy iron sand.
Peculiarities of the Pay-Streak
The peculiarities of this pay-streak were: (1) its
general course was a perfectly straight line from one
end to the other, although its width ranged from
25 to 60 or 70 ft., and in one or two instances as
much as 200 ft. ; (2) its lower rim elevation above
present mean sea-level in Bering Sea was always 78.6
ft. along its entire length ; and (3) wherever the an-
cient beach was found intact and in place it was never
found lacking in gold, and the overlying ground was al-
ways frozen independent of depth. The question of
how 100 ft. or more of gravel could be deposited
on top of this ancient beach without disturbing its
original stratification in the least, will ever remain a
mystery.
The greatest thickness of the main pay-streak av-
eraged from 18 in. to 2 ft. In one or two cases it
was as much as 6 ft., but only for a short distance.
The 'slough-over' pay-streak, indicated by shaded
areas on the map, seldom exceeded 14 inches in depth
and contained only gravel of low grade.
The main pay-streak contained exceedingly rich
gravel in certain parts. Pans yielding as high as
$500 were not uncommon on a few claims. On one
particular claim the pay-streak averaged 35 ft. in
width and 18 inches in depth, of which 110 lineal feet
produced over $360,000: or more than $3000 per lin-
eal foot : approximately $1500 per cubic yard. The
total production of the entire pay-streak of the Third
Beach Line including the 'slough-over.' based on avail-
able data, is a little over $10,000,000; or an average
of $400 per lineal foot of the entire pay-streak, ap-
proximately $500 per lineal foot of the pay-streak in
place and actually mined.
With very few exceptions, all gold produced by
claims on the Third Beach Line was very fine, par-
ticularly in the extreme eastern portion around Otter
and .McDonald creeks, where it was flour gold that
could only be saved by amalgamation. The fineness
averaged 900 in the western portion, 888 in the cen-
tral portion, and 906 in the eastern portion of the
pay-streak.
Millwork at the Brunswick Consolidated
Mine
During 1913 the 20-stamp mill of this property at
Grass Valley, California, crushed 15,334 tons of ore,
\vith the following details:
Duty per stamp per 24 hours, tons 2.364
Quicksilver fed to batteries, ounces 11,713
Amalgam recovered, ounces 28,204
Bullion produced, ounces 11,461
Concentrate produced, tons 269
Pyrite in ore, per cent 1.75
Average value per ton $56.00
Cost of freight and treatment of concentrate, per ton of
concentrate 15.97
Cost per ton of ore milled 0.28
Cost of crushing and concentrating ore, per ton 0.79
Bullion charges, per ton 0.044
Total mill costs 1.071
Value of ore before milling, per ton 13.92
Recovery by amalgamation and concentration 13.58
Recovery, per cent 97.60
The ore is crushed through a No. 0 punched tin screen
equal to about 45-mesh wire screen, which accounts for
the low duty per stamp but excellent recovery of gold.
Water Consumption at Kalgoorlie Mines
During October 1913, 11 mines, comprising the Kal-
goorlie & Boulder Mines Water Trust, purchased
35,655.000 gal. of water from the Western Australian
Government at $1.68 per 1000 gal., as follows:
Ore treated, Water used,
tons. Process. gallons.
Associated 11,368 Dry 3,139,000
Associated Northern 1,216 Dry 1,293,000
Chaffers mining only .... 214,000
Golden Horse-Shoe 29,716 Wet 5,327,000
Great Boulder Perseverance. . .20,012 Dry 2,246.000
Great Boulder Proprietary 18,006 Dry 5,742,000
Ivanhoe 20,712 Wet 3,650,000
Kalgurli 10,875 Dry 2,772,000
Lake View & Star 18,982 Wet 5,391.000
Oroya Links 12,360 Wet 3,494.000
South Kalgurli 9.7S0 Dry 2,3S7,000
All of these mines are equipped with high-class steam
boilers, engines, and water-saving appliances.
Fire damaged the power-plant of the Mt. Morgan
mine, Queensland, during December, necessitating a
shut-down for several davs.
April
1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
6*9
Application of Three-Phase Motors to Winding Engines and Hoists
By C. Antony Abt.ett and II. M. Lyons
*A three-phase motor cannot be built for a very
low speed without its power factor being bad. which
tends to upset the regulation of the supply system.
and for this reason where three-phase motors are driv-
ing winding engines they nearly always run at higher
speeds than the drums, and are geared to them. In
the Ward Leonard or Ilgner system, however, where
a direct-current motor is used, this is almost invari-
ably direct coupled to the drum.
The speed of a three-phase motor is controlled by
varying the resistance in the rotor circuit so that
all three-phase winding engine motors are naturally
slip-ring motors, while the direction of rotation is
reversed by interchanging two 'of the connections to
the stator, so that a reversing switch must be pro-
vided for this purpose. The main control lever for
a small three-phase winder does not move backward
and forward in a quadrant with a straight-line motion.
but the quadrant has two parallel slots connected by
a cross-slot. When the main control lever is moved
along the cross-slot it operates the oil switch and re-
verses the motor. When it is moved along one of
the parallel slots it speeds up the winding engine in
one direction, when it is moved along the other slot
the winding engine speeds up in the other direction.
With larger winders the reversing switch is operated
.electrically, and the control lever moves backward and
forward in a straight slot in a quadrant. The wind-
ing engine is at rest when the lever is in the middle
position and as the lever passes through the middle
position it makes an electrical contact which actuates
the reversing switch.
The Three-Phase Induction Motor.
In order to explain the differences between the con-
trol of a three-phase winder and that of a Ward Leon-
ard winder, it is necessary to refer briefly to the be-
havior of a three-phase induction motor when resist-
ances are connected in the rotor circuit. When the
stator of a three-phase motor is connected to the
power circuit, and the rotor revolves, a voltage is pro-
duced in the rotor proportional to the difference be-
tween the synchronous speed and that at which the
rotor is rotating, and this voltage causes a current
to flow in the rotor which produces the turning mo-
ment. If a resistance is connected in the rotor cir-
cuit, there will be a certain drop in pressure across
it proportional to the current in the rotor and to the
value of the resistance and, consequently, the rotor
must fall in speed to provide sufficient voltage to over-
come this drop in pressure, so that the current and
•From a paper on 'Electrical Driving of Winding Engines
and Rolling Mills' read before the Canadian Society of Civil
Engineers and the Canadian Mining Institute.
turning moment which the motor is giving is main-
tained. If the amount of resistance is increased the
motor will naturally drop more in speed. If the motor
is required to give a less turning moment, requiring
a reduced current in the rotor, the drop in pressure
across the resistance becomes less and the motor will
speed up until the balance between the rotor voltage
and the drop in pressure is restored, until finally at
light load the speed of the motor will approximate to
the synchronous speed. Thus, if the proper resistances
in the rotor circuit of a three-phase induction motor
are connected to reduce the speed by a given amount
for a definite turning moment, the speed of the motor
will increase if the turning moment which it has to give
decreases, and it will decrease if the turning moment
increases.
Control of Speed
It will thus be seen that while with a Ward Leon-
ard or Ilgner winder, the winder runs at a definite
speed for each position of the control lever, and the
speed of the winder is independent of the load in
the cages, with a three-phase winder the speed docs
not solely depend on the position of the control lever,
but also depends on the turning moment which the
motor has to give, so that for a definite position of
the control lever the speed may vary according to the
position of the cages in the shaft and according to
the load that is being hoisted, for as the loaded cage
is being hoisted, its weight becomes more and more
balanced by the weight of the rope attached to the
empty cage.
With the three-phase winder, therefore, the manip-
ulation of the levers would be different as different
loads are being hoisted, and it is therefore impossible
to employ cams on the depth indicator to limit the
acceleration and to bring the loaded cage to a slow
speed by the time it reaches the bank. In the three-
phase winder, therefore, is a return to the case of
a steam-engine where the wind is entirely in the hands
of the driver and reliance must be placed in his skill
for the safe handling of the plant.
Where the speed of a three-phase induction motor
is controlled by placing resistances in the rotor cir-
cuit, and the motor is giving a definite turning mo-
ment, the same amount of power will be taken from
the supply system whatever the speed of the motor
may be. The turning moment multiplied by the speed
gives tin1 amount of power which the motor uses and
the remainder of the power is wasted in the resist-
ances. Thus the three-phase motor involves great waste
of power.
Fig. 1 is a power diagram for a three-phase winder
with a cylindrical drum winding at the rate of 270
tons per hour from a shaft 1600 ft. deep, the maximum
690
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April
1914
speed being- 40 ft. per second. The shaded portions
of this diagram represent the power which is wasted
in the resistances of the starter in starting and stop-
ping the motor, and in this particular case the useful
Z 7C ".s.^s/^s/- Srb
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A !»/ latra1 9000 £ 6.
l/tot Cape S- Car Z2000 16
So.-\
Cos>/ca/ O.-cm 9'-0"/-o W-0'-£>/&.
Zooe.
.sn.a
'fy^f&s-'
Fig. 1.
work done by the winder is 524 hp. minutes per wind.
The amount of energy wasted in the starter is 325
lip. minutes per wind. Taking into account the effi-
ciency of the three-phase motor, the energy taken by
the winder from the supply system is 910 hp. minutes
per wind. The average efficiency of the electrical plant,
therefore, is only 57.5%. Fig. 1 shows how large the
power losses are in starting and stopping a three-phase
winder. 11 also illustrates a case that is much more
suitable for a Ward Leonard or Ilgner winder than
a three-phase winder, and as the loss in starting and
stopping a three-phase winder is very great, it will
be seen that it is most advantageous to employ a three-
phase winder where the starting and stopping is in-
frequent, and where there is a long run at full speed,
when the throe-phase winder is economical, or where
there is a considerable interval between winds. These
are practically the conditions of a long slope haulage.
ruder such conditions a three-phase winder can eas-
ily prove more economical in power than the Ilgner
or the Ward Leonard winder, because, with the latter.
the motor generator set would have to be kept run-
ning continuously and this 'involves an unceasing
though small expenditure of- 'power, so that the en-
eryrv taken to-run the motor generator scl can easily
be more than the energy wasted in starting and stop-
ping the three-phase winder.
Advantages of Three-Phase Winder
The three-phase winder is advantageous:
(1) Where the capital cost of the plant is a prime
consideration, as the total cost of the three-
phase winder is from 20 to 35% lower than
that of a Ward Leonard winder.
(2) Where the starting and stopping is infrequent
and long runs at full speed are required, as
is particularly the ease with slope haulage.
(3) Where the winder is working intermittently,
when, if a Ward Leonard set were installed
it would have to run for long periods with-
out doing any work.
The three-phase winder is disadvantageous:
(1) For vertical slpifts. as it cannot be fitted with
the safety appliances used with the Ward
Leonard winder.
(2) Where the winds are short and the winding
speed is high; that is. large outputs.
(3) Where the power station from which the wind-
er is supplied is' relatively small, because in
the case of a three-phase winder the load
comes on instantaneously, and not gradually
as with the Ward Leonard winder, so that
the three-phase winder would disturb the reg-
ulation of the electrical supply system.
(4) Where there is a long transmission line between
the power station and the winder, and the
fluctuations in demand of a three-phase wind-
er would cause considerable variation in volt-
age. This would not only have a bad effect
on other plant supplied in the same circuit.
but would have an adverse effect on the
three-phase winder itself, because the turning
moment which a three-phase motor can exerl
is proportional to the square of the voltage, so
that a small drop in voltage could greatly
reduce the turning moment which a three-
phase motor could give, and in bad cases it
might even be found difficult or impossible
to start the winder until the regulation of
the system was restored.
There are three methods by which the load can be
lowered with a three-phase winder: (1) by control-
ling the speed with the mechanical brakes: (2) by low-
ering at such a speed that the motor is run above
its synchronous speed and so acts as a generator and
returns power to the supply system: (3) by reversing
the connections to the motor so that it is giving its
turning moment in the reverse direction to the rota-
tion, and Controlling the speed by the use of the or-
dinary control lever with reverse current.
The first of these methods is objectionable, as it 1
produces a large amount of wear and tear on the
brakes, and it is difficult to design the brake paths
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
691
so that the heat generated is dissipated and burning
of the brake blocks is prevented.
The second method is economical in power, but it
is difficult to control because the electrical braking
action does not take effect until the speed of the
motor has exceeded synchronous speed. The motor
must first be switched on in the lowering direction
when the motor power is increasing the acceleration
due to gravity, and in some cases to prevent this ac-
celeration being too great the speed has to be checked
with the mechanical brake. As soon as the motor
exceeds synchronous speed the electrical brake will
take effect and the speed of the motor will increase
until it is four or five per cent above synchronous
speed, which is higher, of course, than the ordinary
hoisting speed, and the motor will remain practically
steady at this speed and act as an induction generator,
returning power to the line. It is not possible to
use this generating effect to bring the cage to rest,
but the lever may be brought back past the mid-
position so that the cage is brought to rest by giving
the motor the reverse current, but while the lever
is being moved over there is no electrical braking
effect whatever, and to prevent the cage increasing
in speed it has to lie checked with the mechanical
brake. It will thus be seen that this method of con-
trol is distinctly difficult and should only be used in
the case of long winds, such as slope haulage, where
there is plenty of time to execute these maneuvres.
The third method by which the connections of the
motor are reversed, so that it is exerting its torque
against the rotation, is extremely wasteful, because
the motor takes power from the line in proportion to
the turning moment which it is exerting, as well as
the power which is given out by the winder, corre-
sponding to the work done by the loads in descending.
As an example of this, attention may be called to
the lowering diagram, with reverse current, shown
in the figure. The amount of energy given up by
the lowering of the load is 20,900 hp. seconds. The
amount of energy taken by the motor from the sup-
ply is 42.900 hp. seconds. Therefore, in order to
exert the braking effect on the winder, and to ab-
sorb the power given up in lowering the load, which
amounts to 2<>.!I00 hp. seconds, the starter has to dis-
sipate 63,800 hp. seconds. It will easily be seen,
therefore, that when a load is lowered in this manner
the amount of energy which the starter lias to dissi-
pate is very large, and in order to enable lowering
to be carried out in this way it would, in many cases,
be necessary to employ a much larger starter than
is required for controlling the winding engine when
hoisting. This method of lowering is the easiest to
control, and for this reason, although it is very waste-
ful, it is generally adopted for large three-phase wind-
ers.
Starter and Controlling Resistances
From what has Keen stated above ii will be seen
that for the control of large three-phase winding en-
gines, resistances have to be provided which will dissi-
pate a considerable amount of power. In the case
illustrated in Fig. 2. 325 hp. will have to be dissipated
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Oe/zrb or" ^/>&r~f /600S-Y. /7 7S~
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7 //-*-><;
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Fig.
continuously, and means have to lie adopted for absorb-
ing this power in the controlling resistance and carry-
ing away the resultant heat developed, while, at the
same time, the controlling resistance is of a form
which can he easily operated by the driver.
A very usual type of controlling resistance is a
liquid resistance and consists of two tanks arranged
vertically one above the other, in the upper tank of
which are fixed the electrodes which are connected
to the sliprings of the three-phase motor. When the
winder is at a standstill the liquid is practically all
contained in the lower tank, but is being continuously
pumped into the upper tank by means of a small
motor-driven pump, from which it flows back into the
lower tank over a movable weir. In starting the winder
the switch in the stator circuit is first closed by the
control lever, and then, as the control lever is moved
over, this weir is gradually raised, thereby raising the
level of the liquid round the electrodes in the upper
tank and reducing the resistance in the rotor circuit.
This enables a very large controlling resistance to be
operated easily by the driver without the complication
of electrical auxiliary gear, etc. The liquid in the lower
tank is cooled by means of water circulating through
a coil of pipes, which forms a ready way of carrying
awav the heat generated in this tank.
692
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
Emergency Gear
• A three-phase winding engine is provided with a
mechanical brake, which is brought into action by
means of a weight attached to a lever, but the brake is
normally held away from the brake drum by air pres-
sure. If this air pressure fails, then the weight brings
the brake on to the brake drum and stops the winder.
As the speed of a three-phase winder for a given posi-
tion of the control lever depends on the load which is
being hoisted, it is not possible to provide cams on the
depth indicator in order to slow down the cage before
it reaches the bank. The proper slowing down of the
cage depends on the skill of the driver, but an over-
wind device is fitted both in the shaft and on the depth
indicator, and- in case the cage over-runs the bank
it cuts off the power from the motor and applies the
brake by means of the emergency gear. An emer-
gency lever is provided on the driver's platform by
which he can cut off the power and apply the brake,
stopping the winder immediately in case of necessity.
In case the power supply fails the brake is at once ap-
plied through the emergency gear.
With the three-phase winder the speed for hoisting
men cannot be limited automatically, as in the case of
a Ward Leonard winder, and the speed depends en-
tirely on the skill of the driver.
For shaft and rope inspection the slow speed is ob-
tained by leaving a very large amount of resistance
in the rotor circuit of the motor, but as the speed at
which the winder runs for a given position of the con-
trol lever depends on the turning moment which is
being exerted, and as the turning moment varies con-
tinually from the commencement of the wind, owing
to the adjustment of balance produced as one rope is
wound on and the other rope is wound off. the speed
can only be maintained constant by the driver con-
tinually adjusting the position of the control lever and
the winder cannot, as in the case of the Ward Leonard
system, be left alone to maintain the speed at which it
has once been set. These slow speeds are the cause of
considerable waste of power in the controlling re-
sistances and may require that additional large eon-
trolling resistances should be installed in order that
slow speed runs may be made, which if frequently
made will materially reduce the overall economy of
the three-phase winder.
Three-Phase Commutator Motors
The three-phase commutator motor has somewhat
similar characteristics to those of a direct current
series motor, that is, it develops a large turning
moment at the moment of starting, and as the load
decreases the speed rises until at no load the motor
will attain a dangerous speed unless it is properly eon-
trolled. The motor has a large overload capacity and
does not stop even under very heavy overloads but
only slows down. The speed of a three-phase com-
mutator motor can be closely regulated, within wide
limits, by shifting the brushes on the commutator, and
the efficiency and the power factor are high through-
out the whole range of speed regulation. A mechani-
cal device can be fitted to the motor which by shifting
the brushes prevents the speed rising above a deter-
mined value, however small the load may be.
A powerful and easily regulated braking effect can
be obtained electrically by moving the brushes back
through the neutral position, and when braking in
this manner, especially when lowering loads, the motor
acts as a generator and will return about 70% of the
mechanical energy to the line as electrical energy.
The direction of the rotation of the motor can be re-
versed by moving the brushes to the other side of the
neutral position, but it is desirable at the same time to
reverse the sta'tor current in order to prevent spark-
ing at the commutator. The stator can be constructed
for any reasonable line voltage, but as the commutator
can only be made for comparatively low voltages, it
is usually necessary to install a transformer between
the stator and the commutator. There are construc-
tional reasons which make it difficult to build very slow
speed three-phase commutator motors, so that such a
commutator motor is usually geared to the winding
mechanism.
Arrangement of Winder and Motor
The arrangement of a winder with a three-phase
commutator motor is very simple. The winder is con-
trolled by a single lever which shifts the brushes on
the commutator and operates the change-over switch.
The commutator motor shares with the three-phase in-
duction motor the disadvantage that for a definite
position of the control lever its speed depends on the
load in the cage, consequently, the safety devices em-
ployed with such a motor are very similar to those
used with a three-phase induction motor, and pro-
tection is afforded by the release of the emergency
brake and the interruption of the supply circuit in case
the motor or winder is overloaded, or in any other
contingency. The three-phase commutator motor
possesses the great advantage over the induction motor
that its power factor at full load is about unity and
the power factor maintains its high value practically
for the whole range of speed regulation, so that the
conditions for the electrical supply circuit are very
favorable.
The actual full load efficiency of the three-phase
commutator motor is about 5% less than that of the
corresponding induction motor, but the commutator
motor can be started and its speed can be regulated
without loss of power, and during braking periods or
periods of lowering a load, 70% of the mechanical
energy can be returned to the supply system as
electrical energy, so that the total efficiency of a winder
driven by a three-phase commutator motor can be bet-
ter than that of a corresponding winder driven by a
three-phase induction motor.
As a winder driven by a three-phase commutator
motor can be started without loss of power, the power
taken by such a motor rises gradually from the
April 25. 1914 MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 693
moment of starting to the end of the acceleration per- Natural Resources Survey of New Mexico
jod, so that there is sufficient time to enable the gen-
erators in the power house to follow the load fluctua- The Natural Resources Survey of the state of New
tions. Such winders, therefore, can conveniently be Mexico dates from 1900. and while no funds have
supplied with current from comparatively small been appropriated at the last two legislative sessions,
power stations provided that the generating sets are the geological division is still active and doing valu-
fitted with modern voltage regulators. able work.
The capital cost of a winder provided with a three- The act for the establishment of a conservation
phase commutator motor is higher than that of a commission and a natural resources survey provides
winder provided with a three-phase induction motor. tnat three persons, no two from the same judicial dis-
The following are some particulars of the largest trict shan be appointed by the Governor for terms
winders fitted with a three-phase commutator motor ()f one two and three yearS; and that reappointees
which have come to the authors' knowledge: shall hold for three years each. The Governor and
Depth of wind 1.650 ft. the director of the survey, who is the state geologist,
Weight of load 7,000 ft. are also members of the conservation commission. The
Maximum winding speed 1.575 ft. per minute chief duties of the commission are to make an inven-
Output 94 tons per hour tory of the state's resources and provide for their con-
This winding engine is driven by two 310-hp. three- serration through conferences with the federal corn-
phase commutator motors, having a synchronous mission and remedial legislation.
speed of 300 revolutions and a maximum speed of 370 The specific objects of the survey are: (1) the study
revolutions. This winding engine is supplied from of the structural and economic geology, with special
a three-phase, 25-cycle. 500-volt circuit. The authors reference to the value and accessibility of the various
have no data available regarding the power consump- products for mining and manufacturing purposes. (2)
Hon of this winding engine. A smaller winding engine The physical and chemical analyses of soils. (3) The
driven by a three-phase commutator motor gives an collection of elimatological data. (4) The establish-
Mverage power consumption of 1.4 kilowatt hours per ment of topographical control with complete survey
shaft horse-power, which compares very favorably witli of irrigation areas. (5) The study of surface and
other electrical systems of winding. ground water resources. (6) The collection of bio-
logical data, (i) The making of such other researches
The Zinc Corporation, operating a mine, mill, and a ;1s t,u' hoard may direct, (8) The dissemination of
flotation plant at Broken Hill. New South Wales, will this information by publication, correspondence, and
double the capacity of its lead mill at a cost of $248,000. addresses. (9) The cooperation with the U. S. Gco-
It is intended to construct the plant so that it will be lo£ieal Survey, Department of Agriculture, Forestry
possible to change the process from the treatment of Service, and other federal bureaus wherever benefit
had ore to the treatment of zinc ore. or vice versa. may accrue to the state. The head of the geological
At present, the Lyster process, a i lification of the department of the state university holds the position
flotation process, is treating 100 tons of slime per day of state geologist and is director of the resources
hitherto thrown away, slime from the treatment of the survey and chief of the division of geology. The
lea.' ore as it comes from the mill, high grade and divisions of agriculture and mining engineering are
mixed with lead concentrate. The Corporation is now controlled by the respective colleges in the state, while
securing nearly 907, of the original lead content of tne division of water resources and irrigation is in
the ore in the form of a high-grade lead concentrate, charge of the state engineer. The director and chiefs
~i'/< of the recovery being due to the Lyster process. tf divisions constitute the staff of the survey,
which costs 96c. per ton of material treated. The Hor- Expeditions were made and a brief report printed
wood process is being applied to a certain by-product ,)llt of tm' original fund of $1500 which was appropri-
from the zinc concentrator, the said product being in Htec' for the expenses of the commission for the years
effect a mixed zinc-lead concentrate. This residue is (,f 190!) and 1910, but the limited issue is now ex-
subjected to a slight roast, and upon being treated by llat'sted. No other report has since been made, but
flotation it yields, on the one hand, a fine zinc concen- ,he Governor has renewed the personnel of the com-
trate. and on the other a good lead concentrate. The lnixsion. who are serving without remuneration.
application of the llorwood process, in respect of the The statc geological survey is cooperating with the
Zinc Corporation's visible supplies of ore and concen- U- S- Geological Survey in the collection of non-metallic
trate. represents very nearly one whole year's pro- mineral statistics ot the state. It is also occupied
duction of zinc concentrate; the lead is not quite so from tin"' to time '" the classification and valuation
much. °' mineral land for county taxes, and in the inspec-
tion of deposits on 4,'rant lands and elsewhere when
Lessees at the Standard mine. Bodie. California, cov- the results are more or less of a public benefit. Ex-
ered 282 ft. of development last year, producing 229 penses in these instances are paid by those desiring
tons of ore. pnyinc « royalty of $16.55 per ton. the services.
694
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
Razing the Steptoe Valley Stack
By D. Boyd-Smith, Jr.
with an inside diameter of 18 ft., the thickness of
the walls varying from 13 in. at the top to 50 in. at
the bottom as is shown in Table I.
Table I
From base up 40 ft. 30 to 50 in. due to octagonal shape.
Next 10 ft 27 in. Next 10 ft 19 in.
'• 10 ft 25 in " 40 ft 17 in.
" 10 ft 23 in. " 00 ft 15 in.
" 10 ft £1 in. " GO ft 13 in.
At the time of its destruction the stack had been
eaten away until it was only 190 ft. high with a
thickness of approximately 10 in. at the top, and it
is quite logical to expect that the same amount of
decrepitation had taken place on the inside through-
out its entire height. On the south side of the stack
and 20 ft. above the concrete foundation, there was
an opening 10 ft. wide and 15 ft. high, from the top
of which started a series of cracks ranging from 10
to 50 ft. in length and extending to the top. The
north and east sides were in approximately the same
condition. The west side, however, showed a consid-
TIIE STACK (ON THE RIGHT) BEFORE RAZING.
For the past two years the stack for the roaster
building of the McGill plant has been in very bad
condition due to the action of the acid in the smoke.
This action has continued slowly but none the less
surely for some time past, and through its eatins
effect on the brick had caused parts of the stack to
fall; in some eases brick fell inside and either stopped
the draft entirely or so impaired it that other arrange-
ments had to be made to take care of the smoke until
the debris could be removed. Finally the conditions
reached that point where it was deemed advisable to
build a new stack. This work was started and com-
pleted under the direction of S. S. Sorensen, the chief
engineer, and under the direct supervision of Alma
Ek as engineer in charge. On the completion of the
new stack it was decided to destroy the old one. and
this work was given to J. D. Watson, civil engineer
for the company, under whose supervision the plans
were laid and successfully carried out as herein de-
scribed. The stack was originally 250 ft. in height
TELESCOPING EFFECT PRODUCED BY THE EXPLOSION.
April 25, 1J1U
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
695
COLLAPSE AND REMAINS OF STACK AFTER DYNAMITING.
eralily worse condition than any of the other three.
On this side small cracks, such as were on the other
sides, started at the base and extended upward to
within 50 ft. of the top where the largest crack in
the stack began. This crack gradually widened until
at the top there was an opening from 3 to 3lA ft.
wide. Due mainly to this crack on the west side there
was a very pronounced swelling in the last 40 or 50
ft. when viewed from the north to south, hut not so
noticeable from the east and west.
The stack at the time of its destruction was esti-
mated to weigh approximately ^.016.000 lb., and from
this weight the following method of dynamiting was
decided on by Mr. Watson as that best suited to the
conditions. Eleven holes were drilled T1^ ft. above
the concrete foundation, as is shown in the sketch, and
of the sizes shown in Table TI.
Tahi.k II
Hole Width, Height. Length.
No. in. in. in.
1 11 9 23>/2
2 13 9 24
3 12 8'-l> 24
4 12 8Vj 24
r> 24 fii:, 24
fi 14 9'{. . 25
7 . . : 91:. 9'o 22'_.
8 9' j 9V; 23
9 12 9Vi! 23
10 12 7 22
11 12 6% 23%
It was decided thai approximately 200 lb. of Her-
cules E.L.F. 40r; would be sufficient to do the work,
and how well calculated the amount was is graph-
ically shown by the photographs. The holes were
loaded in the following manner. Each hole was first
loaded with its apportioned share of powder, in the
middle of which was a stick containing an electric
detonator with a 35-ft. lead, The detonator was in-
serted about 3 in. into its stick of powder. After
each hole had been loaded in the manner above stated,
great care being taken to see that the powder was in
a most compact mass, a black plastic converter mud
was used to wad the holes. ' This was tamped thor-
oughly around the powder and out to the surface of
the stack, making a very solid charge. The amounts
of powder placed in each hole, together with the total,
are shown in Table III.
Hole No.
Table III
Powder, II). Hole No.
Powder, lb.
14. n
16.3
13.3
1 3.8
26.2
34.5
S
9
II)
11
!S.D
12.9
23.7
13.8
13.1
Total 190.1
PLAN 111 STACK SHOWING ARRANGEMENT OK llor.ES I OR FIRING.
The electrical connections for firing the blast were
made by R. E. Middagh, chief electrician for the com-
pany, and were as follows: The eleven holes were
connected in series and then to a line running approx-
imately 500 ft. to a switch connected to the 110-volt
lighting circuit. This switch was equipped with plug
696
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
fuses, which were not put in until the last minute in
order that under no condition would there be an ac-
cident due to premature explosion.
When everything was ready, on March 1, the word
was given and the switch was thrown, setting off one
of the most successful shots of its kind ever fired.
The way in which the stack fell is well worth men-
tioning. From pictures taken at the time, some of
which accompany this article, it seems that the shot
blew out the entire base above the concrete foundation
and up about 30 ft. The stack then fell straight down
until its lower edge hit the foundation, at which time
it seems to have telescoped on itself, making one of
the most spectacular and successful falls on record.
It is well to record here that in spite of the apparent
bad condition of the stack in general, and the top
in particular, that practically no cracks appeared until
it had started to telescope : neither was much of the
top loosened, although some little of the latter did
fall. The entire stack fell in a pile about 50 ft. in
diameter, with the exception of a few bricks which
.scattered to a distance of about 80 ft., due chiefly to
the force of the explosion.
The new stack situated 145 ft. west by south and
the two oil reservoirs situated 100 ft. north by east
were not damaged. Two bricks fell through the roof
of these reservoirs and constituted the entire damage
done by the shot except for the destruction of some
light wires which were in the danger zone and were
not attempted to be saved.
Mining in the Choco District, Colombia
The gold-mining district extends from the junction
of the Negua and Atrato rivers south to the mouth of
the San Juan. Almost all the deposits are alluvial.
There is only one large company at work in the field,
formed with British capital, which is extensively samp-
ling with drills and tunnels on the Condoto river, an
affluent of the San Juan.
Most of the gold and platinum exported is obtained
by native women, working two or three hours per day.
They use the antiquated ground-sluicing process as a
preliminary to get rid of the coarser gravels and then
with their bateau separate the metals from the sand
and gravel. The balm is a wooden pan, shaped like a
very shallow inverted cone 18 in. diameter and '.\ in.
deep at the centre, with two small handles or knobs
on the rim. The women handle the bateau with greal
dexterity, throwing off the gravel and sand by a rotary
motion and leaving the gold and platinum dust in the
common centre. Another method of mining that is ex-
tensively employed by these women is diving into 3 or
4 ft. of water for the sand and gravel containing the
metals and bringing it up in the bateas. This method
is usually more remunerative than the sluicing process.
The gold workings have existed for centuries, but
little has been done in the development of the district.
The river gravels were being washed by the Indians
long before the advent of the Spaniards, and this region
furnished much of the gold that was carried back to
Spain. In those days the value of platinum was un-
known, and when the Indians brought the metal down
to the Spanish headquarters in Quibdo the platinum
was thrown away. Large finds of this discarded metal
have been made recently in Quibdo. and frequently the
earth excavated for foundations has yielded sufficient
platinum to pay for putting up the building. The
natives were beginning to pan even the streets, thus
uncovering large amounts of mud, which was injurious
to health. A decree was therefore promulgated in 1913
prohibiting any further washing of earth in the streets
of Quibdo.
Besides the balea, the only tools used are the
altnocafre and the barra. The former is a kind of hoe
4 in. wide, tapering in a curve to a sharp point that
extends back toward the operator. The handle is ap-
proximately 18 in. long and l1/- in. diameter. This
tool costs 80c. to $2, the price depending upon whether
it is made of iron or steel. The barra, which takes the
place of a pick, is a small iron or steel crowbar, 1*4 in.
diameter and 32 to 40 in. long. A barra of iron with
a point of steel costs $1.20 to $2, while one entirely of
steel costs $2.80 to $3. The price of a batea varies from
$1 to $2. All the tools are locally made except a few
of the harms. Since every woman in the mining district
is a miner, it might be advisable for American tool
manufacturers to investigate this market. Better qual-
ity tools could doubtless be sold in the Choco at lower
prices than those quoted, but the styles offered should
be identical with the ones now in use.
By a law that went into effect in 1910, foreigners are
not allowed to denounce or purchase mines in the
Choco. but mining property can be leased for a long
period or obtained on other advantageous terms. It is
expected that within a few years mining on a large
scale will be begun in this district. Even under the
primitive mining conditions of today the Choco stands
second only to Russia as a producer of platinum and
the prospects under improved methods are considered
favorable.
Mining prospectors should come supplied with shov-
els, picks, tools, canned goods, guns, and ammunition,
as it might be difficult to obtain anything but fresh
provisions in Quibdo at reasonable prices. Laborers
can be hired for 50 to 70c. and canoes for 20c. per
day. — Daily Consular Neport.
Banking and blowing-out iron blast-furnaces have
quite different meanings. The former refers to an
interruption in the making of pig iron, for a day or a
week or two, when the furnace is filled with coke and
kept at a red heat by a light blast. This costs only a
few hundred dollars. When a furnace is to be idle
for a month or more, it is emptied and allowed to get
cold. Blowing-out costs several thousand dollars, and
every furnace must be blown-out once in three years
or so for relining.
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
697
Filter-Press Operation
By A. W. Allen
The displacement of valuable solution from residue in
the operation of a chamber filter-press is generally ef-
fected by one of two means. Where all solid plates
are low pressure, the outlets are always open to dis-
charge and no drain cocks are necessary. The pulp
is forced under pressure into the press and the solu-
tion filters through the cloths which hang between the
solid plates and the hollow frames. The former have
a channeled surface to facilitate the even flow of solu-
tion from the filtering area. Cake formation starts
over the whole surface of the cloth and continues un-
til the frame is completely filled with caked slime. A
distinct line is traceable vertically through the centre
of each cake. This line constitutes a zone of division
which is noticeable when the presses are being dis-
charged 'dry' by hand. The displacement of residual
solution carrying metal is effected by a wash operating
through the same channels as those traversed by the
pulp and charge solution. The wash solution or water
enters the filling port in each frame, traverses the zone
of division in each cake, ami passes through the cake
on either side of the centre line, through the filter-
cloth, and thence to the discharge launder. The same
system of washing may follow the part filling of the
frame so that a clear space is left between the separate
cakes formed on each cloth. In this instance, however.
the advantages of a slightly higher washing efficiency
are more than counter-balanced by the fact that satis-
factory removal of the excess wash lift in the hollow
space is a difficult matter. Compressed air is only
partly effective in reducing such moisture content be-
cause, however applied, it will find its way through
the top of the cake where there is a minimum moisture
content to the avoidance of the lower portion where
there is an excess. In a dry discharging press this
method results in a sloppy residue, and, tinder any cir-
cumstances, an unnecessary loss of wash. In the sec-
ond method of operation the low-pressure plates alter-
nate with high-pressure plates and the outlets from the
latter are controlled by suitable valves. The low-pres-
sure plates, as in the other system, are open to dis-
charge at all times. During filling all discharge valves
are open but as soon as the cake is formed the high-
pressure plate discharge valves are closed and wash
is forced in, through a separate channel, to the high-
pressure plates. This solution finds its way through
the cloths over the high-pressure plates and diagonally
across the cake of slime, through the cloths covering
the low-pressure plates, and thence to the discharge
launders. Given similar conditions of operation it has
been found that the efficiency of operation by either
method is dependent on the thickness of the frames into
which the cakes are formed, that is. the thickness of
the cakes themselves. The cross- washing system, with
hiph-pressure plates. <_'ives excellent results where the
thickness of the cake is not too great. On the other
hand, the median washing system is preferable where it
is more economical or necessary to form thick cakes.
As in all other classes of filters and filter-presses, the
efficiency of displacement is largely affected by the
thickness of pulp being handled, rapid cake formation
being the surest preventative of a segregation of
coarser material in the lower portion of the frames.
Hoisting at the Argonaut Mine
By M. W. vox Bernewitz
Both steam and electric hoists are operated at the
mines along the Mother Lode of Amador county, Cali-
fornia, but that at the above property, at Jackson, is
of more than passing interest. The main shaft is
down 4100 ft. on the incline, from the surface to 1600
ft. being at an angle of 63°, and from 1600 to 3900 ft.
it is 58°. The hoist is on the hanging-wall side, and
from centres of the drums to the head-frame sheaves
is 300 ft., slack in the ropes being taken care of by-
three sets of grooved idlers. The machine was built
by Knight & Co. of Sutter Creek, whose works are
about three miles from the mine. It is a geared hoist,
the pinions having 22 and the spur wheels 108 teeth,
both with 3-in. pitch, with diameters of 21 and 108
in. respectively. The two drums are 6 ft. diameter
♦ _^__ ,,
1
1
■ 1 \
SURFACE VIEW OK AKCONAI T MINK.
with a 35-in. face each, and cany 7 layers of 1%-in.
diameter crucible-steel rope. There is a post brake
on each drum flange, and also brakes on two flywheels
on the pinion shaft. Clutches are operated by hand
levers.
To drive the hoist, there is in front, to one side,
a Westinghouse induction motor, type H.P., of 500
hp.. 440 volts, 60 cycle and 3 phase, running at 440
r.p.m. at full load. On its shaft is a 42-in. diameter
grooved pulley for twenty IVi-in. hemp ropes, driv-
ing a 96-in. diameter wheel on the hoist pinion shaft.
These ropes are in reality endless in two sections
running over ten grooves each, having the usual ten-
sion pulleys on a frame above. They have been in
use so far for 2Va to 3 years. The motor is controlled
by a master switch and a Westinghouse liquid (2%
soda solution"! rheostat, and has the usual safety and
698
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
recording devices. The ore-skips will hold four tons.
The mine is equipped with electric signals and tele-
phones.
In case of mishap to the electric motor, the hoist
may be driven by water power, there being a 6-ft.
Pelton wheel, operated under a 240-ft. head, from two
lines of 18-in. pipe, 1900 ft, in length. A pulley on
the Pelton shaft drives another on the hoist pinion
shaft by five 2-in. ropes. A chart showing the power
absorbed in hauling from various levels was to have
accompanied these notes, but on account of changes
in the shaft of late, this cannot be procured at present.
A similar although a little more elaborate hoist is
used at the South Eureka mine, only instead of there
being one motor there are two 400-hp. General Electric
motors coupled to the small rope pulley which in turn
drives the pinion shaft. Results from this style of
power transmission are entirely satisfactory.
Ore and Dump Train Service*
1. All enginemen, firemen, brakmen, switchmen, and
others in train service must be familiar with the rules
and regulations and the signal rules, color signals,
hand, flag, and lamp signals, and engine whistle sig-
nals common to general railroad practice, and particu-
larly as prescribed by the Nevada Northern Railway
Co., with whose main line the Company's pit. yard,
and dump tracks make connection.
2. Enginemen must signal by whistle when approach-
ing track connections, road crossings, and curves
where view is obstructed, and also when nearing
steam-shovels in pit. and any and all places in and
around the workings where men are at work on (li-
near tracks.
3. Never start engine without first ringing hell.
4. Headlight to the front and rear of all engines
must be displayed at night.
5. Under no circumstance must headlight he con-
cealed while engine is moving.
6. Any defect or improper condition of the engine
must be reported by engineman to the master me-
chanic, and at end of each shift such repairs as are
required must lie entered on the work book.
7. Any defect, bad order, or impaired condition of
hand-holds, grab-irons, footboards, brakes, or other
equipment of ears or engines found or noted by an
employee must be reported promptly to his foreman
or to master mechanic.
8. Employees must not remove any of the appli-
ances from an engine or car for convenience in switch-
ing, or for any other purpose, thereby endangering
the safety of themselves and others.
9. Employees must not attempt to make couplings
of cars, or engine and car. if coupling apparatus is
found out of order. If examined and found in had
order, repori same at once to master mechanic.
10. The dangerous and unnecessary practice of try-
ing to make a coupling with the foot, by kicking the
drawbar as cars approach, is positively forbidden.
11. Employees are prohibited from going between
moving ears to uncouple, open, close, or arrange
knuckles or couplers, or for any purpose whatever.
12. In all service stops of car or cars in train on
main tracks, sidings, or service tracks, when engine
is cut off, all brakes must be set and cars blocked to
hold the train.
13. Emploj'ees must not stand between the rails and
attempt to get on the front or rear end of an engine
or the end of a car as it approaches them. All en-
gines and cars are equipped with grab-irons and when
necssary for employees to board moving trains they
must stand outside of rails and get upon side of car
or end of footboard of engine.
14. Employees must avoid walking on tracks, and
are hereby warned that they must not rely upon others
to notify them of approach of train.
15. To avoid the danger of being struck by rocks,
coal, or other article falling from moving cars, em-
ployees must not remain near the track when trains
are passing.
16. Employees, other than the regular train crews,
are prohibited from riding upon ore or dump trains
without special permit from the superintendent. And
employees so riding on permit are strictly prohibited
from jumping on or off trains or engine while train
is in motion.
17. Car repairers, trainmen, or other employees.
while working under cars, must make it an absolute
rule to protect themselves by flag or light.
18. Track foremen are instructed to keep all frogs,
switches, and guard-rails properly blocked. It is the
duty of all employees, for their own protection, t<>
report promptly the absence of necessary blocking.
*From the book of 'Rules and Regulations' of the Nevada
Consolidated Copper Company.
Danger From Falls of Rock
By far the greatest source of danger in tunnel work
is from falls of rock. These can be prevented in a
large measure by promptly and adequately supporting
the roof. Insist that necessary timbering be done, and
always keep a supply of lumber for this purpose. Tim-
hering is laborious, and it either takes the men of
the tunnel crew from their regular work or requires
extra men. If extra men are used, they add to the
confusion in the heading, and as their work is done
at the same time as the other work of the tunnel, it
seriously hinders either the drillers or the shovelers.
or both. So, although you may suspect that the roof
is dangerous, yon may be tempted to delay timbering
— possibly until an accident brings the necessity forci-
bly and unavoidably to the front. Remember that all
necessary timbering cannot be done too soon, and that
any delay seriously jeopardizes the lives and limbs of
the men who have to work under a roof improperly
supported.— Miners' Circular 13, Bureau of Mines.
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
f>!)9
Discussion
Readers of the Mining and Scientific Pkess are Invited
to use this department for the discussion of technical
and other matters pertain ing to mining and metallurgy.
The Editor welcomes the expression of views contrary
to his own. believing that careful criticism is more valu-
able than casual compliment. Insertion of any contribu-
tion is determined by its probable interest to 'the readers
of this journal.
Geology of the Kalgoorlie Goldfleld
The Editor :
Sir— In reply to the leading article in the Minini/ and
Scientific Press of July 12, 1913, and your request that
I should add some remarks to the articles on the 'Geo-
logy of Kalgoorlie' by Mr. Maclaren. it is needless to
say I have much pleasure in discussing that gentle-
man's work. But I do so with much diffidence, for I
highly appreciate the excellent work carried out by
Mr. Maclaren on this field, with which there is nothing
to compare. Moreover, I owe much to his courtesy anil
generosity. As a matter of fact our views coincide
very closely. But the work carried out since the publi-
cation of my book on the 'Geology of Kalgoorlie' in
1912 has brought to light certain points which tin not
entirely agree with the views of Mr. Maclaren. if I
have read this article and reports correctly, and which
I venture to think may be of some importance to the
future of this field.
Furthermore, as pointed out in your editorial of July
12, the question of nomenclature is one that requires
settling, in the interests of managers, in order that the
maps may all have the same set of names for the rock-
formations in each mine, a factor to my mind of prime
importance.
Nomenclature
The importance of this subject has just been referred
to, and I think the time is now ripe for a settlement of
the question. But unless two authorities agree, or one
is entirely accepted, there is no hope of finality being
reached. Detailed arguments will be used when dis-
cussing each rock, but it is clear that Mr. Maclaren ad-
mits the chaotic condition of rock nomenclature, for
in speaking of quartz-dolerite (quartz-diabase) he says:
"Many | aits of names are now engaged in a battle for
existence, and it will lie a generation before these strug-
gles are ended." 1 think this remark- could well have
been extended, for. apart from pairs of names, the
nomenclature of the older greenstones and other rocks
will perhaps he several generations before finality is
reached. Take for instance the calc-schist. Mr. Mac-
laren admits. •'The name calc-schist has a very general
significance and gives no clue to the original character
of the rock, which may have been tuffs or ashes or lava
flows." (I called the same rock metamorphic tuff).
These remarks clearly show the difficulty surrounding
the subject. Furthermore. I think all geologists are
agreed upon the impossibility of different authorities
giving the same name, though they may agree in every
other respect, to highly altered rocks in the Arehean
Complex.
Quartz-Dolerite.— (My ' qnartz-andesite ' : Maclaren 's
' quartz-dolerite greenstone or cliloritic rock with
micropegmatite'.) This is .Mr. .Maclaren 's quartz-
dolerite greenstone. It forms the country rock of the
chief mines on the field, and is in consequence perhaps
the most important.
In order to show the diversity of opinion with regard
to the name of this rock, apart from the fact that we
all agree as to its constituents. I give the following
names applied by different authors:
Maclaren Quartz-dolerite greenstone
Larcombe and Judd Quartz-andesite
Simpson Prophylite
Gibson Quartz diabase
Card \cid eruptive
Mr. Maclaren says: "It has not been found possible
finally to determine the original character of the rock
from a single specimen, and it is only after the con-
sideration of several hundreds of rock slides that the
character of the original rock has been reconstructed.
It has, therefore, been necessary to indicate that the
freshest rock now to be found is yet a much altered
one; and this has been fulfilled by the selection of the
term 'quartz-dolerite greenstone': that is. a somewhat
indefinite rock derived from quartz-dolerite and one
that would fall into the old, useful, field group of
greenstones. ' '
These remarks clearly indicate the difficulty in find-
ing a name. I called the same rock quartz-andesite.
and my reasons for doing so are well summed up in the
following remarks on page 306 of my book-, as follows:
"The most important result of the examination of
these deep-seated rocks is to show that they are un-
doubtedly holocrystalline, and contain a xovy large
amount of felspar. Tt consequently follows that the
practically irresolvable base in the specimens from the
higher levels is produced by the decompositon of the
minerals in the parent rock- to carbonates, chlorite.
sericite, etc.. certain crystals remaining as apparent
phenocrysts. "
Maclaren says: 'Tt is this porphyritic appearance.
together with the destruction of the other original
minerals, that has led Judd and others to describe the
rock as a qnnrfz-andesite. " It therefore appears that
I followed the same course as Judd. and being practi-
cally the first extensive writer on this field 1 was at a
loss what to call this rock, which I realized was an
intermediate stage between quartz-gabbro. quartz-
dolerite, amphiholite, and such highly changed rocks
as the graphitic slates and quartz-sericitc carbonate
rocks. .Moreover G. W. Card, government mineralogist
in Xew South Wales, repeatedly made use of the terms
'matrix' base', 'groundmass'. and 'interstitial mat-
ter', when describing this rock after a thorough mis-
roscopic investigation.
700
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
As regard 'quartz-diabase', there is no doubt this
name might well be used by the older school. But
Ilarker is now doing away with this name, which I
think is a good scheme. He would now say altered-
dolerite instead of quartz-diabase. I therefore think if
we refer the country rock of the Golden Mile to its
original, then the name quartz-dolerite used by Mr.
Maclaren is the best, and should be generally adopted.
Bleached Dolerite. — (My 'granophyric-daeite', Mac-
laren's 'bleached and carbonated rock with micropeg-
matite.') This is a characteristic pinkish rock, vary-
ing in texture from coarse to tine grain. Tt has practi-
cally the same constituents as the quartz-dolerite, but
contains less chlorite, often none, and more carbonates
and sometimes sericite. I called it granophyric-daeite
because the leaching of the chlorite from the qnartz-
andesite (quartz-dolerite) seemed to show up the
granophyric texture. I have regarded this rock as
being in part due to a slight differentiation in the origi-
nal magma, and in part to a process of leaching. Hav-
ing adopted the name quartz-dolerite I suggest that
this particular pink and grey variety might for short-
ness and convenience be regarded as 'bleached
dolerite'. These bleached forms of the quartz-dolerite
are very characteristic, and at the same time they have
certain economic significance, so that I venture to think
this name will be very useful.
Aphanite — (My 'aphanite'. Maclaren 's 'non-chloritic
carbonated and sericitic rocks, with miscropegmatite
and schistose varieties'). The use of this term has led
to a considerable amount of controversy, but continued
experience has caused me to adhere to it. When 1
speak of aphanite I mean the dense, compact greenish
rock, which is only an altered form of the quartz-
dolerite surrounding the lodes. In boring on the west-
ern side of the field it has served as an invaluable
indicator of the presence of lodes, particularly in the
Great Boulder and ITorsc-Shoe mines. Of course, all
lodes do not have this aphanitic product alone- their
walls especially on the eastern side of the field, but on
the western side it may be over 100 ft. thick and is
exceedingly characteristic and important.
This rock at deeper levels is indistinguishable from
the felsite (albite-porphyry) . and its recognition has.
I hope, proved of considerable economic importance to
the Horse-Shoe mine. For what was apparently taken
lor felsite, an unfavorable rock as regards lode forma-
tions, has proved to be aphanite. As an illustration,
the 1900-ft. level of the Great Boulder mine at the main
shaft appears to be surely in felsite. but microscopically
the evidence is strongly in favor of aphanite or altered
quartz-dolerite, probably close to the western or hang-
ing wall of the felsite. For at deep levels the edges of
the felsite are often aphanite. The recognition of this
fact has considerably reduced the thickness of the fel-
site.
The word 'aphanite' is often used in an adjectival
sense (aphanitic), meaning not apparent to the unaided
eve whether crystalline or not. But T see no reason whv
the term 'aphanite' should not be applied to a rock
wholly aphanitic, for James Geikie uses the term
aphanite for a compact diorite and modern text books,
such as Iddings, include for field purposes all aphanitic
rocks, whose component crystals are so small that they
cannot be seen and recognized by the unaided eye,
under the general heading of 'Aphanites'.
A study of the Horse-Shoe plans shows the impor-
tance of this rock as an indicator in boring, and as it is
easily separated from the quartz-dolerite in cores, and
as it is the most favorable lode carrier on the field, I
respectfully ask for the acceptance of the term aphan-
ite. or a single term that every one will use, for this
quartz-sericite-carbonate rock is one of those that may
perhaps never receive a place in rock nomenclature.
Slates. — (My 'carbonaceous slates'; Maclaren 's
'graphitic slates') There is no difference between
Maclaren and myself as far as the name applied to
the black bands in the altered quartz-dolerite is con-
cerned, so at this point there is nothing further to be
said. But later I shall discuss the different classes of
'slate', their influence on lode formations and the possi-
ble origin of the carbon.
Felsite. — (My ' f elsite-porphyry ', Maclaren 's 'albite-
porphyry'). This is Maclaren 's albite-porphyry and I
called it felsite-porphyry because it is essentially a fel-
site, though at times small crystals of felspar are ob-
servable. Continued examination at deep levels con-
vinces me that felsite is the best name, for it is rarely
that phenocrysts are observed even with the micro-
scope. I therefore trust that the term felsite will be
adopted. On account of the importance of this rock a
somewhat detailed account of its occurrence and rela-
tion to lode-formations will be given later.
Calc-Schist. — (My 'metamorphic tuff': Maclaren 's
'calc-schist'). As far as the actual nature of this rock
is concerned Mr. Maclaren and myself are in accord-
ance, for although he calls it calc-schist he believes it
to be metamorphic tuff. The indefiniteness of the name
lias already been referred to. for Maclaren says:
"Calc-schist is an indefinite rock characterized by
abundance of secondary carbonates . . . and gives
no clue to the original nature of the rock." Further-
more my experience has been that the rock is for the
most part massive, and not a schist at all except in
local areas. Mr. .Maclaren evidently recognized this
fact, for he says: "This dike (rock) has been provi-
sionally termed calc-schist though the schistosity is
not strongly marked."
I am more than ever convinced that the calc-schist is
a phase of the older i>reenstones, and as first suggested
to me by my student. F. W. Rowe. probably represents
the altered edge of the fine grained amphibolites along
their contact with the quartz-dolerite. Consequently,
whatever origin is finally attributed to the fine grained
amphibolites must be the same for the calc-schist. Per-
haps the original was a tuff though it may yet prove
to be a lava flow. However, as the term calc-schist has
got such a hold on the mining public of Kalgoorlie.
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
7U1
and it is shorter than metamorphic tuff, I trust the
term will be allowed to remain. Its economic signifi-
cance and position on the field will be again referred
to.
Puoi'oskd Classification
Having regard to the foregoing arguments, I re-
spectfully suggest that mine managers will see their
way clear to finally adopt the following amended rock
classification, with which it is my earnest hope Mr.
Maelaren will agree, as I feel sure he will in the inter-
ests of all concerned. I can only once more repeat the
concluding paragraph in my book, published in 1912:
"It is to be hoped, in the interests of all concerned,
that in writing of the Golden Mile, geologists will come
to a compromise and agree on a definite name, not only
for this rock, but also for each of the other five
characteristic rocks on the Kalgoorlie field, and thus
prevent the confusion that must otherwise inevitably
arise, especially among those who are not familial- with
geological nomenclature." If this were done we would
be doing much in the interests of all who by their
loyalty, energy and enthusiasm are endeavoring to up-
hold the great mining industry.''
What Is the Matter With Prospecting?
The Editor:
Sir — In some of the replies to your question, ' What is
the matter with prospecting?' there is much food for
thought. The subject is one of moment and should he
thoroughly gone over and a remedy found. That there
are new fields still unexploited, ample proof exists.
That the prospector finds it hard to interest anyone, is
clear, and just why is the question. Some of the
answers seemingly touched lightly upon the most vital
point — money for prospects — dismissing the subject by
saying there seemed to be plenty for that purpose.
Where is it? Just what are the proper methods to
apply for it? Where may the prospector apply for it?
Since the boom days, prior to 1907, I have found money
for opening up a prospect getting scarcer all the time,
until at present there seems to be none. Why is this?
I ascribe it to the advent of the automobile as the
main reason. The many millions now sunk in the
"auto" once was available for opening a prospeet. Prior
to the advent of the 'auto' it was no difficult matter
to find a man who would 'take a chance with the
prospector to open up a property. Surface showings
AMENDED CLASSIFICATION OF KALGOORLIE ROCKS
Amended
Maelaren. Larcombe. Geological Survey. classification.
Older Greenstones
Calc-sehist Metamorphic tuff. . .Calc-sehist Calc-schist
Newer Greenstones
Peridotite Peridotite Peridotite Peridotite
Pyroxenite Pyroxenite Basic amphibolite Pyroxenite
Quartz doleriie greenstone ichloritic rock with
micropegmatitel Quartz-andesite . . . .Quartz-diabase Quartz-dolerite
Bleached and carbonated roc!< with niicroptgma-
tite (granite of the miners at Kalgoorlie) .... Granophyric dacite. Carbonated-diabase Pleached dolerite
Nou-chloritic carbonated and sericitic rock (with
mieropegmatite and schistose varieties) Aphanite Carbonated quartz diabase ... Aphanlte
Albite porphyry Felsite-porphyry . . .Felspar porphyry Felsite
•Slates' 'Slates' 'Slates' Slates'
Porphyrite PorphyrRe Porphyrite Porphyrite
Since writing the above it is my pleasing duty to
say that Mr. Maelaren has read my statements, and,
after conferring on the subject he has asked me to say
that he entirely agrees with my amended classification.
I think we owe a great debt of gratitude to him for
compromising in this way. and I sincerely trust mana-
gers and all concerned will adopt the new rock classifi-
cation. For in years to come, when perhaps trouble
may arise, and all maps are colored or marked accord-
ing to this scheme, geologists will probably be able to
give valuable advice.
For many years it has been my ambition to have
this matter settled, and personally I cannot thank Mr.
Maelaren sufficiently for cooperating with me and thus
bringing order out of chaos as far as the Kalgoorlie
rocks are concerned, for I feel sure he has thereby
materially helped the furtherance of our great mining
industry. C. O. G. Lakcombe.
Kalgoorlie. January 12.
would induce him to rely upon his own judgment and
take a chance. Veins must be exposed, the ground
surveyed, tests made, etc., all of which costs money
and time, before the big capitalist will listen to the
prospector. Then the matter is referred to the en-
gineer who must be able to see and measure, and test.
He does not permit romance, adventure, prospector's
visions, borne of hope, to enter into his report. Facts,
figures, and measurements, " make entirely different
reading as compared with the prospector's description.
The result is that many a prospect is lying idle or
going begging. The engineer stands between the pros-
pector and big capital. The automobile has taken the
little capital. The old style prospector was useful in
his way. True, he had failings, was full of visions, in-
dulged in dreams, but nevertheless furnished a means
for capital to work on. In discarding him for the en-
gineer and the geologist there seems to have been a
irreat decline in new discoveries and new fields. Some
ros
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25. 1914
of the gentlemen ascribe this dearth to no new fields,
territory exhausted, etc. There is ample proof to the
contrary. If the prospector coidd but connect with
this 'plenty of money for prospects.' There are many
finds laying dormant, for want of capital necessary
for first work and clearings, that they may be 'shown'
and referred to the engineer for report. The average
prospector has no money : he has plenty of time and
energy, but it takes tools, powder, and grub to show-
up a prospect. The man of small capital who woidd
take a chance is no more. Ready market or assistance
has been curtailed by legislation, and the automobile.
The former has handicapped his flights of imagination,
the latter his source of revenue. Big capital must be
'shown,' where it is not controlled by the old spirit of
romance and adventure, hopes, and visions. These led
the prospector into all sorts of places, and induced the
man of small means to 'take a chance.' It depends
upon the geologist and the engineer, with their useful
scientific knowledge. But I never heard of either class
finding anything; it is always the prospector who
shows the way. How. then, help the prospector by
government aid? This is impractical, and he doesn't
nerd it. -lust show him the 'proper channels' mi n-
tioned ; just let this 'plenty of money for prospects'
come out into view; just deal generously with his hopes,
make allowances for his visions and dreams. He is
useful, in a way; he cracks many a rock, digs mans'
a hole, penetrates into many places that would be
considered foolish, and a waste of time and energy, by
the capitalist and capital. Led on by these same
hopes, visions, and dreams, that have shown where
capital might profit, and the world be benefited. Scien-
tific exactitude and efficiency, conservation of time and
energy, is no part of his makeup. These can be
brought to bear after he has> blazed the way to a 'find'
which would lay hidden if left to the geologist or
engineer. Not that they couldn't find, but they don't.
S. A. Knapp covered the subject well as far as he enum-
erated. He should have added another statement, thus;
"It takes money to open a prospect." This is where
the bin' capitalist "balks.' The prospector would dig
to see. The capitalist wants to 'see' first. The pros-
peetor does not count time and money wasted if he gets
no immediate returns. He is led by hope and faith to
repeated effort, undaunted by faihire.
A capitalist wants returns, expects and demands
them, and cannot tolerate failures very long. I know
of one man who had ten outfits out for him. eoverinc
a period of IS months. Eight returned nothing on
his investment. One made enough to cover all his ex-
penditures for the entiic number. One found, for him.
that which yielded a million and a half in money, and
still yields rich returns. He had the nerve to stand
up under many disappointments. He 'took a chance'
and told in" he did not consider the eight that yielded
luilhiiig as money wasted; on the contrary, it was
well spent, and he would do it again, or would have
continued, but felt that he had found plenty for his
needs. He did not consider prospectors an unreliable
lot. as was stated by one of your correspondents. It
is this latter spirit that is killing off the new finds
and fields. Another factor which enters largely be-
tween the prospector and large capital is the field
representative. Some large mining companies have
men out looking for properties. They are capable men,
but they cannot see any farther into the ground than
the engineer or prospector. They are under salary
and it does not behoove them to make very many mis-
takes. If they cannot see. measure, and test, there is
little chance to do business. Even then it is sale only
— no partnership with the prospector and letting him
share with the developments, but outright control.
based on developed showing, if any. The prospector's
capabilities are limited: were it otherwise he would
not need a financier. I have often heard the term
'crazy prospector' applied to them, and it may seem
so to the comfortably housed, scientifically regulated
person. But he has been a benefit to the world, and
is still useful.
There is a wide, deep chasm between the prospector
and capital, which is difficult to bridge. The material
once used for that purpose is gone; that is, the pro-
moter and the man of small capital and ambitions. The
former is active in real estate, where there seems t»
be no restrictions upon imagination. The latter is
with his automobile.
I am a prospector and speak of conditions as I
have found them. Immediately following 1907, the
prospector fell into disfavor. But mining is coming
into its own again. Let us hope the prospector will
also — such at least is the hope I cherish.
C. P. Ghkene.
Uescanso. California. April 3.
The gold production of Xova Scotia from 1862 to
1910 has lately been published by the Canadian Geolo-
gical Survey. In 1863 the total gold extracted amount-
ed to 14.001 oz. while in 1867, it amounted to 27,314 oz..
when the output began to decrease until 1881 it was
but 10,756 oz. It again began to increase and high-
water mark was reached in 1898 with 31.104 oz. For
several years longer, until 1904. the gold output
kept up well, but in that year. 1904. it began to drop
and in 1910 the output was but 10.325 oz.. or one-
third its maximum. For the past year or two the gold
output has been on ihe increase, last year. 1913. to a
marked degree.
A windmill, with steel sails and mounted on a steel
tower, and ha vine a diameter of 50 ft. has started
work in Holland on a drainage scheme. It has a
capacity of 64.000 to 70.000 en. ft. (40.000.000 to 43.-
750 000 gal.) per hour, and is said to be the largest in
the world. Gasoline motors took the place of wooden
windmills in 1908. but steel windmills have displaced
tin- motors.
April
1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
03
Concentrates
Most of these are in reply to questions received by
mail. Our readers are invited to ask questions and give
information dealing with tlie practice of mining, milling.
and smeltng.
Coal production of Ombilien. Sumatra, Dutch East
Indies, was 411.083 tons in 1913, against 408,204 tons
in 1912.
Permanganate solutions used in the analysis of iron
ores is approximately 22..") gm. of K,Mn2Os to 8000 c.c.
of distilled water.
The weight of a cubic foot of air at an altitude of
31/2 miles is approximately half of what it is at sea-
level. At an altitude of 7 miles it is less than one-
quarter.
Small leaks in newly erected steel tanks may be
stopped by filling the tank with water and stirring
into this a small amount of cement. Leaks in wood
tanks may be stopped with sawdust in the same way.
Dredging costs of the Renong Dredging Co., in Siam,
are 5.4c. per cubic yard. Other eastern expenses in-
crease this to 8.2c, while taxes, royalty, agents' com-
mission, selling charges, make it 11.2c, and depreci-
ation and London expenses bring the total to 12.8c
per yard.
Uranium ores of Colorado and Utah do not contain
pitchblende as a rule, hut the brilliant yellow uranium
mineral carnotite. according to E. S. Bastin of the
1". S. Geological Survey. The only pitchblende pro-
duction of the United States is from one locality in
Gilpin county. Colorado. The only other places in
the world yielding this mineral are the Erzgebirge in
Austria and Germany, and Cornwall in England.
Box gives the following formula to calculate loss
of head in a pipe-line as a result of friction:
f X I
h = —
(MY
where d = diameter of pipe in inches,
/ = length in yards,
//—head of water in feet.
<7= gallons per minute.
Paper must he fitted to the purpose for which it is
to be used, and this is by no means a simple matter.
Recently Arthur I). Little pointed out some of the com-
plexities involved, saying: "A paper for wrapping
hardware or a card for mounting' silver jewelry may
seem to possess every desirable property, and yet be
worse than useless because of a trace of sulphur. A
printing piij-er may develop "whiskers' or clog the type
by mineral filler. a coated paper may pick or develop
odor, a cigarette paper may burn badly, a writing
I aper may allow the ink to spread because the size
has been converted into peptones by overheating, a
filter paper may fail to hold a fine precipitate or un-
duly retard the passage of liquid, and so on."
Taking water from a 'dinkey's' tender for a 70-C
Bucyrus shovel, when the supply pump was not work-
ing and without delay in digging, has been done as
follows, according to the Excavating Engineer: Ordi-
narily the water-supply was pumped through a \x/±-
in. pipe-line. Occasionally the supply pump for one
n ason or another could not be used. A shovel foreman
kept his shovel supplied with water without any delay
in digging, by taking it from the locomotive's tender.
This was done only when loading the car next to the
locomotive, the amount in this manner sufficing until
the next train of empties arrived. The injector which
came on the shovel was found to be big enough for
this duty.
It is important that the zinc in precipitation boxes
should be evenly deposited in the compartments. To
this end the shavings should be spread out into as
large and loose a bulk as possible before being packed
into the box. If this is not done there is a liability to
channeling, especially at the corners. Any short-
circuiting will diminish the capacity of the box and
will allow the distribution of the deposited metal over
a number of compartments rather than the concentra-
tion of nearly all the gold and silver in the first com-
partments. A simple way of finding out as to whether
or not any particular compartment has been efficiently
packed is to add a few drops of phenolphthalein in
alcohol to the solution entering it. Any channeling,
as a result of bad packing, will be immediately notice-
able by the rapid appearance of a red coloration at the
corners of the compartment.
Centrifugal pumps, elevating ore pulp, unless in per-
fect adjustmenl and regulated to exactly lift the re-
quired amount of pulp, will give an intermittent de-
livery. This can be remedied in some instances by an
alteration in the speed, or by throttling the discharge.
The former method is inconvenient, and the adoption
of the latter practice results in severe wear at the
throttling point. Frenier pumps give a constant and
steady discharge if due regard is paid to the prin-
ciples governing their operation. They are. however,
incapable of any adjustment, and to insure satisfac-
tory working the exact amount of pulp required must
be provided. Three-throw plunger pumps will give a
steady discharge provided that all the plungers are
working properly. As soon as one valve works indif-
ferently, the discharge becomes intermittent. The air-
lift can be made to give a steady discharge even with
a wide variation of feed, provided that there exists
ample capacity in the rising main and that Hie air-
supply, both as regards pressure and volume, is not
in excess of the required amount.
704
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 20, 1914
TORONTO, CANADA
Changes in Iron and Steel Tariff. — Benefits to Coke Manu-
facturers.— Future Duty on Steel Shapes and Other
Milled Products.
On April 6. the Hon. W. T. White, Canadian Minister of
Finance, announced a number of minor changes in the
tariff, principally affecting the iron and steel industries. The
application of the iron and steel manufacturers for a renewal
of the bounties on pig iron and steel billets, or a compensat-
ing increase in the present duties, was not granted, and the
matter of a bounty or other encouragement, for the produc-
tion of Canadian iron ore, was postponed until next session,
the Minister of Finance intimating that in the meantime an
inquiry into the iron resources of the country would be made
by the Department of Mines. The two most important
changes were the reduction of the duty on agricultural im-
plements from 17 'j to 12V/r. a concession to the demands
of the western farmers for free agricultural implements, and
the imposition of a duty of $2.25 per ton under British prefer-
ential tariff, and $3.50 per ton under the general tariff on
wire rods formerly free. This is coupled with a drawback
provision, under which the manufacturers of the staple
gauges of wire fencing receive back 99% of the duty paid on
the rods. The wire-rod duty meets the approval of the large
manufacturing companies, such as the Dominion Steel Cor-
poration and the Steel Company of Canada, whose rod mills
have lately been doing poorly on account of the keenness of
American competition, but the smaller plants engaged in rail
manufacturing will be injured by an increase in the price of
their raw material. Instead of being able to import their
rods, they will have to buy from the large manufacturers,
against whom they will have to compete in the sale of the
finished product. It is predicted that some of the smaller
firms engaged in rail manufacturing will be forced out of
business. It is not anticipated that the cut of 5% in the duty
on agricultural implements will have any serious effect on
that industry, which is so firmly established as to be able to
export largely, though it will intensify competition in Western
Canada with their American rivals, who already supply a
laige portion of the demand.
The coke manufacturing industry will receive a stimulus
from a change in the tariff affecting bituminous coal, which
is subject to a duty of 53c. per ton. Proprietors of smelters
making their own coke for the smelting of ores previously
had a drawback of 99% on the coal duty. This drawback has
now been extended to proprietors of coke ovens other than
those owned by smelting works when the coke is used for
smelting purposes. The Hamilton By-Product & Coke Ovens,
Ltd., has for some time had in contemplation the establish-
ment of a large coke-manufacturing plant in Hamilton; but its
plans have been in abeyance pending the settlement of the
tariff question. Now that they are assured of free coal the
erection of a $2,000,000 plant will be proceeded with at once.
In addition to the changes which go into force at once, the
Government is asking for authority to impose at any time,
when it considers Canadian manufacturers capable of supply-
ing the market, largely increased duties on the heavier grades
of rolled iron or steel angles, beams, channels, and other
articles known as merchantable milled products. The lighter
products of this sort are well protected; but the tariff on the
heavier goods is considerably less because they are not made
in Canada to any extent. It is understood that the promised
increase of the duty will encourage the Algoma Steel Works
and perhaps others to encourage this branch of manufacture.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
An Old Victorian Field. — Three Important Mines to Close.
— Mineral Output of New South Wales and Tasmania.
— Papua and the Northern Territory.
Victoria is promised a great accession of strength by rea-
son of the option that has been taken by the Great Boulder
Proprietary company of Western Australia over a number of
gold-mining areas in the Stawell district. This is an area
where a great deal of remunerative quartz-mining has been
done in past years. Perhaps its most famous property was
the Magdalacum-Moonlight. The field is traversed by a large
dike and it is on the western side of this that the bulk
of the work has been done. It is probable that the option-
holders will prospect the ground on the eastern side, on
the assumption that there is likely to be an extension of
auriferous veins on that side. But presumably the chief at-
tention will be paid to the western ground where the lode
channel is about 200 ft. wide and consists of large lenticular
masses of quartz. If systematically worked, the large low-
grade bodies contained in this channel should be profitable.
The approaching closing down of the Tasmania gold mine
at Beaconsfield, Tasmania, will throw 400 men out of em-
ployment. The water difficulties, from which the mine has
always suffered, have increased of late years, and have been
accompanied by an unfortunate decrease in the value of the
ore, while also the cost of mining has naturally increased as
greater depth has been attained. Twenty years ago the mine
was still yielding steadily at the rate of $20 per ton; now
its yield is only about $8 dwt., and ore reserves are practically
non-existant, so that it is not surprising that the directors
have decided to close down so soon as the available ore has
been depleted. The loss on working for the year ended Sep-
April 25, 1!H4
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
705
tember 30 last was $15,000, and cash assets were only $05,000.
and subsequent loss on working has reduced this balance to
about $55,000. The decision to close down has resulted from
the report of an engineer deputed by the London board to
visit the property. The treatment of accumulated products
at the company's reduction works will, however, occupy a
period of three or four years and yield a total profit of from
$175,000 to $200,000.
It is not only in Tasmania that a misfortune has to be
reported. Queensland also has its trouble to contend with —
indeed, not merely one. First, the Chillagoe company, which
has always been in difficulties ever since it came into exist
ence, is once more to the fore. The directors applied to
the Queensland government for a loan, but their request
was refused, whereupon instructions were given for the clos-
ing of the smelting works as soon as the stock of coke on
hand was exhausted, and the curtailment of all other expend-
iture till a supply of coal should be available from the Mt.
Mulligan coalfield, which the company has purchased. The
trouble between the company and the government has refer-
ence to the slow progress in the construction of the Mt.
Mulligan railway, and the failure to come to any definite
tenns regarding the sale of the Chillagoe railway to the
government. The company states that the heavy loss it
has sustained from the dilatoriness in the construction of
the jMt. Mulligan line is such as to warrant its stopping all
work rather than continue to go on at a loss.
The other Queensland disaster is the announcement of the
approaching suspension of operations at the Great Fltzroy.
The falling in price of copper is set down as the principal
reason, and it is said that further capital will be required,
and that the difficulty of obtaining this is one of the actu-
ating motives for the closing down. The company recently
acquired the Lalokie copper mine in Papua, and it seems
to be thought that some advantage will accrue through the
shutting-down of the Queensland mine until arrangements
have been completed tor the drawing of supplies of flux from
I.alokie. But this reason does not seem to be altogether
comprehensible.
The New South Wales statistics for the past year are ex-
ceedingly satisfactory, the total value of the mineral output
for the year having been $58,657,000, or nearly 4% advance
upon the figures for 1912 which constituted a record for the
state. The value of the silver-lead-zinc output has made just
about the average increase, standing at $27,751,000. The ad-
vance in copper has been rather more than 'i"r, and that in
tin has been nearly -V;. The coal output was a record,
amounting to 10.414. 16a tons, an increase of more than .".' ,
over the previous year's total. Cold, on the other hand,
dropped a little more than !•' i . in common with the decline
of this metal throughout all the eastern states.
Tasmania's figures for the past year are also available.
but are not of as satisfactory a nature as are those of the
'parent state' Tit may be explained by the term 'parent state'
that in the early history of Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
were subject to New South Wales. — Editor.], the value of
its total output. $6.S66, meaning a decline of more than
,V ; on the 1912 figures. Gold has dropped nearly 12'.;, copper
close on to 15',. and tin over 2',. while silver-lead has in-
creased its output marly \'r. These are the only tour im-
portant contributors to the total.
A report has been made to the Austral Malay Tin, Ltd.,
by J. .Malcolm Newman, on the prospects of gold-dredging
in Papua. The report, which is the outcome of five months'
inspection and inquiry, is anything but encouraging. He
discovered no dredgable area of sufficient size to warrant
extensive operations, and declares that the reports as to
the value and production of various areas are gross exag-
geration. He further says: "From conversations held by
me. on the occasions of my previous visits to Papua, with
prospectors, business men. and government officials. I formed
the opinion that from various economic causes, notably ex-
pensive living an.d geographical and climatic conditions, re-
sulted in the working of only the very richest ground, and
limited operations to small portions only of the auriferous
country. My investigations now lead me to the astonishing
conclusion that, owing to the efficiency and cheapness of the
indentured native labor for such work, combined with the
suitable topography and plentiful water supply, alluvial
ground can be more cheaply operated in Papua than prob-
ably in any country in the world. 1 am confident that in
many places in Papua ground sluicing' has been carried on
in ground yielding less than 12c. per yard, and 'box sluicing'
in ground worth no more than 24c. per yard."
Quite a boom is being made regarding the Pine Creek
field in the Northern Territory. A former government geol-
ogist of Victoria has pronounced the field to be another Ben-
digo, so far as formation goes — that is to say. the gold-bearing
quartz will be repeated in saddle after saddle as sinking is
done. The survey being conducted by the geological branch
of the administration of the territory confirms this view,
and great hopes seem to be entertained in regard to the future
of the field. It has. however, to be borne in mind that
Pine Creek suffers from its situation, and though it has
proved remunerative in its shallow workings, it has a long
way to go befoif it can be considered another Bendigo. If
it had been that up to date, its remoteness would noi have
prevented it from becoming one of the great goldfields of
Australia.
PORCUPINE, ONTARIO
Developments in the North Thompson and Other Proper-
ties.— Activity at Pobcupine.
The Associated Gold Mines of West Australia is quite sat-
isfied with 'he results of the diamond-drilling on Hie North
Thompson gold mine. The vein in the shaft is developing
well and assays are satisfactory. The Sally Gold Minis Co.
has moved its machinery to a property in Turnbull. and is
erecting buildings. Some diamond-drilling will be done on
this property as well. A good deal of free gold has been
found in a vein on the Bradley Fournier claims in Carscal-
len township, and the .lamieson claims in Robli township
have created considerable interest owing to the showing of
gold recently found in them. About 20 or 30 claims have
been staked around .lamieson's property in the past three
weeks. The Wittsky-Chiry syndicate, in Whitesides town-
ship, is sinking its shaft to 100 ft., when 200 ft. of cross-
cutting and driving will be done.
The Porcupine camp is busier than it lias been for the
past two years, and all promising prospects are being exam-
ined with a view to purchase, The Mclntyre. in driving
the Pearl Lake cross-cut at the B00-ft. level, has driven 100
ft. through a sericite schist without using a drill or explo-
sive of any kind. The schist is so soft that it ran be
picked down last enough to keep the trammers busy. An
investigation is being held regarding the lack of water during
the worst part of the recent severe fire at Timmius, when the
Hollinger bunkhouses and several other buildings were de-
stroyed. The origin of the fire is a mystery, but it is be-
lieved to have originated in one of the bedrooms of the west-
ern bunkhouse
Over 900 ions of nickel ore was shipped from the Alexo
mine in March. Mining is done by an open-cut and drift
down so H. Sixteen mines contributed to the March ship-
ments I loin Cobalt. Ore reserves in the Tough Oakes mine
are estimated by F. ('. I.oring at 16,000 tons, worth a profit
of $4S pei ton. Five important veins have been proved, two
of which are high grade. Geological conditions are favor-
able lor their extension. Sixty feet below the Cobalt Lake's
225-ft. level, a winze is opening 3 in. of 2000-oz. silver ore.
706
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25. 1914
NEW YORK
Meeting of the American Electrochemical Society. — Inspira-
tion Ore Reserves. — Fifty Years' Copper Prices. — To.no-
pah Belmont, Ciii.no, and Ray Reports.
The feature of last week was the annual meeting of the
American Electrochemical Society, which was held on April
16, 17, and IK. The headquarters of the society was at the
Chemists Club, 52 East 41st street. The topic for Thursday
morning, following the annual business meeting (at which
the election of officers was as follows: president, F. Austin
Lidbury; vice-presidents, Carl Hering, W. D. Bancroft, and
William Brady; managers, H. C. Parmelee, W. R. Whitney,
and C. G. Pink; treasurer, P. G. Salom; and secretary, Joseph
W. Richards) was a symposium on power problems in elec-
trochemistry. C. P. Steinmetz discussed the characteristics
of electrical energy as affecting chemical industries, after
which the problem of power transmission versus utilization
in local electrochemical industries was presented by P. Soth-
man. F. A. J. Fitzgerald described some economies in the
use of electric furnaces, and power for electric-furnace work
was discussed by W. S. Horry. The power problem in the
deposition of metals was discussed by Lawrence Addicks and
H. E. Longwell, after which F. D. Newbury outlined the
sources of direct current for electrochemical processes. The
afternoon session was opened with an experimental lecture
by W. D. Bancroft on electrolytic flames, followed by two
papers on the use of the electric furnace in steel metallurgy
by C. A. Hansen and E. B. Clarke, and two papers on zinc
smelting by George C. Stone and W. R. Ingalls. A paper
on the advantages of southeastern Alaska for electrochem-
ical industries, by W. P. Lass, was read by title. The ad-
dress by the retiring president, E. F. Roeber, preceded the
smoker in the evening, and he was later presented with a
stoneware loving cup of 11{. gal. capacity, signifying his
great thirst for knowledge as well as his great capacity.
The most amusing feature of the evening was a series of
wireless telegrams from 'Carranza Chemico' Bancroft, 'Fran-
cisco Villa' Saunders, and 'Victoriano Huerta' Parsons, in re-
gard to the metallurgical treatment to be adopted by a zinc
mine which was supposed to have been bequeathed to the
society. All day Friday was devoted to a steamer trip to
the plants of the American Smelting & Refining Co., Tnited
Lead Co., and W. C. Clark Wire Works. Luncheon was
served on the steamer and an excellent opportunity for see-
ing these important plants was afforded. The session on
Saturday was held at Columbia University, and chiefly cen-
tred around the leaching of copper ores. The progress in
leaching and electrolytic treatment of copper ores in South
America was described by E. A. C. Smith. A number of
papers were read by title, followed by interesting discussion.
The dinner at the Chemists Club in the evening concluded
the session.
In the annual report of the Inspiration Copper Co., the
general manager, C. E. Mills, states that the 600-ton flotation
plant which has been in operation for over three months
has yielded a concentrate more free from silica than was
expected from the results in the 50-ton plant. No figures
as to the percentage of recovery attained are given in the
report, but they are known to be high, and that the man-
agement is highly gratified by the results. The present de-
sign of the mill involves a preliminary concentration on
tallies. The total development work done so far amounts
to 110.609 ft., and the total tonnage of ore developed is as
follows: 45,000.000 tons of sulphide ore. averaging 2% cop-
per; 28,322,000 tons of sulphide averaging 1.26% copper:
12,500,000 tons of oxidized material averaging 1.34% copper;
and 2,876,000 tons of mixed sulphides and oxides, averaging
1.24% copper. An issue of 5% convertible bonds has been
authorized, as already noted, in order to provide the addi-
tional funds lequired for a branch railroad, more land, a
steam power-plant, and various other items not included in
the original estimates.
Charles F. Brooker, who has been for 50 years connected
with the American Brass Co., was the guest of honor at a
dinner given by the Copper Producers at Sherry's on April
14. In his 50 years' association with that Company, Mr.
Brooker has bought over 2,500,000,000 lb. of copper, at an
average price of 14.95c. per pound. The fact is of interest
as indicating that the present price level of copper is not
below normal, since the present cost of production is much
below the average for the half century.
The Tonopah Belmont Development Co.'s report for the
year ended February 28, 1914, shows that reserves amount
1IKLMONT MILL. TONOPAH. NEVADA.
to 517,117 tons of positive, probable, and possible ore. The
mill treated 172,646 tons yielding gold and silver worth $4,199,-
133. Net earnings were $2,015,588, and dividends $1,650,000.
The Chino Copper Co.'s report for 1913 shows that 50,511,-
661 11). of copper was produced from 1.942,700 tons of ore.
The revenue was $7,621,419. net operating profits $3,190,293,
and dividends $1,919,070. Reserves total 90,000,000 tons of
1.8% copper ore.
In 1913 the Ray Consolidated Copper Co. milled 2,365,296
tons of ore yielding 53.745,937 lb. of copper. The revenue
was $7,899,721; net operating profit, $2,497,219; and divid-
ends, $1,631,504. Reserves total 80,746.973 tons averaging
2.2% copper.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Congestion of Legislation Threatens Many Bills Relating
to Mines and Mining. — The Radium Bill. — Mining Ex-
periment Stations. — Mineral on Indian Lands. — Leas-
ing and Mine Code Commission Bills.
Legislation in Congress is becoming so congested that the
likelihood is strong that none hut the more important bills
will pass at this session, and therefore the minor legisla-
tion, such as new mining laws and proposals, stands little
chance o!' reaching the President for his signature. At such
times as these a slight obstruction is usually fatal. Legis-
lation by unanimous consent is hard to effect. Of course,
such bills go over to the short session, but if a disputed
bill cannot obtain favorable consideration at the long ses-
sion, such as the present one. its chances are very poor in
the short session of three months. The proposed mining
legislation is about in this boat. Those who are promoting
it are naturally optimistic, but one can see from the reports
of progress made that the rowing is hard.
The radium bill semis to have more of' a chance than the
other bills. If a vote can be reached, the bill may possibly
pass the Senate. Several senators, however, oppose it on
the ground that it is too wide open in character, and is,
moreover. "Hysterical legislation." The Taylor bill for min-
April 25, 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
707
ing experimental stations, such .as those in the Department
of Agriculture, is to go on the House calendar with a favor-
able report from M. D. Foster, of Illinois, who is chairman
of the House Committee on Mines and Mining. The plan
involves an appropriation, and Congress may be loth to pass
the bill on this account. Only as a sop to the mining in-
terests and the desire to favor the popular chairman of the
committee is the bill likely to procure an unexpected imme-
diate enactment into law. The bill in the Senate known as
S. B. 587, and relating to the disposal of coal and mineral
deposits in Indian lands, has been put on the Senate cal-
endar with a favorable report which says that the coal
and deposits of other minerals in the lands which the bill
will affect belong to the Indians, and the Indians should
have the benefit of the proceeds from the deposits, whether
such deposits are disposed of by sale or by leasing or by
any other method. This, it is stated, will not be merely
declaratory of the purpose of the Government to hold such
deposits in trust for the Indians, but would also prevent the
disposal, inadvertently or otherwise, of such deposits so as
to deprive the Indians of the proceeds that are rightly theirs.
The bill by Senator Walsh of Montana to encourage and
promote the mining of coal, phosphate, oil, gas, potassium,
and sodium on the public domain (a leasing bill) has been
referred to the public lands committee. Senator Walsh made
no objection. He had hoped to retain charge of his own meas-
ure as chairman of the mines and mining committee, but
the public lands committee, which has been becoming a bit
jealous of the inroads on its domain by the mines and min-
ing committee, rose up to assert its prior rights, and the
Senator yielded rather than stir up prejudice against his
bill. The bill by Senator Smoot of Utah, providing for a
commission to codify and suggest amendments to the gen-
eral mining laws of the land, is to go through the Senate,
according to all accounts. It has been put on the calendar.
It is announced that mining engineers are for it, although
believing that the commission ought to be larger than it
is planned to have it. Senator Perkins, of California, has
presented to the Senate, petitions of the Chamber of Mines
and Oil of Los Angeles, favoring the withdrawal of mineral
lands from the present boundaries of the Colorado River
Indian Reservation and restoring it to entry under the U. S.
mining laws.
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO
Rniumi Operations at Dos Estrellas Minks, Er. Oro. — The
AOIMHOAI.IKNTES S.MEI.TKR AND ORK SlPPLIEN. — SILVER FOB
Coin ace. — On. Development at Tampico.
Opt rations at the Dos Estrellas gold mines, in the Tlalpu-
jahua district of Michoacan, for years the most important
producer in Mexico, have been reduced to a great extent,
and according to advices from Tlalpujahua more than 1200
men have been dispensed with. Reduced value of the ore
and increased expenses, including additional taxes and direct
contributions as a result of present conditions in Mexico, are
given as the reasons for this step. It is understood that
considerable exploration work will be undertaken. For a
number of years the Dos Estrellas mines produced approxi-
mately W.000,000 per month, and half that sum, or 1*6,000,-
000 per year was paid in dividends. In the early days of
Dos Estrellas, only Francisco Fournier. the French engineer
who developed the mines, had faith in their possibilities,
and Dos Estrellas stock was for sale on the streets of El
Oro and Mexico City, and sold at ridiculously low prices.
M. Fournier has been the principal Dos Estrellas stockholder
since that time, and lias received millions in dividends from
operations.
The Aguascalienti s smelter of the American Smelting &
Refining Co. was forced to suspend its limited operations
recently; after exhausting its supplies of coke and fuel oil.
but since that time a big shipment of coke has reached, the
plant, and while there is still a scarcity of fuel oil, oper-
ations have been resumed. The smelter management has
raised the treatment rates, claiming that it can no longer
afford to handle ore and concentrate at the former charges,
and existing contracts have been broken. Due to this, and
to the uncertainty of operations at Aguascalientes, some of
the mining concerns that ordinarily would ship there are
arranging for export shipments. The Casados Mining Co.,
of the Hostotipaquillo district of Jalisco, has made a ship-
ment of high-grade ore to Swansea, Wales, and it is prob-
able that the concentrate of the Cinco Minas Co., of the
same district, will go there. The Amparo Mining Co., of the
Etzatlan district of Jalisco, continues to ship its concen-
trate and high-grade ore to the Selby smelter in California.
The Amparo dividend rate has been raised from 4 to 5% per
quarter, and the disbursement to stockholders this year will
be $400,1)00, against $320,000 last year.
The recent arrangement between the Huerta government
and the Sociedad Afinadora de Metales. the French refining
company of Mexico Citv, by which the silver bullion received
EI. FAVOR PROPERTY. SHOWING WALL 111 111 TO KEEP Ol'T BANDITS.
by the latter was to be delivered for coinage, and a consid-
erable quantity of tostones (50-centavo pieces) turned over
weekly to the mining companies supplying the silver, did
not remain effective long, due to a financial hitch between
the government and the refining company. Only two ship-
ments of coin were made to the mining companies inter-
ested. Mining companies in various districts still are forced
to pay a premium for much silver needed for payrolls.
A great oil development in the Tampico territory during
the last few years has finally resulted in a large crop of
Mexican oil companies, and at present there is much oil
excitement in Mexico City and other cities of the country.
Considerable money is being invested in oil stocks. The
big gusher brought in recently by the Corona Oil Co., a
subsidiary of the Royal Dutch-Shell, is estimated to have a
capacity of 187.000 bbl. per day, making it the world's great-
est well. The Casiano No. 7 well, of the Huasteca Petroleum
Co., one of the Doheny subsidiaries, which was brought in in
September 1910, has produced to date nearly 29,000.000 bbl.
of oil, which gives it the world's record for production.
The No. 7 level of the Mololoa mine, in the Hostotipaquillo
district, on the Soledad orebody, has been opened. In January
this mine produced 051 tons of ore worth 1*25,100, returning
a profit of 1*14,048 from treatment at El Favor, in the State of
Jalisco.
A 2o-i on concentrating plant has been ordered by Da Dicha
Mining & Milling Co. for the old Dolores mine, in Ixtlan del
Rio district of Tepic. W. H. Hackett is manager.
708
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25. 1914
General Mining News
ALASKA
A shipment of 250 tons of copper ore from the Mother
Lode copper mine, near McCarthy, has been sent to the Ta-
coma smelter. It will average nearly 60% copper. A lot
of 19S tons in April returned 59.83%, netting $147.41 per ton,
and after freight was deducted, $24,363. A branch line from
the Copper River & Northwestern railway to the mine is
needed badly. The United Copper Exploration Co. has cop-
per properties near the Kuskulina glacier, and along Porcu-
pine creek on Copper mountain, and T. W. Lynch has arrived
to conduct prospecting during the season.
Fairhanks
At a depth of SO ft., Tyndall and Finn have opened 4 ft.
of ore, worth up to $1000 per ton, from their Bondholder
claim at the head of St. Patrick creek. A good number of
prospectors have been busy in this area.
Juneau
The following new electrical machinery is to be installed
in mines in this district: Two 18-ton bar-steel locomotives
for underground and surface haulage for the Alaska Gas-
tineau Mining Co. These locomotives were especially de-
signed for a low height in order to permit them entering
the mine. One SH-ton storage-battery locomotive for 30-in.
gage, equipped with two V-50 motors and 68 cells of A-10
battery, for the Alaska Juneau Mining Co. These will be
supplied by the Weslinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany.
Knik
The 900 tons of Matanuska coal mined for the U. S. Bu-
reau of Mines was delivered to a good landing above Old
Knik on March 6, and is ready for shipment south for test-
ing. J. Dalton and 10 men did this work of transporting
the fuel. He estimates the cost of mining and freight at
about $65,000. The coal was mined last summer under the
management of George Evans.
Nome
The annual dog-team race for the All-Alaska Sweepstakes,
from Nome to Candle and return, 412 miles, was won on
April 16 by Johnson in about 81 hours.
The Behring Dredging Co. recently closed a contract with
|he Union Construction Co., of San Francisco, for a 2'.j-cu-
ft. close-connected bucket-dredge, to be erected on its prop-
erty on the Kougarok river; where heretofore over $750,000
has been spent for mining machinery in an unsuccessful at-
tempt to handle the ground. Engine distillate will be used
as fuel on the boat, which will be equipped with two West-
ern gas-engines, and a gas-engine-driven electric lighting set.
One of the salient features of thisf installation will be the
arrangement of the screen and flume; by which the amount
of water necessary to be pumped -for washing purposes is
reduced to a minimum and allowing the gold-saving tallies
being kept under lock and key, thus obviating the necessity
of keeping a man in the flume to move the large boulders.
This design is featured exclusively by the Union Construc-
tion Co. The dredge will be shipped to Davidson's landing
on the Seward Peninsula this summer, and hauled over
the ice during the winter. In this way everything will be
on the ground ready for erection in the early spring of
1915, and practically a full season's operation will be ob-
tained the same year.
Pour Wells
A clean-up of the Granite Cold Mining Co.'s 7-ft. slow-speed
Lane mill, from a 12-day run, about 200 tons, yielded gold
worth $8500. The mine is on Hobo bay in this district. The
ore was mined from an adit and shaft 190 ft. below the
surface. The ore-shoot is T- ft. wide in the shaft. Thirty
men are employed.
ARIZONA
Gila County
(Special Correspondence.) — Two furnaces are running at
the Old Dominion plant. The basic converter, which is han-
dling all the matte from the furnaces, has made over 23,000,-
000 lb. of copper without any lining repairs being necessary,
and it is still in good condition. The concentrator is milling
up to its full capacity. In the construction department, work
on two big concrete slime-thickening tanks has been com-
pleted, and a Dorr thickener installed. A pump station, to
contain two 1200-gal. per minute Aldrich quintuplex electric
pumps, is being cut on No. 18 level of the mine. Equipment
for motor haulage on No. 12 is nearly complete.
Globe, April is.
(Special Correspondence, t — Concreting the main east shaft
of the Inspiration mine is well under way, the work being
started at the 400-ft. level.
Miami, April 18.
Gkkenlee County
The original plans of the Arizona Copper Co.'s concentrating
plant called for a capacity of 3000 tons per day; but it has
been decided to increase this by another 1000 tons. The pres-
ent tonnage is about 2000 per day, and in July the new plant
should be finished.
Pinal County
( Special Correspondence.) — The Reymert, now being devel-
oped by the Gunn-Thompson interests, is 8 miles southwest
from the Magma. It is located on a large, well defined and
continuous vein, from which a good deal of silver-lead ore
was extracted in early days. A 20-stamp mill remains on
the property. The vein is from 10 to 60 ft. wide, is highly
silicious, and its loose, leached structure indicates an oxid-
ized zone of considerable depth. For this reason, the de-
velopment of the vein wholly by hand work has not yet been
productive of definite results, but it is believed that there
may be a large sulphide zone beneath. Several weeks ago
the shaft had reached a depth of about 350 ft., and because
of the vertical position of the vein, material from the lode
was being taken from the bottom. This vein material indi-
cated that the oxidized condition of the surface virtually
obtains unchanged at the depth so far reached. The superin-
tendent, Thomas Tighe, is optimistic about the mine at depth.
Because of the open nature of the large vein, former miners
would select a portion containing several stringers of rich
silver ore. and drive along this ore; but at the present price
of silver, such work would not be profitable.
Superior, April 16.
The Magma Copper Co.. at Superior, is to install nine A.C.
squirrel-cage motors, totaling 267 hp. and 90-kva. transformer
capacity, for operating the copper concentrating mill being
built by the General Engineering Co. An interesting point
in connection with this installation is that the energy for
operating the motors, of Westinghouse make, will be sup-
plied from the Roosevelt Dam power scheme.
Yavapai County
(Special Correspondence.) — About 100 men are examining
the placer ground located east and northeast of the Hassa-
yampa river from the Garden of Allah.' The area covers
about 72 square miles. Past work and the prospects of good
returns are encouraging.
Wickenburg, April 16.
Yuma County
(Special Correspondence.) — There has been a lively rush
of miners to a gold discovery made by E. Osborne at Min-
eral Hill, about 20 miles northeast of this place.
Bouse, April 16.
April
1!)14
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
709
CALIFORNIA
Amador County
The new tailing disposal scheme of the Kennedy company,
at Jackson, is in full operation and giving satisfaction. In
TAILING WHEEL HOUSES FOB THE KENNEDY SCHEME.
another issue of this journal, full details of the plant will
be given, and also the tailing problem of the district gen-
erally will be discussed.
Lassen County
Mining around Doyle is increasing in activity. Rich ore
is coming from the Lakeview claim of Truscott and McXab.
The Martin claims', are showing copper, lead, and silver.
Those owned by Daly and Bruce were sold to Nevada people.
Mariposa County
• Special Correspondence. > — L. A. Schrowen, of Los Angeles,
and David Upton returned from Mt. Pinoche. on the south
fork of Merced river, where they have been for several days
sampling the Little Wonder group of 14 gold-bearing quartz
claims, owned by Messrs. Kylburg, Caterwood, and Blair. They
brought in several large sacks of samples. The bonding
price is $45,000.
Clyde S. I.ongytai. representing the E. J. I.ongyear Co. of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, who are manufacturers of diamond
core-drills, was in Mariposa recently consulting owners of a
copper property who contemplate using core-drills for deter-
mining its deposits at a depth of 2000 ft. Core-drills have
been used in the Green Mountain district. David Ross, of
Stockton, was in Mariposa recently, securing an extension
of 60 days on bis option bond to purchase a group of copper
claims. There are about 60U acres of copper claims with
gossan and surface indications promising a large deposit of
copper. This propert> is situated two miles southeast of Mari-
posa, where there are sites tin adits which will give them
600 It. of backs. The Mariposa Mines Development Co. has
taken a bond on the Diliz. Spencer San Log, and \V. Y. O. I).
quartz mines owned by S. .1. Harris, the county surveyor:
also the Breen claim owned by G. .1. Bertken and the Moun-
tain Quern and Number Three, quartz mines owned by D.
E. Johnson. They will put a pump in the winze and sink
on the ore-shoot, which is i'ii in. wide and showing 12 in.
of high-grade ore. This mine was worked by the former
owners in a dilatory fashion, the walls were porphyry, and
probably $60,000 was mined from pockets.
The Original Mining Co.. of Merced, which is successfully
operating its mine ami mill, situated below Kl Portal on the
Merced river, under the management of Prank X. Egenhoff.
has taken over two new groups of claims, the Golden Rule
and Moon Stone, and have a day shift working on each group.
Local stockholders nt Merced think highly of the property
and management There are many other rich farming towns
whose citizens could be successfully operating a Lrood gold
mine in Mariposa county. There are plenty of good mines
here awaiting intelligent development.
The Mt. Gains mine, near Hornitos, is under bond and being
pumped out by Los Angeles and Denver people under the
management of A. M. Gillespie. The surface equipment and
machinery on this property is in good order. The Mary Har-
rison was pumped out and sampled last week, the samples
being forwarded to San Francisco. There are seven men
developing the Bondurant property near Colterville This
property is on the east or slate belt, from which millions
have been mined in Mariposa county. The most notable mine
on this belt in Mariposa county is the John Hite, at Hite
Cove, on the south fork of the Merced river. This mine is
credited with between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000, and while it
is now idle, there is no doubt that the right man will some
day open this mine and get good returns. It is 1555 ft. deep,
operated by water-power, and the vein is 14 ft. wide at the
1500-ft. level. J. L. Dearborn, of Richmond, California, has
become interested in the Judkins and Weston property,' and
has arranged to buy the 10-stamp mill from the Joshua Hendy
company and settle the lumber bills accrued by the Los An-
geles people in building this mill. They have 100 tons of
ore which will be milled as a test. The Joshua Henry com-
pany will send a millman. and this test run will be watched
with unusual interest owing to the fact that the former oper-
ators made a complete failure. Judkins and Weston are first-
class miners and Mr. Dearborn is an experienced business man
well up on ore treatment, and it is expected there will be
an agreeable surprise in store for some of the Mariposa peo-
ple when the clean-up is made. C. F. McElligott. of Prince-
ton, is running 10 stamps on a waste dump of the Princeton
mine.
Mariposa. March 2fi.
Some remarkable specimens of leaf gold in quartz have
been found in a cross-vein at a depth of 150 ft. in the Bon-
durant mine, near Coulterville. The other ore in the mine
is 'spotty' in character. There is a mill of 10 light stamps
on the property, which is owned by A. L. Adams. The
Ccmet Mining Co.. of Los Angeles, owning a mine at Jersey-
dale, will start work and mill 1000 tons of ore as a test.
Sampling the mine averaged $12 per ton. The vein is from
30 to 36 in. wide, and between two adits there is estimated
to be 7400 tons. The old Merced group, near Coulterville,
is opened to about 1000 ft. Eastern people are said to have
secured an option on the claims. Lessees at the Pine Tree
mine have had the following returns: 12S tons yielding $575,
24 tons for $365. 1 :, tons for $720. and IS tons for $160.
Nevada County
The North Star main shaft has reached a total depth of
6000 It. on the incline. o>- about 2250 ft. vertical. The first
clean-up ti the Golden Center mine yielded $5000, and a
shipment of selected ore was worth $52S per ton. The Bruns-
wick Consolidated company is to install three 100-kva. oil-
insulated, self-cooled transformers of Westinghouse make.
Shasta County
I'lii' Guggenheim interests have bonded 1400 acres of gold-
bearing ground south and west of Igo, 900 acres from the
Happy Valley Land & Water Co., and 500 acres from C A.
Russell and partner. The new owners are preparing to pros-
pect the mound, with a view of putting in a dredge.
Porter and Thompson spent $21,000 in building and install-
ing a dryland dredge. They operated it a month or so, but
it was found that the cost of operation was more than the
profits. Their dredge is under attachment.
At a depth of 7a0 ft., and in an adit 3700 ft. long, a large
electric hoist is being installed in the Gladstone mine in
the French Gulch district. Mining is being done at' a depth
of 1100 ri. below this station.
Sink ivou County
The Great Northern mine, on Humbug creek, is to be re-
710
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1914
opened by A. C. Kaiser. Rich ore is being extracted from
the Carson-Kradel claim in the Oro Fino district. The
Onyx jade mine, near Happy Camp, has been sold by D. C.
Collier and S. Ferry to the Californite Company of San Diego.
COLORADO
Eagle County
Developments in the Eagle district are said to be distinctly
promising. The Lady Belle and South Dakota have been
shipping good silver ore; lessees in the former have recently
cut what is thought to be the main ore-shoot; the Lady
Belle No. 4 is producing from a good vein; the Extension
will soon make shipments; work has been resumed at the
North Dakota: the Best Chance and Dakota Extension are
busy on development, the former having opened ore; the
Eagle King incline shaft is to be sunk deeper, the bottom
being in low-grade ore just now; and steady prospecting is
being done at the Montana.
It is reported that a mill and cyanide plant will be
erected at the Lady Belle mine, there being enough ore
opened to justify this step.
Gilpin County
The property of the 50 Gold Mines Corporation at Black
Hawk has been acquired by a Colorado syndicate headed
by John B. Selvidge. The new concern is known as the
Fifty Consolidated Gold Mines Co. The claims include the
Bobtail, Fiske, Gregory, Pederson, and Cook, which have
been opened to 1300 ft. and have produced a large quantity
of gold, silver, and copper. Extensive development is to
be done by the new Company. The Continental Mines, Power
& Reduction Co. has driven its Lombard adit about 3000
ft., to cut several veins. A modern 20-stamp mill is ready
for work.
Las Animas County
On April 20, at Trinidad, there was a collision between
coal miners and the state militia, resulting in 30 of the
former being killed.
Lake County (Leadvii.lk)
This district is producing an average of 2200 tons per day
of all classes of ore; of which 25,000 tons per month goes
out of the camp for treatment. Good progress is being made
at the new zinc smelter. With the advent of spring, pros-
pectors are preparing to start work in the district.
From 6 to 36 in. of ore has been opened in the Little
Johnny, and a carload returned 18 o/.. gold per ton.
Teller County (Cbipple Creek)
A shipment of ore from the Cresson mine, worth about
$40,000, was recently sent to the smelters under an armed
guard.
The San Juan
Silverton people expect a busy season this year. The Sun-
nyside mine has resumed work since the fire and snowslide
last December. Nothing is being done at the Buffalo Boy,
both sides to the dispute mentioned in this journal of July
19, 1913, being inactive. Nearby is the Intersection, which
is producing 30 tons per day of ore averaging $16.48 gold
and $3.10 silver per ton, which is treated in a 10-stamp mill.
At Middleton the Hamlet mill will start in a week or so.
The S. D. & G. Leasing Co. is milling ore from the Silver
Lake mine at the Iowa mill. The railway to Gladstone will
soon be opened.
IDAHO
Blaine County
The Wilbert mine, on the Little Lost river, is developing
into a good one. Eight feet of 35r/r lead ore has been opened
by an adit. The mill is at present shut down.
Custer County
The ore deposits in the northwestern part of this county
are thoroughly described by J. B. Umpleby in Bulletin 539
of the U. S. Geological Survey.
Shoshone County
The Idora Hill mine and mill, on Sunset peak, near Wal-
lace, is shut down owing to shortage of funds to continue
work. The debt is $30,000. The new mill at the Frisco
mine is treating zinc ore during one shift per day. Copper
glance has been opened in the National mine, near Mullan,
which contains both native copper and native silver.
The long raise from the lower adit of the Bunker Hill &
Sullivan mine, connecting with the Caledonia workings, was
completed on April 15. This will greatly aid mining in the
latter mine. The unit of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan mill
which i$ being repaired tor^use of the Caledonia company
is almost completed* and if3fls anticipated that operations
at the mine'will be commenced in a few days. Net earnings
of the Interstate-Callahan company in March were $34,000.
MONTANA
Silyerbow County
For driving mine-ventilating fans, the Anaconda company
has ordered 14 alternating-current motors, totaling 290 hp.,
from the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. The
Amalgamated Copper Co. will pay a dividend of $1.50 per
share on May 25. At 2400 ft. in the Tuolumne mine the
shoot is 140 ft. long, showing at each end, respectively, 18
in. of 12'/r copper and 12 oz. silver, and 72 in. of 5% copper
and 12 oz. silver ore.
Dining .Vareh the Butte-Duluth leaching plant produced
75,000 lb. of copper. The new 1000-ton per day crushing plant
may be completed in 30 days.
Mtssoula County
After several years of litigation, Spokane men are plan-
ning to reopen the old Amador mine at Iron Mountain, in
the east Coeur dAlenes. It is said that about $750,000 was
spent for a 50-ton smelter, 10-mile railway, large water-power
plant, and developing an orebody to 750 ft. Stock boomed
to $4 per share, heavy assessments were made, and litiga-
tion resulted. A concentrating plant may be erected. E.
V. Lambert is president of the company.
NEVADA
Esmeralda County
There is more activity in the Cuprite district. 14 miles
south of Goldfield, than for some time past. The Jupiter
claims h:\ve given good assays of copper-silver ore. Other
claims being prospected are those of the Kurien-Smith-Evans
syndicate.
Humboldt County
At a depth of 260 ft. from the surface, high-grade ore has
been opened in the Buckskin National mine.
Lincoln County
The mines at Pioche produced about 2000 tons of ore
worth $30,000 last week. The Prince Consolidated contrib-
uted 1400 tons, while the Mendha-Nevada, Providence, Ex-
ploration lease, Day-Bristol, Amalgamated Pioche lease. Ore-
gon Short Line lease, and Nevada Mark made up the balance.
Mineral County
The Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co.'s option on the Au-
rora Consolidated's mines expired on April 18, and no busi-
ness resulted, according to Jesse Knight of Utah.
Nye County
The Pioneer Consolidated Mines Co. will install a 6-ft.
Huntington mill in its 10-stamp mill in the Pioneer district.
According to the consulting engineer, J. K. Turner, the pres-
ent plant is treating 30 tons of ore per day with 82'^ recov-
ery. The slime contains $2 in gold per ton, and efforts are
being made to increase the saving to 90%. Twelve feet of
April
1014
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
711
ore is being mined in a raise above 256 ft. The annual
report of the North Star Mining Co. for 1913 shows the fol-
lowing: Development, 2963 ft., at $6.76 per foot; ore mined,
3225 tons, value $58,966; mining costs, $2.56 per ton; sink-
ing, $22.72 per foot; and net profits, $45,845. The American
Carrara Marble Co., of Carrara, sent a carload of marble,
containing 200 cu. ft. to Los Angeles. This is its first ship-
ment. The Tonopah Extension company's revenue in Feb-
ruary was $48,081, and expenses $40,070. March returns are
as follows: Belmont. 15.294 tons, yielding 340,878 oz. bul-
lion and a profit of $153,611: Tonopah Mining, 11,793 tons,
yielding 227,375 oz. bullion, 126 tons of concentrate, and a
profit of $128,120; Jim Butler, 2870 tons for a profit of
$34,580. A tube-mill head broke at the West End mill last
week, resulting in a shut-down for 4% days.
TENNESSEE
Poi.k County
(Special Correspondence.) — F. R. Carter, of Chattanooga,
who owns 160 acres of land, presumably copper bearing, about
lA'jt Tft,1f'i5£F
w
»««>.,'
/
(L.
ri**fiiti
/
y«
I.
i^j/L
*_
GraywBcke and nuca scK'&t
CZ3
Ore zone
[Zl
5tauroW>c beds
fcOOoFft
COPPER DEPOSITS AT nil KTOWN. THE ABBOWS INDICATE DIP OK
THE I.ODKS. (AFTER U. S. G. S. )
a mile northeast of the Ducktown Copper, Sulphur & Iron
Co.'s plant at lsan< Ha, has formed an exploration company
and is prospecting the property by diamond-drilling. No re-
sults have yet been published. The property is only about
a half-mile southeast of the East Tennessee mine of the
Ducktown company, but it may be too far to the east to be
within the known ore-bearing zone.
Ducktown, April 15.
UTAH
Beaver County
The Sheep Rock mill is to be enlarged by the Sheep Rock
Leasing, Mining & Milling Co. The March return was gold
worth $3000. The main shaft of the mine is down 200 ft.
A recent sampling of the ore opened returned good assays.
Juab County
High-grade gold-silver ore is being mined from 700 ft.
in the Grand Central mine at Tintic, that at present averag-
ing 2 to 4 oz. gold and SO to 200 oz. silver per ton with a
little lead and copper. An option has been taken on a tail-
ing dump of over 200,000 tons, at the Eureka Hill mine by
Brayton Campbell and C. M. Dull. A cyanide plant will
probably be erected to treat 200 tons per day. The tailing
assays 5 oz. silver, 0.05 to 0.06 oz. gold. 1'/, lead, and 0.01%
copper.
Salt Lake County
The Utah Copper Co., at its Magna mill, is to install four
15-hp. slow-speed vertical D.C. motors for direct connection
to agitators used in experimenting with the oil-flotation
process. This is a new application especially developed by
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. after consid-
erable testing. About 50 tons of low-grade copper ore, con-
taining a good percentage of iron, is being mined daily
from the Commercial mine at Bingham. A raise from the
Niagara adit level to the old workings of the Commercial
will greatly improve ventilation.
WASHINGTON
Ciiei.an County
(Special Correspondence.) — The Golden Eagle company's
mine and mill has been leased by F. Le Roi Thurmond, who
will start operations at once. It is proposed to change the
name of Blewett to Phoenix.
Blewett, April 7.
Ferry County
Extensive development of the Anchor, Curlew, and Panama
groups of 19 claims, situated two miles north of Curlew, is
to be done by the Phoenix Gold & Copper Mining & Milling
Co. The main adit is In 900 ft. Ore has been opened in
three places in the first 500 ft. of the lower adit, and a
large vein 40 ft. wide was opened at 500 ft. At 820 ft.. 5
ft. of shipping and 20 ft. of milling ore was also cut. At
about 1500 ft. another vein should be opened.
CANADA
According to the manager of the Canadian Klondyke com-
pany, Charles Boyle, 300 to 400 men, about the full comple-
ment for the operating season, are now employed at the vari-
ous properties. No. 4 dredge was expected to start about
March 24, and the others soon after. The Yukon Gold Co.
has begun preliminary work for the season. The annual re-
port of the territorial assayer at Whitehorse, William Sime.
covers the twelve months up to March 1, 1914. A total of
885 samples were sent in from 13 different districts, and
1082 determinations made. The most development done in
any lode mine was in the Pueblo, 7 miles from Whitehorse,
and owned by the Atlas Mining Co. From the 6, 130, and 200-
ft. levels, 36,062 tons of copper ore was sent to the smelters.
The shaft is down 365 ft., and 28 prospect holes were drilled
totaling 3796 ft. An average of 100 men was employed. The
Humper claims in the Windy Arm district, Whirlwind, Tally-
Ho, Buffalo Hump in the Wheaton River district, and at sev-
eral in the Mayo and other districts, were actively prospected.
The Yukon Gold Co. has taken options on eight or nine
miles of ground along the Sixtymile valley, lying in a con-
tinuous tract, mostly between the mouth of Glacier and the
mouth of Twelvemile creeks. Two drills are being taken
out over the winter road to prospect the ground immediately.
C. A. Thomas is manager for the Company.
COSTA RICA
February operations at the Abangarez Gold Fields mine
resulted in the treatment of 5323 tons of ore, yielding bul-
lion worth $29,007. There was a loss of $20,246, making
this $38,316 for the two months of the current year.
712
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25. 1914
Theodore Hoovkk has gone to Burma.
Rtiss B. Hoffman is back from London.
William de L. Benedict is in San Francisco.
H. L. Hollister was in San Francisco this week.
Lewis A. Wright was in San Francisco last week.
C. W. Purington has returned to London from Italy.
Lionel Lindsay of San Francisco leaves for London, May 1.
William Knox returned to San Francisco from London this
week.
Fred J. Sieiiert of Reno, Nevada, will leave soon for San-
tiago de Chile. •
H. B. Barling was at Salt Lake~City last week on his way
to Ely, Nevada.
J. H. Mackenzie visited the Buckskin National Gold Mining
Co.'s property recently.
Rei.ii Kanda is examining a gold deposit in Korea for the
Hasami Gold Mining Company.
David Hon man has returned to Butte, Montana, after an
absence of two years in the Congo.
Mail for Charles Notjbse, L. C. Mott. and F. C. Moore is
waiting for American address at our office.
.7. D. Hubbard of Chicago, vice president of the Goldfield
Consolidated Mines Co., is in San Francisco.
J. H. Hartley, of Berkeley, California, is examining proper-
ties in Plumas and Sierra counties, California.
J. A. Udden has been visiting Alabama. Pennsylvania, and
other eastern states, hut will soon be back at Austin, Texas.
Victor Zikgleh has accepted a position as assistant professor
of geology and mineralogy at the Colorado School of Mines.
E. F. Gray, general manager of the Consolidated Copper
Mines Company, at Ely, was at Salt Lake City last week on
his way to London.
Z. B. Hartley, formerly with the Aguacate Mines Co. of
Costa Rica and the Cacamuya Mines Co. of Honduras, sailed
for Ecuador, S. A., last month.
N. M. Wade has been appointed general manager, and John
H. Egcebs superintendent, for the Rochester Mines Co..
Rochester Weaver M. Co., and Nenzel Crown Point M. Com-
pany.
George H. Garret, recently connected with the American
Smelting &• Refining Co. as chief geologist, has opened an
office as consulting mining geologist and engineer at 135
Broadway. New York City.
B. Britton Gotthbebcer. general manager of the Miami cop-
per mine, gives the following names as members of the staff
in 1913: F. W. Maclennan, assistant manager, in charge of
mining; F. AV. Solomon, mill superintendent; and Ralph P.
Yerxa. assistant mill superintendent.
Among those registered at the New York convention, Ameri-
can Electro-Chemical Society, were: Lawrence Addicks. 0. L.
Bbyden. A. S. Dwigiit, Cari. Hering. J. B. Herreshoi i\ I.. I).
Ht'NToo.N, W. McA, Johnson, R. 7.,. Lloyd, D. A. Lyon. H. 0.
Parmei.ee. Charles L. Parsons, Thomas T. Read. G. A. Roush.
\V. O. S.nellixg. h. N. Spiceb, Bradley Stoughton. G. C. Stone.
and Joseph Strutiiers.
Columbia University will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of the founding of the School of Mines on May 28 and 29.
There will be a great gathering of engineers. On the morn-
ing of May 29. in the gymnasium, there will be a meeting at
which honorary degrees will be granted and there will lie
talks on modern engineering by well known engineers. In
the afternoon will occur the first lecture in the 'Chandler
Foundation' by a distinguished chemist, and the celebration
will close at night with a banquet at the Waldorf Astoria,
where eminent alumni will speak.
Name. Dale.
MAY
American Iron and Steel Institute 22
Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South
Africa, Mining Exhibition, Johannesburg 19-29
Geological Society of America (Cordilleran Section),
Seattle 21-23
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London 21
Mining and Metallurgical Society, San Francisco 4
National Fire Protection Association 5.7
JUNE
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 22 or 26
American Society for Testing Materials 23-27
American Society of Mechanical Engineers end of June
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 6
Franklin Institute, Philadelphia end of June
Society for the Promotion of Engineering Educa-
tion 29 to July 2
AUGUST
American Institute of Mining Engineers, Salt Lake City 10-14
SEPTEMBER
American Chemical Society 9-12
American Institute of Electrical Engineers not fixed
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 3
OCTOBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 9
American Iron and Steel Institute 23-24
Colorado Scientific Society. Denver 3
NOVEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 13
Colorado Scientific Society. Denver 7
DECEMBER
American Institute of Electrical Engineers 11
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 7-8
American Museum of Safety 11-20
Colorado Scientific Society, Denver 5 and 19
Geological Society of America, Philadelphia 29-31
Society of Gas Lighting (annual meeting) 10
Society of Naval Architects 11-12
JUNE 1915
Sixth International Congress of Mining. Metallurgy,
Applied Mechanics, and Practical Geology, London
SEPTEMBER 1915
American Institute of Mining Engineers, San Francisco 27-30
Engineering Congress, San Francisco 20-25
The Chemical, Metallurgical, and Mining Society of
South Africa will visit the De Beers diamond mines, at Kim-
berley. early in July.
The Michigan College of Mines held a class-day address
to graduates of 1914 on 'Mining Coal Above the Arctic Cir-
cle.' by the Hon. John Munro Longyear. on April 16. Work
at the mines on Spitsbergen, north of Europe, was covered
by the speaker.
The Chicago Engineers' Ci.ui: had a membership of 386
on March 1, 1914. of whom 301 are resident members. The
revenue during the- year ended February 2S, 1914, was $31,671.
including $1772 from the previous year. The term ended
with a balance of $543. A number of lectures and excur-
sions were held.
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
713
I.OCAI, METAI. PRICES
San Francisco, April 23.
Antimony 9 — 9%c
Electrolytic copper 15i£_15%c
Pig lead 4.05 — 5.00
Quicksilver (flask) $3S.50
Tin 40^—42 c
Speller 6% — 6%e
Zinc dust, 180 kg. sslnc-lined ease*! '% to 8c. per pound.
EASTER X METAL MARKET
(By wire from New York.)
NEW IfORK, April 23. — All metal markets are quiet and
weak. Copper has declined every day, lead remains the same.
while speiter is slightly below last week's quotation,. Cupper
stocks continue to puzzle speculators. Amalgamated copper Is
the strongest stock on the Exchange at present. American
Smelting & Kefining shares rose from 05 to 66 on news from
Mexico. It Is said that the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. has
offered to purchase the assets and business of the International
Smelting & Kefining Co., and to exchange its stock for stock
of the International on a basis of :!.:!:; shares of Anaconda for
one share of International, upon condition that the International
will immediately call a special meeting of stockholders to take
action upon tin- proposal to sell its assets to -the Anaconda com-
pany and liquidate. The International lias a smelter in Utah
and is erecting another in Arizona. Its present indebtedness
is $9,000,000, and this would be increased to $11,500,000 by the
new plant, necessitating the issue of stock to clear the debt and
provide additional capital. Tin is Irregular at 35.45 to 115. 60c.
per pound. The trouble in Mexico affected stocks in London
and Europe, there being heavy trading. Bar silver is steady at
26.93d. per ounce. Copper and tin were firm at £61 6s. 3d. and
£161 5s. per ton respectively.
BClOW .lie given til
per ounce, of line silver.
Kate.
Apr. 16
" is!!!!!!.'!!!!!.'!!!
19 Sundav
20
" 21
SILVER
iveragc New
York quotations
.".VI'.".
1 1 .
IS.
Jan.
Feb.
Mch.
Apr.
May
1913.
63.01
61.25
57. ST
59.26
60.21
. . . SS.30
. . . .-. s.r, 11
Monthly
1914.
57.58
57.53
5S.01
•ek ending
58.23
58.04
58.06
58.02
58.45
58.30
5S.35
averages.
July ..
Aug.
Sept. . .
Oct. . .
Nov.
1913.
58.70
59.32
60.53
.60.88
.58.76
June 59.03 Dec 57!73
Pixley and Abell. of London, writing on April 2. state that
they are glad to be able to announce that the whole of the
silver, amounting to about $14,500,000, which was taken over
by the syndicate formed for that purpose on the failure of the
Indian Specie Bank parly in last December, has now been sold.
Had this syndicate nol been formed, and had all this silver
been thrown on the market by forced sales, the result would
have been disastrous not only to producers and others con-
nected with the metal, but to all merchants trailing with China.
Without the huge holdings of the Indian Specie Hank, the mar-
ket has during the past four months acquired a healthier and
more normal tone. and. with a very small speculative account
open, the general position is far sounder than it has -been for
some years past.
I.ea.
pounds.
Han-
Apr. 16.
17.
'• IH.
" l!i
is quoted
New York
n .-.-ills
delivery.
1,1: vli
mi- pound
ir dollars per hundred
,vi
1913.
Jan 4.2*
Feb 4.33
Mch 4.32
Apr 4.36
May 4 34
June 4.n:i
. 3.80
. 3.80
. 3.80
m thl. v
1914.
4.11
4.02
3.94
Mel
Ave
.11.
IS.
•inling
Apr.
4.00
4.00
4 00
3.80
3.80
3.80
3.80
averages.
Inly
\ ne
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
I lee.
1913.
. 4.35
4.60
4.7"
4.37
4.1C
4.(12
1914.
COPPER
Quotations on copper as published in this column represent
average wholesale transactions on the New York market and
refer to electrolytic copper. Lake copper commands normally
1-5 to 1-4c. per lb. more. Prices are in cents per pound.
Date.
Apr. 16.
.14.15
.14.15
.14.10
17.
18
19 Sunday
-'0 ' 14.03
21 14.00
22 , 14.011
Monthly
Mc
Ave;
1. 1 1 .
IS.
week ending
Jan.
1913.
.16.54
Feb 14.93
Mch.
Apr.
May
.14.72
.15.22
15.42
1914.
14.21
1 1.46
11.11
June 14.71
Apr.
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dee.
.14.01
.14.01
.14.18
.14.28
.14.46
.14.27
.14.07
1913.
.14.21
.15.42
.16.23
.16.31
.15.08
.14.25
Ql ICKSII.YEIi
The primary market for quicksilver is San Francisco. Cali-
fornia_ being the largest producer. The price is fixed in the
open market, and. as quoted weekly in this column, is that at
which moderate quantities are sold. Buyers by the carload can
usually obtain a slight reduction, and those wanting but a flask
or two must expect to pay a slightly higher price. Average
weekly, and monthly quotations, in dollars per flask of 75 ]h
are given below:
Week ending
Mch. 26
Apr. 2 ;
1913.
Jan 39.37
Feb 41.00
Mch 40.20
Apr 41.00
May 40.25
June 41.00
.39.00
. . .39.00
Monthly
1914.
39.25
39.00
. 39.00
Apr.
averages.
July 41,00
Al'S 40.50
°eDt 39.70
°.Ct 39.37
^ov 39.40
I,ec 40.00
.39.00
.39.00
.38.50
1914
'/.l>C
Zinc is quoted as spell,.,-, standard Western brands >
delivery, ill cents per pound.
Date.
Apr. 16 1,911 \:,.,
(-.90
1. 911 1
16
17
18
19 Sundu
20
21
22
A vera
. 11...
Jan
Feb
Mch
Apr
May
June
Zinc sulphide
19 13.
6.88
6.13
5.91
5.52
5.23
5.00
. . . 1.9(1
. . I. -hi
. . . 1. 9"
Monthly
19 14.
5.14
Apr.
a Vers
St. Louis
k ending
5.18
5. lo
5.10
5.13
5.10
5.00
4.90
.12
■ lulv ...
Aug. ...
Sept. . . .
Oct. ...
Nov. . . .
Dec. . . .
Missouri,
metallic
f<»i- the corresponding period of 1913. Lead
on- hrmgs $(., ,„.,- ton, basis of Si,', metallic lead
with $n2...0 a year ago. Calamine
10',; metallic zin.
ores, at Jnplin,
$35 to $111 per ton, basis of 60'
$10 to $14. basis
1913.
. . . 5.11
. . 5.5 1
1914
! b!22
. . . 5.09
... 5.07
a re
now sellln
g for
zinc
compared
W I t i !
compared
brings $1C to $19, basis of
compared with $19 to $20 a year ago The
average shipments of sulphide ores for ,911, to date, are 19-0
tons per week, calamine 320 tons, and lead 910 tons The
average weekly valuation of all ores is $210,000.
'II V.
»i ml in the Amerlc!
N.-vv Y..-k prices control m the American market lor t
the metal is almost entirely Imported. San Francisco quoti
average i ,t :..-. ,„.,- 11,. higher. Below are give, av
monthly N.-vv York tations, in cents per pound:
Monthly averages.
1913. 1914
Jan 50.45 37.85
Feb 49.07 39 76
Mch 46.95 3S.10
Apr 49.00 ....
May 19.10
June 4 ". 1 n
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dee
1 9 I 3.
. .40.711
. .41.75
.. 12.15
. 40.61
.37
SlI.V Hi
11 in 1 of the Kongsbers mines, Norway, during
year 1912-I9K! was S439 kg. (270,680 oz. 1 fine metal.
1137 Iv.g. i::t;.:*,so oz.) in ore. the whole worth J183.00O.
P11; iiiiix i-kiiiuitiiin of the United States in March
2,347. Ml" tons.
I'm 11 1. in man us of the U. S. Steel Corporation on Marc
wen- l.i;.-,::.S2.") ions, against 7.468.9r>fi tons a year ago.
Since
tions
■rage
1914
the
and
h 31
714
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
April 25, 1!*14
SAX FRANCISCO STOCKS AND BONDS
(San Francisco Stock and Bond Exchange.)
April 22.
BONDS
Listed.
Associated Oil 5s.
NatomasCon
Unlisted.
Ass. Oil6s
General Petroleum 6s..
Listed.
Amalgamated Oil
Associated Oil
Giant
Pac. Cst. Borax, com...
Pacific Crude nn
West Coast pfd
Rid
! 96J
33
Ask
85
Unlisted.
Natomas Consol. 6s
Pac. Port. Cement 6s...
Santa i ruz Cement fis.
Union Oil
100
4SJ
Ask
26
88
38}
83i
STOCKS
8S
571
3 c
112}
Unlisted.
Bid
Ask
«
X
Noble Electric Steel....
?>0c
1
5)c
90
Pac Port. Cement
94
Riverside Cement
■
63
Santa Cruz Cement ...
40
46
Stand. Port. Cement .
19
NEVADA STOCKS
(By courtesy of San Francisco Stock Exchange.)
April 23.
Atlanta $ -21
Belcher -SO
Belmont 7.15
("on. Virginia .1")
Florence....: 52
Goldfield Con 1-40
Qoldfleld Oro II
Halifax .80
Jim Butler 91
Jumbo Extension .24
MacNamara 03
Mexican 1.10
Midway -31
Mizpah Extension .40
Montana-Tonopah >'
Nevada Hills
North Star
Ophir
Pittsburg Silver Peak
Hound-Mountain
Sierra Nevada
Tonopah Extension 1.
Tonopah Merger
Tonopah of Nevada 6
Union
Victor
West End
Yellow Jacket
CALIFORNIA STOCKS
(Latest Quotations.)
Bid. Ask.
Argonaut $2.50
Brunswick Con
Bunker Hill 1.90
$1.05
Central Eureka
Mountain King-
South Eureka . .
Bid. Ask.
{0.48 $0.50
0.50
1.50
COPPER SHARES — BOSTON
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
April 23.
Bid Ask
Allouez * 37 37}
Ariz. Commercial 4} 4}
Butte & Superior 32} 31
Calumet A Arizona 62 62}
Calumet & Hecla 416 420
Copper Range 36} 36}
Daly West 2 2}
East Butte 10) 11}
l-'ranklin 4j 5
Gran by 75} 75J
Greene Cananea 28 28}
Isle-Royale 17 17}
MassCopper 3.J 33
Bid
Mohawk 8 40
Nevada Con 14jj
North Butte 24j
Old Dominion 48
Osceola 72
Quincy 57
Shannon
Superior & Boston
Tamarack
Q S. Smelting, com
Utah Con
Winona
Wolverine
6(
18
3
30}
8}
38
Ask
41
14}
25
49
72}
58
5}
n
31
30}
10
n
39
NEW YORK Cl'KR 0.1'OTATIONS
(By courtesy nf E. F
Rid.
Braden Copper... 8
Braden 6s 160
B. C. Copper 1%
Con. Cop. Mines.. 1%
Davis-Daly M
Ely Con 3
First National ... 1%
Giroux lk
Hollinger 16%
Iron Blossom .... 1.15
Kerr Lake 4
Hutton & Co.. Kohl Building.
April 23.
Ask.
78
6
1%
1
17%
1.18
4%
Bid.
La Rose 1%
Mason Valley.... 2%
McKinley-Dar. . . 61c.
Mines Co. Am 2 >4
Nipissing 6V4
Ohio Copper v4
Stand. Oil of Cal.290
Tri Bullion %
Tuolumne %
United Cop. com. Vi
Yukon Gold 2%
Ask.
1%
2%
63c.
23s
6%
%
293
hi
2%
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
(By courtesy of J. C. Wilson, Mills Building.)
April 23.
Bid
Amalgamated 8 73
Anaconda 33}
A. S. & R., com 60
Calif. Pet., com 20
Chlno 39}
Guggenheim Ex 51}
inspiration ii-j
Mexican Pet., com 60}
Ask
73}
33}
60}
22
39j
51}
m
60}
Bid Ask
Miami - 22J 23
Nevada Con Hj 14}
Quicksilver, com 13 2
Ray Con 201 20}
Tenn Copper _ 32} 32J
U. 8 Steel, pfd 108} 108}
U. 8. Steel, coin 57f 57j
Utah Copper 63J 64}
LONDON QUOTATIONS
(By cable, through the courtesy of Catlin & Powell
New York.)
April 23.
i s d. I
1 7 6 I Mexican Eagle, com
8-5 0 Mexico Mines
3 2 6 Messina
1 18 9 Oroville ".
0 11 3 Pacific Oilfields
2 5 0 j RloTlnto
0 12 6 Santa Gertrude
0 15 0 I Tanganyika .
0 10 0 ; Tomboy
Co.,
Alaska Mexican
Alaska Treadwell
Alaska United
Arizona
Camp Bird
Cobalt Townsite
El Oro
Esperanza
Granvl le
Kern River Oilfields .
d.
0
6
»
6
6
70 12
0 12
2 5
1 2
AUSTRALASIAN
April 23.
t s. d. 1
British Broken Hill..
Broken Hill Prop
Golden Horse-Shue ..
Great Boulder Prop..
Ivanhoe
Kalgurli
Mount Boppy
Mount Elliot
Mount Lyell
Mount Morgan
Waihl
Waihi Grand June
Zinc Corporation. Ord .
£ s.
3 15
d.
0
6
6
0
3
0
PVRITE AND SULPHURIC ACID PRODUCTION IN 1013
The production of pyrite in the United States in 1913, ac-
cording to W. C. Phalen of the U. S. Geological Survey, was
:141,338 long tons valued at $1,286,084. For 1912, the output
amounted to 350,928 long tons valued at $1,334,259, a decrease
for 1913 in quantity of 9590 long tons and in value of $48,175.
The production in the leading states— Virginia and New York
—diminished slightly; in California there was an increased
production; and in Wisconsin, the output also continued to in-
crease. The imports of pyrite for consumption during the
calendar year 1913 were 850,592 long tons valued at $3,611,137.
These figures show a notable decrease in quantity. According
to actual returns for the year 1913, the production of sul-
phuric acid in the United States was 3,538,980 short tons of
50° acid, valued at $22,366,4S2. This output does not include
a small amount of fuming acid, but does include by-product
acid, that is, acid-obtained in the smelter industry. The acid
produced at copper and zinc smelters in 1913 amounted to
790,296 short tons of 50° acid, valued at $4,346,272. These
figures are final, so far as the Survey's present information
goes.
MINERAL PRODUCTION OF TASMANIA IN 1»13
The past two years' production of this Australian state shows
the following:
Product. 1913. 1912.
Bismuth £1,627 £2,646
Coal 25,367 24,568
Copper and ore 375,664 440,444
Gold 141,876 161,300
Shale 130
Silver-lead ore 319,997 309,098
Osmiridium 12,016 5,742
Tin , 531,983 543,103
Wolfram 7,040 6,601
Total i £1,415,700 £1,493,502
Petroleum production of the Dutch East Indies, mainly
Borneo and Sumatra, was 1,503,660 tons in 1913.
April 25. 1914
MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS
715
SUDAN GOLD FIELD COMPANY, LTD.
This Company has a large concession in the Sudan, 30
miles of light railway, a 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant.
Development in 1913 totaled 5304 ft. Ore reserves are esti-
mated at 42,862 tons, an increase of 15,862 tons. About 1600
tons of high-grade ore was opened in a folded portion of
the vein. The plant treated 17,049 tons of ore yielding $190,-
000. The year's profit was $29,000, from which $24,000 was
written off for depreciation and other work.
BARRAMIA MINING & EXPLORATION, LTD.
This Company's property is situated between the River Nile
and the Red Sea in upper Egypt. The mine is characterized
by small rich pockets of ore, one in 1913 producing 59 tons
■with 480 oz. gold, and another 84 tons yielding 1192 oz.; but
there were few opened during the past year. Ore reserves are
estimated at 16,500 tons averaging $10 per ton. The mine
is opened to 503 ft. below the adit level. The 10-stamp mill
crushed 4300 tons in 1913, yielding gold worth $85,000. After
deducting royalty, the profit was $15,000, and a dividend of
$11,500 was paid.
CORDOBA COPPER COMPANY, LTD.
This Company operates in Spain, and has a complete re-
duction plant, including the Murex magnetic process. In
1913, development totaled 12,955 ft., and ore reserves show
an increase, now amounting to 206,489 tons of 3% ore. At
1410 ft., the lowest level, higher grade ore has been opened
than above. The shaft is being sunk to 1545 ft. Ore mined
amounted to 119,069 tons, yielding 3500 metric tons of blister
copper. Sales realized £231,451, and the net profit was £83,321.
Dividends totaled £40,000. Results were considerably above
those of the previous term.
RIO TINTO COPPER COMPANY, LTD.
During 1913 this great mine in Spain produced a total
of 1,859,571 tons of 2.199$ copper ore. Metal output at the
mines was 21,062 tons, while the total sent to market as cop-
per and in pyrite was 36.320 tons, or 81,356,800 lb. The net
profit was £1,673,372, of which £1,487,500 was paid in div-
idends, and £185,872 was carried forward to the current year.
Strikes interrupted the work, reducing the ore mined by
547,398 tons, and copper yield by 3500 tons. The average
price received for the metal was £68 5s. 9d., against £73 Is.
3d. in 1912. Shareholders got 75s. per share instead of 90s.
for the previous term.
RICO-WELLINGTON MINING COMPANY
This Company operates at Rico, Dolores county, Colorado,
with headquarters at Provo, Utah. The report for 1913 shows
that the remodeling of the Pro Patria mill was completed,
with an auxiliary power-plant. Since starting it, 5178 tons
of lead-zinc ore has been milled, with 92'/, extraction. De-
velopment totaled 4132 ft., making 12,963 ft. to date. A
complete survey was made of the surface of the claims, and
this has been checked with the mine workings, and will
help underground work. The physical condition of the mine
has been improved, and the future is encouraging 
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